How to Sell on eBay in 2024: A Beginner's Guide

How to Sell on eBay in 2024

It’s no secret that eBay is a fantastic e-commerce site with millions of users worldwide. A seller on eBay can tap into the potential of their vast worldwide audience, but competition is fierce—especially for newcomers trying to start from scratch.

As a platform newcomer, it might be tough to know where to start and how to convince clients to buy from you. While it is feasible to develop a profitable online business on eBay, careful preparation and execution are required.How to Sell on eBay in 2024: A Beginner’s Guide

In this beginner’s tutorial, we will provide you a brief overview of the site as well as a complete step-by-step guidance on how to sell on eBay, including the benefits and drawbacks to expect.

What Exactly Is eBay, and How Does It Work?

eBay, founded in 1995, is a popular e-commerce website recognized for its auctions and direct sales to consumers.

eBay is used in many nations throughout the world. You can search for things available in your area by entering your zip code. You can also look for things that are available both nationally and internationally.

Sellers are required to pay some costs, such as listing fees. The fees vary depending on the amount you charge for your products and how long you keep them on the market.

On eBay, you can sell practically anything, from antiques to autos, books, toys, and more. When you list an item for sale, you have the option of using an auction-style listing or a “buy it now” option. An auction-style ad accepts only bids, whereas a buy it now option allows clients to pay a fixed amount for the item right away.

An online auction, like a live auction, starts at a defined price and lasts for a set amount of time. Interested parties then put bids. The highest bidder is the winner at the end of the auction. The item in a buy it now listing is given to the first buyer who offers to pay the seller’s price.

What Exactly Is eBay, and How Does It Work?

How to Sell on eBay in 2024

eBay’s global marketplace, which operates in more than 190 countries, may reach 138 million active buyers worldwide. eBay develops specialized training and seminars, as well as innovative tools and products, to support its sellers and compete in the digital commerce sector.

If you’re just getting started, studying the fundamentals of eBay selling in this article will set you well on your way to making your first sale.

1. Decide on a Business Model

It is critical to begin your eBay career with a good business model. Because you will use this strategy to deliver value to your clients while also making money. There are other business models to consider, including:

Wholesale

In this category, a huge number of things are purchased at a low cost and then sold separately for a considerably higher profit. Buying in bulk saves you money since wholesalers offer discounts for large quantity purchases.

Private label

This is accomplished by acquiring non-branded things and then customizing them with your own brand. You can purchase non-branded things from overseas at a lower cost or contact private label producers to resell these items at a profit.

Reselling

Buying branded goods from physical or online businesses and reselling them on eBay via arbitrage is conceivable. Because you won’t have to contact wholesale producers, the reseller business model is ideal for new eBay sellers.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a relatively new business strategy that has the potential to create significant profits for new merchants. This business strategy entails taking orders from clients and organizing them with a third-party supplier, who subsequently packages and sends the products to your consumers. This concept eliminates the need for inventory management and real shipping.

2. Consider What You’ll Be Selling

Following the selection of a business plan, the next stage in learning how to sell on eBay is to determine the type of things you will sell on the marketplace. Most sellers start with products from one of the top-performing categories. Among these categories are:

Home and garden
Health and beauty
Crafts and arts
Toys and hobbies
Sporting products
Computer and networking
Pet supplies
Antiques
Mobile phone accessories

Before listing any products for sale, properly research your product category. Choose a category in which you have experience or are interested to boost your chances of success. Remember that a good option should match the following three criteria:

There is little competition.

If you’re just starting out learning how to sell on eBay, keep in mind that the less competitive a niche sector you choose, the more money you stand to make.

It provides a solution to a problem.

To keep customers coming back, your product should provide value and, at the very least, solve a problem. Customers are likely to be passionate about it if it is useful. You’ll be able to help more people while also making money.

Produces a substantial profit

Every eBay purchase will need you to pay a percentage. Remember to account for this in your pricing strategy. To optimize your return on eBay transactions, set a price range of $10 to $75.

3. Create an eBay account

Creating an eBay account is simple. Once you visit their main site, there is an option to register or sign in at the top left corner of the homepage.

Simply click the “Register” button to get started creating your own personal account. eBay asks for some basic information such as your name, address, and phone number during the process.

This page also gives you the option of creating a business account if you intend to sell on eBay under a business name. However, you’ll need to submit official business credentials.

When you’re signed into eBay, you can see all of your selling choices by clicking on “seller dashboard.”

4. Complete your profile after registration

In your profile, including an image and a brief description about yourself. When you’re logged in, simply click on your name in the upper-left corner of the website. Changes to your profile information can be made by clicking on your avatar.

When you sign up for an eBay account, you are given a user ID. If you provide your personal or business name, eBay shoppers are more inclined to trust you. Navigate to the “My Account” area of your “My eBay” account to do so.

Choose ‘Personal information’ from the menu that opens. If your customer wants to learn more about your brand, you may change your username and add links to your social network sites here.

5. Signup for a store subscription

Signing up for an eBay shop membership is a terrific method to grow your business. You can save money on fees and get additional free listings each month as part of an eBay store package. You’ll also get a slew of marketing tools to help you find new customers.

You must link a checking account to receive payments. Before joining up, make sure you understand the various store features and prices.

If you sell up to 250 products every month, an eBay Store subscription costs $4.95 per month. After that, you can add 1,000 listings for $21.95 per month and pay lower final value fees. Users with a higher volume of sales can subscribe to eBay for $59.95 per month.

When you subscribe to any of the above-mentioned packages, you will be offered the option of naming your eBay storefront.

6. Decide on the policies that apply to your store

When you publish an item on eBay, you must include information regarding shipping, payment, and return policies. These policies can have a significant impact on your costs, sales, customer satisfaction, and reviews.

Payment options:Most vendors are able to accept payments on eBay using different options. These include credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
Shipping policies:You can specify your shipping date, time, and methods of delivery in this section. Do your best to match eBay’s free shipping offer after you sell 71% of your products. If you sell bulky items, consider an alternative delivery method to avoid breakage or returns.
Returns:In this section, specify whether or not you accept returns. If you do, make sure to specify the number of days buyers have to return purchased things, as well as the person or firm in charge of the shipping. A decent return policy can boost your company’s credibility and help you prevent client disputes or unhappiness.

7. Decide on the best method of selling

You have the option of using a fixed price or an auction mechanism. There is a set cost for fixed-price items, and products in this category can be shown for up to 30 days. For the auction technique, multiple people can submit bids on the same item in an auction for a set length of time, usually three to ten days.

Items that appeal to a certain market but do not have a fixed retail price, such as antiques or designer apparel, can be auctioned.

8. Create and optimize your eBay listings

A new listing can be created by simply clicking the “Sell” button at the top right of any eBay page. In order for eBay to immediately fill your listing, you must enter a product ID or name.

Include information from the product category, as well as the image, title, description, and any other pertinent details. Consider these additional factors while optimizing your listings.

Keywords

Consider the keywords and phrases that consumers will type into the search box to find the things you sell. More searchable keywords in your product’s title and description will increase your chances of being noticed on eBay. You can also undertake in-depth keyword research using one of the several tools provided by third-party websites.

Product Information

Make sure your ad and description contain enough information for purchasers to make an informed decision. In the product description area, include details such as the material used, color, measurements, and brand name.

9. Set the prices of your listing

Setting the proper product pricing is critical for business. View previous auctions to get an idea of how much other sellers paid for products comparable to yours. Look through recently completed ads to get a decent indication of how much people are prepared to pay for identical items on eBay.

To do so, enter the item’s name into the search box, then click the “completed products” box in the sidebar. You’ll be able to see how much people paid for an item if it was recently sold.

10. Build relationships with customers

When a customer orders your products, the relationship between you and the customer begins. A strong relationship with your clients will benefit your firm. If your consumers are satisfied, they are more likely to return to your store and refer others to you.

The more positive comments you receive, the higher your seller rating, and having a strong seller rating means ranking higher in search results.

Tips and Best Practices for Beginners Selling on eBay

As a new seller on eBay, here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind.

Your products should be delivered on time

Today’s technologically savvy society expects instant gratification and speed. As the owner of an e-commerce store, you should endeavor to fulfill orders and process payments as quickly as feasible. Use a method that guarantees clients’ goods are sent within 24 to 48 hours of payment.

Customers will be irritated if payment errors or late deliveries occur. Respond to customer inquiries promptly and keep them updated on the status of their purchase fulfillment. If there are any substantial delays in the delivery of the goods, your client should be notified.

Learn about your suppliers

Your company will not be profitable until it has a product to sell. To guarantee a smooth supply chain, work closely with your manufacturers and distributors.

If you are aware of sluggish seasons, shipping concerns, and other particular challenges ahead of time, you can save a substantial amount of time and money.

Use High-Quality Images and Texts

When adding listings, use high-quality images. High-quality photographs pique the interest of potential clients and make you appear trustworthy, increasing sales.

Invest in a high-resolution camera or a camera phone to capture high-quality photographs of your products. You are allowed to upload up to twelve photographs for free on eBay. It is sufficient to publish between nine and twelve images to show your buyers the merchandise from various viewpoints.

Post Feedback on Buyers

You can write a comment on any registered profile using eBay’s feedback system. Positive feedback ratings might benefit sellers by making them appear more reputable to potential purchasers. If you demonstrate your responsiveness to each consumer, you will receive more positive feedback.

This feedback method benefits both the supplier and the buyer. A buyer who leaves positive feedback reminds other sellers that they are worth the seller’s time and effort.

Ensure that your refund policy is reasonable

As part of the eBay guarantee, all sellers are legally required to disclose a return policy. If an item supplied is not as stated in the description, eBay will compensate the customer. If you want to attract a buyer to choose you, you may use your return policy in a variety of ways.

eBay prioritizes sellers having a return policy of at least 30 days in search results. Buyers may search for suppliers who have return policies in place so that faulty products can be easily returned. Sellers that refuse to issue refunds may be viewed as dishonest.

You may be apprehensive as a seller about receiving a refund request and losing money after shipping an item. This isn’t a huge issue because the vast majority of buyers who seek a refund do not return the things they receive, causing eBay to cancel their refund claims.

Before you begin selling, buy a few products

If you are new to the eBay marketplace, make a few purchases, pay immediately, and then leave feedback to the seller. As a buyer, you will also receive feedback and begin to establish your reputation. When you upload your own listings, this might increase customer trust in you even more.

Keep an eye on your inbox during an auction

If a consumer has a question about an item you’ve listed, they may send you a private message, which you should answer to as soon as possible.

If they have a question about an item, you will be able to either respond to them one-on-one or publish your answer to the item’s listing to help others who may have the same questions.

Keep track of your sales

Keep track of your profits and costs to establish your total gross and net income if you want to build a long-term business on eBay. Include packaging materials, the cost of each item, postage, mileage, and other business-related miscellaneous charges.

All invoices and sales receipts sent to clients should be duplicated. One copy will be provided with the package, and the other should be saved in your personal file. Analytic tools, such as those provided by Helium10, can assist you in keeping an accurate record of your spending.

Best Practices for Handling Non-paying Customers

As a novice eBay seller, you may encounter non-paying customers, such as the occasional bidder who wins your advertised item but refuses to pay. Don’t worry, there are ways to avoid this.

Begin by delivering an automatic system notification to the buyer informing them that they have won the auction and must now pay.

Wait until you’ve been paid before sending out a product. If the prospective buyer has not reacted to your invoices within a few days, you might file an eBay dispute. Following the appropriate procedures helps to avoid being charged a selling fee for an item for which you never got payment.

If you are considering expanding into new markets,RJ Logistics can assist you. As an experienced logistics supplier, we will provide assistance to you at every step through professional logistics knowledge, visibility, and communication skills. Sea freight, air freight, express delivery, procurement in China, product testing, warehousing, supplier selection, one-stop service, contact us immediately for consultation