What I Wish I Knew Before Selling on eBay
A little bit of advice to anyone who is just starting to sell on eBay, or even to those of you who are just thinking about it.
First be a buyer. Buy things that are inexpensive but are fragile, big, cloth, glass etc. Take note of how your sellers ship to you. Take note of how they communicate with you. Take notes ... really. I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn from your own buying experiences.
Then start by selling stuff you don't mind giving away. You WILL make mistakes in the beginning and it hurts less when you didn't expect much to begin with. The best way to start is by selling stuff you already own. Look around your house for clothes and shoes in good condition that you no longer wear. Snag those toys that your kids have outgrown. Build up a little sourcing money, then go out and start to buy. When I first started selling, nothing that stood still for too long was safe around my house. I warned my kids that they better keep moving or I was going to sell them.
When you start sourcing, start with something you know and then expand to other categories. This is most important! eBay and the economy are very volatile ... it helps to sell all kinds of things. One month sales might be dead in one category but selling like wildfire in another category. Diversify! Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. I mostly sell clothes but I will sell ANYTHING.
Never underestimate an item. Somebody somewhere is looking for it, even if you wouldn't! That is the beauty of eBay. You can go to eBay and find anything you are looking for.
Take your photos like you have no description. Write your description like you have no photos. Mention and describe all flaws so your buyer knows exactly what they are buying. Under promise and over deliver!
Always, always remain professional. Do not let your emotions get in the way of providing excellent customer service. Learning what you like to sell and what sells well for you will come, but from your first sale do everything in your power to make your customer happy they chose to buy your widget.
Don't guess about shipping costs. If you are just starting out, don't offer free shipping. BUY A SCALE! Weigh each of your items with the packaging and put all of that info in your listing. Let eBay figure the shipping price and make the customer pay. Learn the difference between First Class and Priority Shipping. When you get more experienced with shipping, then offer free shipping if you want to.
Be organized from the beginning. Start with a designated space for all your listings. Keep them all in the same location. As you expand, develop a system to find items easily. It's a HUGE waste of time and emotion if you can't find a sold item.
Start selling Buy it Now (BIN) items and give the customer the option for Best Offer. Auctions were great 10 years ago (or less), but most of the time you lose money using auctions. Only certain categories or items still do well with auctions. Most people just want to buy it already and have it on its way. List your item at 10-20% more than what you actually want for it because you will get offers for less and this gives you wiggle room. Sometimes you get people that take you by surprise and just buy at full price.
Never underestimate the importance of a good title and keywords. Think about what words a person might be using to search that would buy your item and use as many (if not all) of the characters that are provided. Place the most important and relevant words towards the beginning of your title.
Pack items the way you would want to see them come to your house. I've seen things stuffed in a grocery bag and other sellers that wrap items in nice tissue paper and make them look pretty. Which one would you like to receive? Who would you want to buy from again?
Don't get behind on listing and become a hoarder. Stop sourcing until you get your death piles listed. List something everyday. Inventory is worthless if it's not listed.
When an item ends, relist under sell similar, not "relist". This boosts your search as Cassini sees your listing as a new listing.
Cheaper isn't always better. You don't always make the sale being the most inexpensive. People may shy away and buy the same item at a higher price because they feel the price is attached to the quality or the wear and tear. So, don't sell yourself short.
Always keep money in your Paypal account. You need a cushion in case you get a return or it is time for eBay fees to be paid. We all are working for the money and have emergencies and unexpected bills but do your self a big favor and build in a little wiggle room, safety net, rainy day emergency fund, what ever you call it. Let that little nest egg grow a little. Some sellers pay their eBay fees weekly or even daily to avoid the huge shock of a big bill. Cash flow is important, have a buffer.
Really pay attention to your final profits after you consider costs, shipping supplies, fees etc because sometimes that profit margin is smaller than you realize and you don't want to work for free.
Don't take things personally. Some buyers are not going to be easy to deal with. Most are. Get some thick skin on ya. This is not for sissies.
