How I did it: I browsed, checked out how other people wrote their descriptions, etc, and thought about what makes me more interested in one item over another similar one.

I followed the rules and made sure that my descriptions were accurate and noted any flaws in the item. My rating has stayed at 100% positive as a result.

Lessons & tips: You really need to do a bit of browsing before you sell (be careful, that can lead to buying stuff on eBay). Look at items similar to those you want to sell and get a sense of what sells on eBay and what doesn't, and what attracts good bids and what doesn't. I was surprised, for example, how well clothes (in good condition) sell. At a garage sale, everyone wants clothes for 50 cents. Some things just won't post well and are not a good idea for eBay. You can get a better price for things like action figures, etc, if you wait for a relevant movie to come out that will raise interest in them. For example, if you have Lord of the Rings stuff to sell, you might want to wait for the release of the Hobbit movie.
Sometimes you just aren't going to get the price you wanted for something. That's the risk you take. It's good to start with a low price, but if the item is valuable, be careful how low you go, because you might end up selling it for far less than it's worth. Some people will advise always using a starting price of 99 cents, but personally I tend to use a minimum that at least covers the cost of the listing if it ends up there's only one buyer interested. Lastly, take the time to write good, interesting descriptions. It does make a difference, as does a decent photo.

Resources: Other people's listings, and also the selling guides that eBay provides.

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Jul 06, 2009, 06:01AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers