eBay Goeth Well & How to Sell Stuff on eBay

Things are going well on eBay. I've only had like one or two items that didn't sell. I relisted one of them and someone is buying it.

One of the jackets I used to wear, that I originally paid $5.00 for, is now selling for about $11.00. Kewl. My black suit jacket will go for $3.99.

So, I have figured some things out about eBay, which I figure I will write about here. Why not? I haven't got anything else to do... the house is clean and D's asleep.

1. eBay buyers are looking for a good deal.
eBayers want to feel smart and they want to feel like they got a hell of a bargain. Their little egos get stoked by winning auctions, too. That commercial out there about eBay right now is entirely true. You know the one -- 'Don't shop. Win.'

Don't buy doormats that happen to be good doormats or imported doormats and sell them on eBay. No one on eBay buys doormats, even if they're from Pakistan. I could use a new one, though, so go ahead and bring that back from Florida, Mack. :) Love ya.

People on eBay are looking for stuff that is pricey when it's new. Like Edmonds-Allen shoes, or Tommy Hilfiger crap, or Kate Spade or Coach bags. Stuff like that. Not doormats. Stuff that they would normally pay through the nose for.

2. eBay buyers like niche stuff.
That's why my Martha Stewart books have allllll sold. And that's why I will shop thrift stores and Friends of the Library book sales for more Martha Stewart!

3. eBay buyers will buy replacement dishes.
But not all replacement dishes are made equal. Go to Goodwill and check out what brands they have a lot of. Now check eBay's completed listings to see if that sells. If you get a match, awesome!

4. eBay buyers will buy Harry Potter books but forget about Tom Clancy books.
Unless you have audio books, that is. Those sell.

5. Star Wars books sell too.
But remember the Golden Rule: eBay buyers want DEALS. They want to feel smart and validated about their decision to win an auction and thus avoid paying retail.

6. USE. PAYPAL.
If you're going to sell on eBay, use Paypal and while you're at it, upgrade to a Premier account so people who don't have PayPal can pay with debit and credit cards without signing up.

And, while you're at it, it would be a good idea to get PayPal's debit card once you have a balance, so you can purchase new inventory with funds directly from the business, thereby measuring whether you're succeeding or not and being wise or not.

7. Track expenses/income in Excel or something.
And don't forget about inventory. Keep track of what you're paying for inventory and what you're selling it for. Don't forget shipping, of course.

8. Plus size women's clothes that are in GOOD TASTE in the upper sizes sell well.
Like 22 and above. Remember, these women have a hard time finding clothes that don't look like they belong on their 60 year old Grandma.

And remember, don't try and sell your khaki shorts from last season. Sell your lined SUITS that no longer fit. Sell your $200 wool coat that you wore for all of ONE season that no longer fits. Make sure to replace the buttons first. ;) Not your old used t-shirts, unless they were pricey to start with and wash incredibly well and just look absolutely hot. :)

9. Make sure your photographs look awesome.
Good lighting, etc. Cropped appropriately and adjusted for color. I photographed my Martha books on a doily which was on top of a bright cheery green tablecloth. I did it during Saturday morning daylight. Pretty. :)

Another word for this is: PACKAGING. Format your ads nicely and tastefully. Show you have good taste and therefore can be trusted. People have more confidence in things that are thoughtfully packaged. Think about it. You know I'm right.

10. Kids clothes sell well, too if they were EXPENSIVE to begin with.
Right now I am eyeing some of D's princess dresses that I don't have much of an attachment to. Getting out of debt is more important than nostalgia.

11. Don't start the opening bid too high.
I started the opening bid on my black jacket at 3.99. I'm hoping someone else will bid on it other than the one schlep. But starting too high is worse than too low. You will get for the item what the market will bear. It's more expensive to relist than to sell it on the first try. You want to get rid of it and get SOMETHING for it, or nothing at all? Remember, think garage sale prices, not retail prices.

Right now eBay is a hobby. I am just selling things from around the house. But next Friday night, I will be going thrifting, systematically.

More on this topic later.