Recently i have been having a clear out of my flat as there are far too many items i do not use and never will. And too much clutter! Some of the items have value though so i am slowly selling them online. Which made me think, as a long-time online seller. It may be time to do another guide. So here’s how i think you can make the perfect eBay sale.
The Basics
Before you sell on eBay or a similar auction site, you need to ensure that you are set up and prepared to list, then despatch, answer any questions and so on. So do not just dive in, but give your listing some thought in advance. This should help get you noticed and get a better price for your items. So decide what you are prepared to sell the item for, get some nice photos, all the specifications, and big yourself up in the description too!
The Listing
It may seem a weird thing to say, but do check your item first. I have sold the odd item as new, as i had never used it, to discover when getting ready to send it out the odd scratch or tear in a book. Your good rating is vital in getting business. Once you are sure of the quality of your item, you are ready to list it. There are numerous considerations to make when deciding the details of the auction.
Buy It Now Or Open Auction?
Do you have a good price in mind for your item(s)? Look at what the same item collects from other sellers, or has sold in the past. This may help you decide if you want to list with a fixed price, or risk an open auction. If you start with a low opening bid of 99p, you will gain more attention. You may also trigger a bidding war. However you run the risk of selling an item for less than you desired. You can put in a reserve price, but this costs extra. It’s not much, but it all whittles away at profits. You can also allow potential buyers to make an offer for an item.
Make The Perfect eBay Sale – Timing
If you are listing an open auction, think carefully about when you want the auction to end. You do not want it to end at 3am when everyone is asleep. You want the end to coincide with the time most people go on the internet. That way there is a great likelihood of a bidding war. I suggest early evening, or perhaps a Sunday evening when people have little else on.
Marketing
Your listing needs to stand out against the stiff condition on the site. So make sure you make your listing perfect. A good, descriptive and clear title. Excellent photos. A full description of the item. Clear information on your returns policy and good reputation. Make anyone who visits your listings trust you and want to buy off you. If they know precisely what they are getting, they are also less likely to return the item.
Make The Perfect eBay Sale – Pay Money To Make Money?
You may think you can make your listing stand out by advertising and paying eBay to bump it up the listings. It depends if what you sell is of great value. It could be worth your while advertising it on the site to get extra attention if so.
