1. Do your research
Before you list an item on eBay, check if there's actually a market for it. Search for the item you're selling, whether it's an old phone or a vintage dress, and see if similar items are getting bids. You can select 'completed listings' in the left sidebar to see what prices similar items ended at. This way you can see whether a product is likely to make much money and whether it's worth the effort.
2. Take good photos
Once you've worked out which of your items have a good shot of selling, it's time to get snapping. There's no need to get your DSLR out - a decent phone snap is fine as long as the image is clear and well-lit. you can add 12 images for free, so take a few detail shots to up your chances.
3. It's okay to be a copy cat
When you're doing your pre-stalking of completed listings (as mentioned in step 1), take note of how the really successful sellers are listing their items. Don't copy and paste their listing, of course, but feel free to pick up tips from sellers that sold an item like yours for a good amount.
4. Spill ALL the details.
Has the dress your selling got a snag in it? Have the shoes got a scuff? Be honest and up front about ANY imperfections on your product - and include pics of the flaws, too - or you could have an angry buyer asking for a refund, which is no fun at all.
5. Go keyword crazy
eBay success is ALL about using the right words in your listing. Pack your image title and description with all the words people would be searching to find your product. So if you're selling a lace Topshop dress, don't put "gorgeous victoriana dress" because nobody will search that. Stick with the keywords so people can find your listing and line your pockets! Following step 3 will help you with this.
6. Learn your shortcuts
You only have 80 characters in your title, so don't waste them on entire words. A bit like tweeting, really. Here are the main ones people use:
BN: Brand new.
BNWT: Brand new with tags.
BNIB: Brand new in box.
BIN: Buy it now.
VGC: Very good condition.
NWOT: New without tags.
NWOB: New without box.
VTG: Vintage
7. Start your auction LOW
Unlike higher starting prices, eBay doesn't charge you anything to start your auction at 99p. Starting your auction really low will attract a lot more watchers (people interested in buying your item) and will put you in better stead for sparking a bidding frenzy. Of course, there's always the risk that your item could end at 99p. But if you follow our tips, hopefully that won't be the case!
8. Consider free postage
If you're charging a lot for your postage, you may find you get less bids. People want to feel like they're getting the best value, so if you psychologically trick them with free postage, they'll probably bid higher than they would've because they think they're getting a good deal. Taking a few squid out of your hefty profit won't seem like much at all. HOWEVER, if you're listing a heavy item that'll cost lots to post, it might be worth including this in your listing. Use Royal Mail's postage calculator and work out what will work best for you.
9. Know when to end your listing
The end of an auction is usually where ALL of the action happens, so be savvy with when you end yours (i.e. NOT at 2am). It's best to end your listing at eBay's peak time - on a Sunday evening. Take payday into account to. Chances are if your auctions end right after payday when everybody's feeling flush, you'll rake in a LOT more profit.
10. ALWAYS get proof of postage
Sometimes things go wrong in transit and your item doesn't turn out. And sometimes, the knobs of the world like to receive the item and pretend they didn't, meaning you have to give a refund. Proof of postage will save you all that bother, so never scrimp on it!
Happy eBaying!
VIA COSMOPOLITAN
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