Looking to start an online storefront? Maybe you’ve got a bunch of old knick-knacks taking up space, or you’ve got a treasure trove of original Pokemon cards and want to get in on the crazy reseller’s market.
With the wealth of online sellers available, eBay continues to be an accessible option for anyone. Here’s what you need to know as you start your own eBay store.
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How to Start an eBay Store
The practice of starting an eBay business is fairly straightforward. Go to eBay. You can use a buyer’s account, or create a new one specifically for your business.
You’ll need to attach a way of payment (a credit card, debit card, or Paypal account work). And that’s it.
Of course, to create a successful eBay store, something that’s going to be used for more than one or two sales, it’s advised that you personalize your storefront.
You can change your header to something more on-brand, and alter your settings and preferences to show up more favorably in certain groups, such as auctioning products or through fixed-price sales.
Creating eBay Listings
To list items, you just need a few things.
First, do you want to do a fixed-price sale or an auction? Auctions are great for collectibles and rare items. Fixed-price sales are better for quick sales, as someone doesn’t have to wait to buy.
Afterward, you’ll need pictures and a description. Getting pictures from all angles of an item is best. Consider a neutral background so that your cluttered basement isn’t the highlight of your product’s selling image.
Give clear descriptions of what you’re selling, add your price point (including your minimum-sale price, if doing an auction), and list the item!
You’ll receive notifications on when the item sells.
How to Get Paid
To get sell on eBay, you’ll need a Paypal account. eBay performs the transaction between you and any potential buyers holding it in limbo until you’ve sent the package to them.
It’s that straightforward. You put something on sale for $10. Someone buys it. You’ll see the money in your Paypal account but won’t be able to access it until you’ve shipped their item.
Once you’ve verified you sent it, you’ll have access to the money.
Note: you won’t receive a full $10. eBay has a number of fees it takes depending on how you list your item. You’ll get to list up to 250 fixed or auction-style items for free.
After this, it costs $.35 to list an item.
If you sell an item, eBay will take the percentage cost of the final item (usually 12.35%) plus an additional $0.30 per order. Meaning when you sell that $10 item, you’ll actually net ~$8.46 total.
How to Send Your Goods
Selling your items is as easy as taking them to UPS, USPS, FedEx, or any qualified distributor. You can purchase a shipping label off of eBay, occasionally at a discount, or purchase one in-store.
When placing eBay listings, it can be helpful to include the shipping in the cost or having an option where the buyer pays for shipping through eBay. You’ll be limited through where you sell the item, but it will be paid for.
A great option if you plan to start selling a lot is to send certified mail to a PO box. Having a PO box can help with both buying and selling so that you know all your eBay packages are coming through one source.
Sell Stuff Online
Starting an eBay store is a terrific way to sell stuff online. Whether you’re selling just a few old items that didn’t go at your past garage sale or hoping to start a long-term business, the principles above all apply.
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