Starting on eBay? Explore this 5-part series for our beginners! (Part 2)
Take My Hand and Let's Get Started
Sign up for an eBay account. It’s free to register.
When selecting your user ID, enter a name that you want to be associated with and something that buyers can easily search for (potentially for repeat business).
Sign up for a PayPal account. When a buyer makes a purchase, you'll be able to receive payments through PayPal and those funds can be sent to your bank account.
Once you've successfully signed up, go to ebay.com and click on the 'Sell' button at the top right. Click on 'Create Listing' at the top right and then 'Single Listing'. Click on 'Browse Categories' and select the category that would accurately describe your item.
With 80 characters allowed in the title, be descriptive with your keywords. Include the brand name, color, size, style name, product specifications/features, etc.
Enter the UPC if applicable and select the condition (new vs. pre-owned). If pre-owned, list ALL the imperfections. Think of yourself as the pickiest buyer. What would the pickiest buyer want to know?
You can have up to 12 free photos. Take photos of your item and make sure that they're clear, include all of the flaws, provide a true depiction of the item (ie. color of item can vary in different lighting), and display the item from different sides.
Enter as many item specifics as you can (brand, color, features, material, style, size, etc.) These filters connect potential customers to your item so shorten the communication gap and fill that space with detailed information.
In the 'Item Description' section, I encourage you to be as accurate and honest as possible. By providing a comprehensive description, this reduces the chance of the buyer opening a case against you for an item not being "as described'. In this case, you will not be able to keep the money from the sale. It will have to be refunded. In some scenarios, the customer will leave negative feedback. In order to build a solid foundation as a trustworthy seller, positive feedback is crucial.
You can select the format - Auction or Fixed Price. For the auction format, you can set a starting price with the lowest amount you're willing to let it go for and the duration. For the fixed price format, this is the price you want to sell it for but if you're flexible and would be open to offers, you can check off the 'Best Offer' option. You have up to 50 free listings per month (unless eBay is offering a free listing promotion or you purchase a monthly subscription to your own eBay store).
You can enter the quantity, payment options, return options, and shipping details.
At the bottom, you'll be able to preview your listing and list it once you're ready.
At the bottom of that page, you can also view the cost associated with that listing.
More information on selling fees can be found by clicking on this link. The screenshot below is from the eBay.com site and provides basic fees for most categories.
Switch Roles
“Think of yourself as the pickiest buyer. What would the pickiest buyer want to know?”
Explore the eBay website. In the beginning, it’s okay to take your time and get accustomed to the different functions within eBay. As you progress, you will get quicker.
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