10 eBay Selling Tips for Beginners
I came up with 10 eBay Selling Tips for Beginners to help beginners to start selling on eBay and not make the same mistakes I did when starting out. It's easy to start out since we are excited to explore, but if encounter problems, we tend to leave and run at the first possible opportunity. These tips will help you persist, grow and learn all while running your business.
Have an easy to remember store name - Having an easy to remember store name will encourage people to come and shop from your store again and again if they like your service and products they are offered.
Have clear pictures and description – Have a clear picture of your product, enhance any markings or flaws (if selling a used item) and make sure they are of size 500 x 500 px or more (eBay requirements). If you have a small image, you can enhance it via Paint.Having a clear and concise description of your product in the description box, detailing its purpose and uses will help buyer make a decision on whether the product is for them or not. Don’t confuse or distract your buyer by adding a small description while a big, highlighted returns policy or asking for feedback after purchase.Also make sure you are NOT copy and pasting the descriptions provided by the supplier because the chances are that if someone else is selling the same product, they too would have the same description.
Research on eBay – It is true that anything and everything sells on eBay (I've seen people sell Toilet paper rolls) but if you starting out, it’s always good to do a thorough research on what’s selling on eBay in the niche you want to enter. You can use platforms like Terapeak that would help you conduct market research and help you narrow down the products to list.
Be Authentic – Selling on eBay is about making a connection with your buyers online. Since they can’t see you, they can’t know if you a genuine buyer or not. Make connections, and be authentic when selling, be it while listing a used product or while answering customer queries. If you don’t know anything about the product, be open about it to your sellers, they appreciate the honesty. If there’s a way to find out the answers, tell them you will get back to them with the details, if not tell them you are just a seller and have never personally used the product. If your supplier has an easy return policy you can offer the buyer the to buy the product and assurance that you'll change it if there's any issue. Small gestures like these helps you establish a connection with your buyer online.
Know your numbers – Do you know how much taxes eBay charges you for selling on their platform? Do you know the PayPal fees? Do you know much taxes your supplier charges or the state you shipping your product to charges you? Does your supplier charges extra for delivery or restocking? It is very important to know your numbers when you selling on eBay.
PayPal fees when selling on eBay is 2.9% + 0.30 cents
eBay fees is 10% for non-store sellers and 9% for sellers with basic store.
Every state/country charges its own tax
Ask the right questions – When dealing with customers, it is important to follow your intuitions while asking the right questions from your buyers.
If your buyer messages you saying they haven’t received the product while the tracker says delivered, ask the right questions like – did you look around the house? Did you check with the neighbors? Not every buyer that says they haven’t received their product will be right. Some might just be saying to get another free item off of you. Therefore, before jumping to any conclusions, make inquiries, ask questions from the buyer and the courier company.
If a buyer says the product was received damaged – Ask them to send a picture so you have the proof while talking about it with your supplier. It also gives you an assurance that the customer is not just saying it.
Make connections with suppliers – It is important to make connection with your suppliers when dropshipping off of them. Know how they work, how their systems work, what processes they have in place and their customer service system in place. Can you contact them anytime within 24 hrs or do they have fixed timings? Is the best way to contact them via chat or phone call?
Don’t showcase irrelevant products or ads on your eBay listing – If someone seems your listing and is interested in purchasing the product, don’t distract them or frustrate them by showing ads or unrelated unnecessary products on your page. Chances are you might lose the sale and the customer too.
Don’t follow blindly – There are a lot of videos that show you how to drop ship on eBay. Learn the basics but don’t follow them blindly or just as it is. If you see an example of product they showing on the video, don’t immediately go and find a supplier to source you the product, do your own research. Just like you there would be 1000s of people following the video and sourcing the same items.
Believe in yourself – Last but not the least, believe in yourself. A lot of people have tried and failed on eBay while there are a lot more that are still selling successfully on eBay. Don’t stop selling if you encounter a single issue, learn from it and start again fresh. Educate yourself by reading books on business, self development, merchandising etc. Few of my favorite books that helped me grow are -
I was not delivered into this world into defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.The slaughter house of failure is not my destiny. I will persist until I succeed. - The Greatest Salesman in the World