Sell your stuff on eBay
Clear household clutter and make money on this popular auction site
By Leah Macpherson
Want to turn your clutter into cash? If so, join the more than 100 million people around the globe who sell their stuff on eBay, the online auction community where almost anything in the world is available. Unload unwanted goods and make a little dough, but be warned — whether you’re selling or buying, eBay may be addictive.
Irene Nolan, from Prince Edward County, Ont., started auctioning items on eBay in 1998 and got hooked on the rush that comes from discovering that your trash may well be another person’s treasure. “I once bought four plates at a yard sale for $10 and sold them on eBay for $500. The extra income is great, and I love the thrill of the hunt.”
Getting set up to sell on eBay is quick and registration is free. But before you start auctioning off your unwanted goods, be sure you’re aware of the fees for selling and of the risks involved in any
e-commerce transaction.
Join the community
Becoming a registered member of the eBay community is the first step to both selling and buying. Just log on to the registration page where you will be asked to
- provide your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and e-mail address
- read and agree to the eBay User Agreement
Not sure if your items are appropriate for an online auction? Almost anything can be sold on eBay: vacation packages, clothes, furniture, china, jewellery, even cars. The list of what can’t be sold is much shorter: drugs, firearms, stolen property and the like.
Setting up shop
Once you’re a registered member of the community, you will be prompted to register to become a seller. You will be asked to do the following things.
- Choose a User ID. Other eBay members will come to recognize you by your ID, so it’s a good idea to choose one you’ll want to use for the long term.
- Create a password.
- Answer a question for future ID verification (e.g., provide your mom’s maiden name).
- Click on the confirmation button in a verification e-mail to continue.
- Provide credit card information for ID verification (no charges are made to your card and the site provides information about this policy for those unsure about placing a credit card on file).
- Select how you’ll pay seller fees. You’ll either use the same credit card or preauthorize debit.
The sales pitch
When you’ve dealt with all of the administrative details, it’s time to create a listing for the item you’d like to auction. The site will prompt you to do the following things.
- Select a format. Click on Online auction or Sell at a fixed price.
- Select a currency. If you plan on selling only within Canada, choose Canadian dollars. If you wish to sell internationally, it is best to choose American currency.
- Select a category (art, collectibles, etc.). The site will make recommendations on where to place your item to ensure it reaches your target audience.
- Enter a title and description. This is your chance to lure potential buyers; precisely describe the item and list condition, dimensions, history, etc.
- Enter the minimum price at which you want bidding to start or set a “buy it now” fixed price. As a new seller you will be allowed to sell only one item at a time. When your Feedback rating (explained below) from buyers reaches 10+ you will be eligible for multiple listings.
- Select the duration of the auction. Choose one, three, five, seven or ten days. Seven days is the most popular selection as many bidders shop only on weekends.
- List the location of your item and increase your exposure by also “listing regionally.” This is especially good for finding buyers in your vicinity who prefer to pick up an item, such as furniture, that can be difficult to ship.
- Add a picture. This is optional but highly recommended. eBay allows one photo for free, but for a fee of only 88 cents, you can supersize your picture or even create a slide show. You can use a digital image, but the file must be in JPEG, TIFF or .bmp format. It’s as simple as adding an attachment to an e-mail.
- Choose accepted payment methods and list shipping costs and details of where you are willing to ship.
- Review your information and Submit.
Out of pocket
For sellers, there are two basic eBay fees: an Insertion Fee for your listing (the amount depends on the starting price you choose for the item) and the Final Value Fee, which is a percentage of the closing price and final balance.
There are also optional features available to sellers: listing upgrades, picture services, buy-it-now fees and seller tools.
Pay day
When the auction is over, you’re ready to collect your money and deliver the goods. Vendors normally arrange to mail or ship items, but buyers usually cover the costs. Goods are not shipped until payment is received. eBay vendors choose which forms of payment to accept: credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover), money orders, cashiers’ cheques, personal cheques and COD.
PayPal is the most widely used form of accepting and sending payment. It’s a secure online service that allows buyers to send credit card or chequing account payments and money over the Internet to anyone with an e-mail address. Opening and using a Personal PayPal account is free, but you will need a paid Premier PayPal account to receive credit card payments.
Risky business?
Be aware of Internet scams and risks. Mark Gabriel, author of eBay Scams! Protect Yourself as You Master eBay (Mimosa Books, 2005), offers these tips to sellers.
- Always photograph and/or mark your item before selling. Record the serial number or take a picture of some identifying mark so you can prove exactly which item you sold and/or shipped.
- Use shipping services that require a signature and provide confirmation of delivery.
- Never sell items on behalf of another person or organization. Beware if you are approached by companies to sell their products in trade for a share in the profits. Sellers do all the work, pay for the listings and wire the sale proceeds to the manufacturer, but in many cases are never compensated. The money is untraceable.
After you’ve made that first sale, an online feedback profile will be created for you. Consisting of comments and ratings from users who have traded with you, your feedback profile is the most important aspect of your reputation on eBay because it gives buyers confidence in the quality of goods and service you deliver.
Want more evidence that eBay might be your next best venture? Consider this: eBay vendor Colleen Corley of Burnaby, B.C., heard Donald Trump mention on TV that the pet business in the United States is a $30 billion industry. She bought some dog doors at a liquidation sale for $12 each and sold each one on eBay for $110. She made a profit of over 800 per cent. Happy trading!
