Z how to

General goods are products that we use every day. Selling these items on Ebay might not sound as exciting as selling collectibles or antiques, but it is possible to make a good, constant income from selling general goods. Tools, bulk consumables, and hobby supplies are examples of items which are always “in season”. Someone will need them year-round. This makes general goods a steady market for Ebay sellers.

This is not to say that the market for such items never fluctuates; it does. But the rises and falls happen over much longer periods of time and tend to be less dramatic. One pitfall for sellers of general goods is market saturation. If someone is browsing Ebay and notices that bulk yarn is fetching a decent price, they will be tempted to list yarn of their own. Others will follow suit, and soon the bottom will fall out of the yarn market. This will happen over time rather than overnight. Still, it can be frustration to lose revenue due to market saturation. If you decide to sell general goods on Ebay, do frequent searches for items similar to those you’re selling. If you see too many, start listing different goods until some of the competition is gone. You don’t want to have to sell off your inventory at a loss.

(more…)

EBay is a nontraditional way to make money, but one some of the old rules still apply. In particular: do what you love, and your job will be a positive, rewarding experience. Work is so much easier when you enjoy what you’re doing. For that reason, it’s important for EBay sellers to list items that they actually enjoy selling.

How do you know what you’d like to sell before you start listing merchandise? Start with your hobbies, things you enjoy doing offline. Then look at all the items associated with that hobby. If you love surfing, you could sell surf boards and equipment. But don’t stop there; list related products on your EBay auctions, such as beach wear. Beach goers need flip-flops, sunscreen, swim suits and cover-ups. Try to sell as many related items as you can to outfit customers for a trip to the beach. Be a one-stop shop. If you open an EBay store, it’s even simpler to put up an entire inventory of merchandise related to surfing - or any other hobby or passion.

(more…)

Branding and name recognition are sought after by merchants and marketers both online and off. Some names have gotten so big that they’re now used as verbs, such as ‘Google’, ‘Photoshop’ and, yes, ‘Ebay’. On a smaller scale, you can get your own name recognition by registering a custom domain name and using it to promote your Ebay stores and auctions.

Why would you pay for a domain name when you could just use your Ebay storefront URL to draw customers? Two reasons: marketability and customer convenience. It’s much easier to market a custom domain name than it is to market a long URL filled with random numbers, letters, and other characters. Likewise, it’s easy for customers to remember a custom domain name. Marketing is all about getting people’s attention and keeping it long enough to cinch a sale. Most domain names can be reserved for under ten dollars a year. With the potential payoff that name recognition brings with it, those ten dollars are definitely a worthy investment.

(more…)

If you’ve been a buyer or seller on Ebay, you have probably noticed that the winning auctions share some similar traits: they are easy to read, they have photos of the items being sold, and they accept a variety of payment methods. To increases the success of your own auctions, take those tips to heart and use them in your own listings. In addition to those simple rules, here are a few other pointers to help you make the most of your Ebay sales.

Some experts recommend starting every bid at $1.00. This makes sense, when you think about it. Buyers will want to cash in on a good deal, so they’ll be tempted to bid on a product that costs so little. In fact, if your listing is eye-catching, you will likely have several bidders on dollar items. This strategy helps ensure that bidders will buy your item the first time it’s listed, which saves you money on listing fees as well.

(more…)

Just as with other retailers, Ebay sees a sales peak each November and December as buyers get serious about holiday gifts. Wise Ebay sellers enjoy a surge in income during the gift-giving season. What can you do to maximize your own profits during the holidays?

One good rule to follow is this: don’t wait until the holidays roll around to start your sales campaign. Lots of online holiday shoppers start shopping early to avoid the last-minute shipping rush. To make the most of your Ebay holiday sales, you’ll need to start early, too.

Start listing your holiday items in September or October. This will give you several listing cycles in which to promote your Ebay items before the holidays.

(more…)

It’s been said that antiques and collectibles are some of the hardest items to start selling on Ebay. It’s also known that these items have potential to become the biggest sales. So what should an Ebay newcomer know before they list their first antique or collectible for auction?

First, the market for antiques and collectibles is a slow moving market. If you need to turn a fast profit, you would do better with seasonal, general, or limited lifetime items. Ebay is a wonderful marketplace for antiques and collectibles, but these items aren’t usually fast sellers. This is because there is such a limited supply of rare items, coupled with the fact that demand is also limited to people who both want and can afford the items. As you can see, you should prepare for certain antiques and collectibles to be with you for a long time before the right buyer comes along.

(more…)

Thrift selling is exactly what it sounds like: selling lots of unique items on Ebay that were obtained at a low cost, usually at thrift stores. These items are occasionally worn or damaged, but buyers like them for their low cost and uniqueness. Thrift selling might not sound very profitable, but it can be – if you do it right!

Thrift sellers have a lot to do. Their business is one of bulk; they will often have hundreds of individual items in their inventory at a given time. This makes for lots of auction listings. Thrift sellers can’t afford to lose track of their goods or their listings, so excellent book keeping is an absolute must. If you plan to sell thrift on Ebay, use a book keeping program that you’re comfortable with. Excel is a good low-frills spreadsheet program. Use it keep track of your stock, your auctions, and your shipping.

(more…)

Though there have been millions of items listed on Ebay, there is one characteristic shared by most winners: they have a good photograph. Ebay is a virtual marketplace, but buyers still like to see what they’re paying for. Auction listings that include quality photos reassure the buyer that they are making a good purchase. That means more money is your pocket, just because you snapped a picture!

But all Ebay photos are not created equal. Here are a few tips for making the most of your item photos.

First, make sure your item is in top shape before photographing it. If your item is dusty or stained, buyers won’t want to make the purchase. Before you take the picture, wipe down any merchandise with a hard surface. Wash clothing or other soft items. You want the merchandise to look its best.

(more…)

Ebay offers Internet users a wonderful opportunity to make money from the comfort of their own homes. Some sellers have tremendous success; they make Ebay look very easy, and their merchandise almost sells itself. In reality, these Ebay power sellers put a lot of effort into their listings. Here are some of their most vital tips to help you make more money on Ebay.

First, build your reputation. Your positive feedback is your lifeblood on Ebay. Before you start investing in high-dollar items to sell, list some inexpensive merchandise. Always respond courteously to your buyers, and ship your items promptly. This will bring the positive feedback you need. Once you’ve established yourself as an honest and reliable seller, you can start listing your more expensive merchandise. Buyers who see your high feedback rating will feel more comfortable bidding on your items.

(more…)

It’s true that Ebay is an enormous virtual marketplace with millions of vendors all over the world. With that kind of competition, it’s vitally important to go above and beyond the competition to get buyers to notice your listings. Luckily, the steps you should take, though critical, are few in number. Anyone can implement these tips to draw more eyes to their Ebay auctions.

First, think like a buyer. Would you want to buy merchandise sight unseen, or would you prefer auctions with pictures? Do rushed or incomplete descriptions put you off? What if you saw a listing from a seller with several negative feedback comments stating that the merchandise was shipped late, or wasn’t as described? Chances are you wouldn’t want to buy from such a seller. Neither will buyers feel comfortable buying from you if these things are true of your listings and reputation.

(more…)