| EBay is one of the most successful and versatile | | | | 1. Search for the most popular categories. Look |
| auction sites on the web. Whether you are simply | | | | at the number of listings that exist under each |
| cleaning out your attic or you are embarking on a | | | | category. Then look to see how many bids the |
| new work at home career, here are a few things | | | | products have. |
| that eBay insiders already know: | | | | 2. Choose no more than one or two categories, |
| 1. Your eBay reputation is of major significance. | | | | especially when you are first starting out. When |
| Many bidders will consult feedback from your | | | | you are an expert in your niche, you build |
| customers before placing bids, so you'll want to | | | | credibility and trust with your buyers. |
| acquire lots of positive feedback to maintain an | | | | 3. Examine the ratings of the sellers who are |
| excellent rating. This means being a courteous and | | | | listing products in each category. Read their |
| conscientious seller. | | | | profiles. See how many products they are |
| 2. Descriptions sell. Pictures are wonderful, but | | | | currently selling and how many products they |
| they may not show every detail. That's why | | | | have sold in the past. |
| accurate descriptions are important. Most buyers | | | | 4. Analyze prices. Become an expert in your |
| know that used items are not in perfect condition. | | | | chosen category and know at which price a |
| Be sure to describe chips, scratches, holes or any | | | | product is worth buying, as well as the expected |
| other defects. If you do happen to be selling | | | | final winning price of your auction. |
| collectible items, such as baseball cards or beanie | | | | Finding More Products to Sell |
| babies that you have kept packaged and in mint | | | | Here are a couple of additional considerations once |
| condition, mention that in the title or heading. | | | | you have exhausted your attic and need more |
| 3. Photograph your items carefully. When taking | | | | products to sell. |
| snapshots of your items, be sure there's plenty | | | | 1. Consider Dropshipping. Dropshippers will sell you |
| of light and clean or polish them first. Create a | | | | products at wholesale and send them to the |
| pleasant background and use a flash whenever | | | | address that you specify. On these items, you will |
| possible. Dark, fuzzy, hazy pictures are boring and | | | | not need to carry an inventory yourself, which |
| will not pull in the viewer's attention. Many sellers | | | | minimizes your investment. After the auction is |
| post photographs taken from various angles | | | | complete, you simply send your dropshipper the |
| showing the front, back and any markings, if | | | | customer's address. |
| they're selling highly desirable items such as | | | | If you decide to use a dropshipper, you need to |
| collectible glassware. | | | | make sure that your auction's winning price is |
| 4. Communicate well with potential buyers. Some | | | | sufficiently higher than the wholesale price you |
| potential buyers will write to ask questions about | | | | pay for the items. At minimum, you should |
| the article for sale. Be prepared, attentive and | | | | expect to double your costs. |
| responsive. Do your research so that you'll be | | | | It's also important to use care with companies |
| able to answer their questions quickly. Remember, | | | | that claim to be dropshippers. Do your research |
| a minor detail to you may be very important to | | | | and work only with legitimate drop shippers, which |
| the buyer and may mean the difference between | | | | are either the product manufacturers themselves |
| a successful sale and no sale at all. | | | | or authorized wholesale distributors. If a so-called |
| 5. Ship with care. When packaging delicate items, | | | | dropshipper asks you to place a minimum order |
| be sure to pad each one carefully using | | | | or to pay a fee to set up your drop shipping |
| Styrofoam popcorn or bubble wrap, and plug any | | | | account, consider it a red flag. |
| exposed areas using crumpled up newspaper. | | | | 2. Buy from eBay. Many successful eBayers know |
| Glassware should be placed in boxes at least four | | | | how to buy at a good price on eBay and then sell |
| inches apart and away from the sides, top and | | | | the same products at a higher price. If you know |
| bottom to ensure safe delivery. Mark the outside | | | | your niche well, you can find opportunities that will |
| of the carton "Fragile" and "Handle with Care." | | | | allow you to buy and resell for a profit. Here |
| 6. Know the ins and outs of insurance. No matter | | | | again, research is essential. |
| how careful you are, there's always the possibility | | | | 3. Import Asiatic products. If you are willing to |
| of breakage when shipping certain items, so it is a | | | | carry an inventory, you can invest in Asiatic |
| good idea to familiarize yourself beforehand with | | | | products for a low price and resell for a profit. |
| the claim process. | | | | You can easily start importing Asiatic products |
| Getting serious about eBay | | | | from the Internet at 4. Sell local products. If you |
| If you are serious about making money from | | | | live in an area that produces local products that |
| your eBay selling, you will need to become adept | | | | can be bought at a cheap price and then shipped |
| at researching the eBay marketplace, especially | | | | to other areas, where people would pay more, |
| before you decide which products you want to | | | | you should take advantage of the situation. What |
| sell. | | | | kinds of unique local products do you find yourself |
| Here are some guidelines: | | | | taking for granted? |