Ebay and other online auction powerselling tips and information

eBay Live: Overview
eBay Live is the annual 3-day event where thousands of eBay Community members, industry experts, and exhibitors get together to share the secrets of success, network, make new friends, and celebrate everything eBay. Attendees learn how to take their eBay experience to a higher level all day, then party into the night with world-class entertainment. This year, the event takes place in Las Vegas from June 13-15 (http://pages.ebay.com/ebaylive). Highlights of this year's conference include:

• eBay President and CEO Meg Whitman discussing the future of eBay
• Special Guest Speaker Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
• Headliner Entertainment Huey Lewis & the News at the Big Gala

Classes & Exhibit Hall
If you registered for eBay Live, you can log in to the eBay Live website, read information about the classes, and build an agenda. There is also an Exhibit Hall at eBay Live called the Solutions Center Expo Hall where you can meet eBay staff and third-party vendors (http://pages.ebay.com/ebaylive/exhibitors_list.html).

Janelle Elms will be at the Education Booth in the Expo Hall on Tuesday from 8 am to noon and will be teaching several classes throughout the three days, including sessions about eBay Stores, Turbo Lister and selling internationally. Janelle will also be participating in the "Meet the Authors" event on Wednesday, June 14 at 1pm at the lobby of the Mandalay Bay hotel (http://digbig.com/4hxqq).

If You Can't Attend eBay Live
eBay is now publishing an official blog called "The Chatter," where employees will be blogging about the eBay Live conference (http://www.ebaychatter.com). And eBay Radio will be broadcasting interviews from the exhibit hall floor (http://www.wsRadio.com/eBayRadio).

AuctionBytes is publishing its fifth eBay Live coverage section with articles, photos, video and a blog (http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/ebaylive2006). Watch for daily video roundups so you feel like you are there yourself!

What to Bring to eBay Live
Here are some of Janelle's ideas on what to bring to the conference.

• backpack/wheeled one
• very comfortable shoes
• tad nicer outfit for the gala
• clothes with your name ALL over them for marketing purposes
• calendar of events
• camera
• sunscreen - it will be around 100 degrees
• bottled water (you can buy when you get to Las Vegas, but they are a bit expensive)
• business cards & other marketing items
• empty suitcase
• laptop - but leave in room

Networking is a critical component of every trade show - get out there and talk to people! eBay has created ways to help attendees network with each other, you can read more here (http://pages.ebay.com/ebaylive/activities.html). And here are ideas on how to market your eBay business while you are there.

• Business cards
• apparel
• postcards
• your product
• presentation folders
• pins (track Janelle down at eBay Live for a free pin that you can use to trade with)

Getting Around Las Vegas
When you get to baggage claim at the airport, look up for the signs directing you to various doorways. Through these doorways you will be able to take a shuttle, a taxi, and even a limo to your hotel for eBay Live.

Note: If you are staying at Ballys, Flamingo, the Hilton, Caesars Palace, New York NY, Paris or MGM Grand, you can check into your hotel in the baggage claim area. These hotel check-in locations are located around the perimeter of the baggage area.

Airport Shuttles:
There are approximately six shuttle companies that can get you from the airport to your hotel. They average between $5-7 per person depending upon how far you are going (or $8-10 for a round trip ticket). My recommendation...here is one place you should splurge. The shuttles wait until they are mostly full before they leave, and then they have various stops along the way. This can mean waiting up to an hour before you get to your hotel. No matter where you are going, it always seems like your stop is last.

Taxi
Instead, head to the taxi line, which will look long, but it moves quick. (Tip: there is a smoking line and a non-smoking line, pick appropriately.) A taxi cab ride will run you around $15 to $20. This does not include a tip. Since they handle all 6 of my bags (hey, I am a girl) and give me hot tips on the best places to eat, I usually tip 15-20 percent.

Limo
My favorite trick in Vegas is to arrive at my hotel in a limo. The limo is $38 before tip (cash only, they do not take credit cards any longer). However, there is never a line to get a limo, the drivers are wealth of knowledge about what do (& not to do) in Vegas, they usually have cold water waiting inside, and (here is the best part), it is not $38 per person. Round up a couple of your new eBay Live friends you met on the plane, or while waiting for your luggage and share a limo. With six of you, that is only $9 per person with tip!! Make sure you get their business card for one of your nights out on the town.

Tram:
There are 3 trams on the Vegas strip. The tram at the end of the strip where eBay Live is being held is called the Mandalay Bay - Excalibur Tram. Heading south-bound, it starts at Excalibur and doesn't stop until Mandalay Bay. However, heading northbound, it includes a middle stop for the Luxor. The tram operates 24 hours a day and leaves the station every 3-7 minutes.

Everything You've Wanted to Know about Tipping in Las Vegas
Pretty much, if someone does anything for you in Vegas, they are expecting a tip...this is how they make their living. Your level of service throughout your trip will depend upon your tipping abilities. Here are some tips (no pun intended) to make your trip a smooth one.

• Cocktail Waitresses: Drinks are free while you're gambling - even in the penny slot area. I usually give the cocktail waitress a $1 each time she brings me a drink. If you want her to come around more often, tip bigger. Tip: You don't have to order a cocktail from them...they will bring you almost anything; bottled water, ice tea, lemonade, etc.
• Shuttle bus drivers: If you are taking the shuttle from the airport, typically you would tip $1-2 per bag. If you are just taking a shuttle between hotels, then I would recommend handing $1-2. to the driver.
• Bellman: $1 to $2 a bag is the norm. However, I usually also make sure I ask them all the questions I can think of...where's the thermostat, can you get me a bucket of ice, where is the room service menu (is it any good?), who should I ask for to get the best seats for the show...because they know! If you capitalize on your bellman's vast knowledge of all things Vegas, then give them a few bucks extra.
• Hotel maid: I leave a daily tip, usually $5 or so. (perhaps a bit more if you hosted an eBay party the night before in your room!) Since you will have many different people cleaning your room, don't leave one big tip at the end.
• Room Service: This is a tricky one. Some hotels include gratuity into your bill already, but still have a line for an additional tip. Make sure you aren't double tipping. I commonly tip around 15-20% for room service - just as I would in a restaurant. You can either add this onto your room charges or give them cash or chips directly.
• Buffet waiters/waitresses: Although the buffets do not have typical waiter and waitresses like the restaurants, I still tip them. Their job is to refill your drinks and remove dirty plates. Commonly $2-3 per person at the table is good.
• Cab Drivers: The traditional 15% will work for a cab ride, but many of these drivers are a wealth of knowledge. They know what is going on in Vegas, best places to shop, the restaurants the locals eat at, and even how to get tickets to a sold-out show. Tip them a few dollars more for the additional 411. If you are using a cab to get from one location to another in Vegas, use the taxi lines in front of the casino/hotel. They move pretty quickly. Don't forget to tip your doorman a couple of dollars for working hard on keeping that continuous line of taxi's coming.

eBay Live - Useful Links

eBay's Main Conference Page
http://pages.ebay.com/ebaylive

eBay Live Forum
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jspa?forumID=112

eBay Blog
http://www.ebaychatter.com

AuctionBytes' eBay Live Coverage
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/ebaylive2006

Meet the Authors
http://digbig.com/4hxqq

Map of Las Vegas Strip
http://www.vegas.com/map.html