So you’re ready to start making some money on those household items you no longer need ? baby clothes and accessories, clothing, toys, and so forth. You have probably heard of selling those things on eBay, but maybe you’re not sure how to begin. Here are some guidelines to help you get started with the world’s largest online auction site.
* Choose what you want to sell
For your first item, choose something that is not overly fragile or valuable, and that is easy to ship.
* Create an account
The first step is to go the eBay site and set up an account. The site is pretty user-friendly, and will take you through the steps of becoming a registered member. You will need to give some basic information and will be asked to create a username. Then, you can click on the “Sell” tab on the homepage and be directed to a seller form. After you have completed your listing, you will be directed to create a seller’s account where you will enter your financial information.
* Categorize and describe your item
When people shop on eBay, they generally search for the item they want in a category (such as electronics, apparel, toys, etc.). When choosing a category and description, it’s a good idea to check completed listings to view items similar to yours. Note descriptions, photos, pricing, and the format of these successful listings and pattern your own after them. Be positive and enthusiastic in your descriptive details, but be honest about any flaws.
* Add a photo
Take clear, close pictures of your item from several different angles and upload the ones you want to use from your computer by clicking on the “Upload Pictures” button on your seller form. For $.35, you can choose to include a small picture, called a gallery photo, next to your item listing for potential buyers to view.
* Choose a selling format
EBay offers several choices of format: Auction, Fixed Price, and Buy It Now. Most likely you will be going with the auction format, in which case you will need to determine your starting bid (keep it low!) and, if you like, a reserve price. The reserve price is an amount you think your item is worth and you can choose not to accept the final auction price if it is less than the reserve.
* Choose your payment method
This is a very influential part of your auction. Buyers will often reject an item they would otherwise purchase if the payment method does not suit them. Think safe, easy, and honest ? let people know the actual shipping costs, and consider creating a PayPal account through which buyers can pay you.
* Determine shipping costs and location
First, determine the destination (you can choose not to ship to certain areas due to expense), then weigh your item (in its unsealed shipping container) and enter this information into eBay’s shipping calculator or on the United States Postal Service (USPS) website. This is important, because buyers want to know all the costs up front.
Once you have the online aspect mastered, it’s a good idea to think about the offline considerations as well. How often can you realistically go to the post office, for instance? Are you going to prepare the items for shipping yourself, or have it done at the post office? Once you have determined the answers to these “real life” questions as well, you’re ready to start making some money selling your household items.
