How to Sell on eBay (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Selling on eBay is a great way to make money on things you no longer need. Once you've created and set up your eBay profile, you can start selling quickly.

Step

Part 1 of 6: Get Started Using eBay

Step 1. Browse the site first

To access eBay, just use your favorite search engine and type in the keyword “eBay”. eBay adapts its site to all countries in the world so make sure you go to the appropriate eBay site. However, for users from Indonesia, you will usually be directed to the US regional site at www.ebay.com.

Visit the eBay seller information page. These pages thoroughly discuss the buying and selling policies on eBay.
Experiment with eBay's search feature and search for multiple listings or entries. By knowing how eBay's search feature works, you can create better listings or entries.
- Try changing the search results by changing the search options on the " Sort " menu.
- Look at the listings that appear on the top row of search results, as well as the listings that receive the most offers.

Step 2. Choose the right account name

eBay can provide several name options, but if you can choose a catchy name, the chances of your items being sold are higher. Avoid names that offend or lower the price of the item you are selling. Based on eBay's username selection policy:

eBay usernames must have at least two characters and not contain symbols such as “@”, ampersand (“&”), apostrophes, parentheses or less/more symbols, and consecutively placed spaces or underscores. eBay usernames also cannot begin with a colon, period, or underscore.
eBay does not allow its users to use website names or email addresses as user IDs, as well as any entries containing the word "eBay" or the letter "e", followed by a number of numbers. This is to avoid abuse by users who want to deceive by pretending to be eBay employees or directing customers to other unreputable sites through eBay.
Do not use a trademarked name (eg a brand), unless you are the owner of the trademark.
Names like “iselljunk” or “chickmagnet69” (or “jualanbabe” or “si Cantiksexy”) sound unprofessional and can actually turn away potential buyers. In addition, names that are obscene or reflect hate can also be blocked by eBay.
Since many people have already registered on eBay, take the time to check if the name you want is still available and look for alternative options if the name is already in use by another user.
You can change the user ID at a later time. However, you can only do this once every 30 days and if you change your name too often, you could end up losing subscription buyers.

Step 3. Create an eBay account

Visit eBay's main page and look for the "sign in" link at the top of the page. Type in a valid name and email address, then create a password (entries must be 6-64 characters long and contain at least one letter and one symbol). After that, you will be asked to create a username.

eBay will send an email to the address you typed in. Follow the instructions in the message to confirm the account.
If you have a business, you can also create a business account on eBay. On the registration page, click the "Start a Business Account" link at the top of the page. You will be asked to enter your business name and some additional contact information.

Step 4. Set the payment method

Accepted payment methods vary by country. In the United States, merchants are required to accept PayPal as a payment method or have a store/vendor credit card account. Set up a PayPal account via the links from the eBay site or visit www.paypal.com.

Check eBay's accepted payment policies for options that are allowed or accepted.
In Greater China, you can accept payments via Payoneer.

Step 5. Build account reputation by buying some small items

One of the things that eBay does to maintain its reputation as a safe trading platform is to encourage buyers and sellers to leave feedback for each other. Shoppers can view seller feedback ratings and purchasing some items is the quickest way to add positive ratings to your profile.

Try buying small items you want or need, and make payments immediately to get positive feedback or ratings as a buyer. Don't get hung up on buying things you can resell. The ultimate goal is to establish yourself as a trusted member of the eBay community.
Potential buyers who see a new seller who has no feedback or reputation may become wary and suspect that you are a fraud and are therefore reluctant to buy from you.

Step 6. Set up a profile page

You don't need to have a very comprehensive or detailed profile if you only sell small items. However, adding a photo and some information helps convince potential buyers that you are a legitimate seller.

In order to sell more expensive items, it is important that you add more information about yourself, especially if you are a new seller.
Users will read the information to find out more about you so this information segment is the perfect space to explain your credibility or background (e.g. as a collector, seller, individual with deep knowledge of a particular item, etc.).

Part 2 of 6: Deciding What Products to Sell

Step 1. Sell things you recognize

eBay was originally there for hobbyists and collectors, then became a great platform to showcase goods. If you're good at finding bargains or rare items in a particular category, try focusing your shop on items you do recognize or understand deeply.

Step 2. Identify the items you can't sell

Illegal and dangerous goods such as human body parts, drugs, live animals, and unclean services are of course not allowed. Other items may be sold on a limited basis (eg items in the “adult products” category). Read eBay's policies regarding prohibited and restricted items so that your account doesn't get suspended or permanently blocked.

Step 3. Reduce risk by selling items you already own or in small quantities

eBay imposes a sales limit on new sellers (usually five items per month). If you don't know what to sell, it's risky to build up inventory without selling a few items first. Try offering a few small items to get an idea of the products that sell, as well as the logistics needed.

Start by selling items that you have at home, but no longer use. You can also choose some items that you can return or keep for yourself as an experiment.
It is important that you experiment before building an inventory that is too large. You may not be able to sell items at a high enough price to make a profit, or you may have additional inventory that is difficult to move.
If you already have inventory from your existing collection or business, you're ready to sell! Complete a few sales to find out the best approach to selling items on eBay.

Step 4. Consider how you can get stock items to sell

Usually, what you sell is determined by what you can find. It takes time and effort to get things in stock for you to sell on eBay. Therefore, it is important that you find a sourcing or stock sourcing method that you are comfortable with and comfortable to follow.

eBay itself is a great platform to find great deals. Some people look for items that are sold for too low a price, are offered in a description or photo that are not representative enough, or have the wrong title/name.
If you enjoy hunting secondhand goods, whether at thrift stores or sales events (eg on the street or even on your patio), these stores and events can be a great place to find stock. Keep in mind that you usually can't return or exchange an item that's already been purchased, so there's a good chance that you may end up buying something that can't be resold.
Discount stores, laundromats, and wholesalers are great choices for looking for discounted (or below retail) items, and often offer return policies that you can take advantage of if the item you're selling on eBay isn't selling well.

Step 5. Consider the time it will take to advertise each item

Keep in mind that you will need to take photos, write a description, and define the shipping process for each item you sell. This process is time consuming so it will be more efficient if you sell similar items, as well as items that are easy to photograph and describe.

Try looking for items that are sold wholesale or have the same features/characteristics. This way, you can write listing or entry templates, or even create one listing for multiple items at once.
Look for items that are easy to describe, photograph, and ship.
Look for items that you can ship in the same way easily so you can pack them quickly and get discounts on bulk shipping.

Step 6. Consider shipping methods and stock-holding logistics

Large or heavy items may be difficult to make a profit because shipping costs are quite high and storage takes up a lot of space.

Buyers will see the total price of an item, including shipping costs, so you should always consider shipping costs when determining whether a particular item can be sold at a reasonable price.
Consider storage space as an important issue. Selling from home does reduce expenses, but if the existing stock starts to take up space, your life will no longer be the same. Do you have space to store the products, as well as space to pack and store the items that have been purchased?

Step 7. Consider the time it will take to “empty the warehouse”, as well as the time you are prepared to spend waiting

Keep in mind that trends can fade quickly and overwhelm you with a large number of unsold stocks. For other items, you may need to wait longer until other interested collectors or buyers start showing up.

Step 8. Get to know what's trending

The more popular an item is, of course, the more people will look for it and make an offer. This process requires special skills and usually, successful salespeople are those who intuitively understand what is selling. However, eBay offers some tools to direct you to items that are currently popular.

Visit eBay's “hot items” page. Items commonly listed on these pages include branded clothing, electronics, gold jewelry, accessories and soccer jerseys.
Observe the listings or entries that have been sold/sold out. That way, you can find out how many items were sold, when they sold out, and the price they hit. If you have the eBay app on your mobile device, it's especially useful when you're in a store or sales event and still unsure whether or not to buy something for resale.
- Type a search entry into eBay's search field, then check the boxes next to " Sold listings " or " Completed listings " in the " Show only " section of the menu, on the left side of the page.
- In the mobile app, type in a search keyword, then tap " Refine ". Check the "Completed listings" or "Sold items only" option in the "Search refinement options" section.
You can use products that were specifically developed for seller research, but these products are available as a paid feature. For example, Popsike.com is a free version dedicated to music sellers.
Keep in mind that if an item is trending or popular, there will be many sellers offering the same item. It will be difficult for you to sell items in a category that is "full" because your listing can be "blocked" by various search results. In addition, the selling price of these goods is already low, so it will be very difficult for you to make a profit as a small seller. In addition, the still low valuation of the new seller's account puts you at a disadvantage. Popular items attract scammers who target “lay” sellers who don't know how to protect themselves.

Part 3 of 6: Creating a Listing or Ad Entry that Sells

Step 1. Do some market research

Search for the items you want to sell first on eBay, then read the available listings or entries, especially listings that are selling well at a good price, or active listings that attract lots of offers.

Observe the types of information or photos that you feel are most useful to you as a potential buyer. The same type of information will certainly be useful to potential buyers of your goods.
Consider the factors that make you think the seller you're meeting is a trusted seller, as well as how you convey or reflect that trust through sales and your own profile.

Step 2. Log in to your account and go to the " Sell " section of the " My eBay " page or via the main page at the top of the screen

Step 3. Enter the title of the listing or ad entry

The title is the foremost element that draws the attention of shoppers to your items. A good title not only provides enough information for potential buyers to know if the listing in question is worth a look, but it can also attract the attention of many people looking for what you are selling.

List all relevant words and use proper spelling. Missing information in the title only attracts a small number of potential buyers and/or bidders. In the end, your item may not sell or be offered at a lower price than it should be.
Use relevant words. Avoid “excessive” adjectives like “cool” or “excellent” (or “cool and “great”). You have a limited share of characters so take advantage of the available slots to show what people are looking for. Users won't be looking for an item called “H3BOH!” or “STILL GRESS!” on eBay).
Include alternate spellings and phrases if you have any remaining characters. For example, if you want to sell iPods, include the phrase " MP3 player " in the title. However, eBay's search feature will automatically consider additional phrases or variations. Sometimes, eBay also checks the category names, as well as the titles of the entries or auction listings. Perform a search using specific terms and observe the auction entry titles that appear in the search results.

Step 4. Take a good photo of the item you are going to sell

Photos that describe the items to be sold well can attract the attention of potential buyers. Meanwhile, bad photos can actually keep buyers away. Buy an inexpensive digital camera or camera feature phone if you don't already have one. You are required to include at least one photo in the listing and if you upload more than one photo, the trust of potential buyers will increase. You can upload a maximum of 12 photos per listing or entry.

Use the right lighting. Turn off the flash and take advantage of natural light whenever possible. Photos of your product outdoors or by a window.
If necessary, rotate or crop the photo to make it look better. You can also use a photo editing program or eBay's built-in photo editing tool to improve the look or quality of the image.
Take as many photos as potential buyers need. Photos of items from every angle that you feel will be useful to someone. eBay features 12 free photos for each listing or ad entry.
Photos of unusual features or features, defects, or other elements. Your honesty and conviction reflected in product photos can almost always convince buyers (except for the lowest-priced items). However, of course some items only require one photo. Consider this wisely.
Don't use a confusing or dirty background and get rid of things that make the photo look messy. A sheet of white paper can be used as a clean, neutral background for small items.
Never copy photos from listings or other sites on the internet. In addition to being dishonest and fraudulent, these actions are usually considered copyright infringement. Almost every content on the internet (and other areas) is copyrighted, whether it has a copyright notice or not.
Look for articles on how to take better product photos for additional ideas on taking good photos of eBay products.

Step 5. Type in the product description

Include any relevant information. This information includes manufacturer, compatibility (if the item is designed to be used with other items), size, weight, color, condition, dimensions, and so on.

Be careful not to include too much information. Shoppers can skip information they don't need to know, and are likely to press the back button if they don't find the information they're looking for. Additional information can also help search engines find your listing or entry.
Display the most important information at the top or beginning of the listing.
If you need to design a listing, use a simple design. Some sellers “grow” their entries with irrelevant elements and make listings difficult to read and unable to display properly on mobile devices. Let the photos and descriptions you enter reflect the quality of your product.
Choose a font that's large enough and easy to read and don't overuse animations, clashing colors, and other distractions. Keep in mind that some buyers have visual impairments and prefer large fonts. Think of a large printed book as an example of a text size you could use.
Explain the defect or damage to the product clearly. Buyers can still figure it out so let them determine which defects they feel are significant or not. In addition, by clearly describing product defects, you will be protected from claims "Significantly Not As Described" (SNAD or "Items Not As Described"). However, if your item has a defect or damage, it's a good idea not to sell it at all on eBay. Do not let you get a reputation as a seller of "junk goods". One negative review can damage or even destroy a small seller.

Step 6. Define the sales format

You can choose the format that is most practical for yourself, as well as the most suitable for the item being sold.

Online auction. These auctions run for 1-10 days and sometimes allow you to get a higher price because in the auction, potential buyers are encouraged to compete with each other and can enjoy the pride of winning the item, as well as the pride that comes with the product itself.
- This format can be a great choice if you have items that people are looking for frequently and seem to be fighting over a lot, such as rare sports memorabilia.
- Online auctions are also useful if you are unsure of the starting price to set. With auctions, you can also find out and set prices for similar items at a later time.
Items in the “Buy It Now” category have a fixed price. This category allows buyers to buy something and request delivery right away, instead of waiting for the auction to end.
- This format is suitable for items that people buy, either routinely or suddenly. “Buy It Now” is also suitable for items where supply exceeds demand, or when you want to offer competitive prices.
- Items that people needed at the time would usually not attract many bids in auctions.

Step 7. Set a price based on your invested capital, time, fees from eBay, and shipping costs

Keep in mind that once someone purchases an item from you or the auction ends, a sale and purchase agreement has been made and it will be difficult to cancel it unless both parties agree to cancel the transaction. Search and read information on how to price items on eBay for more information.

You can change the prices of fixed-price items whenever you want, or before the first bids are made for items up for auction.
A low initial bid attracts more auctioneers' attention and interest to what you're offering, and it's possible that your product may sell for a higher price. However, if the item doesn't attract much attention or is underexposed, you can get a very low final sale price.
You have the option to set a “minimum” price when offering the lowest starting price, but eBay charges an additional fee for this price and some buyers are annoyed by this rule.
Don't overcharge the shipping and handling of the product. You can indeed tweak shipping costs to offer a lower selling price, as well as consider handling and supply of goods. However, usually buyers will feel annoyed and cancel the desire to buy with shipping costs that increase sharply. These days, shoppers expect free shipping and eBay increases the visibility of these items in search results if the seller offers free shipping. Increase the initial bid or “Buy-It-Now” price and offer free shipping, unless the product you are selling is bulky or heavy.
Pay attention to invoices sent by eBay and make payments on time. You will need to pay commission fees and other fees from listings or entries uploaded over time. You also need to make regular payments in full in order to continue or display a listing of items for sale. While these costs may be surprising at first, consider them as part of your business expenses. In the end, you can take those costs into account when determining the cost of the products and effort you put in.

Step 8. Determine the start and end times of your auction

Auctions end 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after you hold them. The auction ending time and duration can determine the final selling price you get. By scheduling the end of the auction at the time of peak buying, you can usually get a higher selling price.

Auctions that finish on weekends usually get a lot of exposure increasing your chances of getting a higher final price.
Some items are “seasonal” so there are better times to sell them than other times. For example, swimming gear or vacations to the beach usually sell better in the dry season, while jackets or warm clothes sell more in the rainy season or when the weather is cold.
You can see promotions that eBay has planned for certain categories [pages.ebay.com/sell/resources.html here]. Read the information listed and plan product sales while the relevant categories are being tagged or selected.

Step 9. Treat customers kindly

There are many sellers who are desperately trying to intimidate potential buyers. They think it's important for them to make glaring threats (eg with colorful fonts and large fonts) when reporting auctioneers not paying their bids and the like. However, don't do anything like that! You certainly don't enjoy shopping in a store and the owner is watching your every move. On the other hand, you also don't want to shop at a store whose employees often complain about incoming customers. The virtual world is no different. Potential buyers will feel insulted if you treat them as thieves or scammers. Therefore, stay away from bad prejudices.

If you need to include additional information regarding a particular policy, make sure the length of the information is shorter than the product description.
Try offering a return policy. In addition to helping you get discounts from eBay, the return policy gives buyers more confidence to buy your product, based on the opinions and experiences of multiple sellers. Few buyers return the products they purchased so you have the opportunity to earn more by making shoppers feel “safe” instead of losing money on returns. On the other hand, the discounts eBay gives to high-plus (“Top Rated Plus”) sellers who offer discounts are actually not that great. One return fee is sometimes more expensive than the monthly discount for small sellers. If you offer a return policy, all buyers can return the products they purchased from you for any reason. You should never refuse a return, even one made to the buyer's regret. However, if you don't officially offer this policy, it is still possible for the buyer to return the goods under certain conditions or situations.
Answer the questions buyers ask during the auction. Give answers quickly and make sure you are patient, give clear answers, be professional, and reflect friendliness. Buyers are not happy if their questions go unanswered and this situation can affect your professionalism. Therefore, do not hesitate to answer their questions.

Step 10. Double check all the information before you save the listing or entry

Make sure you double-check all the information when you are done creating your listing (on the "overview" page) before pressing the "Submit" button. If you do not press the button, the information will not be entered or uploaded. You will receive an email confirming that the listing or entry has been posted on eBay.

Check spelling on listings. While it doesn't make your listing bad, misspellings can affect entries. Good capitalization and proper use of punctuation make listings and the information contained in them easier to read.
Fix any errors. You can keep correcting errors in auction entries until the first bid appears and after that, what is shown on the auction page cannot be changed!

Part 4 of 6: Completing Transactions

Step 1. Observe the auction in progress

You can get an idea of buyer interest by observing changes to the visitor counter. If there are very few people viewing, you may need to adjust a few things to make the auction look more appealing to anyone browsing eBay. Learn by observing what factors are attracting users and what are not, and implement changes as necessary.

If necessary, end the auction. You can stop the auction up to 12 hours before the end date. However, you shouldn't do this too often as observers may be interested in bidding from the start and end up feeling disappointed that you're used to stopping auctions prematurely. Stop the auction in certain situations (eg damaged, lost, or stolen products). After you advertise your product, keep it in a safe place.
Lower the minimum price or initial offer. Before the last 12 hours of the auction, you can lower your price or initial bid if you don't receive any bids.
Observe buyers. You can block some buyers for certain reasons (e.g. a buyer who doesn't have a PayPal account, lives in a country you don't accept as a delivery destination, and still has two or more items unpaid). In addition, you can also create an “Approved Buyers” list that automatically allows multiple customers to bid.

Step 2. Once the item is sold and paid for, be prepared to ship it immediately

Step 3. Pack the product neatly and safely

If the product is perishable, poor packaging can damage the goods and make the customer angry! Meanwhile, neat and safe packaging can give a good impression of the transaction in the eyes of the buyer.

Step 4. Get in the habit of leaving positive feedback for fast paying customers

You can also use this moment to promote your item by saying (in English), for example, “Thanks for shopping at My eBay Store! Please come back soon! ". If the buyer is from Indonesia, you can say, "Thank you for shopping at our eBay store! We look forward to welcoming you back!"

Part 5 of 6: Promoting Product Listings or Entry

Step 1. Join a dedicated eBay group if you sell original art or craft products

Collectors join these groups, as do artists/craftsmen, as well as various buyers. Some hobbyists also often sell their collections in order to get funds to buy new products. Read the information threads, be polite and friendly, don't get into arguments, and give praise for things you enjoy. This group is a great place to make friends and get involved in a thriving special community.

Step 2. Take advantage of social media to promote your product

Create a blog and showcase your stuff, especially if you are an artist or craftsman. Share the post or content on Facebook and Twitter.

Step 3. Include the total price or minimum bid for the remittance fee

People are attracted to listings that offer cheap or free shipping so they will be more motivated to buy your product.

Step 4. Sell cheap items to gather feedback

Your feedback score is an often overlooked component of buying and selling on eBay. Buyers who are selecting one among many identical (or nearly identical) listings usually choose entries from sellers that have higher value or positive feedback. Therefore, it is very important for you to rate or give positive feedback.

Step 5. Try opening an official store on eBay once you become an established seller

This option can be an attractive option if you want people to be able to search for your products via a custom URL in a search engine. The official store is also a great platform if you want to group products yourself in a specific category, or when you want to build a profile that is highly attractive to customers and other shoppers.

Step 6. Done

Part 6 of 6: Tips from Experienced Salespeople

Step 1. Don't sell stuff you don't want to give up on eBay

Describe items as if there were no photos available, and product photos as if there were no description for the item.
Read books on sales before you start.
eBay is not the right platform to get rich quick.

At the very least, eBay helps you get rich through a long and slow process. Unfortunately, many new sellers fall victim to scams and realize that eBay is a platform that quickly leads them into poverty.
Don't open an eBay account to sell iPhones or designer bags. Professional scammers will look for new sellers offering popular items, and they will take your goods and money. It's a good idea to sell these items through services such as Carousel, Shopee, or other applications that offer direct (face-to-face) transactions.

Tips

Whether you're a new seller or someone who's been on eBay for a while, keep in mind that there's no one secret to buying and selling success. In reality, you need to try selling the product yourself until you find the method that works best for you, the product, and the approach used. Rely on your common sense, keen observation, and research skills, and be a good communicator for your success in selling on eBay.
Take advantage of free sales exercises. There are various books on how to sell on eBay. You can find at least one in the library-both printed and digital-and that should be enough (since all books usually say the same thing, buying such a book isn't that profitable).

Warning

Be careful when selling goods overseas. Most goods can indeed be traded and sales abroad can increase the selling price of the product. However, what is legal in one country may be considered illegal in another (and vice versa).
Don't sell illegal stuff. You could face serious consequences if you do.
Do not accept offers to sell items or accept payments outside of eBay. This is against eBay's policy and you will have no recourse if the sale or transaction fails or turns out to be detrimental.
eBay's sale or transaction is as valid as any contract or transaction on any other platform or medium. If you're committed to auctioning something on eBay, you shouldn't change your mind just because the price you're offering doesn't match or isn't high enough. You can suffer a loss on certain goods if you set an initial price that is too low for a “turnover” if there is only one user bidding.