Ebay selling pointers?

[BadDog]

I've never sold a thing on ebay, and anfter some of the threads here and elsewhere, I thought I would ask for suggestions on "best practices".

Here's what I have in mind:

1) The obvious (you would think). Clear description and pictures, showing both good and bad.

2) Start at $1, no reserve, 2 weeks.

3) Fixed rate or shipping calculator depending.

Question: Can I say "add $4" to the shipping calculator to cover boxing and materials? Or should I just state it in the add? Or just eat it? Most of the stuff just needs peanuts and a box, but what if...?

4) Require insurance?

5) Sell some small cheap items first to minimize the initial "never before sold anything" penalty? I realize it's not going to get me to 100 sold at 100%, but at least not "0"...

Anything else not obvious or advise for a newbie seller?

[IOWOLF]

$1 will not cover your cost to insert if it doesn't sell.
If you do not want to make money and give away stuff ask for volunteered here to haul it away.

[Alistair Hosie]

Bd cover yourself don't end up losing someone will buy it if the price is fair just wait and see but I always put a starting bid as buy it now with open to offers this way you don't lose out Alistair

[CCWKen]

Your best bet is to read this: http://pages.ebay.com/sellercentral/bestpractices.html

It will answer all your questions and it's right from the horses mouth.

Beats repeating everything here.... Again.

Forgot to mention:
$4 handling is kinda steep as far as I'm concerned. Unless the item must be partialy disassembled to get it in a box or needs special packing, $4 for packing is a rip-off. But hey, that's me. When you can get boxes for free, peanuts or bubble wrap doesn't cost that much. Like I said though, some items will need special packing and the $4 may be acceptable. Post it in your description so folks know.

[BadDog]

Thanks guys.

And the $4 was a "what if" (as stated). I don't forsee it being needed, but not sure what I'll be selling for sure...

[Millman]

Make sure you use a SCALE!!!!!!

[Nick Carter]

A few things.
Make sure your description and pictures are good. I like to err on the side of disclosing too much information about an object, as well as being very detailed in any flaws. If it doesn't work, make sure the buyer understands that.

Start it at what you will take as a minimum for the object. (the reverse of bidding...)

I hate handling fees, build those into the auction price (if you must) and list the real shipping fees. People will love you for that.

Ship via priority mail, the PO will mail you boxes. Flat rate means that heavy objects don't have to cost an arm and a leg to ship. Use a glue gun on the boxes if heavy objects...tell friends and family you want peanuts - I have several garbage bags full donated by people.

Sell things that fit in PO boxes and avoid large items. Always use delivery confirmation to CYA.

For your first couple of auctions list things that you don't mind if they go low.
Give immediate feedback for payment received. Treat your neighbor as yourself, etc, etc. Ship quickly! Better to say "I'll ship it within 3 days" and ship it after 1 day, than to say you'll ship it tomorrow and send it out a week later...Keep expectations low and always exceed them.

List things that are of home shop interest both in the bus&ind>metalworking as well as collectibles>tools/hdw/locks>machinist tools section...

Did I mention that a few extra pictures can really help?

I just sold some tooling that I was pleased with the result, and I sold some auction scrap (you know, all those little bits of odd tooling that accumulates after an auction that you don't use) for 99 cents, because it was cheaper than throwing it out...

Don't bother selling common items - do your ebay homework and see what other similar items have sold for, make sure that 10 identical items aren't up at the same time as you list your item...

Just my 2c

[BillH]

I have started MANY auctions at .99 cents and have done very well on them. If you have something you KNOW will sell for lots of money, start it at 99 cents. IF you think the buyers are people who check Ebay constantly, do a 1 day auction to get bidding fever going. If your selling to the home shop machinist guy who may check ebay every now and then, do a 7 day auction. If you have something that you figure will be a hard sell, DONT start at 99 cents but perhaps a buy it now for what you want it for.
Lots of pictures helps a lot and a lot of information on the product being sold.

[John Stevenson]

Two weeks is too long, people get bored waiting, 5 or 7 days is enough time to get whoever is interested to find it.

Start it at the price you are willing to let it go at, not necessarily what you hope you can get for it but if there is only the one bid at least you are not giving it away.

If it's a small item work the shipping out, add it to the start price you are willing to accept and advertise FREE shipping, what you bid is what you pay.
Small items like CD's etc that go for a stamp sell far better this way.

.

[Wirecutter]

I've never sold a thing on ebay, and anfter some of the threads here and elsewhere, I thought I would ask for suggestions on "best practices".

Here's what I have in mind:

1) The obvious (you would think). Clear description and pictures, showing both good and bad.

2) Start at $1, no reserve, 2 weeks.

3) Fixed rate or shipping calculator depending.

Question: Can I say "add $4" to the shipping calculator to cover boxing and materials? Or should I just state it in the add? Or just eat it? Most of the stuff just needs peanuts and a box, but what if...?

I had to ship a fairly heavy and fragile item across country (US East to West Coast) after a sale. The item was about the size of a 19" portable TV. I was very careful packing it, and I had to actually purchase peanuts to pack it in. The item weighed about 80 lbs. I spent nothing on the boxes (double boxed), but the peanuts cost about $30 and the shipping (with insurance) was over $100.
(Oh, the item was a Tektronix model 576 transistor curve tracer.)

You should think about your shipping costs, as should a bidder or buyer. In my case, I itemized all the costs for shipment, and the buyer paid without a gripe. The item arrived in exactly the same condition it was shipped in. Some items really do cost a bundle to ship, and some items don't.

I also had a case several years ago where I estimated shipping at $15, and that's what I charged the buyer. I wound up paying almost $50 for shipping. Ouch. I had shipped the item and left feedback, but I humbly asked the buyer to help me out on the shipping. He did, and sent me an additional $20. I was lucky and grateful for it. This was back in 2000 or so - I don't know if I would be so lucky now.

4) Require insurance?

I would for anything over $100, or for something that's particularly hard to replace.

The rest is pretty much common sense. The best information I got was by checking on similar items - what they open for, what they sell for, what they cost to ship. I've even asked other buyers and sellers for opinions. Most are pretty good about it. YMMV.

-Mark