For instance, you may want to stipulate that you will only accept returns if item is broken. You may also want to add that you can only accept returns within 14 days of delivery.

In addition to a shipping and return policy, you will want to create a statement of quality assurance. When I used to sell jewelry on Ebay, I promised my customers that metals were solid, gems were real, and everything was stamped.

It was relatively easy for me to prove this because all of my jewelry came with gemologist-certified appraisals; however, if you aren’t selling something that can lend you credibility in a similar fashion, you will need to earn it in form of testimonials and positive feedback.

. . .and this is precisely why it is so important for Ebay sellers to create and follow store policies. Not only will this lend you credibility and subsequently encourage visitors to bid, but it will also prevent customers from making unfair complaints against you.

In addition to this, when you overdeliver, your customers will know it - and they will verify it with feedback and testimonials.

Your customers have already a) purchased from you and b) agreed to receive special offers. From here, it shouldn’t be too hard to get follow-up sales. They are already hooked--just give them a good offer.

For instance, you could send out special offers for complementary products at certain intervals. You could target people who purchased digital cameras and offer them sticks of memory at a discounted price, but only if they buy within a certain amount of days after close of auction. You could do same thing with camera bags--and also set a specific date.

If you sell jewelry, you could offer customers a matching set of earrings for a necklace at a discount. Or cleaning tools. Or a jewelry box.

There are a number of different ways in which you can structure your Ebay post-sales follow-up with your autoresponder. There are only two real rules you should follow:

1) Do not, under any circumstances, add people to your list who did not specifically ask to be added to it. It is illegal and unethical, and it could land you in jail; and

2) Make sure you are targeting right people with right follow-up pitch. If you’re trying to sell discount plastic dinosaurs to someone who just bought a case of motor oil, you probably wont get response you want.

. . .other than that, it is completely up to you. Come up with some creative ideas; put them to work; and you can easily double or triple lifetime worth of each customer who shops at your Ebay store.