
twenty second Jun 2025
Studying Time: 11 minutes
You probably have a great deal of muddle that you simply’re dying to eliminate, then take into account promoting it on eBay.
eBay makes it straightforward to eliminate undesirable gadgets. However whereas it’s a terrific platform to make additional money, it may be intimidating for first-time customers.
Listed below are 20 important ideas that you simply’ll have to confidently begin earning money on eBay.
1. Begin your eBay public sale costs at 99p

In the event you begin your public sale at 99p, you’ll appeal to extra potential patrons as a result of many individuals seek for gadgets by lowest value. What’s extra, this will even hold your charges down – which implies more cash in your pocket.
In fact, there’s some danger right here. It’s doable that even a beneficial merchandise occurs to solely have one purchaser, who, by sheer luck, will get your merchandise for 99p when it’s value far more!
There’s a tradeoff: so by no means put one thing at 99p in the event you’d be gutted to promote it for that a lot. Use your personal judgement and do analysis to see what related gadgets are promoting for.
2. Perceive free listings
eBay now permits personal sellers 300 free listings a month on nearly all classes, and it’s 35p a list after that. If you wish to pay additional to advertise, it’ll nonetheless value one thing – however may internet you a greater viewers to spice up your revenue. You may set a reserve value which implies the merchandise received’t promote except it reaches that value, however you’ll pay 4% of that reserve whether or not the merchandise sells or not.
On some gadgets, like vehicles and automobiles, eBay will let you already know you’re itemizing your merchandise without spending a dime if you put it reside, you’ll nonetheless pay a closing worth payment. That is 10% of the ultimate value of the merchandise, together with postage. There will even be a PayPal payment in the event you use that to get your money.
It’s not loads, however one thing to pay attention to when how a lot you’ll truly make on every sale. While you arrange your promoting account, the best technique to pay these charges is by direct debit every month. You’ll get an bill of how a lot you owe.
You received’t pay a closing worth payment in case your merchandise doesn’t promote. So if it fails to draw any patrons, strive once more. You may select to automate this course of by ticking the field to permit relisting if it doesn’t promote. It could be that the proper purchaser wasn’t round on the time, so don’t surrender!
Read more about final value fees on eBay’s website.
3. Obtain the eBay app
In the event you promote typically it’s value downloading eBay’s free app. Utilizing it to put up listings is fast and simple – and it means that you would be able to keep watch over your listings and reply to queries on the go. You may take photographs, create your itemizing, and hold monitor of how auctions are going multi function place.
4. Make your ebay itemizing stand out
With 1.7 billion live items on eBay, making your itemizing stand out is essential.
When patrons seek for an merchandise, eBay solely seems to be for phrases within the itemizing’s title, so all the time use key phrases corresponding to model names, color, and sizes. Double verify spellings so folks can discover your gadgets!
5. Be unique
Somewhat little bit of copying and pasting with a number of changes and tweaks will prevent a great deal of effort and time when writing up descriptions for merchandise. However by no means copy descriptions or footage wholesale, as this infringes different sellers’ copyright. You possibly can additionally by chance embody harm that isn’t in your merchandise however is on the opposite particular person’s, which reduces its worth!
Take a look at different profitable sellers to see how they describe their merchandise and study from them.
In the event you promote a number of the identical factor, write up your personal template and put it aside on a file in your pc or cellphone. Then you possibly can copy and paste it, fill within the particulars for the merchandise (measurement, color, and many others.), add photographs and also you’re just about performed!
6. Value it proper

Objects will be listed as an public sale or a set value. Along with following eBay pricing suggestions, you may also search accomplished eBay listings and take a look at different related gadgets that can assist you select a beginning value for fixed-price or auction-style itemizing.
public sale listings
Public sale listings are nice in the event you’re uncertain of the worth of your merchandise or you have got distinctive and hard-to-find gadgets that would appeal to demand and spur a bidding warfare.
Though the ultimate value could also be unpredictable, in the event you get a number of individuals who really need your merchandise, they might attempt to outbid one another, elevating the ultimate value.
Bear in mind by no means to place a beginning value that’s decrease than you’re keen to promote for! But when it’s one thing not too beneficial that’s simply mendacity round anyway, an public sale stands out as the approach to go.
Ensure you’ll be round when listings finish to put up the gadgets inside the timeframe you’ve agreed to.
Fastened-price listings
If you wish to make a sure value on one thing, although, go for a set value sale.
It is a secure choice in the event you completely don’t wish to promote your merchandise for lower than a sure value. You may tick the ‘permit provides’ button in the event you may be keen to barter, or depart it off in case your value is agency.
Some sellers desire shopping for by fixed-price listings as a result of they don’t have to attend for an public sale to finish. Simply ensure you’re obtainable to put up the merchandise inside the time restrict you’ve agreed to in your itemizing. With a fixed-price itemizing, it may promote at any time whereas it’s reside on eBay.
7. eBay is all about timing

When beginning an public sale, you possibly can select whether or not it lasts one, three, 5, seven or ten days.
Alternatively, get into the behavior of itemizing your seven-day auctions every Sunday evening to maximise your bids on an ongoing foundation.
You may even schedule your listings to start out at a sure time. So in the event you’re writing up your itemizing at 3am, you possibly can have it begin at a greater time so it ends when extra individuals are shopping.
8. Organise your promoting round your life

Whether or not you’re promoting a few gadgets or dozens of packing containers of stuff, you’ll want to remain on high of every part. Use a calendar to mark when auctions are ending, and ensure you’ll be round to put up gadgets promptly.
In the event you’re away from house loads or possibly too busy to all the time go to the Publish Workplace, schedule listings to finish when it fits you. For instance, in case your solely free time is Saturday morning, have listings finish on Friday night so you possibly can put up them the following day.
Fastened-price listings have sure benefits, however as they will promote at any time, you’ll have to ensure you’re all the time obtainable the following day to put up issues.
In the event you want extra flexibility, you possibly can modify the postage settings in your itemizing to say it will likely be dispatched inside a few days as a substitute of at some point. However this may flip some patrons away, particularly as most individuals are used to quick deliveries.
9. Publish gadgets ‘Recorded Supply’
That is crucial recommendation on this web page. In the event you ship an merchandise recorded supply, you possibly can monitor its whereabouts.
This prevents any sellers claiming they haven’t acquired an merchandise. And whether it is misplaced, you’re lined by insurance coverage.
Some sellers additionally select to report packing movies to point out the state the merchandise was in and the packing included. This might help struggle false claims of poor packing inflicting harm, or the improper merchandise being despatched.
It’s vital to decide on the proper postage choices so {that a} purchaser is aware of how and when they are going to obtain the merchandise.
When posting a list, eBay has a useful instrument which supplies postage suggestions primarily based on how different sellers have posted gadgets like yours.
If there’s no beneficial postage choice to your merchandise – otherwise you’d moderately set your personal value – you possibly can select your personal postage technique. To get an concept of what you ought to be charging, use eBay’s Postage Estimator. Royal Mail also has a Price Finder tool for determining the prices, each for the UK and overseas.
CollectPlus
You may as well ship parcels to any UK tackle from a CollectPlus retailer (CollectPlus.co.uk), which implies you keep away from the prolonged queues on the Publish Workplace – and reduce prices. What’s extra, the 6,000 outlets that supply this service are all open late, seven days per week.
Examine
Additionally value a glance are parcel and postage comparability web sites corresponding to Interparcel.com, Parcelmonkey.co.uk or MyParcelDelivery.com. These websites purchase postage slots in bulk from huge courier companies corresponding to UPS or DHL and promote them to the general public – saving you a bundle within the course of.
However keep in mind that you simply’ll be coping with a intermediary firm, not the courier itself. So if issues go improper and wish sorting, you’ll have to go by way of the comparability web site which can cope with any inquiries, however will be extra time consuming than you may suppose.
Underestimating Postage Prices
Whereas low cost postage could appeal to extra patrons, all the time keep in mind that underestimating postage prices can shortly eat into your eBay income.
In the event you’re flogging bigger gadgets that aren’t possible to put up, choose ‘native assortment solely’ and the customer might want to acquire the merchandise in particular person.
11. Pack issues nicely
Make sure that you ship offered gadgets fastidiously, as if it arrives damaged it’s essential to give the customer a refund.
What’s extra, in the event you depart shopping for your packaging till the final minute, you’ll find yourself forking out greater than crucial. Minimize prices and recycle used jiffy luggage and bubble wrap.
In the event you should shell out for model new packaging, look on-line for one of the best offers. Retailers such as Amazon promote job a number of mailing luggage, which are available quite a lot of sizes, for as little as £3.
Pound outlets and different low cost shops are additionally nice for reasonable packaging, whether or not or not it’s parcel paper or bubble envelopes.
12. Use a number of footage
With every itemizing, you possibly can checklist as much as 12 photos without spending a dime. Reap the benefits of this in order that potential patrons can see what you’re promoting.
Including a number of good-quality photographs to your itemizing that can assist you enhance gross sales and provides your patrons a extra correct concept of what to anticipate – and reassure them that you simply’re a reliable vendor.
Purpose for a well-lit, clutter-free, plain white background and all the time take photographs from a number of angles highlighting the situation of the merchandise. Be trustworthy about any imperfections (nicks and scratches, and many others.)
A clear kitchen desk or counter could possibly be good choices. Use a plain white sheet if want be.
It’s additionally vital to ensure you checklist your merchandise in the proper class; in the event you don’t, the possibility of a very good sale goes down.
For an additional 35p payment, you possibly can checklist your merchandise in two classes to maximise your merchandise’s visibility.
14. Construct your eBay repute
Constructing your eBay repute as a trusted vendor is essential in making money on the web market.
To construct your eBay repute, you’ll want to get constructive suggestions from prospects as a way to get not less than 95% fee as a trusted vendor. The easiest way to do that is to be the form of vendor you’d wish to purchase from your self. So, supply good customer support, describe the merchandise precisely, reply to queries inside 24 hours, and ensure you mail packages inside the marketed interval.
Establishing and sustaining purchaser satisfaction helps you construct a stable repute as a reliable vendor on eBay, and in the end helps drive your gross sales exercise.
15. Make a number of small eBay purchases
In the event you’re a brand new vendor with little or no suggestions, patrons may be reluctant to make purchases from you.
So, earlier than you begin itemizing gadgets, you may wish to make a number of small purchases to build up constructive suggestions, and to get used to the eBay course of.
Pay attention to issues like how they describe their gadgets, postage instances, and packaging. See if you will get any inspiration, or be aware something you’d do higher!
16. Reply to folks ASAP
While you get questions on stuff you’re promoting, reply as quickly as you possibly can. In the event you take days to answer, you may miss out on a sale. Ideally reply inside 24 hours.
Having the app with notifications switched on might help you see messages a lot quicker.
17. Let folks know what you’re promoting on eBay
As soon as your itemizing goes reside, don’t simply sit again and hope for one of the best.
Promote your gadgets in your social networks corresponding to Fb, Twitter, or Instagram.
Use related hashtags and get the phrase on the market. Additionally, let your family and friends know to allow them to unfold the phrase too.
18. Don’t overlook larger gadgets on eBay
Simply because one thing appears too massive, impractical, or costly to ship, it doesn’t imply you possibly can’t promote it. Merely supply the “assortment in particular person” choice – which means the customer and vendor can discover a handy time for the merchandise to be picked up.
19. By no means underestimate what folks pays for
One man’s junk is one other man’s treasure. So even in the event you suppose among the stuff you’ve received mendacity round are ineffective, suppose once more!
Even damaged or not-working gadgets can promote for components or to fanatics. Generally in the event you promote a bundle of broken electronics you may make good cash on them. Simply all the time be trustworthy concerning the situation of the merchandise.
20. Don’t surrender

If at first you don’t succeed, strive once more.
Relist unsold gadgets and tweak your posting to seize the eye of patrons. For example, altering the title, including a greater description, and altering the format of your itemizing (purchase it now or auction-style) can all assist.
Take new images or add additional images to your itemizing. Pictures are completely key, so be aware how different profitable eBayers are doing it and put within the effort!
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