Hints on how to sell on A'gon?

A lot of good ideas here...

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is packing - the bigger and heavier the item the bigger a concern it becomes. So I don't worry about power cables - I do worry about floorstanding speakers. FWIW I see original packing materials as the minimum standard since that stuff is not always designed to go more then once.

Take a look at how often the feedback here and elsewhere involves packing and prompt shipment - what else are you going to leave feedback about that is really helpful to the next guy?

I think it also helps to be prompt in replying to inquiries - there is a certain 'heat' or 'buzz' with a purchase and I feel that its important to strike while the fire is hot. Which leads me to a final point...

Get Paypal. If you want to charge for it fine, but at least have it available. Speeds up the whole deal. And as a seller it gets the money in your hands now - so when you mark the item sold or pending you don't have to wonder if you are ever going to get that money order...

I have about 60 transactions on A-gon, and I always try to talk by phone with the seller / buyer. If you provide a phone number with your ad, many buyers will call you, and I find that a short conversation tells me more about the person that reading an E-mail.

I try to offer things at as low of a price as possible, but within reason (i.e., 25 cents on the dollar is probably not very often going to be "within reason"). People love a bargain, and my stuff (not very much yet, but that could change at some point) has always sold fast.

Elizabeth makes a good point about packing. In every case that I received items that were damaged in shipment, the sellers (most of who had excellent feedback and lots if it) said it was all the shippers fault. That's BS most of the time. Packages get handled and dropped - that's a given, but if the items were packaged with the care Elizabeth describes, using boxes suited to the size/weight, it will eliminate 90% of the damage in shipment. Furthermore, the extra care required is a lot easier than dealing with claims and returns.