FamilyCorner.com Magazine - Would love to have your imput about selling things on ebay

boggsZ · #1 (**permalink**) 02-17-2005, 04:56 PM

I would love to start selling some things on ebay but I'm so scared. I buy from there alot but have never signed up to sell. Can all of you that do sell on ebay tell me how to go about it, what thay charge you to sell a item and if it's worth it. How do you know how much postage to charge? This is all so confusing to me. Can someone please help me out? I have lots of junk to get rid of.

LJsmom · #2 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 07:52 AM

Hi Karen,
The setup to sell is easy-they talk you through it pretty thoroughly (sp?). I did all the tutorials and read all the books I could from the library. Ones I recommend are Ebay Hacks (tips and tricks you won't find in tutorials etc.) and Ebay for Dummies.

Research is the key though. I started off clearing out old junk from the house. It got to the point where if someone couldn't find something they asked if I'd sold it

Now mostly I find good deals in stores. My sales go in cycles. 1 week nothing sells, then another most everything goes.

When I find new items to sell I do a search and a completed search too (very important) to see what has been successful (or not), popular opening bids, how things were listed etc. Oh and don't forget to search through the stores too. A lot of people - me included- put stuff in there that doesn't go the first time around. You can have stuff in the store for 30 days or more.

As for postage, I used to guess and sometimes came up short. Santa brought me a postal scale for Christmas.

I'm rambling sorry, there's lots more to tell I just can't think of it all now. I consider this my PT job now

and am on all the time.

boggsZ · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 10:32 AM

Thanks so much for you imput i am going to start selling this summer im going to start out with small things i have a few pitchers id like to get rid of I hope i dont mess it up lol

crystalk33 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 09:45 AM

HI,
Don't let EBAY scare you.

You can do it! They walk you through the listing. The fees are not high and it is a fun and sometimes profitable way to clean out your unwanted items. I NEVER list anything until after I have it weighed! Charge the minimum for shipping and do not charge a handling fee. I won't buy from people that charge an outragious amount for shipping. You can always take your pictures then go to the PO and have it weighed.
Good Luck!

boggsZ · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 10:11 AM

Thanks crystalk33 for the incouragemeat I think im ready i think ill try to sell a pitcher on there. Do thay just take there part out of your account and Im not going to do paypal just moneyorder or cashiers check would that be ok??

**debknechtel** · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 10:19 AM

Hi Karen

I too have sold amny items on E-bay. I go in cycles where I sell alot and then will not sell anyhting for awhile. I pretty much just sell items we are done with here at the house so most is kids toys and items. I have made some great cash and use it to buy my scrapbook supplies. I started only acepting money orders and cashier cheques but found so many wanted to pay through paypal and would not bid if I did not offer it. Now I do I just factor that into my price. As far as shipping goes I charge the exact shipping cost and no handling fees for now.....I am able to recycle enough to not have to buy packing material. I take my items to the post have them weighed to get my postal fees. Everyone seems willing to wait the day to get final cost as they know they are not getting taken with inflated costs. Most of all be a s accurate as you can in your description and have fun

Hugs Debbie

katydid987 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 01:22 PM

I have an eBay tip sheet that will probably help get you started. Email me and I'll be happy to send it to you. Also, I sell all the time and would be happy to answer questions for you as they come up. Feel free to ask!!!

katie

boggsZ · #8 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 01:54 PM

Deb thanks for the tips im still scared about paypal since thay said some one was trying to access my account im getting really excited to start

Katie thanks for the offer i just emailed you.

**debknechtel** · #9 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 02:02 PM

Karen was that in an e-mail you got???? If so it was probably a bogus threat. they just want you to fill your info in so then they can access your acct. Do not ever give out your password on any e-mail. A friend of mine learned the hard way and gave her e-bay name and password in one of those e-mails and someone listed some items under her name and she was charged the fees and it was for a 2000 dollar item. She faxed all material to customer service and they fixed the problem for her. she had to change her password. Just be aware of this. I would hate to see you get taken.

Hugs Debbie

Valerie · #10 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 04:03 PM

one thing you have to remember is you are charged whether your item sells or not. you can relist and item if it does not sell. the fee is based on what your starting price is. then if it sells there is a fee based on that amount.
you have to decide what the lowest price you wil accept to start out with. you can look at what others are asking but if there are no bids then maybe they are asking too high a price.
use as many desriptive words as possible to describe what you are selling. that way it will be picked up by a lot of searches. the more traffic to your item the more likely you are to sell it.
Valerie