How to Make Money Buying and Selling Tickets - Selling Tickets For Profit on eBay Part II

BEFORE I get into this part, let me say I have noticed that sellers with higher feedbacks tend to get higher prices. Once again this is not always the case, but in general I believe it to be true. If you have a zero feedback score, I suggest you buy and sell some items first before attempting to sell tickets. I have a high feedback rating of 100% and a lot of sales, and still have people email me and ask if the tickets are real. What kind of question is that. Yet there is are lot of fake tickets out there.

Here is a list of techniques and services I use for killer listings.

Listing template. I use a consistent template over and over again. All my auctions look the same or have a "brand" feel to them. If you are just starting out you may want to visit eBay and check out some listing designs. Feel free to search my listings for examples.

List immediately. I do not wait to list my tickets (with a few exceptions) If a show goes onsale this morning, I usually have my listing posted within the hour. Time goes on...demand goes down. I obviously wait on tickets for Bowl games, as the teams aren't announced until a later date.

Pictures. It is important to always show seat locations via a venue map. If you are selling football tickets for example, then you might want to show the view from their seat location. A good site for getting this type of pictures is SeatData.com, which is only $9.95 for the year.

Pictures of the actual tickets. I have read a few guides that say you must scan and post a picture of the actual tickets. I say NO. I have NEVER done this, why?, because this is the easiest way for someway to commit fraud. On each ticket there is a bar-code. Each ticket is different. If this picture is lifted from your auction, a duplicate ticket could be made. When you enter the event, the ticket is scanned and only one patron will be admitted per ticket. You can see what would happen if many tickets were made with the same bar-code. If you feel you MUST show a scan of the tickets "edit out" the bar-code with photoshop or similiar photo editing software.

Use prefilled information. On the eBay listing page there is always a box that says: "Pre-filled item info:" Use this everytime if possible. Type in the event name, and/or venue and date. It will search it's database and plug in all the specifics for that event. It helps for searches on eBay when completed. You can then fill in the specifics (row, section). It also adds a clickable map for the venue the event is at.

Listing Duration. I like to use a 3 day listing. Others will argue that a 1 day listing or 7 day listing is best. Here is my opinion. I don't think a one day auction gives you enough exposure. If you have the hottest tickets for a show, list them for longer. However I feel seven days is too long. There are people that want them NOW and panic and will use a Buy it Now auction or buy from auctions of 3 or 5 days. I think ticket buyers have a short attention span.

Buy it Now - YES OR NO? I have used this before and still do. It is a judgement call. If there are many auctions with similar seats I may tend to use a BIN. Post them and get rid of them. However if you have one of kind, front row center, you could sell yourself short. I usually set a BIN price that I would be happy with, even if someone with lesser seats gets more. If you do use the Buy It Now feature, also use "Immediate Payment Required" otherwise they could end your auction, stiff you for a week and then your tickets are worth less.

Starting price. Many people would argue with this, but my preference is to start your auction at face value or slightly less. If I paid $210.50 for a pair of tickets I may start them at $199.95. The buyer sees the value in that. If you have nerves of steel start them at $9.95 and save some listing fees. This will probably get more hits and many more bids right away. Once again, judgement call.

Seat Location. I DO NOT list the actual seat numbers. If someone emails me I will give them a general location..seats between 2-8. This gives the buyer some privacy and also prevents scams. I do however list the row, section etc.

Details. Stick to the facts and don't miss the details. Day of show, place, ticket location. Make sure you post your policies, do you take returns (I suggest NO, unless the show is cancelled), how much for shipping, can I pick the tickets up?, payment methods (Don't take personal checks!). Make sure you spelling is correct.

e-tickets. I usually buy actual tickets or "hard tickets" mainly because I buy them at a terminal. etickets are becoming increasingly popular. If I wrote this guide a year ago I would have said DO NOT buy e-tickets, but now am changing my view. Although they are easier to scam/duplicate etc, they are also easier to ship...ie just email them to the winner. Try buying a pair during a presale and see how they sell compared to "hard tickets". Do some research online and judge for yourself.

Always answer emails and questions. Make sure to ALWAYS answer you customer questions in a timely manner. If it's a question you think you may be asked several times, check the post to auction box on your reply.

BE HONEST!! One of the most important things I have found is that honesty IS always the best policy. Don't say in your auction "Great view of the stage" if they are not. If you make a mistake in your listing and you have bids, amend or end the auction. Do not leave a buyer with sour grapes or they will leave you with negative feedback.

I hope you have learned a lot from this post and wish you luck in your potential new venture. There is a lot of money to be made with tickets, don't miss out.

Remember to always have fun and enjoy what you do!