Anyone can sell items on eBay. But if you’re thinking of selling items as your main source of income, then it’s probably a good idea to learn a few things first. After all, the vast majority of new sellers on eBay fail within their first six months, and there are plenty of pitfalls that await those who aren’t careful. Here are four things you need to know before selling on eBay as a main source of income. (Things You Need to Know Before Selling on eBay).
Know the basics first
Before you even think about listing anything on eBay, you need to learn a few basics. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to at least get a basic understanding of the platform and the selling process. You need to understand the basic rules of selling on eBay so that you don’t break them — or so you at least have a chance of getting away with it.
For example, there are a few rules that most eBay sellers forget — and some that are so frequently broken that you wonder why anyone bothers to comply with them at all. – First and foremost, when you list an item, you are promising that the item is real — and that the listing is genuine. – Sellers are always responsible for the accuracy of their listings. – You may not list items that are not your own.
Set a price before you list
Before you start listing items, you need to decide on a price. You can set your own price for an item, or you can use an auction format where the listing is set at the minimum price. This can be helpful if you have a large or rare item that you’d like to get the most possible money for.
Auction listings are the most likely to end up in the eBay “offline” area (if you aren’t active, they will disappear from the site). You may also choose to use a fixed price format, which means you list the item at a price that is usually below the actual market value. You can use this method if you don’t want to risk overpricing or underpricing your item.
Learn how to close your listing fast
If a buyer contacts you, you need to respond promptly. You can’t ignore emails, especially those from potential buyers. Most buyers will email you after the listing ends, but you still need to reply. If a buyer contacts you and you ignore him/her, you may get a negative reputation.
Make sure you answer emails from buyers. If a buyer requests a specific kind of information, make sure you respond. If a buyer makes a demand (for example, offering to pay more than the item is actually worth), you need to politely but firmly decline the offer. In most cases, the buyer will eventually back down and take his/her business elsewhere.
Set a clear, accurate listing
Before you start listing items, you’ll want to write a listing that is clear and accurate. It’s vital that you write a good listing, because eBay will review your listings to make sure they contain the information sellers need to list items successfully. You can use the eBay listing template as a guide. Make sure you fill in all of the boxes, including the title, description, condition, quantity, country/region of origin, seller information, and price.
Sell only what you own
You may have something really rare and valuable. You may also have something that is very common and easy to find. Neither of these things are allowed on eBay. You’re only allowed to sell items that you own or have the right to sell. If you own an item, you can sell it on eBay but If you don’t, you can’t sell it.
If you have a piece of art that you bought years ago and still have in your house, you can let people see it. But if you had a piece of art in your studio, but you haven’t used it in a long time, you can’t sell it on eBay.
Protect your seller reputation
If you want to keep your seller reputation high, you need to protect yourself from scammers. You do this by only listing items you actually own, and only listing items that are in your own personal collection. (Things You Need to Know Before Selling on eBay).
Stay active on eBay — and never drop the ball
eBay is a platform that relies on the sellers who support it. If you want to keep your selling activities going and your seller account active, you need to be on the site. You need to be actively selling items every week. You may want to try joining a few forums, asking questions, and getting to know the eBay community.
Summary
Selling on eBay is a great way to make some extra money. But before you dig into the selling game, you need to know a few things first. You need to know how to set a price, how to close a listing, how to write an accurate listing, and what your personal selling restrictions are. And, of these, one of the biggest mistakes new sellers make is listing items that aren’t actually their own. Make sure to take care with these things before you list anything on eBay.
