Unfortunately, while this is ideal scenario, for a large number of items in many categories, this just isn't always case. Many items on eBay have less than intense demand or they appeal to a very narrow niche. When this is case, different listing techniques are needed.

In past, many sellers used a reserve to protect items. But, over years reserve fees have significantly increased and using a reserve has lost it's appeal to many sellers. This means you must find different techniques to get same results without paying exorbitant fees. Here are three different approaches you can take to accomplish this.

Use a high opening bid

This may seem like an obvious technique to replace a reserve bid, but actually it's not that appealing. If you have an item you feel you need to get $50 for, you can protect it with a $49.99 opening bid, but eBay is still going to charge you $1.20 for that protection.

High opening bids also have a way of discouraging bidding. The result will often be either auction ends without any bids, or a bidder will snipe auction in last seconds and buy your item for it's starting bid. Neither of these is a desirable outcome.

Listing in two categories with a low opening bid

Sounds like perfect business doesn't it? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from truth. In reality, for most people, drop shipping on eBay is almost a certain recipe for failure and 95% or more of sellers who try it will fail.

To give yourself any chance to succeed on eBay with this business model there are five rules you MUST follow:

1. You MUST locate a product that will sell in large enough quantities to allow you a chance to succeed. Finding a drop shipper who sells hand-woven wool blankets featuring Old Faithful erupting in center doesn't mean anyone is going to buy one to place on their bed.

When considering drop shipping any product, first thing you must do is sufficient research to determine if there's a market for it. If you are going to be successful theremust be a good-sized active market for your item.

2. You MUST locate a product that provides a sufficient markup that allows you a reasonable profit. You are not going to be successful in long term selling something that you only make a $10 or $20 profit from each item. With that kind of profit per item, it's just not reasonable to expect you can sell enough to attain long-term success.