How to ebay

[momxx5]

Is there a website or some free advice on how to sell stuff on ebay.

I have tried Craigslist but we are not in a great demographic area, so most items do not get any attention.

Thanks in advance.

 

[C.Ann]

There's a sticky right at the top of the page here.. I assumed you already did eBay - since you mentioned in another thread that you already have a PayPal account and if I recall correctly, you also said you didn't have anything you could sell..

Anyhow - it's at the top.. I'd be surprised it you can get all set up and get anything sold, shipped, and get the money before Christmas though - if that's what you were aiming for.. It's a lot more complicated than it used to be..

I think one of the new rules now is that PayPal puts any money for new sellers "on hold" for a period of time.. Maybe 30 days or so? Can't remember exactly..

Good luck with that..

 

[Marionnette]

Is there a website or some free advice on how to sell stuff on ebay.

I have tried Craigslist but we are not in a great demographic area, so most items do not get any attention.

Thanks in advance.

Theres an ebay faq sticky at the top of the forum. Ebay also has a user forum where you can ask questions and get answers from experienced ebayers. You will need to open a paypal account to accept payments. Ebay charges you to list items and they will take a percentage of the final auction price as well. You will be responsible for charging your customers a shipping fee that covers your costs. Pictures of your items are a must if you expect people to buy. They are more likely to buy from you if you have a record of positive feedback, at least as a buyer. Good luck.

 

[momxx5]

Thank you for your assistance.

So far I have been able to set up a seller account. I have a paypal account so that is good.

I am going through every room in the house and if we don't absolutely need it....it is for sale.

 

[nunzia]

Thank you for your assistance.

So far I have been able to set up a seller account. I have a paypal account so that is good.

I am going through every room in the house and if we don't absolutely need it....it is for sale.

Good for you..I've done Ebay for over 12 years (I discovered it when I went back to college and it helped a great deal..It's kind of addictive so I still slog through all the changes and keep it up). To me the most important thing is to check on completed items first for pricing guidelines and second to be fair with shipping. Most people on Ebay I would guess know what something costs to ship..I have not purchased things before because of ridiculous shipping rates and have also reported those with unreasonable rates as that is the way many use to circumvent Ebay fees since fees are only taken out of sale price and not shipping. Paypal, of course, takes it's chunk out of all of it. Look at the fees and be sure and price your items to cover those with the profit you want. I tend to assume total fees could be at 8-10%. Only ship to the PayPal address and ship through PayPal for your protection. Know that Ebay no longer allows cash, checks or cashiers checks/money orders as payment for almost all items..I was really upset when this first started, but my being ripped off rate has really gone down. Also, set up the unpaid assistant so people who don't pay you are automatically on the unpaid path to either pay or for you to get back your fees and their account marked.
Good luck!

 

[DMRick]

Know that Ebay no longer allows cash, checks or cashiers checks/money orders as payment for almost all items..I was really upset when this first started, but my being ripped off rate has really gone down. Also, set up the unpaid assistant so people who don't pay you are automatically on the unpaid path to either pay or for you to get back your fees and their account marked.
Good luck!

They don't allow you to advertise the above, but buyers can still ask and you can still accept other payments. I get mo and checks all the tiem.

 

[nunzia]

They don't allow you to advertise the above, but buyers can still ask and you can still accept other payments. I get mo and checks all the tiem.

I know..but technically you are not allowed to accept them..it's a fuzzy area..but the payment rules state:


<<You'll be offered payment options when you list your item. Payment options for most listings include:

PayPal

ProPay

Moneybookers

Paymate

Merchant credit card

Payment upon pickup

Notes:

Payment by personal check, cashier's check, bank-to-bank transfers, or money order isn't allowed for most eBay purchases.>>>

Now, of course Ebay has watered that down..as usual. When they first instituted the change they were very hardcore about it..lots of bolding and such, and with warnings that sellers could have their accounts suspended or canceled if they broke the rules.
I understand it still goes on, but you won't be covered by any of the protections and neither will the buyer. I've really discovered it's so much easier..no more bouncing checks, no more questionable money orders, no more people saying they didn't get their stuff since I only ship through Paypal and have my delivery confirmations..
Certainly people can do whatever they want, but I do get irked when a buyer gets nasty and difficult with me when I won't accept Checks etc, because 'everyone else does', when that is Ebay's 'official' rule.

 

[DMRick]

eBay had never not allowed you to accept any payment you wish. What the below refers to is what you are allowed to put in your listing. They have stopped allowing you to put the other payments in your auction only, but they haven't stopped the buyers from requesting. Some buyers do not care for Paypal (and some sellers that don't have the below methods of payment), and so don't have an account. I don't want to lose their busienss. After 10 years, checks and money orders have always been fine for me..and I don't have to give anyone else part of my profit if I get a money order.

You are still covered, as long as you send with a mail service that allows tracking.

It is not a rule that you can't accept other forms of payment. There is a rule, for most categories that you need to accept at least one form of electronic payments from their choices in the listing. But that still doesn't mean that you can't accept other payments. You just can't put them in your auction, and you can't ask for different payments. The buyer has always been allowed to ask you though. When it first came out, eBay had an online class and they were very clear about that.

That all said, for a new seller, Paypal is prob the simplest.

I know..but technically you are not allowed to accept them..it's a fuzzy area..but the payment rules state:


<<You'll be offered payment options when you list your item. Payment options for most listings include:

PayPal

ProPay

Moneybookers

Paymate

Merchant credit card

Payment upon pickup

Notes:

Payment by personal check, cashier's check, bank-to-bank transfers, or money order isn't allowed for most eBay purchases.>>>

Now, of course Ebay has watered that down..as usual. When they first instituted the change they were very hardcore about it..lots of bolding and such, and with warnings that sellers could have their accounts suspended or canceled if they broke the rules.
I understand it still goes on, but you won't be covered by any of the protections and neither will the buyer. I've really discovered it's so much easier..no more bouncing checks, no more questionable money orders, no more people saying they didn't get their stuff since I only ship through Paypal and have my delivery confirmations..
Certainly people can do whatever they want, but I do get irked when a buyer gets nasty and difficult with me when I won't accept Checks etc, because 'everyone else does', when that is Ebay's 'official' rule.