A simple tool to make your auctions look great

Locust Fork

HTML codes are how things are broken into paragraphs, along with other things like bold print, colors and such. If you see an auction that is a HUGE BLOCK of words it can be confusing to anyone reading it.....especially if it includes things that are not pertinent to the description of the item.

<p> </p>

That little symbol is the most important little thing you can use. Put that at the START of what you are typing AND AT THE END of the block and it will let you put space between the next block of words you want in your listing.

These brackets are used for several different things..... <b> is BOLD <li> will give you a little dot or tab

1 Blue. <b><font size="3" color="blue">Your Text Here</font>
2 Red. <b><font size="3" color="red">Your Text Here</font>


The <p> is the easiest little tool to start out trying to get your auctions looking like you want. After you get that perfected you can play around with things and it can lead to all sorts of fun.


If you find yourself typing the same thing into your listings over and over again you can save a blank with what you include in your listing and fill in the details for each item as you post your sales.




Here is what my "blank" looks like.....

<li>Manufacturer: <p>
<li>Model: <p>
<li>Action: <p>
<li>Caliber: <p>
<li>Bore: <p>
<li>Barrel Length: <p>
<li>Finish: <p>
<li>Grips/Stock: <p>

<li>Notes: <p></b>

<b><font size="3" color="red">Please click on the above link and read ADDITIONAL TERMS of sale for important information related to all of our auctions. </font><br>


<b><font size="4" color="blue">The pictures show everything that is included...if you do not see it in the pictures we do NOT have it, this includes any boxes, parts, extras, paperwork.</font></b>

<br>
<p>THIS IS A PENNY AUCTION WITH NO RESERVE!<p>

asop

Great looking auctions are those with many bids, no reserve, no extra charge for cc payments and cheap shipping[}:)]

oldWinchesterfan

Thanks Kasey, great info. Although everything I've sold on GB was through you, I'm gonna hang on th this in case I ever list anything myself. I've wondered why some auctions were so well formatted and easy to read.....and others were not.

Thanks again!

Horse Plains Drifter

That is good info, sadly if will fall on many deaf/blind ears/eyes. When I see an auction description, or a forum post with a big solid block of nonsense, I simply click the back button. No point in me wasting ANY of my life sorting out what some poster could have straightened out from the start.

Locust Fork

I'm always happy to help.

Running auctions is a lot of work, but if you have the system to deal with a lot of what goes on it can be a bit easier.

I think some people get intimidated by computers and it makes some things seem harder than they really are. I don't like learning new things because it seems like whoever is teaching me what I need to know thinks I know a lot more than I do.....which leads to me feeling a bit overwhelmed at times.

Gun Broker has pre-done pages that are really nice too. The main thing I think people could use is the paragraph separations. If you can block the info you need off into sections it helps clear things up really well.

Locust Fork

quote:Originally posted by asop
Great looking auctions are those with many bids, no reserve, no extra charge for cc payments and cheap shipping[}:)]


Spoken like someone that will be totally SHOCKED when all there is left to buy anything from are big corporate outfits and big box stores. You'll get to tell your grandkids about the days when "gun stores" existed that weren't like a sporting good version of Dollar General.