Making a profit on ebay

By Todd Luck
Staff writer

Online auction sites like Ebay let you sell practically anything you own. Here are some easy steps for making the most profit off Ebay:

1. Buy something and get feedback first.
This isn’t vital, but any sort of good feedback from an Ebay transaction on your account will reassure buyers you’re not some fly-by-night scam artist.

2. Use Paypal.
Set up a free Paypal account and offer Paypal as a payment option. Most buyers prefer to pay online using Paypal.

3. Figure out the postage.
Before posting your item, package it for shipping and get a postage estimate by either going to the post office, or by putting the item’s weight in the postage calculator at www.usps.com. Remember, lower shipping charges attract more buyers.

4. Create a title, picture, and description.
Your title should include as many keywords and abbreviations associated with your item as possible so it’ll show up on buyer searches. Make the description and picture of your item detailed and accurate even if it means showing the item’s flaws. It helps to search for items similar to yours to see how others have done this.

5. Set a reasonable minimum bid.
Also look at similar items to see the minimum bids of other sellers and how buyers react to each of them. You want one low enough to attract buyers but high enough to make money.

6. Check your email.
Buyers might email you questions about the item so constantly check your email. When the auction is over, Ebay will send you an email letting you know how to contact the winner.

7. Mail the item.
You want to do this as soon as you receive payment for the item. If there are problems or delays, email the buyer. Be sure to leave the buyer positive feedback. If you do all this, there’s a good chance he or she will have good feedback for you too.