Selling on Ebay

Well I listed something for sale on eBay, which was one of my goals for this week. It was not a high dollar item, but I had a special deal that I could list anything for free, and it was about to expire. So I listed the only thing that I had pictures ready. Normally I might not even sell this (a strapless bra) on eBay, because it is often not worth the cost of listing. But since it was free, I figured it was worth the shot. I will still have to pay the Final Value Fee, but that will only be a few cents, I think.



If you have not yet sold anything on eBay, but want to, here are some things to consider before you jump in:



1. Is it worth your time?

This is a big one, because it takes time. There are many steps to selling, that can make the whole process cumbersome:

A. Preparing your item for sale - washing, gathering, etc.

B. Taking good pictures - pictures are super important

C. Downloading pictures onto computer

D. Researching potential value of your item (really you should do this first)

E. Describing your item -check it over completely for ANY possible flaws

F. Listing Your item - decide starting value, shipping, payment options

G. Packing - over pack items especially breakables

H. Check messages often - good communication is crucial in keeping positive feedback

I. Shipping



Each of these steps may take only a few minutes, but all added up, you may decide that it is not worth your time. I personally don't like to list items that I don't think will sell for less than $10. I only have so many free moments in the day, that it seems a shame to spend them all on eBay.



However, if I have several lower dollar items that are similar, I can do many of the steps at the same time- taking pictures, down loading, researching, describing, etc. eBay makes it simple for you to use one listing as a template to sell other things, so this can make it a snap if you plan to sell many of the same things.



2. Is it worth the money?

Similar to the time issue, you need to be aware of the costs involved in selling on eBay:

A. Listing fees- eBay charges a basic fee for listing, plus more for any extras

B. Final Value Fee - eBay also charges a small percentage of what your item sells for after the auction closes.

C. Paypal - by far the easiest way to receive money, there is often a charge to the seller from paypal

D. Packaging Costs- If you have to buy boxes or packing materials you should subtract that from your profit to get a true feel for the costs

E. Shipping costs- Yes, the buyer pays for this but you still have to get it there, and many buyers may decide that it costs more to ship something than the item is worth.

F. Insurance costs- The buyer usually pays for this, too, but if something goes wrong during shipping, they will look to you to solve the problem. Many times this may require you refund the money which equals a loss of item plus a loss in listing fee.



3. Is it worth the energy?

You may have the perfect item but things still might not go as you plan. Consider these ideas before you invest the energy:

A. What if it doesn't sell? - Are you ready to re list, and invest the listing fee again?

B. What if it sells for less than I was hoping?

C. Do I have enough positive feedback to be a trustworthy seller?

D. Can I afford to refund the money back if something unfortunate happens during shipping?

E. Do I have the patience to deal with many emails from potential buyers?



Selling on eBay can be a great way to make extra money. Many people have work at home jobs based on eBay selling. I strongly recommend anyone who is considering selling on eBay to at least buy something first. That way you can be familiar with the process. You will know from your experience what to do to make buyers more confident in the sale, and hopefully comeback for more!



Have you had a positive selling experience? What tips would you add?