Selling on eBay: My Story

Perhaps I am one of the remaining few who have never sold an item on eBay, however, I feel I am not alone! For months my husband has been encouraging me to sell some "junk" around the house and I have simply put it off. To be honest, eBay was a foreign language to me. Something that would require time and energy to learn and I wasn't ready for one more thing on my plate!

But then...my partners sent out a challenge for everyone to clear out their closets and sell things on eBay. The reward wasn't big ($15 gift card to Starbucks!) but it was enough of an incentive to get me going! I have been selling for a mere two weeks and already during that time I have learned a lot! Following are some of my thoughts and tips for anyone thinking about selling on eBay!

1. You may be surprised what will sell! My first items up for auction were some real estate trainings cassettes. Although it was great material, I simply didn't have use for it anymore and was planning to through them away until I checked eBay. My potential roadside heap turned into nearly $450 worth of sales! Not to shabby!

2. eBay takes time, but it's not hard. I have found the process to be fairly easy, but just a little time consuming. I am the type that wants to get everything right...the wording, the price, the picture, etc. So, I have to admit that I have spent some time researching sales and current listings. The only other time consuming task is putting in the information. Other than that, it's been a breeze.

3. If you have a PayPal account (and you should have an account...it's free!) you can actually purchase and print a label with stamp included right from your PayPal account! And you can order for the package to be picked up from your doorstep...online! Within in a matter of minutes I have been able to print labels and schedule a pick-up which is so convenient. And the other nice part is that the USPS even offers free Priority Mail and Flat Rate Mail eBay boxes. You can order these online as well and they are delivered to you, making the process even easier!

4. One of the major things I have learned is to weigh your packages and determine shipping prior to listing. Some of my auctions have been very close on the shipping price and personally, it's a little too close for comfort. I am selling to come out ahead and so I have learned to be extra careful on this aspect!

If you are looking for ways to make money at home, eBay is truly a wonderful option! The best part is that you can start by cleaning out your house, which has been a very rewarding process for me...in more ways than one!

RESOURCES:
In addition to checking closed auctions on eBay, trying www.terapeak.com This site was recommended to me because it gives more information about the sale trends of an item.

Also, if you're looking for support in selling and would like to network with other friendly and helpful women, visit http://ebaycoach.freeforums.org
This is an excellent forum where you can ask questions and get helpful and quick responses!

To your success!