Effective eBay Strategies

I've been an eBay user since 1997.  Back then I was seeking out rare model horses that I could snag for a steal.  Today I'm mostly a seller, culling model horses that I no longer want or selling "stuff" that's sitting around our house and would otherwise be donated or trashed.

This year I've offloaded a VCR, media player, lots of clothes, Christmas ornaments, miscellaneous electronics (mostly outdated), and some other stuff.  My tally so far is $800 so I must be doing something right!

eBay is easy to use and there are lots of sites out there that teach you how to get the most out of it.  Here are my tips:

Know what you have and whether or not others want it.

1. Search for the item you want to sell on eBay.  On the right, scroll down, and there's a toggle called 

2. 

   
   

    Completed Listings.  This enables you to see not how many are on the market right now, but what people actually paid for those items.  Setting a realistic price will ensure that your item sells.
3. If your item didn't come up in search, consider why.  Is it super-rare?  If so, good for you!  Maybe, though, it's out of season or just not popular right now.  Example:  I don't bother trying to sell model horses online during July or August because so many collectors are visiting BreyerFest. 
4. Maybe there's a better venue to sell your item.  I sold an unopened Pilates machine via Craigslist because I didn't want to deal with shipping.  I could've used the local pickup option on eBay, but I thought Craigslist would reach a larger local audience.  It worked - and I avoided fees!

Use the listing form to its full advantage.

1. Use every character that's available to you in the title field.  Rather than springing a few cents for a  ub-header, pack a punch with the free title field.  For example, instead of saying "Blue Gap Sweater", blow it out with "GAP Ladies Light Blue/Teal/White Argyle Sweater Size Small".  The more descriptors you add, the more likely your item is to come up in search.
2. It's in the photograph!  eBay allows lots of free pictures for many categories.  Add as many as possible - full length front and back, close ups of patterns or details, bottom view, whatever.  If the pictures are not free try to add at least two of different angles.  eBay allows users to zoom in on the photos so make sure they are high-resolution so that the viewer can see details.
3. Be descriptive.  Describe that item as best as possible.  Measure EVERYTHING.  Let eBay do the work for you in some cases, like electronics.  I sold a VCR and when I typed in the brand and model number into search, eBay offered to add dozens of specs to the listing.  Do this!  Users can search by specification and if you aren't including them then you're already out of the race.  Just make sure that everything eBay enters is accurate. Remember to test your item and be sure that it works.  If it doesn't, be honest about that in the listing.

Price to sell and ship cost-effectively.

1. Way back up in #1 of the first section I told you how to price your item.  If you don't need to sell it right away, price it at or a little above what you think it will sell for.  If you just want to get rid of it, try $5-10 below the regular auction price.
2. Shipping is tricky.  Apart from re-using packaging and offering the cheapest option (usually Parcel Post) there's not much you can do to cut costs and bidders shy away from high shipping costs.  Be mindful of your packaging because it can increase costs.  I put clothing into plastic bags and then ship it in manila envelopes because they weigh considerably less than cardboard boxes.  Using newspaper as padding is a great way to recycle but it also adds weight.  Consider re-using the inflated air pockets you receive in other shipments - no matter how satisfying it is to pop them.
3. I've had more success since I've started using "buyer pays actual shipping costs".  This feature inserts a little calculator into the listing and the actual price is determined based on where the bidder lives.  When you list the item, just enter the measurements of the package and the weight and boom, you're done!  Bonus:  your item is boxed up and ready to go!

Communicate and keep your promises.

1. Bidder has a question?  Answer it ASAP and consider posting the answer for all to see on the listing to avoid repetition.
2. If you said you'd ship next-day, do it!  It's just a matter of getting to the Post Office if you've got things packaged up according to #3 in the previous section.  If you can't keep your promise, let the buyer know and give him/her the opportunity to back out.  Hey, they might need that Joker Halloween costume for a party this weekend!
3. Follow-up by promptly marking items as shipped and leaving feedback.

Those are my tips for eBay success!  I've got lots more including don't bite off more than you can chew, cross-promotion, and selling on other sites like Craigslist, Amazon, and Etsy that I'll share in a future entry.