eBay Selling Guide

Hopefully this eBay selling guide will be useful. Being a new seller on eBay can be daunting, especially when it comes to selling designer handbags. Sellers of designer products must know their product and be able to communicate this knowledge, via listings and correspondence, to the buyer. What I mean by this is your buyers have a passion for your product, and as such, you must cater to it. Below are some simple yet important eBay selling tips, pointers and strategies that will help you learn to sell on ebay.

First and foremost, as it is a matter of legal importance, do not sell counterfeit goods. It may be tempting when trying to make money on eBay, especially if you come across some high-grade replicas. However, the potential trouble you could find yourself in is not worth the risk. Furthermore, you run the risk of permanently tarnishing your eBay credibility.

An essential step in starting a new business and finding products to sell on eBay is research research research. It is easy to cave into the initial impulse to place a large order of handbags with that enticing company that popped up on your first internet search. There are some seemingly amazing deals out there. However, many new sellers have excitedly listed their newfound merchandise only to find that a plethora of other sellers have already taken advantage of their source or something far better.

So how do you avoid this situation? Research. Go to ebay and perform a search for the item(s) you wish to sell. Ideally, you want to find a unique niche in which to sell. However, this is not always plausible anymore. Siding rare collectibles, ebay is a buyers market; you will most likely have competition. The key is being able to profit amongst that competition.

Lets say for instance, you have found a reliable source for a couple styles of bags, and you have decided upon a specific style that you think will be profitable do to its high demand. However, after an eBay search (use the completed listings option as well, very helpful) you see that there are already fifteen sellers pushing that same bag. Furthermore, the competition is so fierce between them that the profit potential has been driven down to next to nothing. This is very common on eBay, unfortunately. In this situation it is probably best to try a different bag with perhaps less demand but an overall higher profit potential. The key is being flexible; using what will turn a profit (legally of course) rather than becoming attached or fixated on a certain product.

Now, there will always be competition. So, how do you deal with that competition? Well, there are two things (among many others) to consider. First, your item price in relation to your competition. Many sellers automatically assume they must come in with a lower price than the others, such as listing something for $75 instead of $90. This is not a method I suggest trying initially. As previously mentioned, the items value will be destroyed in no time. Look at the electronics market on eBay. Everybody who wants to start selling on eBay gets the bright idea to sell electronics. Many products have lost there selling value due to large numbers of sellers trying to outdo one another with no regard for the product. Now this is different from smart competitive pricing. For instance, you list an item at $5 less than the competition with free shipping. This is a large incentive for a buyer with minimal devaluing of the product.

The latter leads us to using the quality of your listing’s look and feel to sell the product. When there are multiple sellers of an item, the impression a buyer gets from a listing will many times make or break a sale. Look at your competition’s listings. Are there any blurry photos, grammatical errors or unclear policies? Is there key information regarding the product left out? These are common mistakes sellers make, mistakes upon which you can capitalize. Buyers will go for a more expensive listing if they feel more comfortable with it. Give your buyers what is lacking in your competitions listings. Your listings do not have to be extravagant, just clean, simple and informing. As you get better at creating listings you can add more embellishments, but make sure they never distract from your product. For instance, multicolor text and confusing, colorful backgrounds are almost always a bad idea.

An essential aspect of presenting a quality listing, especially selling handbags, is using good pictures. Since a buyer cannot physically inspect their purchases, it is up to the seller to make them feel comfortable with the authenticity and condition of their item. Multiple detailed pictures go a long way towards this. Make sure to present clear pictures of key identifying characteristics on your handbags. This will make buyers feel comfortable and save you the time of answering the many questions you will receive with an uninformative listing. The same goes for information. Be very specific in your description of the item, do not leave room for doubt or confusion- this will only cause problems for everyone.

Do not ever steal other seller’s photos even if it is an accurate representation of your bag. If you are not infringing on any copyrights it is acceptable to use a stock photo with your own detailed photos. However, many buyers will be wary of listings with only stock photos.

When selling designer handbags and accessories it is important not to infringe on any copyrights or trademarks. Also, always add a disclaimer to your listings stating you are not affiliated with the brands you are selling.

When selling through any medium you must consider your overhead. I have seen sellers list bags for the exact amount they purchased them. If the bag goes for the listed price the seller will lose money to eBay insertion and final value fees as well as paypal fees. Do not ever set yourself up to lose money. Keep detailed records of your transactions so that you can get a feel for how these fees should affect your listing prices.

Last but not least, always try to work a dispute out before leaving negative feedback. Feedback is very important, especially as a new seller, an is an important part of learning how to sell on eBay.

This eBay selling guide covers some very basic tips for the new seller. Selling on eBay is a continuous learning process and there is a lot of great literature and ebooks available via experienced eBay powersellers for those interested in learning more.

For another eBay selling guide click here. This link has some resources to consider. As always, please practice due diligence when taking any advice- selling on eBay is never a sure thing. To learn what buyers look for in an eBay seller click here.