twenty second Jun 2025
Studying Time: 11 minutes
When you’ve got a great deal of muddle that you simply’re dying to eliminate, then contemplate promoting it on eBay.
eBay makes it simple to eliminate undesirable objects. However whereas it’s an important platform to make additional money, it may be intimidating for first-time customers.
Listed below are 20 important ideas that you simply’ll have to confidently begin making a living on eBay.
1. Begin your eBay public sale costs at 99p


When 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 even maintain your charges down – which suggests more cash in your pocket.
After all, there may be some threat right here. It’s attainable that even a worthwhile merchandise occurs to solely have one purchaser, who, by sheer luck, will get your merchandise for 99p when it’s price rather more!
There’s a tradeoff: so by no means put one thing at 99p when you’d be gutted to promote it for that a lot. Use your personal judgement and do analysis to see what comparable objects are promoting for.
2. Perceive free listings
eBay now permits personal sellers 300 free listings a month on nearly all classes, and it’s 35p a list after that. If you wish to pay additional to advertise, it’ll nonetheless value one thing – however may 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 except it reaches that worth, however you’ll pay 4% of that reserve whether or not the merchandise sells or not.
On some objects, like automobiles and automobiles, eBay will let you realize you’re itemizing your merchandise without spending a dime while you put it dwell, you’ll nonetheless pay a last worth charge. That is 10% of the ultimate value of the merchandise, together with postage. There may even be a PayPal charge when you use that to get your money.
It’s not rather a lot, however one thing to pay attention to when taking a look at how a lot you’ll really make on every sale. While 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 charge in case your merchandise doesn’t promote. So if it fails to draw any patrons, strive 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 might be that the proper purchaser wasn’t round on the time, so don’t surrender!
Learn extra about last worth charges on eBay’s web site.
3. Obtain the eBay app
When you promote typically it’s price downloading eBay’s free app. Utilizing it to put up listings is fast and straightforward – and it means you can control your listings and reply to queries on the go. You’ll be able to take images, create your itemizing, and maintain monitor 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 all the time use key phrases similar to model names, color, and sizes. Double examine spellings so individuals can discover your objects!
5. Be unique
A bit little bit of copying and pasting with a number 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 could possibly additionally unintentionally embrace injury that isn’t in your merchandise however is on the opposite individual’s, which reduces its worth!
Take a look at different profitable sellers to see how they describe their merchandise and study from them.
When you promote a number of the identical factor, write up your personal template and put it aside on a file in your laptop or cellphone. Then you possibly can copy and paste it, fill within the particulars for the merchandise (dimension, color, and so on.), add images and also you’re just about executed!
6. Worth it proper


Gadgets might be listed as an public sale or a set worth. Along with following eBay pricing suggestions, you may also search accomplished eBay listings and have a look at different comparable objects that can assist you select a beginning worth for fixed-price or auction-style itemizing.
public sale listings
Public sale listings are nice when you’re not sure of the worth of your merchandise or you’ve got distinctive and hard-to-find objects that might appeal to demand and spur a bidding conflict.
Though the ultimate worth could also be unpredictable, when 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 worthwhile that’s simply mendacity round anyway, an public sale often is the approach to go.
Be sure to’ll be round when listings finish to put up the objects throughout the timeframe you’ve agreed to.
Fastened-price listings
If you wish to make a sure worth on one thing, although, go for a set worth sale.
This can be a secure possibility when you completely don’t wish to promote your merchandise for lower than a sure worth. You’ll be able to tick the ‘permit gives’ button when you may be prepared to barter, or depart it off in case your worth is agency.
Some sellers want shopping for by fixed-price listings as a result of they don’t have to attend for an public sale to finish. Simply be sure to’re obtainable to put up the merchandise throughout the time restrict you’ve agreed to in your itemizing. With a fixed-price itemizing, it may 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 evening to maximise your bids on an ongoing foundation.
You’ll be able to even schedule your listings to begin at a sure time. So when you’re writing up your itemizing at 3am, you possibly can have it begin at a greater time so it ends when extra individuals are shopping.
8. Organise your promoting round your life


Whether or not you’re promoting a few objects or dozens of bins of stuff, you’ll want to remain on prime of all the things. Use a calendar to mark when auctions are ending, and be sure to’ll be round to put up objects promptly.
When you’re away from house rather a lot or possibly too busy to all the time go to the Submit 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 put up them the subsequent day.
Fastened-price listings have sure benefits, however as they will promote at any time, you’ll have to be sure to’re all the time obtainable the subsequent day to put up issues.
When you want extra flexibility, you possibly can alter the postage settings in your itemizing to say will probably be dispatched inside a few days as an alternative of someday. However this may flip some patrons away, particularly as most individuals are used to quick deliveries.
9. Submit objects ‘Recorded Supply’
That is an important recommendation on this web page. When you ship an merchandise recorded supply, you possibly can monitor 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 file 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 proper 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 supplies postage suggestions based mostly on how different sellers have posted objects like yours.
If there’s no advisable postage possibility on your merchandise – otherwise you’d moderately 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 also ship parcels to any UK tackle from a CollectPlus retailer (CollectPlus.co.uk), which suggests you keep away from the prolonged queues on the Submit Workplace – and lower prices. What’s extra, the 6,000 outlets that supply this service are all open late, seven days every week.
Examine
Additionally price a glance are parcel and postage comparability web sites similar to Interparcel.com, Parcelmonkey.co.uk or MyParcelDelivery.com. These websites purchase postage slots in bulk from large courier corporations similar 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 simply’ll be coping with a intermediary firm, not the courier itself. So if issues go incorrect and want sorting, you’ll have to go by way of the comparability web site which is able to cope with any inquiries, however might be extra time consuming than you may assume.
Underestimating Postage Prices
Whereas low-cost postage might appeal to extra patrons, all the time do not forget that underestimating postage prices can rapidly eat into your eBay income.
When you’re flogging bigger objects that aren’t possible to put up, choose ‘native assortment solely’ and the customer might want to acquire the merchandise in individual.
11. Pack issues nicely
Be sure that you ship offered objects rigorously, as if it arrives damaged you should give the customer a refund.
What’s extra, when you depart shopping for your packaging till the final minute, you’ll find yourself forking out greater than essential. Reduce prices and recycle used jiffy luggage and bubble wrap.
When you should shell out for model new packaging, look on-line for the perfect offers. Retailers similar to Amazon promote job a number of mailing luggage, which are available quite a lot of sizes, for as little as £3.
Pound outlets and different low cost shops are additionally nice for affordable packaging, whether or not it’s parcel paper or bubble envelopes.
12. Use a number of photos
With every itemizing, you possibly can listing as much as 12 photos without spending a dime. Benefit from this in order that potential patrons can see what you’re promoting.
Including a number of good-quality images to your itemizing that can assist you enhance gross sales and provides your patrons a extra correct thought of what to anticipate – and reassure them that you simply’re a reliable vendor.
Intention for a well-lit, clutter-free, plain white background and all the time take images 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 to listing your merchandise in the proper class; when you don’t, the possibility of a great sale goes down.
For an additional 35p charge, you possibly can listing your merchandise in two classes to maximise your merchandise’s visibility.
14. Construct your eBay fame
Constructing your eBay fame as a trusted vendor is essential in making money on the net market.
To construct your eBay fame, you have to get constructive suggestions from clients so that you could get at the very least 95% fee as a trusted vendor. One of the best ways to do that is to be the form of vendor you’ll wish to purchase from your self. So, provide good customer support, describe the merchandise precisely, reply to queries inside 24 hours, and be sure to mail packages throughout the marketed interval.
Establishing and sustaining purchaser satisfaction helps you construct a strong fame as a reliable vendor on eBay, and in the end helps drive your gross sales exercise.
15. Make a number of small eBay purchases
When 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 may wish to make a number 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 will get any inspiration, or observe something you’d do higher!
16. Reply to individuals ASAP
While you get questions on stuff you’re promoting, reply as quickly as you possibly can. When you take days to answer, you may miss out on a sale. Ideally reply inside 24 hours.
Having the app with notifications switched on may help you see messages a lot quicker.
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 perfect.
Promote your objects in your social networks similar 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 provide the “assortment in individual” possibility – which means that the customer and vendor can discover a handy time for the merchandise to be picked up.
19. By no means underestimate what individuals can pay for
One man’s junk is one other man’s treasure. So even when you assume among the stuff you’ve bought mendacity round are ineffective, assume once more!
Even damaged or not-working objects can promote for elements or to lovers. Typically when you promote a bundle of damaged electronics you can also make good cash on them. Simply all the time be trustworthy concerning the situation of the merchandise.
20. Don’t surrender


If at first you don’t succeed, strive once more.
Relist unsold objects and tweak your posting to seize the eye of patrons. For 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 pictures or add additional pictures to your itemizing. Images are completely key, so observe how different profitable eBayers are doing it and put within the effort!
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