There isn’t any reason to be daunted by selling on eBay – it just takes a bit of planning to be successful. This article will provide some planning ideas and put you ahead in the learning curve and on your way to success.
You will need some basic tools – a digital camera that takes good, clear photos, a seller account on eBay, a listing tool to make managing your listings easier, and a PayPal account or merchant credit card account. This last is a new rule intended to make the buyer experience easier.
First, you will need to register an account on eBay. It’s free, fast and easy. If you will only be selling a few things from around the house, one account will be just fine. If you are thinking of selling for others, or of selling item(s) that you will have regular access to, or of selling regularly, you will want to consider having two accounts – one for buying and one for selling. This way, if a transaction goes bad on your buying account, it will not affect your selling status.
Two helpful articles from eBay are Setting Up a Seller Account and Seller Policies.
If you are setting up a new account for selling, or only have a few feedback on your existing account, start buying some inexpensive items (like CDs or eBooks, or other items you need and will use) to build up feedback. Buyers have more confidence in a seller with more than 10 feedback ratings.
If you don’t have a PayPal or merchant credit card account, you will need to set one up prior to selling. PayPal lets buyers and sellers exchange money via e-mail. Buyers make payments online through credit cards or bank accounts, and PayPal relays the funds to sellers’ accounts. Basic usage is free for online buyers, but sellers who use added features (required by eBay) must pay fees based on the amount transferred. Rates may change, but currently are 30 cents per transaction plus 2.9% of the transaction value.
EBay has a simple “Sell Your Item” form within the website, but it is time-consuming (you can only do one item at a time) and you can’t take advantage of using multiple photos for free. It’s best to use one of the many free listing and management tools available. A couple that are very popular are Turbo Lister, a desktop interface which is owned by eBay, and Auctiva, a web-based service. You can research others by Googling ”free auction management software”.
Photo hosting is the next item to consider. Auctions with multiple pictures sell better and for higher prices than those with just one. EBay charges for every photo after the first, so a free or low-cost hosting service is essential! If you don’t choose a listing service that offers free photo hosting, there are photo hosting websites that make it easy. I have heard good things about both the free PhotoBucket and low-cost InkFrog. You can Google “free photo hosting” for additional resources.
I can’t emphasize enough that you must have a good digital camera. Not expensive, but one that takes clear photos and is easy to use when you might have to stand at an awkward angle to get the best shot. Easy to use photo editing software is also essential.
Get your accounts set up, practice editing some photos, and I’ll be back with tips and explanations on creating powerful listings!
Robyn Volker has been selling on eBay for about 10 years and has been a full-time Power Seller since 2003. She is constantly learning and refining her business model to maximize growth in eBay’s ever-changing marketplace. She receives no compensation or consideration from any of the companies or products that may be mentioned. She welcomes your questions and comments.
