Need a low-cost way to sell items you no longer need — or are you looking to get your valuable collectibles in front of some potential buyers? Well, no matter your intent, eBay is an accessible platform that makes online sales a breeze.
While selling items you no longer use regularly to earn a little extra income sounds way better than tossing them, you might be hesitant to jump into the selling game. Whether you’re a longtime eBay customer or completely new to all aspects of the platform, we’ll give you a rundown of everything you need to know when it comes to selling your secondhand wares.
How to Start Selling on eBay
To start selling (or buying) on eBay, you’ll have to create an account. The free signup process is simple; you’ll just need a valid email address and a mailing address. Once you’re set up, you can start listing items for sale — the “Buy Now” option — or auctioning them off. Of course, creating a listing is more involved than just rounding up some packing supplies and hitting “post.” Who will pay for shipping — you or the seller? How much will you list the item for, and will it be for instant sale, auction, or both?
Additionally, there are fees associated with selling on eBay. The platform charges sellers to post listings and takes a commission from anything that sells. However, eBay allows you to post up to 200 listings per month for free; if you sell hundreds upon hundreds of items every month, you’ll need to pay for additional listings. That said, it may be worthwhile to enroll in an eBay store subscription. Although the price ranges rather drastically per month depending upon your needs, you can post thousands of listings per month without worrying about additional fees.
As for those commissions, they’re always a percentage of the sales price. Since this hinges upon the price and, often, the type of item you’re selling, these percentages can range from 2% to 12.85% — though there is a maximum upper-limit of $750 per item.