Selling your stuff successfully on eBay

Have you ever shopped on Ebay?  Have you ever sold things on Ebay?

Selling your belongings on eBay is a great way to clear out the house, make some extra cash or get ready for your grey nomad adventure. But, selling isn’t always as easy as we think it is. To make sure you save as much money and get the best price for your items, we’ve put together a series of  useful eBay selling tips…  Perhaps you have some others to add.

1. Do your research

Browse eBay and look for products similar to what you are selling. Chances are you will be able to find something similar and you can use this is a price guage to help you find the right price point. Also, keep an eye out for similar products to see how they are performing. If they don’t have any bids, then perhaps they aren’t in high demand and you should rethink selling them.

2. Don’t spend on the listing

When you set up your first few listings, don’t buy additional photos, advertisements, bold entries or any of the bells and whistles. Stay with the standard listing fee because the other extras all add up and are still charged even if the item doesn’t sell

3. Use PayPal to have extra security

Paypal have recently modified their terms so sellers are now more protected than ever. You can have extra peace of mind by using PayPal as they will protect sellers against customers who use false or stolen credit cards or claim that goods were never sent. Just make sure you follow all of PayPal’s seller guidelines.

4. Don’t oversell

It’s important to make your products as desirable as possible, but don’t overstate or oversell them.  Make sure all information you have provided is 100% true and that you have disclosed all relevant information regarding the quality of the product. Otherwise you could have a buyer dispute on your hands.

5. Manage your shipping costs

List a shipping cost and do your research about what cost it will be before listing the item. You can click here to use Australia Post’s shipping calculator so you can add a correct shipping fee to the listing.

6. Respond to questions as quickly as possible

Make sure you respond to questions and queries promptly. This will keep customers happy and shows that you are dedicated to providing good customer service and selling the product. Check your emails regularly when you have a product listing and answer each one no matter how simple or complex.

7. Use smart photography

If you’re selling a piece of old furniture don’t just take a photo of it in the garage, take a photo of it in the house set up with vintage décor so someone who is interested in that style of interiors can see it’s value. Don’t just hang a dres sup on a hanger, pop it on or have a family member or friend wear it  and shoot it from the neck down with appropriate accessories.

8. Stay clued up on eBay lingo so you can use it

eBay has it’s own virtual language… BN: Brand new. BNWT: Brand new with tags. BNIB: Brand new in box. BIN: Buy it now. VGC: Very good condition.

9. Close your auctions on Sunday afternoon or evenings

Ebay has reported that many buyers tend to place additional bids within the last live hour of an auction. So make sure your listing ends at a time when people are likely to have access to a computer and the free time to make extra bids… You might get some extra cash!

Have you sold things on eBay? What did you sell and would you recommend it to others? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below…