I’ve gotten the question many times, “How do I sell my stuff on Ebay?” Well many are doing this and making money at it. In fact, I have a friend who visits garage and estate sales all over town and then sells the stuff on Ebay. He also trolls Craigs Lists for give aways or near give aways and makes a profit. This may sound like a lot fo work to many but start at home first. 
If you’re like most of us, you have too much stuff. In fact, I read an article the other day that said there are now more storage units in the United States (where I live) than there are McDonld’s. A few years ago I had 2 storage units – one in Ohio and one in Colorado where we were living at the time. Its time to clean out the stuff we’re not using. Why not sell it?
Do you have some clothes you’ve never worn? How about that old exercise machine? Or what about an extra router laying around the family room? Sell it.
Here’s how you can sell your stuff on Ebay.
1. You’ll need to open an account with Ebay
This isn’t an intimidating process. Its very easy and very quick. Click here to open an account with Ebay.
2. Do an inventory and decide on the products (or stuff) you’d like to sell.
Look around the house with a new set of eyes and determine what you’re willing to part with. I’ve sold all kinds of things. Electronics sell well. I’ve sold routers, modems, mp3 players, phone charges and the list goes on. I’ve also sold a ton of clothes. Name brands are great, of course! Here’s a simple list just to get you started:
- Electronics
- DVD players (especially for the car)
- Car covers
- Emergency kits
- Modems / Routers
- iPods
- Anything Apple
- Popular toys
- College Textbooks
- Name brand clothes
- Shoes
- Watches
- Vinyl records
- VHS Tapes
- Comic Books
- Magazines
- Vintage (cars, toys, cameras, signs, decor, books, etc)
- Toys (vintage, Legos, Frozen, trendy, etc)
- Furniture (indoor and outdoor)
- Outdoor items (bicycles, games, etc.)
- Home decor
- Seasonal items (Halloween, Christmas, etc)
You could also buy things in stores near the end of season for a bargain to resell in your Ebay store. I don’t honestly recall the name brand but my wife and I were shopping at an outlet store in the fall a few years ago, and a store was clearing out their summer dresses. We purchased 10 dresses for pennies on the dollar and sold them on Ebay for a hefty profit. We were kicking ourselves that we didn’t purchase the entire rack.
3. Take pictures of your stuff – be nice.
Dig out that digital camera or just use your smartphone and point and click. Here’s a few pointers on getting your images just right for the sale!
- Light up your product. Make sure people can see it in the picture. If you don’t have a well-lit room then go outside. You can also use a lamp or two to shine directly on the item. Make sure you’re pics aren’t blurry as well.
- Use a solid colored background and not something distracting and “busy”. Use a white sheet.
- Get multiple images and from all angles. Items with multiple images sell more often than those that one or none (gasp!). Use the best of the litter as your main pic.
- Above all…please make sure the item is clean. I’ve seen things for sale online that are downright nasty looking. Also, if you’re selling clothes – please iron them or “fluff them up” in the dryer to look inviting.
- Speaking of clothes, go to local store and ask them for an old mannequin they might give you or look for one online. This makes a big difference when selling clothes. However, I’ve sold a lot of clothes without one.
If you’re a camera pro then make the photos look great. If not, you’re like me, do your best to make the photos look nice. Be objective.
4. Purchase a few items on Ebay to get some positive feedback.
This is a good idea to ensure that people feel comfortable buying from you when you sell your items. If a potential customer sees no feedback then they may feel a little uneasy about being your first transaction. This also will get your feet wet and help you understand the buying process.
5. Open a PayPal account.
This also is not required but it is recommended. This enables you to get paid. You don’t want to push forward without PayPal as your potential Customers need this tool. Apply for a PayPal account here.
6. Now list your items on Ebay
Be sure to select the appropriate category. Within your listing you’ll need to include all the details you possibly can.
Use a descriptive title with keywords at the beginning. Add your details, photos, and a great description. Every detail you provide literally brings you closer to a sale and it also provides better visibility in Ebay. So, investigate that item. Include the following where applicable:
- Brand name
- Model number
- Model name
- Item number
- Item name
- Color
- Size
- Men’s, women’s, boy, or girl
- Material
- Type of item (dress shirt, formal gown, digital camera, etc.)
- ISBN for books
- New or used
Other considerations:
- Enter your selling details – You can use an auction style format or a fixed price. An auction will draw more interest in most cases.
- When I sell on Ebay, I incorporate the cost of the shipping into my item and then offer free shipping to the customer.
- Set up a return policy.
- Preview your listing before submitting to make sure you’re happy with it.
- I would recommend you not ship outside the U.S. (or your home country) until you get used to the process.
- Respond quickly to buyer’s questions.
- Agree to a shipping/handling time of 3 days.
- Ship via USPS
7. You made a sale! Ship it!
Ship your item as soon as you can. Go to a local store or find old boxes and packing materials around the house. You can also use cardboard to form a package. Think outside the box but package your item well…keeping it safe for the journey to your buyer.
Best of luck to you as you dip your feet into the online business community. Contact me if you have any feedback on this article or any questions.
Regards.