Selling on Ebay
Written: Jun 05 '01 (Updated Jun 06 '01)
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The Bottom Line
If you follow the above suggestions you will open up some closet space and have money for that 4 star restaurant.
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Many people are comfortable buying on ebay but miss the true value of Ebay i.e. ridding yourself of all those unwanted items clogging your basement and closets that you children have left your house while they start their new household.
Selling on Ebay is fun,profitable, and addicting if you follow some simple rules.
1.Estimate what is worthwhile to sell. This is not as straightforward as you may think. These are some questions to run through your mind before venturing into the "Sell on Ebay" forum.
Is the item worth selling. Is it worth you time to take a picture, post on Ebay, wrap in package, and take to post office, fedex, or UPS this object that has been in your home. Start off will objects that will bring you a tidy profit i.e. something over $50.00. Otherwise you will find yourself asking:"Is it worth it?"
2. Sell only those things that have a "fair market" value.
Items with brand names do well as do hardware items such as
tools, sporting items, climbing gear. The sweater that you bought from a local knitter will probably not receive much
action since no one but you know it's true value. The Eddie Bauer Goretex coat will do much better.
3. Sell only new or almost new items. If the item is broken, stained, ripped or nonfunctioning you will receive the ultimate curse, a bad feedback rating. Even if the item is sold the buyer will either want to return it or worse will leave you the big red "Negative" feedback.
After receiving too many negative feedbacks you will not be able to sell anything or worse yet receive $2.00 for a new Rolex.
4.Find the manual, box, and accessories to whatever you are selling. This adds real value to the auction and allows the buyer to easily begin using what he or she has bought.
5. Take a picture. If you don't have a camera with which to photograph your Hartmann Luggage than attempt to use a scanner or better yet borrow you neighbors camera. Without a picture no one knows the color, year, model etc. of the product you are selling. Can't take a picture - you will get 40% less on whatever you are selling.
6. Be honest in the description.This is important if you don't want negative feedback. If it has been out of the box
but hasn't been used say this. Don't say it is "New in the box = NIB" if you have broken the seal. If these is one little spot on the sleeve say so. Don't let the buyer find it by surprise.
7.Write an appropriate description of the item. If possible
put a little zing in the description but don't exaggerate.
"These skis are great for the athletic skier" not "These skis won the gold medal at Vail"
8. Be willing to answer e-mail questions about the product.
Usually there are only a few questions about any auction. You will not be overcome with writer's cramp answering questions. With a good description all the questions should already have been answered.
9.Have the packaging ready. You will need a correctly sized box to send the item that you have just sold. The experienced seller will not waste time having to scramble for packaging after the item has been sold.
10.Use Paypal or Bidpay. This makes the transaction move quickly and you will be sure of payment. Having to wait for a personal check to clear will prolong the process into the next month. If you don't take these methods of payment, think about money orders or postal orders.
11.Use the post office to send your package. The fedex and
UPS will charge much more to ship most items. The USPS is less expensive and most convenient to boot. Beware of the
shipping stores - they charge a surcharge to all shipping. The store fronts make their money on adding their own charge to that of Fedex, UPS, or other commercial shipper.
Summary
This is a short overview on selling your unwanted but valuable gifts or expensive clothes on this on-line garage sale.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me: Hard core skier, business owner in the medical field
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