You have likely heard that a lot of people are making a lot of money selling items on EBay. It is possible to earn money, and there is tons of information available to help you increase sales. Review free resources before buying any kits that promise to help you sell more through online auctions, and look over the Start Selling Now page for more information about getting started on EBay.
Here are a few tips from people who have sold successfully through online auctions:
- EBay is probably the best place for new sellers to get started. It has the advantage over other online auctions because of name recognition and popularity. In other words, everyone has heard of EBay.
- Consider working with a company that provides drop shipping to avoid carrying inventory and to keep overhead down when starting out. Make sure the companies you do business with are well recognized and reputable. Sites like Reseller Ratings offer reviews of various resellers.
- Be aware of drop shipping scams. It is not unheard of for companies to take the money but never provide merchandise, or to send lower quality products than the agreed upon items. Your reputation as a seller can be ruined even though you had no part in the fraud.
- Also, be aware of drop shippers that may want to intercept your customers. Some drop shippers will include a catalog with your business name and contact information printed on it (or at least one with no name and info). Others may include a catalog with their information on it, which may lead your customers to shop directly with them. Inquire about catalogs, and if the shipper’s information appears on them, ask that catalogs no longer be included with orders or find another company.
- Avoid attempting to make a big profit via shipping and handling charges. Many consumers are aware of the approximate costs of shipping and don’t like being taken advantage of by way of inflated shipping charges. Keeping shipping costs down will also give you a competitive edge over sellers that charge too much (and many do).
- When selling more than one product, it makes sense to sell related merchandise. This way, you’ll be able to let buyers know that you have other items they might want or need, so you can make bigger sales. For example, if you sell computer parts, note that you also sell software.