If you have never sold anything on eBay before, it can be a little daunting. But don’t worry, it’s not that hard! We are going to walk you through the process step by step to show you how you can start earning some extra cash by selling on eBay.
We have been selling on eBay for 18+ years, so we have learned some tips and tricks over the years to make selling even easier. So if you’re ready, let’s get started!
Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links. This just means that we make a little money if you buy something through one of our links. It does not cost you any more to purchase an item through our links. It just helps support this blog so we can continue to bring you more content like this.
If you haven’t already checked out the first post in this series, you can check it out here: Beginner’s Guide to Start Selling on eBay
If you already signed up, you can download this binder from our resource library!
Setting Up an eBay Account
If you already have an account, you can skip this step. The first thing you are going to need to do is to create an eBay account. You can click here to register for an account (it’s FREE!).
Just click register in the upper left corner of the page. The page should then look like this:
You can create a personal account. All you need to enter is your first and last name, email address, and password. Then, click “register.”
Once you have created an account, you will want to give yourself a custom username. You can make this whatever you want, but know that your buyers will see your username.
If you want to change your username, you will need hover over your name in the top left corner and click on “account settings.”
You will now be at the “my eBay” page. It should look similar to this.
You will then want to click on “personal information” on the left side of the screen.
You will then be able to see where it says, “user ID” and then all the way over to the right it says, “edit.” click on the edit for the username. You will now be able to choose a new username. Make sure that you double check your username because you won’t be able to change it for another 30 days if you mess it up.
Connect to Your PayPal Account
If you don’t already have a PayPal account, you should get one. PayPal is the preferred method of payment on eBay. It is a secure way for your buyers to pay you.
If you need to get a PayPal account go here first and then come back. A personal account is just fine for connecting to eBay.
Okay, so now that you have a PayPal account, you need to connect it to your eBay account.
Go to “account settings” by hovering your mouse over your name in the upper left corner and then click on “account settings.”
Scroll down the page until you see the section called “PayPal Account Information.” You can click on “link my PayPal account” since you already have an account.
If you haven’t already, it will ask you to give your contact information. This is necessary, so don’t be alarmed. Then, it will have you log into your PayPal account to link it to eBay.
After you log in, there will be a button to return to eBay, and then you are all set! Your PayPal account is now connected.
Prepping Your Items to Sell on eBay
In our last post, we talked about what types of items you might want to sell on eBay. Now, it is time to get those items that you have ready to sell.
Cleaning
If any of your items are dirty (and can be cleaned easily), you should clean them. For example, if we were selling a toy and it had some dirt on it, we would clean it off. If cleaning your item will damage it, DO NOT clean it then.
When we have sold doll clothes, we did not clean them even if they had stains on them. If your buyer wants to clean them, then that is their choice. We would recommend not cleaning items if you do not know how to properly clean them.
If you have sticky residue on one of your items, and it is safe to clean it, we recommend using GooGone. It works really well on sticky spots, especially those left by price tags.
Toothpaste also works well on marks on items. Don’t use whitening toothpaste though.
Taking Pictures
You don’t have to be an expert to take great eBay pictures. You don’t need a fancy camera either.
We have a few tips for you that will make your pictures better.
- use a background. We use a light blue tablecloth, but any solid color tablecloth or sheet should work just fine. We lay our on our kitchen table and then uses boxes to prop up the back.
- use good lighting. If possible, try to take pictures in a room with a lot of direct sunlight. You can also use the flash on your camera, but sometimes it will reflect off your items.
- take pictures from good angles. You should try to take pictures from different angles depending on the item. For example, some items you can just take pictures from above, but others you should have them from the side.
Make sure that your pictures are not blurry and that the items can be clearly seen. If there is any damage to your items, you should take close up pictures of the problem.
Writing Descriptions
You will need to make sure you describe your items well so that people know exactly what they are buying. If there is anything wrong with your items, you need to make sure you include that in the description.
We keep track of our auctions in a notebook while we are getting them ready. We use the information from our notebook to type up the auctions. Our FREE downloadable binder has all the information that we keep track of in our notebook.
These are the things that we keep track in our notebook:
- item name
- description: condition of item, brand, year made, etc.
- starting price and buy it now price
- dimensions and weight of package
Packaging
When you sell an item, you need to make sure you have a box or envelope to ship it in. We store boxes and envelopes in our garage, and we always try to make sure we have a variety of sizes available.
We get our boxes from our workplaces, but you can ask businesses if they have extra boxes. Lots of businesses just end up recycling all of their boxes, so they are usually happy to give their boxes away.
You will want to use a box that is closest to the size of your item, but make sure there is room for packaging.
We usually use plastic bags, newspaper, or bubble wrap to protect our items. We always make sure that our items are placed inside a bag first, so that they don’t get damaged by water.
After you have placed your items in boxes, you need to weigh them and measure the packages. Make sure you weigh them with the packaging materials already in them. You do not need to tape the packages shut until you get ready to ship them.
You’ve:
- cleaned your items
- taken pictures of them
- written descriptions of items
- packaged your items
So, now you’re ready to type up your auctions. We are going to explain how to type and upload your auctions using Turbo Lister in our next post.
Part 3: eBay Selling Tips: How to Sell Your Items
Part 4: eBay Selling Tips: Customer Service & Shipping
