Sjeng wrote:Can anyone explain a few things to me about selling something on eBay?
1. When selling for a fixed price, one thing to keep in mind is that eBay charges their Final Value Fee of 10% not only the final price of the item, but on the
final price of the item plus the cost of shipping.You have to keep in mind the possible shipping cost and incorporate at least 10% of that into your starting value or else you may lose out.
2. Always ship with tracking whenever possible. eBay
always sides with the buyer in missing/lost item claims unless you as a seller can prove the item arrived at the destination. Tracked shipping is more expensive which will deter some buyers. Most people are honest, but get just one bad egg and it will leave a sour taste in your mouth forever as you will be out both the money (shipping included) and the item(s).
3. Keep all the fees in mind. There are listing fees, final value fees and... Paypal fees! Listing fees are a fixed price and varies depending on auction style, buy-it-now and best offer style listings. Final value fees are 10% on total price including shipping. Paypal fees are 2.9% plus a flat fee of .30 cents per transaction. Total fees are roughly 14%. Ouch!
4. eBay has buyer and seller protection, but
only when payments are made through eBay/Paypal.
5. Ask questions in the eBay forums. Sellers are always answering questions and telling stories about their experiences.
If you're just selling a collection or two, it's great to get some extra cash. If you're trying to start a business on eBay, treat it like a business, even from the start. Build a business model and keep track of all your fees before you get your monthly invoice from eBay and are shocked that it's much higher than expected.