The best day AND time to sell your treasures without risking a loss
Whether you're saving up to get on the property ladder, for a wedding dress, or even just a pair of designer boots, selling unwanted goods online can be a great way to earn money fast.
In February, we revealed the student that made £30,000 selling old clothes on eBay - and now she hopes to put her lucrative profits towards a costly law conversion course.
If you're one of millions of Brits that are sitting on a gold mine of unwanted clothes, homeware and even jewellery - it's probably time you entered the online selling world - and eBay.co.uk could be one way in.
We reveal some of your biggest questions below - including the best time, and date to sell an item for maximum cash.
Read more:eBay millionaires share their selling secrets - and you could be next
How to sell on eBay
Create an eBay account and link your profile to your PayPal account to start selling. You'll be promoted to verify your details through a phone number - this can be either a mobile or landline.
- To get started, click the 'sell' button at the top of your eBay homepage.
- Select a category, choose between an 'auction' list or a 'buy it now'.
- Complete the selling criteria form and publish your listing - make sure you check back for counter-offers or questions over the course of your listing.
How much will it cost me?
You get 20 free scheduled listings each month - there's a 35p insertion fee per item after that. You'll be billed this fee, regardless of whether your items sells.
Look out for eBay 'promotions' offering 35% off your final listing fee for a limited period, or if you're a buyer, Nectar promotions that will quadruple your points.
You’ll be charged 4% for reserve prices over £50 - but reserves can pay off - especially if it's a high-value item.
The best selling times on eBay
Aside from the start of the month (because it's free), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 7-9pm is the recommended time to list on weekdays as you'll find most 'eBayers' are at home and browsing the internet.
Likewise, Sunday evenings are recommended, along with payday weekends as many shoppers will be clearing out their 'watch' list.
When NOT to list on eBay
Reflecting buyer behaviour, it's wise to avoid listing items that will end on Friday and Saturday evenings when many people are out.
'Graveyard hours' - auctions ending after midnight - can also be risky, as less people are likely to be browsing the internet overnight - unless, you're aiming for an overseas audience.
What is the best time to end an auction on eBay?
The majority of bidding activity takes place within the final hours of the auction, often within the last few minutes or seconds.
The aim is to offer your listing maximum exposure, particularly in the final moments, to maximise the closing price.
Aim to close your auction around 7-9pm on weekdays - the peak internet browsing period, or between 4-8pm on Sunday evenings.
5 listing tips - especially if you're selling clothes
Iron shirts and anything wrinkled to allow your item to look its best.
Give detailed measurements - failure to do so will only result in buyers emailing you with individual requests.
Keep your picture bright - and take a picture of it on where possible.
Be honest about the condition and any faults - or you could end up with a case against you.
If you're selling shoes, photograph a picture of the soles.
Alternative online selling websites
There's more to online selling than just eBay - and some of the alternatives can be a lot cheaper too.
Gumtree is 100% free - and can be a great option for high value items that require picking up - rather than posting.
For fashion, thrifty sales app Depop is handy for selling vintage garments and accessories - and you'll only be charged if your item actually sells. Depop has no listing fees - and it's not an auction - however you can request offers from potential buyers if you wish.
Be warned though, Depop's Instagram feel and style may mean you end up with a hundred 'likes' on your item and not one offer. Add hashtags to draw the right buyers - and use '#offers' to get buyers engaged.
If you're a smartphone geek, the latest selling app to launch is Shpock . There are no fees - and it's purely based on the items for sale around your postcode - or as far as you're willing to travel to pick it up. Again, this isn't an auction, so the price is set, although there is scope to make and counter offers.
