twenty second Jun 2025
Studying Time: 11 minutes
You probably have a great deal of litter that you just’re dying to do away with, then think about promoting it on eBay.
eBay makes it simple to do away with undesirable objects. However whereas it’s a terrific platform to make further money, it may be intimidating for first-time customers.
Listed below are 20 important ideas that you just’ll must confidently begin being profitable on eBay.
1. Begin your eBay public sale costs at 99p
In the event you begin your public sale at 99p, you’ll appeal to extra potential patrons as a result of many individuals seek for objects by lowest worth. What’s extra, this may also preserve your charges down – which suggests more cash in your pocket.
After all, there may be some danger right here. It’s potential that even a helpful merchandise occurs to solely have one purchaser, who, via sheer luck, will get your merchandise for 99p when it’s value rather more!
There’s a tradeoff: so by no means put one thing at 99p should you’d be gutted to promote it for that a lot. Use your personal judgement and do analysis to see what related objects are promoting for.
2. Perceive free listings
eBay now permits non-public sellers 300 free listings a month on virtually all classes, and it’s 35p a list after that. If you wish to pay further to advertise, it’ll nonetheless value one thing – however might internet you a greater viewers to spice up your revenue. You’ll be able to set a reserve worth which suggests the merchandise gained’t promote until it reaches that worth, however you’ll pay 4% of that reserve whether or not the merchandise sells or not.
On some objects, like vehicles and automobiles, eBay will let you understand you’re itemizing your merchandise without cost if you put it dwell, you’ll nonetheless pay a last worth payment. That is 10% of the ultimate value of the merchandise, together with postage. There may also be a PayPal payment should you use that to get your money.
It’s not quite a bit, however one thing to pay attention to when how a lot you’ll truly make on every sale. Once you arrange your promoting account, the best methodology to pay these charges is by direct debit every month. You’ll get an bill of how a lot you owe.
You gained’t pay a last worth payment in case your merchandise doesn’t promote. So if it fails to draw any patrons, attempt once more. You’ll be able to select to automate this course of by ticking the field to permit relisting if it doesn’t promote. It could be that the proper purchaser wasn’t round on the time, so don’t quit!
Learn extra about last worth charges on eBay’s web site.
3. Obtain the eBay app
In the event you promote typically it’s value downloading eBay’s free app. Utilizing it to publish listings is fast and simple – and it means you could keep watch over your listings and reply to queries on the go. You’ll be able to take photographs, create your itemizing, and preserve observe of how auctions are going multi functional place.
4. Make your ebay itemizing stand out
With 1.7 billion dwell objects on eBay, making your itemizing stand out is essential.
When patrons seek for an merchandise, eBay solely seems for phrases within the itemizing’s title, so at all times use key phrases comparable to model names, color, and sizes. Double test spellings so individuals can discover your objects!
5. Be authentic
A bit of little bit of copying and pasting with a couple of changes and tweaks will prevent a great deal of effort and time when writing up descriptions for merchandise. However by no means copy descriptions or photos wholesale, as this infringes different sellers’ copyright. You would additionally by accident embrace injury that isn’t in your merchandise however is on the opposite particular person’s, which reduces its worth!
Take a look at different profitable sellers to see how they describe their merchandise and be taught from them.
In the event you promote numerous the identical factor, write up your personal template and reserve it on a file in your pc or telephone. Then you possibly can copy and paste it, fill within the particulars for the merchandise (measurement, color, and so on.), add photographs and also you’re just about carried out!
6. Worth it proper
Gadgets may be listed as an public sale or a hard and fast worth. Along with following eBay pricing suggestions, you may also search accomplished eBay listings and take a look at different related objects that will help you select a beginning worth for fixed-price or auction-style itemizing.
public sale listings
Public sale listings are nice should you’re not sure of the worth of your merchandise or you may have distinctive and hard-to-find objects that might appeal to demand and spur a bidding struggle.
Though the ultimate worth could also be unpredictable, should you get a number of individuals who actually need your merchandise, they could attempt to outbid one another, elevating the ultimate worth.
Keep in mind by no means to place a beginning worth that’s decrease than you’re prepared to promote for! But when it’s one thing not too helpful that’s simply mendacity round anyway, an public sale could be the technique to go.
Ensure you’ll be round when listings finish to publish the objects inside the timeframe you’ve agreed to.
Mounted-price listings
If you wish to make a sure worth on one thing, although, go for a hard and fast worth sale.
This can be a secure choice should you completely don’t need to promote your merchandise for lower than a sure worth. You’ll be able to tick the ‘permit affords’ button should you may be prepared to barter, or go away it off in case your worth is agency.
Some sellers desire shopping for via fixed-price listings as a result of they don’t have to attend for an public sale to finish. Simply be sure you’re obtainable to publish the merchandise inside the time restrict you’ve agreed to in your itemizing. With a fixed-price itemizing, it might promote at any time whereas it’s dwell on eBay.
7. eBay is all about timing
When beginning an public sale, you possibly can select whether or not it lasts one, three, 5, seven or ten days.
Alternatively, get into the behavior of itemizing your seven-day auctions every Sunday night time to maximise your bids on an ongoing foundation.
You’ll be able to even schedule your listings to begin at a sure time. So should you’re writing up your itemizing at 3am, you possibly can have it begin at a greater time so it ends when extra persons are looking.
8. Organise your promoting round your life
Whether or not you’re promoting a few objects or dozens of packing containers of stuff, you’ll want to remain on high of every little thing. Use a calendar to mark when auctions are ending, and be sure you’ll be round to publish objects promptly.
In the event you’re away from dwelling quite a bit or possibly too busy to at all times go to the Put up Workplace, schedule listings to finish when it fits you. For instance, in case your solely free time is Saturday morning, have listings finish on Friday night so you possibly can publish them the subsequent day.
Mounted-price listings have sure benefits, however as they will promote at any time, you’ll must be sure you’re at all times obtainable the subsequent day to publish issues.
In the event you want extra flexibility, you possibly can modify the postage settings in your itemizing to say will probably be dispatched inside a few days as an alternative of in the future. However this would possibly flip some patrons away, particularly as most individuals are used to quick deliveries.
9. Put up objects ‘Recorded Supply’
That is an important recommendation on this web page. In the event you ship an merchandise recorded supply, you possibly can observe its whereabouts.
This prevents any sellers claiming they haven’t acquired an merchandise. And whether it is misplaced, you might be coated by insurance coverage.
Some sellers additionally select to report packing movies to indicate the state the merchandise was in and the packing included. This may help battle false claims of poor packing inflicting injury, or the incorrect merchandise being despatched.
It’s vital to decide on the right postage choices so {that a} purchaser is aware of how and when they are going to obtain the merchandise.
When posting a list, eBay has a useful device which offers postage suggestions based mostly on how different sellers have posted objects like yours.
If there’s no advisable postage choice on your merchandise – otherwise you’d relatively set your personal worth – you possibly can select your personal postage methodology. To get an thought of what you ought to be charging, use eBay’s Postage Estimator. Royal Mail additionally has a Worth Finder device for determining the prices, each for the UK and overseas.
CollectPlus
You may as well ship parcels to any UK handle from a CollectPlus retailer (CollectPlus.co.uk), which suggests you keep away from the prolonged queues on the Put up Workplace – and minimize prices. What’s extra, the 6,000 retailers that provide this service are all open late, seven days every week.
Evaluate
Additionally value a glance are parcel and postage comparability web sites comparable to Interparcel.com, Parcelmonkey.co.uk or MyParcelDelivery.com. These websites purchase postage slots in bulk from large courier companies comparable to UPS or DHL and promote them to the general public – saving you a bundle within the course of.
However keep in mind that you just’ll be coping with a intermediary firm, not the courier itself. So if issues go incorrect and wish sorting, you’ll have to go by way of the comparability website which is able to take care of any inquiries, however may be extra time consuming than you would possibly suppose.
Underestimating Postage Prices
Whereas low-cost postage might appeal to extra patrons, at all times do not forget that underestimating postage prices can rapidly eat into your eBay income.
In the event you’re flogging bigger objects that aren’t possible to publish, choose ‘native assortment solely’ and the client might want to acquire the merchandise in particular person.
11. Pack issues effectively
Be sure that you ship offered objects fastidiously, as if it arrives damaged you should give the client a refund.
What’s extra, should you go away shopping for your packaging till the final minute, you’ll find yourself forking out greater than obligatory. Lower prices and recycle used jiffy baggage and bubble wrap.
In the event you should shell out for model new packaging, look on-line for the very best offers. Retailers comparable to Amazon promote job numerous mailing baggage, which are available a wide range of sizes, for as little as £3.
Pound retailers and different low cost shops are additionally nice for affordable packaging, whether or not it’s parcel paper or bubble envelopes.
12. Use numerous photos
With every itemizing, you possibly can listing as much as 12 photos without cost. Benefit from this in order that potential patrons can see what you’re promoting.
Including a number of good-quality photographs to your itemizing that will help you enhance gross sales and provides your patrons a extra correct thought of what to anticipate – and reassure them that you just’re a reputable vendor.
Purpose for a well-lit, clutter-free, plain white background and at all times take photographs from a number of angles highlighting the situation of the merchandise. Be trustworthy about any imperfections (nicks and scratches, and so on.)
A clear kitchen desk or counter could possibly be good choices. Use a plain white sheet if want be.
It’s additionally vital to be sure you listing your merchandise in the proper class; should you don’t, the prospect of a superb sale goes down.
For an additional 35p payment, you possibly can listing your merchandise in two classes to maximise your merchandise’s visibility.
14. Construct your eBay repute
Constructing your eBay repute as a trusted vendor is essential in making money on the web market.
To construct your eBay repute, it is advisable get constructive suggestions from clients to be able to get at the least 95% charge as a trusted vendor. One of the simplest ways to do that is to be the type of vendor you’d need to purchase from your self. So, supply good customer support, describe the merchandise precisely, reply to queries inside 24 hours, and be sure you mail packages inside the marketed interval.
Establishing and sustaining purchaser satisfaction helps you construct a strong repute as a reliable vendor on eBay, and in the end helps drive your gross sales exercise.
15. Make a couple of small eBay purchases
In the event you’re a brand new vendor with little or no suggestions, patrons may be reluctant to make purchases from you.
So, earlier than you begin itemizing objects, you would possibly need to make a couple of small purchases to build up constructive suggestions, and to get used to the eBay course of.
Pay attention to issues like how they describe their objects, postage instances, and packaging. See if you may get any inspiration, or be aware something you’d do higher!
16. Reply to individuals ASAP
Once you get questions on stuff you’re promoting, reply as quickly as you possibly can. In the event you take days to answer, you would possibly miss out on a sale. Ideally reply inside 24 hours.
Having the app with notifications switched on may help you see messages a lot sooner.
17. Let individuals know what you’re promoting on eBay
As soon as your itemizing goes dwell, don’t simply sit again and hope for the very best.
Promote your objects in your social networks comparable to Fb, Twitter, or Instagram.
Use related hashtags and get the phrase on the market. Additionally, let your family and friends know to allow them to unfold the phrase too.
18. Don’t neglect larger objects on eBay
Simply because one thing appears too massive, impractical, or costly to ship, it doesn’t imply you possibly can’t promote it. Merely supply the “assortment in particular person” choice – which means that the client and vendor can discover a handy time for the merchandise to be picked up.
19. By no means underestimate what individuals pays for
One man’s junk is one other man’s treasure. So even should you suppose a number of the stuff you’ve obtained mendacity round are ineffective, suppose once more!
Even damaged or not-working objects can promote for elements or to fanatics. Generally should you promote a bundle of damaged electronics you can also make good cash on them. Simply at all times be trustworthy in regards to the situation of the merchandise.
20. Don’t quit
If at first you don’t succeed, attempt once more.
Relist unsold objects and tweak your posting to seize the eye of patrons. As an example, altering the title, including a greater description, and altering the format of your itemizing (purchase it now or auction-style) can all assist.
Take new images or add further images to your itemizing. Images are completely key, so be aware how different profitable eBayers are doing it and put within the effort!
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