How to Sell on eBay

For the individual that wants to sell some items but doesn't want the hassle of holding a yard sale, selling on eBay may be the answer. However, selling on eBay can be both simple and complex.

Getting Started

eBay accounts are free, so if you don't have an account, you will have to set one up. Go to www.ebay.com, click "register" in the upper left corner, and fill in your information. They will ask for name, address, birth date and e-mail address and have you create a user name and password. For verification purposes, eBay sends an e-mail to you with instructions on completing the registration.

The easiest way to accept payments on eBay is through PayPal. If you don't have a PayPal account, it is easy to set up. Just go to www.paypal.com, click the"sign up" link and enter your information similar to the above eBay instructions. PayPal has three account options, but Premier is the standard choice for people who want to sell items on the Internet. PayPal will also ask for personal bank account information. They will test and verify this bank account, so money can be transferred to and from the PayPal account. This is to protect its customers in the event there is a problem with a purchase or a sale.

Creating Your Listing

Once you have established both the eBay and PayPal accounts, it is time to list your item.

I suggest drafting the item description in MS Word before starting the listing in eBay, then copy and paste it into the description box.

Be as specific as possible in the item description. If it has a small scratch on it, mention that in the listing.

People appreciate an honest seller, so the more detailed you are with your listings, the more likely your items will sell.

If you have a digital camera and USB cable, take a picture of your item instead of using a stock photo supplied by eBay.

Make sure the lighting in the photo shows as much detail as possible while avoiding glare. Again, having the picture ready to upload will eliminate frustration from being delayed during the listing process.

Make sure you explain your shipping and return policies in the description.

Weighing the item before listing it gives a more accurate shipping cost, so you don't understate the shipping cost in the auction and lose money on shipping.

If you only get to the post office to sell an item once a week, that should be made clear to the customer, as well. It is acceptable to have a no-return policy on eBay, but it should be stated in the item description to avoid potential arguments later.