First I have to share a funny story. This story started the whole “let’s sell everything we own on eBay” extravaganza.
As the elves started wrapping gifts for the young children, mommy elf found a present that was left from the prior year’s Christmas. The elves hide the gifts in the same place very year. The found item was a Karaoke Revolution Party PS/2 with Microphone still in the shrink wrap. The young children received a later acquired version of said game along with two microphones. The elves forgot to return the original box to Santa. Mommy Elf decided to sell the found box on eBay. Maybe $10 or $20 could be re-couped. On day 4 of the auction Karaoke Revolution surpassed its suggested manufacturer’s retail price. Auction ends with video game selling for $70.99. Mommy Elf googles a bit and discovers Karaoke Revolution Party is out of stock and selling for even higher prices on Amazon.
OK, that’s how I got the itch. I’m going to write a few posts on what I learned in listing things on eBay. I’m sure if you’re a big eBay seller this is all old hat but it took me some effort to figure it all out. I’ll share the listing html and talk about what sells too. But first, before you can sell anything, it’s gotta look good!
Excellent pictures. Very important. I made the above picture taking box with foam board and duct tape. I also used this box to take the pencil roll pictures for my Etsy listings. I talked about the lighting here. I took all my photos at night. The trumpet light bulbs totally rule (I think I’ve been around my kids too much, thank goodness school starts on Monday!).
The other good thing about this box is that it could be dis-assembled in a “my presentation is due tomorrow” emergency.
Pretty cool photo box … and extremely economical. Most drugstores and even supermarkets nowadays have some of that foam core for sale.
Yes ebay is great for selling unwanted items. I had 3 yards of this great polyester fabric from the 70s with Maxfield Parrish illustrations on it. I’d had it for years and realized that I wasn’t going to make anything out of it. I
sold it on ebay for much more than what I paid for it in the early 90s. Always a good way to make extra money.
The only thing is to pay for your USPS needs online and print it on label paper. That way you get free tracking numbers. I once had someone pay for an old PDA organizer with Paypal. I shipped it via USPS Priority but from the post office and didn’t get tracking info. The buyer insisted that it never showed and I had to refund the money. So I was out the PDA and the money. Lesson learned. But everything else has been spectacularly easy and fun. Good luck selling your extra stash.
Great comment Tami. I will include that info in the next post. I use stamps.com for all my shipping mainly for the convenience. I’ve also discovered that they throw in free delivery confirmation with all items shipped via Priority Mail. I think this may be true when you print your label with the online USPS facility as well. That whole part of the process is why I could never sell on eBay as a job!
Wow!! Great sale for you! It does give you an itch when things like that happen! I used to sell a lot on ebay about 3 years ago but all the running around got to me and it felt like I was always on the computer and I was only selling 10 or 12 items a week..LOL. BUT it was a good way to earn extra money. I sell on etsy now but it’s definitely not as fast moving or paying out as much as my ebay account did. They’re two different animals though and the satisfaction I do receive from Etsy comes from seeing others enjoy my handiwork. I agree–picture taking is key to good sales. I haven’t ever set up light box but it’s a great tip!
Ha! You’re going to get rich on ebay.
Hi, Kathy,
My husband and I sell mostly computers and related items on ebay, and once had the same situation as Tami: buyer claimed he never received item sent via USPS priority, and PayPal will force you to give the money back, or they’ll just take it out of your account. We learned to always REQUIRE insurance, not make it optional. If we’d had insurance, at least we could have gotten the value of the item refunded by the post office.
Also, during this whole situation, we learned the USPS really only has delivery confirmation, not true tracking numbers (the kind you can plug into a website and see if your package is somewhere in the middle of Iowa, on the truck for today’s delivery, etc.). For that, you need FedEx or UPS, which we use for items over 4lbs (cheaper, plus they automatically insure items).
One more tidbit: always research your item first on ebay, to see if it’s selling and for how much. Then you know what price to set, or if you’re better off just giving your item away. So many sellers use ebay as their online garage sale, which can really keep selling prices low–great for buyers, but not for sellers.
All in all, most buyers have been great, and we’ve met some really nice people through ebay, so I hope you only have easy and pleasant transactions!
BTW, we have the same curtains as you; we bought them last week, and we love them. I also have to say, everything you make is so beautiful!
Kathy, you are such a great source of inspiration & information! I must be one of the last techno-dummies on the planet, so I welcome any e-bay or technology advice. Thanks to others who gave advice here, too. What a wonderful blogging community.
My story?
An $8 dress, thrifted, with a big ugly seagull appliqued on the front, sold for $350. Crazy. That’s one of the weird things about Ebay – you have NO control whatsoever of how much people are willing to pay for something…..
Love the lightbox – must build one of those!
Leah xxx
What a great idea. I’ve actually been researching light tents lately and it never occured to me to try something like this. So creative.
Happy New Year!
Can you get those lights at a hardware store? I’ve got the rest of the “stuff.”
Cindra: I tried Home Depot and Lowes, no luck for me. I attempted to use the highest rated compact fluorescent that I could buy at the store locally but they didn’t work anything like the trumpet bulbs. I’m really sold on this particular bulb, something that others on the internet seem to agree with. Good luck with your set up.
Happy New Year Kathy!
I NEED to sell a whole bunch of stuff on Ebay….lots of things like your “lost” game, etc. but I have yet to venture into selling. Looking forward to your tips!
Carol
What a GREAT way to set up this box! Love it and VERY economical!!!!
what a great set up you’ve got there! ebay can be addicting. it is great to have that extra money coming in! best of luck to you!
sounds like a plan. i have a couple of boxes down in the basement that are just itching to go somewhere!
thanks for the push. great light box too!
Isn’t eBay fun? I have some too-small snowboard gear that’s about to go up there. Another tip is to research the “completed items” to see what the thing you’re trying to sell goes for and if anyone will even bother bidding on it.
Oh, and I have a little presentation board studio too. It works SO well! We even have a black one which is sometimes better for contrast.
Laughing here about the “rule” part! I SO understand! “Dude” has become my substitution for so many more colorful options while driving.
Your listings look great. Very nice tips for creating them. Best of luck with the sales.
Finally, got your Anna B pattern yesterday and it looks great. Good work on creating a thorough and well-designed pattern. I appreciate it. When I make one I’ll send you an email.
I really like the design of your light stands. I recently made a lightbox and have had a great time photographing everything I can find to put in it.
Hi Kathy–I am a member of the Quilt Designers group and saw your post about blogs. I have been on your blog all day and listened to your podcast. I really enjoyed it. I have never had good luck selling on ebay. I have 4 patterns that I have designed and would like to set up a website and also want to sell fabric too. I had someone offer to help me get started but has not been able to so far. Do you have any information about setting up a website? I love your photo box idea and did not realize it was you that posted about taking pictures of quilts. My problem is my sewing room is 9′ x 18′ and I don’t have a clear area where my design wall is located.
I have never posted to a blog so I hope I did this right.
Thanks,
Sue in Wyoming