What do I have to do to get started?

If you live in the Denver area, give us a call at 303-772-6662. We can talk and arrange a meeting at your home or office. At that meeting we will review the items that you would like to have use sell, go over our contract and answer any remaining questions. For the items that you would like us to sell, we will take possession and start our listing process. If you are outside of the Denver area, send us an email. Please include your phone number in the email. We will call and conduct a phone interview with you. Then we will send you a contract to sign. Return the contract along with the items we will sell for you. Once received, we will get started on your listings.

Why do I have to give you my items before you will list them?

We have to photograph, weigh and accurately describe prior to the auction and ship immediately upon receipt of payment. Our reputation on eBay is crucial to us - one of the worst infractions on eBay is to not have the item available to ship when promised.

Why should I use The Deal Hunter when I can go on eBay myself?

You, of course, can be an eBay seller. But, if you’re not computer-savvy or just don’t have the time or interest, we can do it. We also believe we can generate a higher sell price on your item because of our reputation and knowledge. There are pitfalls that must be avoided in order to have a successful auction listing. By utilizing our services, we can help you avoid the problems that sometimes face newer eBay sellers.

Your fees seem high. Why is that?

We believe our fees to be quite reasonable. Unlike other Trading Assistants, our fees included virtually everything. Most others charge you Trading Assistant fees, plus eBay fees, plus PayPal fees. Apples to apples, you will see just how reasonable our fees are compared to others. Also, lower fees don't necessarily equate to more money for you. With our expertise and experience on eBay, we believe that our listings will bring higher closing prices than that of the average seller. We incur costs through eBay fees, PayPal fees and for our labor involved in selling your items - these are a substantial portion of what we charge you. We make every effort to get the greatest exposure on your items. And, we consider our relationship to be a partnership, working together to generate the best possible profit for the both of us. We don’t make a profit unless your item sells.

What services do I get if I use The Deal Hunter to sell my items on eBay?

We provide the following services for each client:

• Photograph and/or scan your items

• Host  the photos on our website

• Create a high impact listing for your items

• Include a gallery photo at no charge to you

• List your items on eBay

• Correspond with prospective buyers during the auction

• Complete payment processing after the sale

• Pack and ship your items

• Follow-up with buyers as needed

• Send you your payment and a printed report of your sales

Why would you decide to not list my item?

If we don’t believe it will sell for reasons based on our experience or is prohibited under eBay’s terms of service or community values or our own terms of service, we will decline listing your item. Also, if the items value is less than $50, we may not list you item.

When will my item be on eBay?

It depends on the target market for your product. Generally, we will list business related items in the weekday daytime hours. We list consumer related items in the early evening hours. We list auctions starting a $.99 with a 7 day duration - a combination which has proven successful to us. We will list the item as soon as practical but no later than 2 weeks after taking possession of your items.

How do you know what my item is worth?

We don’t necessarily know. In some cases, we may research expected prices. It is the eBay marketplace which determines an item’s worth.

Can I cancel an auction before it ends?

No - again, our eBay reputation is at stake. An in-progress cancellation, particularly when bids have been made upon an item, has serious repercussions in the eBay community. That said, it can be done in extreme instances.

Isn’t it easy to get ripped off online?

It does happen, but there are many safeguards on eBay and PayPal to keep the instances of fraud low. There are risks and we make every effort to minimize these by having strict terms of service. eBay is based on community values; most of our experiences have been quite positive.

Can I or my friend bid on my item?

NO! This is called shill bidding and is against the terms of service on eBay. Doing so is a way to artificially manipulate the closing price of an item and is an unethical, and possibly an illegal practice.

When will I get my money?

Payments received by the end of the month are paid out on the 14th of the following month. We need this time to receive and process the payment, to ship to customer, allow for customer inspection of item, possible return of item to us (rarely happens!) and to do our bookkeeping report for you.

What if a buyer returns my item to you?

We offer a 7 day 100% accuracy guarantee in our consignment listings. Within 7 days after the buyer receives the item, a buyer may return the item if they feel that the item was not as described in the listing. We will issue a refund to the bidder and offer to another bidder, if any, or relist the item or return it to you, depending on the circumstances. That is another reason why we take possession of your item. By accurately photographing and describing it in this listing, we lessen the chance of misrepresenting your item, thus minimizing the risk of return.

What if the bidder doesn’t pay?

This does happen occasionally on eBay. We will file a complaint with eBay and make every effort to receive payment, but if the customer doesn’t pay, we will relist your item, offer it to another bidder or return it to you.

Will I get more money with a high opening bid?

Not necessarily. Often, a high minimum bid scares potential bidders away. A $.99 opening bid price often tends to draw more bidders into viewing your item, creating more interest and resulting in a higher sale price. This is called auction velocity. Our experience shows that this is the best way to go for most items.

What fees do you charge?

We have developed a simple fee structure. We charge a Listing creation fee of $12.50 per item and then charge a Trading Assistant commission of 25% of the closing price.

Who is The Deal Hunter?

The Deal Hunter is owned and operated by Mark Freeman, dba Freeman Marketing Group. Mark has been a seller on eBay since November, 1997 and a Power Seller since August of 2002. Mark participates in ongoing eBay training to increase his effectiveness and to keep up with current trends. Mark is also a registered eBay Trading Assistant.