A reader called the Herald inquiring if she should use the same eBay user name to sell items that she has been using to buy.

By all means, this is a great thing to do, and preferable to handling two accounts. Not only do you build up a reputation in both areas, you also build up your feedback record, as all feedback points, whether received as a buyer or as a seller, are applied to the one user name.

But what’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually. This is your opportunity to choose a name that suits you and your personality, your business, your hobby and possibly your sense of humor. It’s important to consider how serious you want to get into selling, and whether you have a user name that is appropriate to both buying and selling.

My own eBay user name is “misuryan.” This was derived from the first two letters of my husband’s and my first names (Mike and Susan), plus our last name (Ryan). We didn’t really know how to pronounce it, until a customer made the connection with the state we live in. It is now officially pronounced “Missourian,” and led to my choice of eBay store name — “Missourian Mercantile.”

Let’s say your user name as a buyer is “bargainfinder.” This, of course, can apply to both buyers and sellers. The names “sewingfan” or “sportsnut” convey hobbies and personalities, and are suitable for buyers and/or sellers. But a name such as “cheapskate,” while good for a buyer, doesn’t bode as well for a seller. Neither do names with sexual references. And anything involving “666” is not a good choice — for a buyer or a seller.

The point is, if you want to deal in both areas, then remember that your user name should not be offensive to others or limiting to yourself. When you begin selling, you are operating as a business, and you do not want to turn away customers because of a poor choice of user name. Let your common sense kick in. If you are still in doubt, ask others.

Say you have decided that your user name is no longer appropriate and you want to change it. All you need to do is go to “My Account,” select “Personal Information,” and then hit “edit” for the User ID. All your feedback will be transferred to the new user name, so there is no loss of points or comments. The only potential loss is people who are used to looking for the old name, so you will want to make this change before you get very far into selling.

Using the same user name for both buying and selling also helps you convey a more rounded eBay presence to the others you deal with, especially when selling. For example, a seller often shops on eBay for the same reason you do — to find a great bargain. Now, he or she may turn around and resell the merchandise, or perhaps he or she is filling out a personal collection of “keepers.” Either way, this seller who is buying on eBay is establishing a rapport with other sellers by being an active customer. This seller learns first-hand how other sellers handle postage rates, packaging and page display.

A bit of experience as a seller can often help a buyer in more ways than stacking up feedback. A buyer/seller is often a bit bolder in negotiating shipping terms and requesting discounts for larger lots. But don’t be ridiculous. If you want your request to be seriously considered, then be realistic about it.

Next week we’ll take a look at eBay stores — one of the auction site’s best kept secrets — and how to shop in them.

In the meantime, happy eBaying!

Susan Ryan is a power seller on eBay. Send questions or comments to debby@joplinherald.com or call 627-7262.