Selling on eBay

[JakeK]

How do you sell on eBay? My parents and I have only bought from eBay, never sold. I've asked countless local friends who simply say "eBay is easy to use", but they give no details or anything.

Can someone here walk me through how to sell on eBay, such as setting BIN prices, getting credit card info registered, package dimensions and how to put up pictures, among countless other things?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

[sloop_john_b]

Just give it a try - it's all self explanatory once you go through the motions.

[1965]

It's all pretty intuitive, just go to "sell an item". It would probably be easier if you tried first and then came here with any questions you have.

[leesh]

In my experience, here's what I know:

1. If you want to sell it fast, check the completed auctions for what you are selling and just do a BIN for what those have sold for.
2. Auctions with better pictures and more details will give you a better price.
3. Be realistic about shipping costs....people get turned off with high shipping charges.
4. The higher you list an item for, the higher your initial charges.....so if you have something that'll go for $500, start the auction really low (maybe with a reserve if you get nervous) rather than $450.
5. Accept paypal.
6. If you are just starting to sell, don't jump into international shipping just yet...stick to the 48 for your first couple auctions.

[1965]

Accepting paypal only makes it really easy, but you also really get f–ed by their fees.

[beatlefreak]

If you click on the 'Sell An Item' button, it will walk you through the process, including giving you a place to upload your pictures to. If you accept PayPal, you'll automatically be set up to take credit card payments.

[cheyenne]

I used to use Ebay all the time, what with all the fee's and Paypal charges its getting tougher to turn a buck though.. I prefer to call them "Fee-bay".

[rickenbrother]

I prefer to call them "Fee-bay".

Good one, Scott.

[whojamfan]

Be sure to always use the words "rare", "vintage", and "collectable" to your ads, even if yours was 1 of 10,000 made last week. That seems to be the trend

If you sit down, relax, and read the instructions on the site as to how to do it, you shouldn't have any problems. You can also order a cd rom that will walk you through it step by step from that bald dude on T.V. for the cost of shipping. Good luck, and what are you trying to sell, if you don't mind me asking?

[1965]

I'm guessing he's trying to sell his Fender.

[JakeK]

Yeah, I'm trying to sell the Strat. I need to get some pics from my phone to the computer, which I'm sure I can Bluetooth if I get the right software.

[sloop_john_b]

Yeah, I'm trying to sell the Strat. I need to get some pics from my phone to the computer, which I'm sure I can Bluetooth if I get the right software.

You should be able to email them to yourself as well.

[Ric O'Sound]

Yeah, I'm trying to sell the Strat. I need to get some pics from my phone to the computer, which I'm sure I can Bluetooth if I get the right software.

Just a word of advice here, Jake...
Don't use ****** cell phone pictures in your listing. You'd be amazed what good, clear photos of your Strat will do to get more people looking at your auction and attract more bidders. If you don't have a digital camera yourself, borrow one from a friend for a few hours or something (surely you must know someone who owns one). You can transfer the photos to your computer via a USB cable or directly from the memory module if your computer has a memory card reading device. Take a few dozen pictures from various angles in different lighting environments and then pick out the best ones to use in your listing. It'll really help.

[zrob]

Jake,

Here's an all-in-one lesson for you. -Clunk-

Note how he uses descriptive words instead of the mundane (I'd probably have just said brown). His skillful ratio of positive to negative aspects will only build the buyer's confidence in the seller's honesty and help him/her to click that BIN. And if the narrative isn't clear enough, the seller has included a photograph. How special is that! Don't forget to use the attention-getting ALL CAPS as well as the multiple colors and highlighting. Remember: MORE IS BETTER!

A true template for success.

[deaconblues]

And remember - if it's going on eBay, set the price at least $1000 higher than anybody would ever want to pay for it.