Que absolute beginners guide to EBay 4th edition may 2006 ISBN 078973561x

AbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoeBay:FourthEdition
ByMichaelMiller
...............................................
Publisher:Que
PubDate:May15,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3561-X
PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3561-4
Pages:384

TableofContents|Index

eBay,theworld'slargestonlinetradingcommunity,hasover125millionregisteredusers.
AccordingtotheNewYorkTimes,morethan500,000peoplemakeafull-orpart-time
livingoneBay.Onanygivendaytherearecloseto4millionitemslistedforauctiononthe
eBaysite.WanttomakeyourmarkontheeBayworld?

AbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoeBay,4thEdition,istheperfectguidetohelpyouconquer
yourfirstauction.Thefirstthreeeditionsofthisbookwerehugesellers,soit'sonly
naturalwewouldupdatethisgreatbooktoreflecteBay'smostrecentupgradesand
enhancements.ThisneweditioniscompletelyrevampedtocoverthewayeBayisused
today.It'smorethanjustonlineauctions--usersalsobuyandsellviafixed-pricelistings,
BuyItNow,eBayStores,Half.com,TradingAssistants,andmore.Youwillfindeverything
theyneedtoknowtogetstartedinthisbook!


AbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoeBay:FourthEdition
ByMichaelMiller
...............................................
Publisher:Que
PubDate:May15,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3561-X

PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3561-4
Pages:384

TableofContents|Index

Copyright
AbouttheAuthor
Acknowledgments
WeWanttoHearfromYou!
ReaderServices
Introduction
PartI:WelcometoeBay
Chapter1.UnderstandingtheeBayMarketplace
WhateBayIsAndHowItCameToBe
DifferentWaystoBuyandSelloneBay
HoweBayAuctionsWork
WhatYouCanAndCan'tTradeoneBay
What'sWhat(andWhat'sWhere)oneBay

Chapter2.JoiningUpandGettingStarted
EverybodyDoesIt:FillingOuteBay'sRegistrationForm
TheCostsofUsingeBay
ProtectingYourselffromPhishingScams
GettingStarted
PartII:UsingeBay'sEssentialTools
Chapter3.UnderstandingandUsingFeedback
WhatDoAllThoseStarsandNumbersMean?
ReadingFeedbackCommentsAndContactingOtherUsers
HowtoLeaveFeedback
FiguringOutWhatKindofFeedbacktoLeave

DealingwithNegativeFeedback
Chapter4.ResearchingProductswithReviewsandGuides
ReadingtheReviewsandGuides
WritingYourOwnReviewsandGuides
Chapter5.ManagingYoureBayActivitywithMyeBay
AccessingandUsingMyeBay
ManagingandPersonalizingMyeBay
Chapter6.CreatingYourOwnPersonalAboutMePage
IntroducingtheAboutMePage
CreatingYourOwnAboutMePage
PublicizingYoureBayAuctionswithAboutMe
PartIII:BuyingMerchandiseoneBay
Chapter7.SearchingforItemstoBuy
BrowsingorSearchingWhichOneIsforYou?
Browsing:TheEasy(?)WaytoFindThings
Searching:ThePowerfulWaytoFindThings
WantItNow?ThenAskforIt!
Chapter8.BiddinginOnlineAuctions
UnderstandingtheBiddingProcess
HowtoReadanItemListing
BeforeYouBid
JustDoItPlacingaBid
BiddinginOtherTypesofAuctions
WhattoDoAfterYou'veBid
FiveCommonBiddingMistakes
YouWon!NowWhat?
Chapter9.BuyingFixed-PriceItems
GetItQuickwithBuyItNow

BuyItEasierwitheBayExpress
DoYourShoppingateBayStores
JustLikeAmazon:Half.com
Chapter10.PayingforYourPurchaseandWaitingforIttoArrive
MakingContactwiththeSeller
CalculatingtheFinalPrice
PayingforYourItem
WaitingforYourDoorbelltoRing…
ReceivingtheGoods
FinishingThingsUpandLeavingFeedback
Chapter11.ProtectingYourselffromShadySellers

ProtectingYourselfBeforeYouBuy
ProtectingYourselfAftertheAuction
ReportingInappropriateBehavior
TipsforProtectingYourselfoneBay
Chapter12.SnipingtoWin
WhatSnipingIsandHowItWorks
Sniping:ProsandCons
SuccessfulSniping,Step-by-Step
UsingAutomatedSnipingServicesandSoftware
Chapter13.SecretsofSuccessfulBidders
SecretsforFindingWhatYouWant
SecretsforWinningtheAuctionAtaReasonablePrice
SecretsforSaferBidding
SecretsThatAnyBidderCanUse
PartIV:SellingMerchandiseoneBay
Chapter14.BeforeYouSell:DoYourHomework!
ResearchingtheMarket
FindingItemstoSell
PickingtheRightCategory
SettingtheRightPrice
Chapter15.SellingItemsviaOnlineAuction
GettingReadytoList
GettingStarted:CreatinganItemListing
SellingCommonlySoldItemswithPre-FilledItemInformation
DealingwithDifferentTypesofAuctions
ManagingYourItemListing
FiveCommonSellingMistakes
TheAuction'sOver!NowWhat?

Chapter16.SellingItemsataFixedPrice
AddFixed-PriceSellingtoYourAuctionswithBuyItNow
CreatingFixed-PriceListingsNoBiddingRequired
Fixed-PriceSellingwithaneBayStore
Fixed-PriceSellingonHalf.com
FindingBuyerswithWantItNow
Chapter17.CreatingMoreEffectiveItemListings
WriteaTitleThatSELLS!
WritetheRightDescription
MakingtheGrade
ApplyCoolTemplateswitheBay'sListingDesigner

CreateFancyListingswithListing-CreationTools
FormatYourListingswithHTML
Chapter18.UsingPicturesinYourListings
TakeaPictureOrMakeaScan
EdittheImageFile
UploadYourImageFiletotheInternetOrUseeBayPictureServices
Chapter19.AcceptingPayPalandOtherMethodsofPayment
AcceptingCreditCardsviaPayPal
AcceptingMoneyOrdersandCashier'sChecks
AcceptingPersonalChecks
AcceptingC.O.D.Payments
AcceptingCash
WhichWayIsBest?
Chapter20.AutomatingYourListingswitheBayTurboLister
DownloadingandConfiguringtheTurboListerSoftware
CreatinganItemListing
CreatingListingsforCommonlySoldItems
UploadingYourListings
Chapter21.AftertheSale:ConcludingtheTransaction
ThePost-AuctionProcess
CommunicatingwiththeWinningBidder
AcceptingPayment
PackingandShipping
FinishingThingsUpandLeavingFeedback
HandlingBuyerComplaintsandProblems
WhatIfYouDon'tSellYourItem?
WhatIftheBuyerDoesn'tPay?
Chapter22.ManagingYourSaleswitheBaySellingManager

IntroducingeBaySellingManagerandSellingManagerPro
SendingBuyerEmails
ReceivingPayment
PrintingInvoicesandShippingLabels
AftertheItemIsShipped
Chapter23.PackingandShippingYourItemsCheaplyandSafely
Packing101
Labeling101
Shipping101
Chapter24.DealingwithNon-PayingBuyers
HowtoHandleBumBuyers

ContactinganUnresponsiveBidder
FilinganUnpaidItemDispute
AskingeBaytoRefundYourFees
LeavingNegativeFeedback
GivingOtherBiddersaSecondChance
RelistingYourItem
Chapter25.LettingaTradingAssistantSellYourItemsforYou
FindingaTradingAssistant

WhattoExpectfromaConsignmentSale
Chapter26.SecretsofSuccessfulSellers
SecretsforSellingandPromotingYourItems
SecretsforCreatingMoreEffectiveItemListings
SecretsforManagingYourAuctions
SecretsforAftertheAuction
SecretsforAnyeBaySeller
PartV:BecomingaPowerSeller
Chapter27.UsingSellingManagementSoftwareandServices
SellingManagementSoftware
SellingManagementServices
Chapter28.SellingInternationally
ProsandConsofSellingInternationally
SellingOutsidetheU.S.
eBay'sInternationalMarketplaces
Chapter29.OpeningaTradingAssistantBusiness
HowtoBecomeaneBayTradingAssistant
SettingUpShopandSettingPrices
RunningYourTradingAssistantBusiness
Chapter30.MakingaLivingfromeBay
BecominganeBayPowerSeller
TurningYourOnlineAuctionsintoaRealBusiness
MaintainingYourSalesInventory
AutomatingYourAuctionActivities
TrackingRevenuesandCosts
PromotingYourOnlineAuctions
Index


Copyright

AbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoeBay®4thEdition
Copyright©2006byQuePublishing
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookshallbereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedbyanymeans,
electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Nopatent
liabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.Althougheveryprecautionhasbeentakenin
thepreparationofthisbook,thepublisherandauthorassume
noresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Norisanyliability
assumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2006922244
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
FirstPrinting:April2006
090807064321

Trademarks
Alltermsmentionedinthisbookthatareknowntobe
trademarksorservicemarkshavebeenappropriately
capitalized.QuePublishingcannotattesttotheaccuracyofthis
information.Useofaterminthisbookshouldnotberegarded
asaffectingthevalidityofanytrademarkorservicemark.
eBayisaregisteredtrademarkofeBay,Inc.


WarningandDisclaimer
Everyefforthasbeenmadetomakethisbookascompleteand
asaccurateaspossible,butnowarrantyorfitnessisimplied.
Theinformationprovidedisonan"asis"basis.Theauthorand

thepublishershallhaveneitherliabilitynorresponsibilitytoany
personorentitywithrespecttoanylossordamagesarising
fromtheinformationcontainedinthisbook.

BulkSales
QuePublishingoffersexcellentdiscountsonthisbookwhen
orderedinquantityforbulkpurchasesorspecialsales.For
moreinformation,pleasecontact
U.S.CorporateandGovernmentSales
1-800-382-3419

ForsalesoutsideoftheU.S.,pleasecontact:
InternationalSales

AssociatePublisher
GregWiegand
AcquisitionsEditor
MichelleNewcomb
DevelopmentEditors
SeanDixon
RickKughen


ManagingEditor
CharlotteClapp
ProjectEditor
MandieFrank
Indexer
KenJohnson
Proofreader

PaulaLowell
TechnicalEditor
JennaLloyd
PublishingCoordinator
SharryLeeGregory
BookDesigner
AnneJones
PageLayout
JulieParks

Dedication
ToSherry.Finally.




AbouttheAuthor
MichaelMillerisaasuccessfulandprolificauthor,andatop
eBayseller.Hehasareputationforpractical,real-worldadvice
andanunerringempathyfortheneedsofhisreaders.
Mr.Millerhaswrittenmorethan75nonfictionbooksoverthe
past17years,forQueandothermajorpublishers.Hisbooks
forQueincludeEasyeBay,eBayAuctionTemplatesStarterKit,
TricksoftheeBayMasters,MakingaLivingfromYoureBay
Business,andAbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoComputerBasics.
Heisknownforhiscasual,easy-to-readwritingstyleandhis
abilitytoexplainawidevarietyofcomplextopicstoan
everydayaudience.
Youcane-mailMr.MillerdirectlyatHiswebsiteislocatedat
www.molehillgroup.com,andhiseBayuserIDis

trapperjohn2000.


Acknowledgments
ThankstotheusualsuspectsatQue,includingbutnotlimited
toGregWiegand,MichelleNewcomb,SeanDixon,Mandie
Frank,CharlotteClapp,RickKughen,andJennaLloyd.


WeWanttoHearfromYou!
Asthereaderofthisbook,youareourmostimportantcritic
andcommentator.Wevalueyouropinionandwanttoknow
whatwe'redoingright,whatwecoulddobetter,whatareas
you'dliketoseeuspublishin,andanyotherwordsofwisdom
you'rewillingtopassourway.
AsanassociatepublisherforQue,Iwelcomeyourcomments.
Youcane-mailorwritemedirectlytoletmeknowwhatyoudid
ordidn'tlikeaboutthisbookaswellaswhatwecandotomake
ourbooksbetter.
PleasenotethatIcannothelpyouwithtechnicalproblems
relatedtothetopicofthisbook.WedohaveaUserServices
group,however,whereIwillforwardspecifictechnical
questionsrelatedtothebook.
Whenyouwrite,pleasebesuretoincludethisbook'stitleand
author,aswellasyourname,e-mailaddress,andphone
number.Iwillcarefullyreviewyourcommentsandsharethem
withtheauthorandeditorswhoworkedonthebook.

Email:
Mail:

GregWiegand
QuePublishing
800East96thStreet
Indianapolis,IN46240USA


ReaderServices
Visitourwebsiteandregisterthisbookat
www.quepublishing.com/registerforconvenientaccesstoany
updates,downloads,orerratathatmightbeavailableforthis
book.


Introduction
eBayisatruephenomenon.
In2005,eBaytransactionsdefinedaneweconomyworthmore
than$44billion.Readthatnumberagain;it'snotamisprint.
Forty-fourbilliondollars.That's$44billioninsalesthatdidn't
existbeforeeBay.Forty-fourbilliondollarsoftransactionsthat
appearedseeminglyoutofthinair.Forty-fourbilliondollarsin
merchandisethatwouldn'thavebeensoldotherwise.
Wheredidthat$44billioncomefrom?Itcamefromyouand
frommeandfrom180millionotherpeoplearoundtheworld
whologontotheeBaysitetobuyandtosellallmannerof
merchandise.BeforeeBay,therewasnoglobalmarketplacefor
the180millionofus;therewasnowaytobuyandtosellthat
$44billionofmerchandise,exceptforsmalllocalgaragesales
andfleamarkets.
eBaymadethat$44billionhappen.eBaybrought180millionof

ustogether.
Indoingso,eBaybecameoneofthefirstandmaybetheonlyof
theonlinebusinessestomakeaprofitfromdayoneofits
existence.eBaykeptitscostslowbynotactuallyhandlingany
ofthemerchandisetradedonitssite,andgeneratedrevenue
bycharginglistingfeesandsalescommissionsonevery
transaction.
Smartpeople,withasmartconcept.
Andhere'ssomebodyelsewho'ssmartabouteBay:
You.
You'resmartbecauseyouboughtthisbooktohelpyoulearn


howtobuyandsellmerchandiseontheeBaysite.Youknow
thatyouneedtolearnhoweBayworksbeforeyoucanstart
buyingandselling,andyoualsoknowthatalittleextra
knowledgecangiveyoutheedgeyouneedtobearealauction
winner.
AbsoluteBeginner'sGuidetoeBay,4thEdition,willhelpyouget
startedwitheBayauctionsevenifyou'veneverboughtanything
onlineinyourlife.Readthisbookandyou'lllearnhowtobid
andhowtosell,andwhattodowhentheauctionends.
Moreimportant,you'lllearnhowtomaximizeyourchancesof
winningimportanteBayauctionswithoutpayingthroughthe
nose.Andifyou'reaseller,you'lllearnhowtostandoutfrom
thecrowdandgeneratemorebidsandhighersellingprices.
You'llalsolearnthatbuyingandsellingoneBayisn'tthathard,
andthatitcanbealotoffun.You'llevendiscoverthatyoucan
actuallymakealivingfromyoureBayactivities,ifyoudon't
mindalittlehardwork.

Really!

HowThisBookIsOrganized
Thisbookisorganizedintofivemainparts:
PartI,"WelcometoeBay,"showsyouhowtheeBay
marketplaceworks,aswellashowtosignupforeBay
membershipandfindyourwayaroundtheeBaysite.
PartII,"UsingeBay'sEssentialTools,"isallaboutthe
featuresandtoolsnecessarytogetthemostoutofbuying
andsellingoneBay.You'lldiscoverhowtotrackyour
auctionsinMyeBay,createapersonalAboutMepage,read
andcreateproductreviewsandguides,andutilizeeBay's


post-auctionfeedback.
PartIII,"BuyingMerchandiseoneBay,"tellsyou
everythingyouneedtoknowaboutbiddingforitemsin
eBayauctions,aswellasbuyingfixed-priceitemsinthe
eBaymarketplace.You'lllearnhowtosearchforitemsto
buy,howtobidinonlineauctions,howtofindandpurchase
fixed-priceditemsfromeBayStoresandHalf.com,howto
payforyourpurchases,howtoplacelast-second"snipes"
towineBayauctions,andhowtoavoidgettingrippedoffby
unscrupuloussellers.
PartIV,"SellingMerchandiseoneBay,"istheflipside
ofthecoin.Thissectiontellsyoueverythingyouneedto
knowaboutsellingoneBay;you'lllearnhowtocreate
auctionlistings,sellitemsforafixedprice,determinewhat
paymentmethodstoaccept,packandshipyour
merchandise,andbestmanageallyoursellingactivity.

PartV,"BecomingaPowerSeller,"isforthereally
ambitiouseBayuser.You'lllearnhowtomanageyour
auctionswiththird-partysoftwareandservices,selland
shipinternationally,openaTradingAssistantBusiness,and
howtoturnyourhobbyintoafull-timeprofessionandmake
areallivingfromyoureBayauctions.
Takentogether,the30chaptersinthisbookwillhelpyouget
themostfromyoureBayexperience.Bythetimeyougettothe
endofthefinalchapter,you'llbebuyingandsellingonlinejust
likeapro!

ConventionsUsedinThisBook
Ihopethatthisbookiseasyenoughtofigureoutonitsown,
withoutrequiringitsowninstructionmanual.Asyouread


throughthepages,however,ithelpstoknowpreciselyhowI've
presentedspecifictypesofinformation.

WebPageAddresses
TherearealotofWebpageaddressesinthisbookincluding
addressesforspecificpagesontheeBaysite.They'renotedas
such:
www.molehillgroup.com
Technically,aWebpageaddressissupposedtostartwith
http://(asin).BecauseInternet
ExplorerandotherWebbrowsersautomaticallyinsertthispiece
oftheaddress,however,youdon'thavetotypeitandIhaven't
includeditinanyoftheaddressesinthisbook.

SpecialElements
Thisbookalsoincludesafewspecialelementsthatprovide
additionalinformationnotincludedinthebasictext.These
elementsaredesignedtosupplementthetexttomakeyour
learningfaster,easier,andmoreefficient.
Finally,invariouspartsofthisbookyou'llfindbigchecklists.
Usethesecheckliststopreparefortheupcomingtaskjustcheck
offtheitemsonthelist,andyou'llbereadytogo.

Note
Anoteisdesignedtoprovideinformationthatis
generallyusefulbutnotspecificallynecessaryfor
whatyou'redoingatthemoment.Somenotesare
likeextendedtipsinteresting,butnotessential.


Caution
Acautionwilltellyoutobewareofapotentially
dangerousactorsituation.Insomecases,ignoringa
cautioncouldcauseyousignificantproblemssopay
attentiontothem!

"MikeSez"
Thiselementismypersonalopinionor
recommendationregardingthetopicathand.
RememberImightnotalwaysberight,butI'llalways
haveanopinion!

Tip

Atipisapieceofadvicealittletrick,actuallythathelps
youuseyourcomputermoreeffectivelyormaneuver
aroundproblemsorlimitations.

FurtherReading
I'dbesomewhatremissifIdidn'tpointyoutofurtherreading
onthesubjectofeBayinparticular,booksyoucanreadafter
thisonetohelpyoubeevenmoresuccessfulwithyoureBay
auctions.Tothisend,Idrawyourattentiontoseveralother
booksI'vewrittenthatyoumightfinduseful:
EasyeBay(Que,2005),afour-color,step-by-stepguidefor
easilyintimidatedeBaynewbies
eBayAuctionTemplatesStarterKit(Que,2006),abookand-CDcombothatshowsyouhowtocreateeye-popping
auctionlistings,byusingeitherready-to-useauction
templatesorbycreatingyourowntemplateswithHTML.
TricksoftheeBayMasters,2ndEdition(Que,2006),which
assembles600tricksandtipsfromalmosttwohundred
successfuleBaybuyersandsellersgreatadvicethatany
eBayercanuse.
MakingaLivingfromYoureBayBusiness(Que,2005),
whichshowsyouhowtoturnyoureBayhobbyintoa


profitablebusiness.(Thisone'smoreofabusinessbook
thananeBaybookjustwhatyouneedtoturnpro!)

LetMeKnowWhatYouThink
Ialwayslovetohearfromreaders.Ifyouwanttocontactme,
feelfreetoe-mailmeatIcan't

promisethatI'llanswereverymessage,butIwillpromisethat
I'llreadeachone!
IfyouwanttolearnmoreaboutmeandanynewbooksIhave
cooking,checkoutmyMolehillGroupwebsiteat
www.molehillgroup.com.Whoknowsyoumightfindsomeother
bookstherethatyou'dliketoread.




PartI:WelcometoeBay


UnderstandingtheeBayMarketplace



JoiningUpandGettingStarted


Chapter1.UnderstandingtheeBay
Marketplace
INTHISCHAPTER
WhateBayIsAndHowDidItCometoBe?
DifferentWaystoBuyandSelloneBay
HoweBayAuctionsWork
WhatYouCanAndCan'tTradeoneBay
What'sWhat(andWhat'sWhere)oneBay
Whatisityouneed?
Anewcomputerprinter?AvintageGermanmilitaryhelmet?An

authenticpropfromyourfavoritemovie?Aspecifictradingcard
orcomicbookorBarbiedoll?Howaboutsomejewelry,oran
antiquedesk,oranewwintercoat,ormaybeaDVDplayer?Or,
perhaps,youhaveoneoftheseitemsthatyouwouldliketo
sell?
Whateveryou'rebuyingorselling,there'soneplacetodo
iteBay.


WhateBayIsAndHowItCameToBe
WhatiseBay?Ithinkthesite'sofficialmissionstatementdoes
agoodjobofsummingupwhateBayisallabout:
eBay'smissionistoprovideaglobaltradingplatformwhere
practicallyanyonecantradepracticallyanything.
WhateBaydoesissimple:Itfacilitatesthebuyingandsellingof
merchandisebetweenusers,overtheInternet.Most(butnot
all)ofeBay'stransactionstakeplaceusingatypeofonline
auction,whereinterestedbuyersbidonitemsthatsellershave
forsale.eBayitselfdoesn'tbuyorsellanything;itcarriesno
inventoryandcollectsnopayments.eBayisjustthemiddleman
inthesellingprocess,hookingupbuyersandsellersaroundthe
worldandcollectingfeesfordoingso.

TheeBayStory
eBaywasoneofthefirstonlineauctionsitesontheInternet,
launchedwaybackonLaborDayof1995.Italmostsinglehandedlypioneeredtheconceptofonlineauctionsand,indoing
so,carvedoutthedominantmarketshare.(Italsomadealot
ofmoneyforthosewhoinvestedinthefirmespeciallyinthe
earlyyears.)
Astheofficialstorygoes,founderPierreOmidyarlaunched

eBayastheresultofaconversationwithhisthen-girlfriend
(nowwife),whowasanavidcollectorofPEZdispensers.She
supposedlycommentedtoPierreabouthowgreatitwouldbeif
shewereabletocollectPEZdispensersusingtheInternet.
PierredidherafavoranddevelopedasmallPEZ-dispenser
tradingsite,originallycalledAuctionWeb.


Thissmallsitequicklybecameabigsite.Pierrestartedcharging
usersasmallfeetolistitems,tohelppayhisexpenses.The
daythatPierreopenedhismailboxandsaw$10,000worthof
feeswasthedayhequithisdayjobandmadeeBayafull-time
proposition.
Becauseofitsfee-basedmodel,eBayisthatrarewebsitethat
mademoneyfromdayone.ThatmadeeBayanattractive
candidateforventurecapitalinvestmentandeventualIPO;the
companydid,infact,gopublicin1998,anditmadealotof
people(includingPierre)alotofmoney.
TodayeBayisoneofthemostsuccessfulInternetbusinessesin
theworld,makingalittlebitofmoneyoneachofthemillionsof
transactionsthattakeplaceeveryday.Ittrulyisthenumberoneplacetobuyandsellanytypeofitemonline.

HowBigIseBay?
HowbigiseBay?Justlookatthesestatistics:
Onanygivenday,eBayhasmorethan36millionitems
listedforauction.
Asoftheendof2005,eBayhadmorethan180million
registeredusersalmost72millionofwhomare"active"
users(havingbid,bought,orsoldsomethinginthelast
twelvemonths).

Duringtheentireyearof2005,$44.3billionworthof
merchandisewastradedovereBay30%morethaninthe
previousyear.
AllthisactivitymakeseBaynotonlythebiggestshoppingsite
ontheInternet,butalsothelargestonlinecommunityofany


typebiggerthanYahoo!,Google,orAmericaOnline.
Andthat'snotsmallpotatoes.