How to Sell on eBay: 10 Tips to Get You Started (2024)

Selling items on eBay isn't quite as easy as it sounds, at least not if you want to be good at it. How can you simplify the selling process, increase the odds of selling your stuff, and turn a decent profit? The answer lies in adopting several key strategies.

You need to know how to price your items, how to open yourself to counteroffers, how to take advantage of free listings, how to update the prices on items that aren't selling, and how to determine the shipping costs on your items.

Whether you've already tried selling stuff on eBay or haven't yet given it a shot, these tips can help you in your quest to be a successful seller.

1. Use eBay's Templates for Your Listing

(Credit: eBay/Lance Whitney)

You don't have to create a listing from scratch. Instead, let eBay provide a helping hand. At the listing page, enter the UPC code, ISBN number, or other identifying number for your item. If the product is already in eBay's catalog, the site should create a page prefilled with the basic information such as the title, synopsis or description, generic photo, and more. You then fill in the blanks—the condition, additional photos, price, and shipping details.

If the item doesn't have a UPC code or other number, you can often start with the right template by providing a specific name or title. In those cases, eBay may offer you a variety of templates to choose from. Then make sure the checkbox at the top of the listing page for "Prefill this listing with eBay catalog info" is checked to ensure that all the available details about the item appear.

2. Price Your Item by Reviewing Similar Listings

(Credit: eBay/Lance Whitney)

Not sure how to price your item? EBay can help here, too. Search eBay for the item you're selling by entering the UPC code, ISBN number, or name. Unless your item is rare, you should find prior listings for it. Scroll down the page and check the box on the left for "Completed listings" to see those that have finished. Any price in green indicates an item that sold at that amount. Prices not in green show listings that finished but didn't sell. Check the box for "Sold listings" and you'll see those that sold at a specific price.

3. Sell on eBay for Free

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By default, eBay grants you a certain number of free listings per month, up to 250 zero-fee listings for basic sellers and 1,000 or more for those with eBay storefronts. As long as you don't tack on extra options, such as a Reserve price, you don't have to pay anything to list the item.

4. Weigh Your Item in Its Shipping Package

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How do you determine an accurate shipping cost? Remember that a box and any bubble wrap or other stuffing can add to the weight. Your best bet is to weigh the item in the envelope or box with the stuffing that you'd use to ship it. That's especially important if you're shipping a large item or one with unusual dimensions. You can then use eBay's Shipping Calculator to determine the cost. You'll find the link to "Calculate Shipping" in the domestic shipping section of shipping details or open the calculator before you create your listing. Check out the cost with different shipping options, including media mail (which applies to books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, computer software, and other types of media).

5. Try Different Options on Items That Don't Sell

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Stuck with an item that hasn’t yet sold? Beyond relisting the item at a lower price, you can play with other options when you try to sell it again. If you've been selling it via an auction, then try a Buy It Now listing, or vice versa. Increase the price slightly or leave it the same but offer free shipping. Experiment with the duration of the listing; you can choose one day, three days, five days, seven days, or 30 days. Select the option for Global Shipping Program, which lists your item internationally. Don't worry, that process is now easy, as eBay handles the routing of your item to other countries.

6. Allow for Counteroffers

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Increase your odds of a sale by accepting counteroffers. Under your Buy It Now price or auction, turn on the switch for Allow offers. This tells buyers that you're willing to accept a lower offer. If you don't want to have to respond to every counteroffer, fill in the field for Minimum Offer with the minimum amount you’d accept, meaning any offer below that amount will be automatically rejected. Then fill in the field for Auto-accept with the minimum amount you’d accept, meaning any offer at or above that amount will be automatically accepted.

7. Lower the Starting Bid Before an Auction Ends

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If an item up for auction isn't attracting any bids, buyers, or even watchers, you can lower the starting bid before the listing ends. But do so at least a day before the end of the auction; otherwise you won't be able to revise the listing.

8. Time Your Auction Properly

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Does it matter what day and time of day you kick off and close out an auction listing? Yes, especially if you set up an auction for a hot item that may trigger intense bidding at the last few minutes. A precise time is difficult to achieve as your audience stretches across multiple time zones. But in general, Sunday evening is an ideal time to start and stop your listing as many people are browsing the internet and shopping on eBay. Certain evenings during the week, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, can also land a lot of potential buyers. Avoid auctions that end on Friday or Saturday evenings when a lot of people may be out. And don't end auctions too early in the morning or too late at night when most people in the US are likely sleeping. You can also create your listing but schedule it to go live at a future date and time.

9. Try Local Pickup for Items You Can't Ship

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Have an item you want to sell but it's too big, bulky, or expensive to ship via regular postal mail? You have a couple of options. Freight shipping is designed for large items but can be costly and time-consuming since you still must pack the item. Instead, consider the option for local pickup only. Naturally, your audience will be limited to people willing to travel to you. But this is a wise strategy for selling furniture or other items that can't easily be shipped. In the Local Pickup section, turn on the switch for Add Local Pickup.

10. Treat Your Customers Right

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A key part to being a successful eBay seller is to respect your customers. First, make sure you accurately describe the condition of your items, including any flaws or defects, so your buyers aren't disappointed. Explain your return policy just in case the buyer isn't happy. Answer any questions from potential buyers. Communicate with a buyer, especially when you ship the item so they know when to expect it. Strive to ship the item within a day or two after the sale. Try to resolve any problems amicably so that neither you nor the buyer need to escalate an issue to eBay. Remember to leave feedback for your buyers, which may remind them to leave feedback for you. Follow these guidelines, and your buyers are much more likely to give you positive reviews. Sellers with positive ratings will do better than those with even a few negative marks.