This is part one of a 3-part series on selling on Ebay.
A few years ago, I decided to try my hand at selling stuff on eBay. Like everyone else, I had heard that selling items on eBay was a great way to earn extra cash and couldn’t wait to get started. The only thing was, though, I had no idea what to sell. What items would others want? Where should I start?
Fortunately, the answer was easy to find. When you’re selling items on eBay, the best place to start is selling the item that you already have. Look around your house. If you’re anything like me, you have a box or two of things hiding in the basement that you’re ready to let go of. Start with those things.
In my case, I listed craft supplies that I didn’t want anymore and books that I had already read. You don’t have to be limited to the items I chose, though. Do you have toys lying around that the kids don’t play with anymore? Maybe you have a pair of shoes, or two, that just didn’t suit you. If you can take a picture of it and describe it, you can probably sell it on eBay.
Listing items like these serves two purposes. As I mentioned above, you get to get rid of clutter in your house and you get to practice your eBay skills. You’ll practice taking pictures that will garner attention. You’ll also learn how to write descriptions that will encourage people to bid on your items. Using these items that you were already planning to get rid of provide the perfect opportunity to learn which methods work best for you.
If you run through all of your household items and still think eBay is the place for you, you’ll need to find more items to sell. This can be the tricky part of selling on eBay, but it can be fun, too.
Some people decide to sell things that they make themselves. As a crafter, I have to admit that I took a turn at this. If you have a great product that you can make well, you could turn your hobby into a business by selling on eBay. Other people look for ready-made products that they can sell on eBay. Did you find a steal on last winter’s sweater’s at your local department store? (By steal, I mean finding merchandise that was marked down to something like 10% of its original price.) You can make the department store’s loss your gain by selling the sweaters on eBay for a profit.
Before you jump head-long into I have to issue a word of caution. (It’s the mom in me; we have to worry.) Take the time to do a lot of research before you start trying to turn a profit on eBay. Selling your own items will net you some pocket cash, but you probably won’t turn a profit. Most items will not sell for more than you originally paid for them. Once you start making a profit and investing your money into this little venture, there are all sorts of financial and tax ramifications. Your local library will have many books on this topic to get you started.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have had great success on selling things on ebay in the past! list anything it takes times, and knowledge and trial and error. Find a niche, and you’ll do great. Dont try to sell something that everyone else it selling!
I would echo the first commenter’s point. I would not jump in head first into this thing. I would start off slow, maybe even very slow. I am currently selling items on another online “auction” site, and although I ahve seen lots of opportunites where I could really go crazy, I have exercised restraint until I feel more comfortable.