Seller success story: Selling to stay on budget
Mother of four and blogger extraordinaire, Emily Hill (user ID: emihill) funds her denim addiction and keeps her family's closets clutter-free by selling on eBay.
Emily discovered eBay over ten years ago, soon after her first child was born. One cute Halloween outfit had her hooked on buying. But having a baby can get expensive. So when the baby quickly outgrew everything, Emily decided it was time to learn how to sell, too. "I just thought, 'I've got all these kids' clothes piling up. I want to try to make some money.'" Once she signed up and started, she was surprised by how easy listing turned out to be... Read more.
Get what you really wanted by selling now
Didn't get everything you wanted for the holidays? Sell your stuff to get it now. Buyers are coming to eBay during this annual shopping peak, so it's a great time to list the gifts that didn't fit or that you weren't over the moon for—and make room for new stuff. Earn cash to buy what you really wanted or get a head start on Valentine's Day. Check for these popular items right now:
- Womens' jewelry and intimates (Valentine gifts)
- Mens' Jeans and womens' denim
- Mens' Nike shoes and The North Face outerwear
- Fitness equipment and gear
- mP3 players and digital cameras
- Girls' newborn-5T clothing
- Mens' sweats, hoodies, and sweaters
Still have your wedding gown? Wedding season's started, so list your bridal items on eBay today.
Top tip for you
Even the most successful sellers don't sell their item every time. Relisting is easy and free. You may need to lower your starting price or offer more reasonable shipping costs. Try adding a Buy It Now price to your listings (it's free up to 50 per month, each month) to catch buyers who don't want to wait. Make sure your title uses relevant keywords and that you write a detailed description. Then relist and watch how making a few simple changes to your listing can help you close the sale the next time.
Seller video: Stopgap selling becomes a way of life
Just a month after he moved his family to a new city, Tristen O'Brien (user ID: datadownload) lost his job. He sold on eBay to make ends meet—now eBay is a way of life. Watch this 4-minute video of their journey.
How to sell
Earn your buyers' love this Valentine's Day and get your listings noticed. Offer expedited shipping and 1-day handling to ensure your item will arrive in time for Valentine's Day. Then print your labels with eBay and ship! Consider choosing a nonprofit to benefit from your sale—eBay Giving Works' "Gifts with Heart" program is highlighting the American Heart Association, Save a Child's Heart Foundation, and more.
Pack from the heart: wrap your item in red or pink tissue paper, before you package it with peanuts or bubble wrap, for an extra Valentine's touch.
Get inspired and turn clutter to cash
Check out the new eBay Selling Inspiration House—you may be surprised to learn how much some of the extra stuff in your house is actually worth. Explore a virtual room today and click on items to see what they sell for on eBay.
UPS, FedEx, and USPS rate changes in effect
Rate changes for UPS, FedEx and USPS are now in effect. If you ship via UPS, FedEx, or USPS, you should review these changes and adjust your listings as necessary.
Good news! USPS now offers FREE Delivery Confirmation™ on First-Class service for parcels when postage is purchased online, including eBay Labels—another great reason to print your labels and buy postage with eBay. And when you print shipping labels using eBay Labels, shipping information is automatically updated on My eBay and on the order details page. Plus, an email is sent to your buyer letting them know the item has shipped, and allowing them to track it until delivery.
List your car and get a guaranteed offer—now in more regions!
List your vehicle on eBay Local Classifieds—now in California, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Washington (more soon!)—and within 24 hours you'll receive an offer from our trusted partner to buy your vehicle. The offer's good for 10 days, providing you with a back-up buyer even after your 7-day listing ends. Learn how to cash in.
Shipping tip of the month
Ship your stuff without leaving the house. When you print your labels with eBay and pay for discounted postage online, Delivery Confirmation™—now FREE for USPS First-Class service for parcels—is automatically updated on My eBay and on the order details page. Order free shipping supplies delivered to your door. Schedule a carrier to pick up your priority or express package.
Sell on the go
Selling on the go has never been easier. Research prices, answer buyer questions, print shipping labels, and other shipping tasks—all from your phone! eBay Mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry let you manage your selling on the go.
Be our next Seller Success Story
Jim "Griff" GriffithDean of eBay
Education, host of eBay Radio, seller advocate.
Advice from a pro
Answer: Fine-tune these parts of your listing to make the sale.
The first things to think about when you list are your starting price and shipping costs. Not doing your research can lead to the most common reason an item doesn't sell—how it's priced. Watch this short video on how to research prices. Then ask yourself these questions:
- Do you offer several shipping options or just one? We recommend an economical one plus a fast one, or a free one and fast one.
- How many photos are you using? Buyers want more than one photo to see the item's details—more photos help buyers make a quick purchase decision (and minimize buyer questions). Use additional photos to show any flaws in the item.
- Is your title descriptive or skimpy? Be sure you have a solid, descriptive title that uses keywords buyers search on.
- Is your description long enough? When you include a detailed description and your reason for selling, along with photos, buyers have an easier time deciding.
- Have you included item specifics? Fill in every field available in item specifics. Buyers use many of these words in their searches, so the more you fill in, the better.
- Do you have a generous return policy? Offer a 14-day or longer return policy to really please buyers. Return policies are required for all listings, and buyers need to know the terms of return upfront.
After double-checking your listing, relist your item for free, since, with standard pricing, you pay only if your item sells.*