How to Make $500 a Month Selling on eBay

To be successful selling on eBay, you need to manage your time well. Whether you want to supplement your current income or sell full-time on eBay, managing your time is the most important task you can do for your business.

Managing your posted items in an organized manner will save you time and energy. It will also help you avoid shipping errors later on.

Purchasing a business planner and actually using it has personally saved my life. I schedule days specifically for listing and sourcing new items. I highly recommend using a planner to anyone who wants to make a living selling items on eBay. As harmless as reselling may sound, it can cause a lot of internal and external chaos if you don't nip it in the bud right away.

You can occasionally sell on eBay or open a store, which can increase your sales because of the algorithms you use. The more items you list, the easier it is for buyers to find your items. 

Also, keep track of your inventory! If you're not well organized, it's easy to get into a disorganized mess when trying to find items you've sold.

The very first step in selling on eBay is to determine the potential value of an item. You should make sure that an item is worth listing before you take the time to clean, photograph, post and ship it.

Many people are misinformed when determining the value of an item. The correct way to determine the exact potential value of an item is to search the "sold" and "completed" listings on eBay.

Most people only search the active listings, which only show you the asking price for an item. After searching the active listings, scroll down until you see "Show Only" in the left sidebar. Then check "completed" and/or "sold" to find out the actual value of the item.

Even if you can't find an item among the active, recently sold, or completed listings on eBay, that doesn't mean it's worthless. It could mean that it is a rare item that is ideal for an auction listing where bids can be placed, rather than a "buy it now" listing.

You can start your spring cleaning by sorting out your clutter to sell on eBay! And by junk, I mean that it's junk or clutter to you, but could be treasure to someone else. With an eBay side hustle, you can make a lot of money just by selling items from home! A great way for beginners is to post items from your household that you can easily part with.

First, separate the items into two piles: one for donations and one for eBay. Add to the "eBay pile" only items that you think might have potential value.

Then decide whether you want to list the items as an auction listing with or without a reserve price, or as a buy-it-now listing. Each option has a different fee structure that varies from seller to seller. Start with a reasonable selling price and let it go from there.

The ultimate key to success as an eBay seller is this simple plan of attack: Buy low, sell high. A great way for resellers to snag valuable yet inexpensive items is through thrift stores, yard sales, auctions, estate sales and flea markets.

Don't forget the "regular" stores, though. Sometimes you can snag nice items there if there's a good sale or if you can redeem a high-value coupon. Discount stores like Ollies, Marc's and Big Lots are also a good place to go for merchandise that is in high demand online.

Remember, just because you're buying an item at a lower price than eBay doesn't mean you'll make a profit. Many eBay sellers overprice their items and then don't sell them or accept an offer at a much lower price. So be sure to check the "completed" listings and not just the current listings.

Use your social media accounts to boost your sales on eBay. On each of your listings, eBay has handy "share" buttons for sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Messenger and others. A little self-promotion can have a big impact on your sales.

Business cards are also useful for driving customers to your eBay store. Hand them out to friends, relatives and acquaintances you come across. eBay is a popular site with high traffic, but any extra effort on your part can have a significant impact on your sales.

Another way to market your listings is to offer free shipping on your items. However, be careful not to lose money by pricing your items high enough to compensate for the free shipping. Some buyers are attracted to the word "free" even if the item is priced slightly higher than other items.

There are other competing platforms you're up against these days. Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, Craigslist, Etsy, and Mercari - just to name a few! But thankfully, eBay still seems to be king when it comes to selling.

Many people compare the prices of their items on other platforms to what they fetch on eBay. I've even stopped by flea markets where people have their stuff neatly lined up on tables with a printout of what the item fetches on eBay! And here's the kicker: they wanted the exact same price! That's funny, because there are lots of fees on eBay, but not at a flea market. Not only that, but the time it takes to write a description, add and edit photos, properly organize the inventory, etc. adds up! Time is money, after all. Needless to say, I didn't buy anything at this garage sale.

Selling on eBay involves a lot of work. Not only do you have to research the categories, whether it's specific brands, electronics, vintage items, etc., but you also have to provide excellent customer service. Not only is this ethical, but it can also benefit your business by encouraging customers to visit your online store again. Your feedback or seller rating on eBay is crucial. Negative reviews can significantly decrease your chances of attracting buyers.

Also, make sure your item description is up to date so buyers can easily find your items. An attractive profile can help attract potential buyers to your eBay listings.