What Do I Need To Sell Online?

1. Something to sell.

2. A computer with internet access.

3. A digital camera. These cost $60-$300 and are optional, but highly recommended.

4. Boxes to ship items. (can be obtained free at local hardware stores, etc.) Also you can get Priority boxes free from the post office if you choose to send it Priority. However, these can't be used for Parcel Post. Parcel Post and UPS are often cheaper for large items.

5. A scale is helpful to weigh each package so you can let the buyer know exactly the total shipping based on your zip code and theirs (from the www.usps.com domestic calculator).

6. TIME! Believe me it will be worth your time in money made. You will get paid for the labor in organization you have done! (1 Corinthians 14 :40).

7. Total cost to list each item is usually about 70 cents, depending on how many pictures you use. Then eBay charges about 5% profit fee. Be aware that eBay will take a portion of your total sale.

Gather the items you want to sell in one location and group them. To determine prices, you can go to www.eBay.com and do a search for like items. For example, type in "Johnny Jumper" and it will pull up a list for all the Johnny Jumpers and what they are going for. You can start the bid at $5 and list it for 10 days and it will usually go for about $15-$20.

Go to www.eBay.com and click on Sell. Have a look at the form and do a trial listing; just don't press the final button until you are ready to actually sell the item.

1. Sell Your Item: Choose Selling Format:
Choose the option to sell item online auction.

2. Select Category & Sub-Categories.
For example: if you have a huge lot of children's videos, Pick Movies>Video, Film>VHS> Children, Family

Pick the category which best fits your item. You can do a search on your item and see what categories others are listing theirs in to get an idea if you are in doubt. Spend a few moments seeing what categories are available. You can always list your item in two categories, but be aware that that this doubles your insertion fees.

3. List Title.
You get 45 characters maximum so be creative and very eye-catching. For example HUGE LOT 6+ Veggie Tales Videos Esther++

HINT: Use capitals, stars, or word L@@K! to make it more appealing. For example an ad that says Jogging Stroller will get a lot fewer looks than one that says LIKE NEW Jogging Stroller MUST SEE!

4. List Description.
Be as specific as you can be. List all the videos, books, clothes sizes! The more you inform the buyers of what they are getting, the better the chance they will be satisfied. Be specific with brands of homeschool books, condition, and year of books.

5. List Price.
You have three decisions: Starting Price, Reserve price (not recommended because it costs more), and Buy It Now price.

Decide on what price is the minimum you will take for an item, then decide on what price you might like to sell it for if someone wanted to buy it right away (optional). It only costs five cents to add the Buy It Now price feature. For instance, if you have 6 Veggie Tales movies and you know somebody paid about $100 for these, full price, you can start the bid at $19.99 and then have a Buy It Now price of $49.99. This is a good deal for you and a good deal for them because you are getting back about half of what you paid for them (or more if you bought them at garage sales).

This takes some practice and some trial-and-error but as you gain more experience, you will know more what goes for how much!

6. List Your Pictures.
If you have a digital camera, it will increase your sales tremendously. Take a picture of your item and crop it. Then you can upload it straight from your computer to the eBay site and it will show a picture of the item you wish to sell.

The first picture is free, and any additional pictures are 15 cents each. Most auctions only need one picture but sometimes it is good to take more for certain angles of things.

Digital cameras can be purchased for $60-$500. It is a wise investment and will pay for itself with just a few sales. A digital camera is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED but certainly not necessary.

Home-school books are easy to sell without pictures, so start with those when you begin selling. Always list your pictures in the Gallery option (0.25 cents extra). Some people only shop the Gallery. If you are using pictures, definitely use the gallery because it increases your sales. A pictured item will nearly always sell for more than an item without pictures!

7. Select Payment You Will Accept.
I recommend you accept money orders or PayPal only. It is wise to sign up for PayPal so that others can use their credit card if they wish to buy it immediately. It makes things easier for both parties, and they are a reliable company. You can request a check from them whenever you want for a small fee or you can build up an account and use it to buy other things online.

8. Determine Who Pays for Shipping.
The great thing about selling online is that the buyer pays for shipping. You must indicate this on the form. You can determine what shipping will cost from zip code to zip code by using the US Postal Service Domestic calculator which is on the website www.usps.com.

9. Review and Edit Your Listing.
Be sure that everything is how you would like it. Then submit it and watch it get bids!

10. Keep a Log of Everything You Sell and Who Bought It.
Get a little notebook and jot down the auction number, date it sold and who bought it with their address and the total amount it sold for. Also weigh your packages and keep a log of what the package weighs in case someone wants to know shipping costs prior to buying.

Selling on the internet can and should be a family event. Go ahead, get organized, sort your stuff, and make some extra cash. If you have already been successful in organizing your home you can find things to sell at garage sales and estate sales. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Have fun and don't forget to give the Lord a portion of your profits to benefit others who may be in need or other church needs.

Get Started Selling on eBay!