twenty second Jun 2025
Studying Time: 11 minutes
You probably have a great deal of litter that you just’re dying to eliminate, then contemplate promoting it on eBay.
eBay makes it straightforward to eliminate undesirable gadgets. However whereas it’s an ideal platform to make further money, it may be intimidating for first-time customers.
Listed below are 20 important suggestions that you just’ll must confidently begin getting cash on eBay.
1. Begin your eBay public sale costs at 99p


In the event you begin your public sale at 99p, you’ll entice extra potential consumers as a result of many individuals seek for gadgets by lowest worth. What’s extra, this can even maintain your charges down – which suggests more cash in your pocket.
In fact, there’s some danger right here. It’s potential that even a useful merchandise occurs to solely have one purchaser, who, via sheer luck, will get your merchandise for 99p when it’s value rather more!
There’s a tradeoff: so by no means put one thing at 99p when you’d be gutted to promote it for that a lot. Use your individual judgement and do analysis to see what comparable gadgets are promoting for.
2. Perceive free listings
eBay now permits personal sellers 300 free listings a month on virtually all classes, and it’s 35p an inventory after that. If you wish to pay further to advertise, it’ll nonetheless value one thing – however may web you a greater viewers to spice up your revenue. You’ll be able to set a reserve worth which suggests the merchandise received’t promote except it reaches that worth, however you’ll pay 4% of that reserve whether or not the merchandise sells or not.
On some gadgets, like vehicles and automobiles, eBay will let you understand you’re itemizing your merchandise free of charge whenever you put it stay, you’ll nonetheless pay a closing worth price. That is 10% of the ultimate value of the merchandise, together with postage. There can even be a PayPal price when you use that to get your money.
It’s not quite a bit, however one thing to concentrate on when taking a look at how a lot you’ll truly make on every sale. Whenever you arrange your promoting account, the best technique to pay these charges is by direct debit every month. You’ll get an bill of how a lot you owe.
You received’t pay a closing worth price in case your merchandise doesn’t promote. So if it fails to draw any consumers, attempt once more. You’ll be able to select to automate this course of by ticking the field to permit relisting if it doesn’t promote. It could be that the fitting purchaser wasn’t round on the time, so don’t quit!
Learn extra about closing worth charges on eBay’s web site.
3. Obtain the eBay app
In the event you promote typically it’s value downloading eBay’s free app. Utilizing it to submit listings is fast and simple – and it means which you could regulate your listings and reply to queries on the go. You’ll be able to take images, create your itemizing, and maintain observe of how auctions are going multi function place.
4. Make your ebay itemizing stand out
With 1.7 billion stay gadgets on eBay, making your itemizing stand out is essential.
When consumers seek for an merchandise, eBay solely seems to be for phrases within the itemizing’s title, so at all times use key phrases corresponding to model names, color, and sizes. Double examine spellings so folks can discover your gadgets!
5. Be unique
Somewhat little bit of copying and pasting with just a few changes and tweaks will prevent a great deal of effort and time when writing up descriptions for merchandise. However by no means copy descriptions or photos wholesale, as this infringes different sellers’ copyright. You would additionally unintentionally embrace harm that isn’t in your merchandise however is on the opposite particular person’s, which reduces its worth!
Have a look at different profitable sellers to see how they describe their merchandise and be taught from them.
In the event you promote a number of the identical factor, write up your individual template and reserve it on a file in your pc or telephone. Then you may copy and paste it, fill within the particulars for the merchandise (dimension, color, and so forth.), add images and also you’re just about carried out!
6. Value it proper


Objects will be listed as an public sale or a set worth. Along with following eBay pricing suggestions, you can too search accomplished eBay listings and take a look at different comparable gadgets that can assist you select a beginning worth for fixed-price or auction-style itemizing.
public sale listings
Public sale listings are nice when you’re uncertain of the worth of your merchandise or you could have distinctive and hard-to-find gadgets that would entice demand and spur a bidding struggle.
Though the ultimate worth could also be unpredictable, when you get a number of individuals who really need your merchandise, they could attempt to outbid one another, elevating the ultimate worth.
Bear in mind by no means to place a beginning worth that’s decrease than you’re keen to promote for! But when it’s one thing not too useful that’s simply mendacity round anyway, an public sale would be the technique to go.
Be sure to’ll be round when listings finish to submit the gadgets inside the timeframe you’ve agreed to.
Mounted-price listings
If you wish to make a sure worth on one thing, although, go for a set worth sale.
It is a protected choice when you completely don’t wish to promote your merchandise for lower than a sure worth. You’ll be able to tick the ‘enable affords’ button when you is likely to be keen to barter, or depart it off in case your worth is agency.
Some sellers desire shopping for via fixed-price listings as a result of they don’t have to attend for an public sale to finish. Simply be sure to’re out there to submit the merchandise inside the time restrict you’ve agreed to in your itemizing. With a fixed-price itemizing, it may promote at any time whereas it’s stay on eBay.
7. eBay is all about timing


When beginning an public sale, you may select whether or not it lasts one, three, 5, seven or ten days.
Alternatively, get into the behavior of itemizing your seven-day auctions every Sunday night time to maximise your bids on an ongoing foundation.
You’ll be able to even schedule your listings to start out at a sure time. So when you’re writing up your itemizing at 3am, you may have it begin at a greater time so it ends when extra individuals are searching.
8. Organise your promoting round your life


Whether or not you’re promoting a few gadgets or dozens of containers of stuff, you’ll want to remain on high of all the things. Use a calendar to mark when auctions are ending, and be sure to’ll be round to submit gadgets promptly.
In the event you’re away from residence quite a bit or possibly too busy to at all times go to the Publish Workplace, schedule listings to finish when it fits you. For instance, in case your solely free time is Saturday morning, have listings finish on Friday night so you may submit them the subsequent day.
Mounted-price listings have sure benefits, however as they’ll promote at any time, you’ll must be sure to’re at all times out there the subsequent day to submit issues.
In the event you want extra flexibility, you may alter the postage settings in your itemizing to say will probably be dispatched inside a few days as a substitute of sooner or later. However this would possibly flip some consumers away, particularly as most individuals are used to quick deliveries.
9. Publish gadgets ‘Recorded Supply’
That is an important recommendation on this web page. In the event you ship an merchandise recorded supply, you may observe its whereabouts.
This prevents any sellers claiming they haven’t acquired an merchandise. And whether it is misplaced, you might be lined by insurance coverage.
Some sellers additionally select to file packing movies to indicate the state the merchandise was in and the packing included. This may also help combat false claims of poor packing inflicting harm, or the unsuitable merchandise being despatched.
It’s vital to decide on the proper postage choices so {that a} purchaser is aware of how and when they are going to obtain the merchandise.
When posting an inventory, eBay has a useful software which offers postage suggestions based mostly on how different sellers have posted gadgets like yours.
If there’s no really helpful postage choice on your merchandise – otherwise you’d quite set your individual worth – you may select your individual postage technique. To get an concept of what try to be charging, use eBay’s Postage Estimator. Royal Mail additionally has a Value Finder software for determining the prices, each for the UK and overseas.
CollectPlus
You may also ship parcels to any UK tackle from a CollectPlus retailer (CollectPlus.co.uk), which suggests you keep away from the prolonged queues on the Publish Workplace – and reduce prices. What’s extra, the 6,000 retailers that provide this service are all open late, seven days every week.
Examine
Additionally value a glance are parcel and postage comparability web sites corresponding to Interparcel.com, Parcelmonkey.co.uk or MyParcelDelivery.com. These websites purchase postage slots in bulk from large courier companies corresponding to UPS or DHL and promote them to the general public – saving you a bundle within the course of.
However keep in mind that you just’ll be coping with a intermediary firm, not the courier itself. So if issues go unsuitable and want sorting, you’ll have to go by way of the comparability web site which is able to take care of any inquiries, however will be extra time consuming than you would possibly suppose.
Underestimating Postage Prices
Whereas low cost postage might entice extra consumers, at all times keep in mind that underestimating postage prices can rapidly eat into your eBay earnings.
In the event you’re flogging bigger gadgets that aren’t possible to submit, choose ‘native assortment solely’ and the customer might want to gather the merchandise in particular person.
11. Pack issues nicely
Make sure that you ship bought gadgets fastidiously, as if it arrives damaged you need to give the customer a refund.
What’s extra, when you depart shopping for your packaging till the final minute, you’ll find yourself forking out greater than crucial. Reduce prices and recycle used jiffy luggage and bubble wrap.
In the event you should shell out for model new packaging, look on-line for the most effective offers. Retailers corresponding to Amazon promote job a number of mailing luggage, which are available quite a lot of sizes, for as little as £3.
Pound retailers and different low cost shops are additionally nice for affordable packaging, whether or not it’s parcel paper or bubble envelopes.
12. Use a number of photos
With every itemizing, you may record as much as 12 photos free of charge. Reap the benefits of this in order that potential consumers can see what you’re promoting.
Including a number of good-quality images to your itemizing that can assist you improve gross sales and provides your consumers a extra correct concept of what to anticipate – and reassure them that you just’re a respectable vendor.
Intention for a well-lit, clutter-free, plain white background and at all times take images from a number of angles highlighting the situation of the merchandise. Be trustworthy about any imperfections (nicks and scratches, and so forth.)
A clear kitchen desk or counter might be good choices. Use a plain white sheet if want be.
It’s additionally vital to be sure to record your merchandise in the fitting class; when you don’t, the possibility of a very good sale goes down.
For an additional 35p price, you may record your merchandise in two classes to maximise your merchandise’s visibility.
14. Construct your eBay popularity
Constructing your eBay popularity as a trusted vendor is essential in making money on the web market.
To construct your eBay popularity, you must get optimistic suggestions from clients so as to get not less than 95% charge as a trusted vendor. One of the best ways to do that is to be the form of vendor you’ll wish to purchase from your self. So, supply good customer support, describe the merchandise precisely, reply to queries inside 24 hours, and be sure to mail packages inside the marketed interval.
Establishing and sustaining purchaser satisfaction helps you construct a stable popularity as a reliable vendor on eBay, and finally helps drive your gross sales exercise.
15. Make just a few small eBay purchases
In the event you’re a brand new vendor with little or no suggestions, consumers is likely to be reluctant to make purchases from you.
So, earlier than you begin itemizing gadgets, you would possibly wish to make just a few small purchases to build up optimistic suggestions, and to get used to the eBay course of.
Be aware of issues like how they describe their gadgets, postage occasions, and packaging. See if you may get any inspiration, or notice something you’d do higher!
16. Reply to folks ASAP
Whenever you get questions on belongings you’re promoting, reply as quickly as you may. In the event you take days to answer, you would possibly miss out on a sale. Ideally reply inside 24 hours.
Having the app with notifications switched on may also help you see messages a lot quicker.
17. Let folks know what you’re promoting on eBay
As soon as your itemizing goes stay, don’t simply sit again and hope for the most effective.
Promote your gadgets in your social networks corresponding to Fb, Twitter, or Instagram.
Use related hashtags and get the phrase on the market. Additionally, let your family and friends know to allow them to unfold the phrase too.
18. Don’t overlook larger gadgets on eBay
Simply because one thing appears too massive, impractical, or costly to ship, it doesn’t imply you may’t promote it. Merely supply the “assortment in particular person” choice – because of this the customer and vendor can discover a handy time for the merchandise to be picked up.
19. By no means underestimate what folks pays for
One man’s junk is one other man’s treasure. So even when you suppose among the belongings you’ve acquired mendacity round are ineffective, suppose once more!
Even damaged or not-working gadgets can promote for components or to fans. Typically when you promote a bundle of damaged electronics you may make good cash on them. Simply at all times be trustworthy in regards to the situation of the merchandise.
20. Don’t quit


If at first you don’t succeed, attempt once more.
Relist unsold gadgets and tweak your posting to seize the eye of consumers. As an example, altering the title, including a greater description, and altering the format of your itemizing (purchase it now or auction-style) can all assist.
Take new images or add further images to your itemizing. Photographs are completely key, so notice how different profitable eBayers are doing it and put within the effort!
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