eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition

Create a Listing

Use the Sell Your Item form to create an auction or fixed-price listing and start selling on eBay in just a few minutes.

There’s a bit of subtle (and not-so-subtle) strategy involved in creating a listing, from writing a catchy and concise title and adequately describing your item to choosing among the extra-cost listing options. The important thing is to take your time and have a little fun with it; attention to detail will pay off in the long run, while rushed listings cause nothing but problems.

Before you try to sell anything on eBay, take a moment to find out what it’s worth [Hack #42] . That way, you’ll know ahead of time if the potential payoff is worth your time.

When you’re ready, click Sell at the top of any eBay page. If you’ve never sold on eBay before, you’ll be asked to sign up for a Seller’s Account; just follow the prompts and answer the questions; it shouldn’t take more than a minute or two.

Tip

eBay makes most of its money in two ways: insertion (listing) fees and final value fees. You’ll be charged an insertion fee when you list your item, regardless of whether or not it sells. The fees depend on the specific options you choose (discussed throughout this chapter); a summary of fees for each listing you create is shown at the end of the listing process.

If all goes well, you should see the first page of the Sell Your Item form, at which point you’ll be given a choice as to the listing format:

Online Auction.

Select this option to create a standard Chinese ...