The Science of eBay

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday September 9, 2006 @04:38AM from the on-the-auction-block dept.

PreacherTom writes "Professors of marketing, economics, management, and psychology have published dozens of papers to try to explain how and why eBay users buy and sell online. At the same time, there is no shortage of people offering helpful hints online. Kerry Miller takes a novel approach, offering 10 tips to maximize your profit that are based on a summary of these scientific analyses, rather than just 'educated' guessing."

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My 2 cents by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-09 04:59 · Score: 5, Funny

Buy low. Sell high.

That'll be $1 for the advice and $11.95 for shipping.

No C.O.D's
Re:Along the same lines... by chris_eineke · 2006-09-09 05:15 · Score: 2, Funny

Compare to Slashdotters who are out there making a fort... oh shit.

--
"All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
Re:Along the same lines... by Funkcikle · 2006-09-09 05:37 · Score: 2, Funny

My undergrad econ professor was a millionaire who consulted for major companies, but taught freshman-level econ anyway because he enjoyed it.

Or did that so he could teach incorrect economics in order to keep all the money for himself, muahahahaha.
A Sucker Is Born Every Minute by Bones3D_mac · 2006-09-09 07:09 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm not sure why there's any need to overcomplicate this. eBay works *because* there are morons out there with way too much money.

Just make any ordinary item something *sound* special in some way, and start the pricing out with a number ending in ".95", and they jump on it like fleas. I've managed to sell numerous used items time and time again at above retail prices, because of this.

Remember kids, it's not lying if it can't be proven wrong.

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8==8 Bones 8==8
They forgot #11... by Lactoso · 2006-09-09 08:17 · Score: 2, Funny

11. Make sure the legalese on your auction is at least 10 to 20 times longer than the actual description of your item...