Ten Tips For Successfully Selling on eBay

Have you ever thought of selling on eBay, but just didn’t know where to start? I have been selling clothing and accessories on eBay successfully for over seven years now and thought most households had bought or sold online, but a chance conversation in my local supermarket proved this was not the case. The assistant complimented me on a bag I was carrying. I told her I had just bought the bag for 99 pence and was going to sell it on eBay. She said she had always wanted to sell items but was worried it was too complicated or she wasn’t computer literate enough. She made candles and wanted to sell them online. I gave her some tips which I have learned, which I am now passing on to you if you too feel you would like to start making cash on eBay.

1. Make sure you take the best picture you can of the item you are planning on selling, this is your number one selling tool – if there particular features, take a close-up of these. eBay allows you up to twelve pictures for free when selling clothing and accessories or one picture for other items (although you can pay for additional pictures), so make sure you get the picture right even if it takes a few attempts. Always take your picture against a plain background – you are selling the item not your surroundings. You do not need a really expensive camera with lots of lenses – a digital camera with a good flash will do the job.

2. If you are planning on buying new items from wholesalers to sell,some wholesalers have a stock picture they use to promote their item, you can usually download these and use them in your ad if you have bought the item from them. Do check with the relevant wholesaler first though.

3. In the title you get eighty characters to describe your item, so use them wisely. Put the colour, make, size, what the item is and RRP if you know it, if you have characters left use adjectives – eg: fab, pretty, sexy, gorgeous, retro, vintage, great.

4. Get your item description right. I try and keep mine concise, but friendly. I list using bullet points rather than one long paragraph. Describe the item – what is it, how tall is it, how heavy, what is it’s condition. Ask yourself what you would like to know about an item and answer those questions in your description.

5. Don’t be afraid to price a bit higher as you can always reduce prices. Buyers don’t always buy the cheapest listed item if you and another seller are selling the same item.

6. Aim to mark up prices by 100% minimum. Sort out what your prices are going to be before you start listing the item by working out what you bought it for including VAT, any delivery/postal fees you incurred if you bought the item to sell, eBay fees and Paypal fees.

7. Decide if you want to sell to the UK only or Worldwide. I currently offer each item to the USA, Australia, Europe and Asia. I get a lot of customers this way. Don’t be put off by overseas buyers – as long as you charge enough to cover your postage you are fine. I usually send parcels via International Signed For as this is tracked and you get a tracking number from the Post Office. If sending outside Europe you will need a customs label which you can also obtain free of charge from the Post Office.

8. ALWAYS obtain a certificate of postage for each item. You will need this in the event of a missing parcel. I send most items via recorded delivery – this way you get a tracking number you can trace online. Check with your local Post Office for the latest prices.

9. Invest in a good set of kitchen scales. That way you can get an idea of what things

cost to send. If not you can just weigh them at the local Post Office.

10. Make friends with your Post Office – they may then give you recorded delivery labels and International Signed for labels in bulk which you can put on at home – thus saving time.

On a return visit to the supermarket, the lady had plucked up the courage to sell her candles and had sold six so far! Good luck with your online selling.

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My name is Jane Aldridge. I am a writer and internet entrepreneur. I have helped and advised many people on money saving and making tips and would like to help you do the same