That first transaction did not go smoothly.  The person who won my auction would not answer my emails and I didn't think I'd ever get paid.  But she finally sent me a check and off my little mermaid went.  The shipping cost more than I expected and I took a loss on that first auction.  But I learned a lot from the experience and tried again... and again... and again.

Since that very first auction there has hardly been a time when I didn't have auctions listed on eBay.  I have sold so many things including crafts, pillows, pet toys, old books, used clothing, tote bags, fabric, figurines, stuffed animals, homemade candy, boxed pastries, jewelry, costumes, old bottles, greeting cards, shoes, musical equipment, and the list goes on and on.  I even sold boxes of colorful Maine autumn leaves!  By selling so many different types of items I consider myself an eBay expert.  I know what sells and what doesn't sell.  I also know some tricks of the trade as to how to be very successful on eBay.  And I'd like to pass what I've learned on to you!

eBay has come a long way since I started listing auctions in 2000.  The site was just a few years old back then and the auction format was easy to understand.  In just a few clicks your auction was listed.  But even though listing an auction was simple, collecting your money and shipping items were a big hassle.  People had to pay by sending a check and you had to stand in line at the post office to send your packages.  Now there are services such as PayPal and Click-N-Ship and eBay customer support so getting paid and sending packages is very easy.  And even though eBay might look intimidating, if you take your time and read their tutorials you will be listing auctions in no time!

After selling a gazillion different types of items I found my niche in selling my custom made plus size tunics.  I still sell other items now and then and I'm always on the hunt for new items to sell but selling my clothing is what pays my bills.  And just how much do I make on eBay?  It varies.  I've had some weeks that I've sold just $50 and some weeks that I've sold over $1,000.  But generally I average about $400 to $500 a week.

The first thing you have to do is register and set up an account.  It's free to register.  You can find the link on eBay's homepage.  After you register spend some time reading the tutorials.  Just click on the "Help" tab on the top of any eBay page and you will find plenty of helpful links.  Read everything that pertains to selling and also read up on bidding so you can understand what it's like on the other end of the auction.  You can also go to the forums and ask for help.  Just click on the "Community" tab on the top of any eBay page and you will find a ton of helpful information.

Once you are set up to start selling you must figure out what to sell and how to sell it!  Here are some key points you want to keep in mind when deciding what to sell:

Is my item easy and cheap to ship?
This is by far the most important aspect to consider when you are trying to decide what to sell on eBay.  If you sell something breakable you will have to spend a lot of time packing it properly.  And you will have the extra expense of bubble wrap and other packing supplies.  If you are selling an old collectible bottle it might be worth the effort.  If you are selling a glass figurine that is available at any dollar store then it will not be worth it.  So before you list the auction be sure you know how much it will cost to ship and if it will be easy to pack.  Buyers do not like to pay high shipping fees.  So try selling items that do not cost a lot to send.  See the info about how to send packages below.

Do people need or want my item?
Yes.  It's as simple as that.  There is always someone somewhere who needs or wants whatever it is you decide to sell.  Millions of people live in rural areas and can't run to Wal-Mart every time they need something.  And even though there are a gazillion shopping sites online there are not too many sites that sell used items at a bargain price... something eBay is famous for!  Many people buy things because they are collectors.  And some are shopaholics who will buy anything you stick under their nose whether they need it or not!  So you can sell anything on eBay.  Anything!

Where do I get my stock?
You can start by looking around your house.  Used clothing usually sells well, especially children's clothing.  Used books are also good.  You can get lots of items really cheap at thrift stores or yard sales.  And if you are crafty you can make your items.  Just start with inexpensive items and experiment.  I once sold an odd lot of stickers that could be used for scrapbooking.  These were stickers that I was just going to throw away but I listed them for a penny with free shipping and I ended up getting almost $8 for them.  And this was for just a few half full sheets of stickers that I was able to send in a plain envelope for the cost on one postage stamp!  After you get your feet wet you can start buying wholesale and reselling for a good profit.  You can read my article on How to buy wholesale and also read How to buy in bulk at Dollar Tree online to resell on eBay.

How do I get repeat customers?
Ahhhh.... repeat customers.  They are the ones who put good food on your table.  If not for repeat customers I would not still be in business.  My secret to getting them to buy again and again and again?  I email them!  Read my articles on How to build an email list for business contacts and How to send bulk emails to your customers to increase your income and make more money.  Also, if you want repeat customers you need to sell something that keeps buyers coming back for more!  If you sell dog beds and only dog beds you will not get repeat customers because they do not need a lot of dog beds.  But if you sell homemade dog biscuits they will keep coming back because they will need more dog biscuits.  Hey, I never thought about selling homemade dog biscuits before.  What a good idea that is!  See how easy it is to come up with ideas?

How do I price my item?
eBay has several ways to sell items now.  You can list for auction or you can sell at a fixed price.  I like auctions because many times I get a much higher price than I could have ever imagined.  I generally start my tunics anywhere from $9.99 to $39.99 and I've had several go over the $100 mark.  Had I listed them for a fixed price I would have lost out on all those good bids!  As for picking a price, do a search on eBay and see what others are using as a starting bid.  The lower you price the item the more bids you will generate.  But never start lower than you are will to sell for.  If you want $20 for the item and you list it at $1 hoping to get a lot of bids you could very well end up selling it for $1.  So just be careful.  I list some of my tunics for only ONE PENNY as a way to attract new customers.  If it sells for one penny I don't care.  I consider it an advertising expense.  And anyone who wins one of my tunics for one penny is almost guaranteed to become a good repeat customer.

How do I send my packages?
The only method I use to send packages is the United States Postal Service.  You can get free priority boxes sent to your door and you can print your postage online using Click-N-Ship.  And here is the best part... they pick up your packages for free!  You never need to go to the post office!  They will pick up one package or a dozen.  So go to the USPS site, set up an account and get familiar with their services.

What else do I need to know?
I could never even begin to tell you everything you need to know.  The best way to learn is to give it a try.  When I registered back in 2000 I spent several weeks just reading everything on the ebay site.  I read the few tutorials they had back then and I also looked at a lot of auctions to see how others were doing things.  But I really learned everything just by trial and error.  And I never gave up.  I just kept listing and listing and listing.  And I finally got it right!  And you can get it right too.  And you really can make a decent living on eBay.  More than decent.  There are people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on eBay.  But it takes time and effort.  Get started today!