How to Sell Your Stuff on eBay
Once upon a time you had a real need for those hockey skates, that fondue pot and your set of antique croquet mallets. Now they’re beginning to crowd you out of house and home. But you can’t stand the thought of just dumping it all, especially since some of those items may have real value.
The answer? Sell them—and lots of other stuff—on eBay (Stock Quote: EBAY). On any given day on eBay, there are millions of items available for sale (baseball cards, automobiles and more) through auction-style and fixed-price trading. The site has turned thousands of individuals into "eBay entrepreneurs," and given countless sellers access to potential customers worldwide, proving once again the maxim that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Here’s how to get started selling your stuff in four easy steps:
1. See for yourself. Take some time to look through the website and become familiar with its interface (that is, the series of buttons, links, search options, etc. that help users navigate the site—much like the index and headlines of a newspaper). Browse through different categories and products you’re familiar with to get an idea of how people describe their goods and what prices they’re asking (and getting) for various items.
2. Sign up. You should also read up about the various forms of payment people use. While some sellers accept personal checks (or small businesses will take phone orders with credit cards), the most common form of payment used is PayPal, an electronic intermediary that allows buyers to pay with credit cards. PayPal can minimize the risk for both parties. Before you can buy or sell anything, you’ll need to fill out a registration form by creating a username for yourself and entering your address and contact info. Registration is free of charge and does not obligate you to buy or sell anything.
3. Image is everything. Studies about eBay indicate that most buyers skip listings without images. Also, the bigger the image or photo, the better the chance of a sale. So if you’re listing an item, be sure to have a clear, good quality photograph available (if you can’t take your own, you might find a free, legal photo of the same item online.
