Sell Your Item

Choosing Items to Sell While eBay is a great place to sell nearly anything practical or collectible, the following items have historically sold well on eBay: Art, antiques, coins, and other collectibles Books, CDs, DVDs, and video games Celebrity signed and/or designed memorabilia Clothing, accessories, and shoes Computers and electronics (for example - digital cameras, laptops, cell phones, and PDAs) Experiences (for example - a walk-on role on a television show or a meet and greet with a celebrity) Home and living Items (for example - décor, furnishings, and furniture) Jewelry and watches Sporting goods (for example - golf clubs, fishing rods and reels, cycling gear, apparel) Vacation packages

Learn From Other Sellers
Before you list your items, it is helpful to spend time exploring the eBay site and learning key selling tactics from other successful sellers. Look for sellers who are listing items similar to yours and who have received positive feedback. For example, Smitty8(45) means that this seller has received positive feedback from at least 45 buyers. Browsing successful listings on eBay may provide you with some valuable insight and guidance when listing your item.

Captivating titles, detailed item descriptions, and compelling photos can increase the amount of bidding activity your item receives and boost your sales.

Write a Good Title

Remember to:

• Use descriptive keywords that clearly convey what you are selling
• Include the name of the brand, artist, or designer of the item, if relevant
• Think of and include words buyers might use to search for your item
• Browse similar closed listings to see what titles drew high prices

• Failing to state what the nature of the item is
• Including website addresses, email addresses or phone numbers
• Including profane or obscene language
• Using the words "prohibited", "banned", "illegal" or "outlawed"

Create a Good Description

Remember to:

• Include what the item is made of and what condition it is in, as well as other distinguishing factors such as dimension, weight or special instructions
• Anticipate buyer questions and include answers to address them
• Add a creative, human approach to your description
• Include the special features you particularly like about the item
• Include stories and anecdotes about the item

• Thinking that buyers will simply ask for more information if they are interested
• Saying anything that is not true about the item
• Including descriptors that are not relevant to your item

Take a Good Digital Picture of Your Item
Remember to:

• Include only the listed item in the picture
• Take pictures that prove the authenticity of the item when relevant
• Save your picture in a JPEG or GIF format
• Make your product come alive

• Heavy picture files (greater than 300x300 dpi) that take a long time for dial-up bidders to view
• Confusing and cloudy shots

List Your Item
Once you have perused the eBay site and have developed your appealing item title, description, and picture, use the Giving Assistant, provided by MissionFish, to list your item. Help, tips, and directions will guide you through the listing process.

Remember that the nonprofit has up to one business day to accept or decline their association with the item. In the event your listing is declined, you may choose to:

• Resubmit it as-is for a different nonprofit
• Make changes or add information, and resubmit it for the same nonprofit
• Go back to eBay and list the item without donating the proceeds

Manage Your Listing
During the listing period, it is your responsibility as the seller to manage all communication with prospective buyers. You may be contacted with specific questions about the item, delivery or payment terms, so you should anticipate and address likely questions from potential buyers in the item description and picture.

Tip: Remember that every eBay user has a feedback profile made up of comments from other eBay users - an official "reputation". New buyers look at this feedback rating to help them shop with confidence. Therefore, it is important to provide your customers with excellent service - answer emails quickly, ship promptly, and deliver what you promised. Learn about how feedback works.

Go to After the Sale