Does that mean that buyers are discouraged from doing business with brand-new sellers?



Not at all. All the sellers on consumer-to-consumer trading sites have started with zero ratings, including the ones whose usernames sport a host of positive ratings several months - or years - down the road. Unfortunately, there are scammers who try to cheat people by posting several high-value items for a short time, only to disappear forever after cleaning a pocket or two. The new sellers would do good to follow this advice from a long-time seller on one consumer-to-consumer marketplace"

"Try starting off by selling lower value items, like second hand items that are lying about the house that you don't need anymore, anything really, with which you can build up some ratings from. That way people can see that you are a genuine seller and not a fly-by-nighter. I suggest low value second hand items instead of buying cheap eBooks to get ratings because I've found scammers do this in order to fake having positive ratings."

It is also a good idea to start your selling career by buying, even if your intention was to sell from the word go. That is the best way to build your online reputation. True, the positive ratings you have received as a buyer are not the same species as the positive ratings given to a seller. However, your potential clients will at least have an idea who they are dealing with, which is better than starting from scratch. Besides, with buying experience under your belt, you will be understand better your customers when you start selling.

After all, trust has to be earned. Earn that trust by patiently collecting positive ratings. Some buyers will feel more comfortable with a new seller if payment on collection can be arranged - try to accommodate them. And do bear in mind that online marketplaces are a community of users. A new-comer has to be ready to be scrutinised by other community members before being accepted.

Other ways for novice sellers to build reputation is to answer promptly to buyers' questions, to always treat the customers politely and to ship the items sold on time. Customers will shower praise upon you if their parcel arrives on time or - even better - sooner than expected.