Next enter a "Minimum bid". This is lowest amount you are willing to accept for item and amount you require to make minimum acceptable profit. Then set "Auction duration", number of days that you want your auction to run. For best results, your auction should end on a Sunday.

If you don’t want to actually sell your item at minimum bid amount, then enter a "Reserve Price". This is a price higher than minimum bid, at which you are actually willing to sell your item. Buyers can’t see your reserve price, they only know there is a reserve on your item. Buyers don’t like reserve price auctions, so you might want to leave this entry blank.

Next, you can select many optional features for your auction, such as prime product placement, double category placement, a small picture in eBay’s Picture Gallery, and so on. But these options are costly.

Next, set checkboxes to select types of payment you will accept; checks, money order, etc. Then enter any shipping, handling, insurance, and sales tax charges.

Next, enter your return policy. If you don’t want to have to refund money to a buyer, enter "No Returns". Then set radio button for "I will not accept escrow." For an expensive item, you might accept an escrow. Escrow is when a third party holds buyer’s money until he receives item. Then, if item is acceptable, he gives escrow company permission to release funds to you.

Next, unless you want to ship overseas, set radio button for "Will ship to United States only". Then select checkbox for shipping payment method; "seller pays shipping", "buyer pays actual shipping cost", or "buyer pays fixed amount".

This is a lot of information to provide on a form. If you sell many similar items, you can set a checkbox for eBay to remember your preferences so that you don’t have to fill out entire form each time.

Next, click "Continue" button. You are then given an opportunity to review your listing and correct any errors before submitting. After reviewing your listing, click "Submit" button. Your item will be posted for auction.

Now that your item is listed, you can login to eBay at any time and click on "my eBay" link to get status of your auction. If your item is sold, you will be charged $1.25 plus 2.5% of final sale price. If final sale price is $25.00 or less, fee is 5.0% of final sale price.

That’s basics of selling on eBay. If you feel you need to pay good money for a book titled "How to Get Rich Selling Useless Trash on eBay", then meet me on eBay, in "Bridges" section. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit: http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com

"I don't need that", he said. "I told them to take their business elsewhere." Sometimes you've got to 'fire' your customers!

I know a graphic designer in New York who had a client that was very slow paying. In fact, on several occasions he even reduced their agreed-upon fee because of what he claimed were "delays" caused by my friend that were totally fabricated. He has asked her to do another project: she told him "no".

Some customers need to be 'fired'.

In my software business customers typically installed product on their corporate computer (not a PC, but a large "mainframe"). The software arrived on a tape and process took about 2 hours. Some of them installed it with no help from me whatsoever; some of them needed help opening box that tape came in. The latter customers were usually ones that needed to be 'fired'.

It's important to define what you consider to be a "good" customer or a "bad" customer. When someone crosses line, you have to decide whether that particular person is "worth trouble'. Only you can make call, but you may be surprised to realize that they aren't.

If so, send 'em packin'. You can't please everyone, but you can wear yourself out trying to, so if match isn't right you both will be better off if you sever business relationship.

It only hurts for a second.

Then, a wave of relief will flood over you and you'll know you did right thing.