How to Sell on eBay [2024 Updated Guide]

Have you ever dreamt of turning your unused items into cash, or maybe starting a thriving online business? Look no further than eBay, a dynamic marketplace teeming with millions of eager buyers! This comprehensive guide, meticulously crafted for 2024, equips you with the knowledge and strategies to conquer eBay as a beginner.

Why Sell on eBay in 2024?

  • Massive Audience: Reach a staggering 135 million active users worldwide, translating to immense sales potential.
  • Diverse Product Categories: Sell virtually anything, from vintage treasures to handcrafted goods and high-demand electronics.
  • Flexible Selling Styles: Choose between fixed-price listings for immediate sales or auction-style listings for competitive bidding excitement.

What New Sellers Need to Know about eBay?

To start an eBay business, you need to update its latest policies and highlights. I call this stage the initial evaluation during my selling experience on eBay. 

So, what does it have in store for you? We’ll find out together just now! 

How has eBay updated its selling policies?

Since 2023, eBay has updated several policies to create a fair and safe trading experience for all active sellers. Here are a few rule updates you need to follow when selling stuff on eBay in 2024: 

  • eBay renewed its selling limits applied to new sellers. In detail, as a new seller on eBay, your listing limit starts at 10 items with a total value of $500 per month. 
  • Your BBE rating (Bad Buyer Experience) can lead to selling restrictions or account bans. From December 11, 2023, eBay applies a new metric called BBE. If your BBE rating is higher than the average of other sellers, you may be suspended from selling on eBay. Moreover, your account will be evaluated by the house every Wednesday.

    With new rules updated and the old ones set, is selling on eBay worth it as you just started your journey? I’ll let that for you to decide through the highlights listed in the next section! 

Is selling on eBay still worth it in 2024?

Newbies, you must be wondering, “Is it easy to sell on eBay?” or “Is selling on eBay worth it?”. As promised, I’ll now show you the highlights that demonstrate this marketplace’s potential. 

  • A dynamic audience on this marketplace: eBay has up to 135 million active users worldwide, with about 739.2 million visits per month. 

  • You sell and list in diversity: Do you know you can have 300 unique categories (according to the house rules) as you sell on eBay? 

There is more than one selling style:  Auction and fixed-price selling styles are available. This is partly the reason why many sellers with rare items choose to sell on eBay. They earn more through the Auction but are still able to make money from the traditional fixed-price selling style. 

Getting Started: Essential Steps

The selling process on eBay is quite similar to other top marketplaces in the world. First, you need to understand how selling on eBay works, decide what to sell, and find your suppliers. Once finished, you can get your hand right into starting selling on eBay by following this step-by-step guide.

To sell on eBay, follow these steps below:

1. Create an eBay Seller Account:

The first step to learning how to sell things on eBay is to create an eBay seller account.

You have two options: eBay business account vs personal account. In fact, the page defaults to registering a personal account – a suitable option if you plan to sell small amounts of items at a specific time. If you want to sell many products regularly, you should go with an eBay business account.

If you register a business account, you will need to provide additional information such as your business name, type of business, and your address. Follow these steps to create an eBay business account. 

  • Click Register in the top left corner of the eBay homepage
  • Choose Business account
  • Enter your business name and email address
  • Add your password
  • Select your business location 
  • Click Create account
     
    *Besides, you can create your eBay account with Google, Facebook, and Apple accounts work too. Easy peasy!

eBay username setup

Next, you will need to create a username. Your username is the name that will represent you on eBay. You can change it later, but choose a name that is unique and can reflect the products that you will sell on eBay.

For instance, if you sell gardenware or home decor, your store name can look like this: Plant Paradise, Home Sweet Home, Green Escape, Rustic Charm. Speaking of which, you might want to check out 400 more ideas for a cool eBay store name.

Payment setup
Once you are done creating a username, you have to set up your payment methods, such as Payoneer, a checking account, or a credit/debit card.

Choose your preferred payment method and follow the prompts to add your payment details. If you choose Payoneer, you’ll be redirected to the Payoneer website to log in and link your account.

After linking your bank account, review and confirm everything. Click Continue; you will be redirected to eBay’s homepage. That’s the first step of selling on eBay for beginners!

Regarding eBay payment setup for sellers, you might want to read our topic of How to get paid on eBay.

2. Set up your eBay store

  • Click “Sell” on the top right corner and navigate to “Manage My Store.”

  • Choose a subscription plan that aligns with your sales goals. The Starter plan is suitable for beginners.
  • Customize your store with a captivating logo, banner, and a detailed description highlighting your brand and products.
  • Craft clear and informative store policies covering payment, return, and shipping details.

3. Price Your Items Competitively:

When it comes to how to get started selling on eBay, setting a competitive price and deciding your pricing method impact buyers’ decisions to buy and item visibility in eBay’s search results.

As for listing your items on eBay, this marketplace offers two main listing formats: Auction or Buy It Now (Fixed-price listings).

  • Auction-style listings: Buyers will bid on the items until the end date you set. You can include an accept Best Offer option, which allows buyers to make an offer on an item. You can set a fixed price on auction-style listings, but it should be 30% higher than the starting price. This auction style is the best suit if you’re unsure about the item’s value, want to sell quickly, or if your item is rare and unique.
  • Buy It Now (also known as Fixed-price listings): This is suitable when you know the price you want to get for an item, have a lot of inventory, or want your listing to appear in search results for more than 10 days.
After you decide your pricing methods to sell on eBay, price your items. Pricing isn’t a guessing game, so do some market research to find a competitive rate for your product, etc.

Pro tips: You can simply see the sold items on eBay to know how many similar items have sold and at what rates. To see this search filter, scroll down the left-hand panel on search results until you see the Preferences section. Under Show Onlycheck off the box for Completed ItemsExamining the prices of sold and unsold items is important when you price your own items.

4. Craft Compelling Listings:

Now you’re halfway through the How to Become an eBay Seller guide. It’s time you list and sell on eBay.

Simply select Create Listing in your Seller Hub Listings dropdown menu. Then add all the information about your products.

  • Product name or identifier 
  • Description 
  • Category and details 
  • Quantity, price, weight, and other options
  • Package settings and shipping details 
  • Item specs and variations
  • Condition of the product 

Remember that if you’re selling a high-priced item, such as an antique or a collectible, you can include professional valuation or authentication paperwork in the listing photos. This can help justify the item’s high price and attract bidders. Also, don’t forget to include eBay SEO practices! 

If you don’t know how to list multiple items on eBay to save time yet, there are 3 possible ways: eBay’s quick listing tool, advanced listing form, or third-party listing software.

5: Set up shipping options

By getting your products listed on eBay, you’ve done a crucial part of selling on eBay. But don’t forget to set up shipping options, which decide how you deliver your items to your customers later.

A strong shipping policy will increase the visibility of your products when selling on eBay. Using the marketplace’s search engine, buyers can sort products with short shipping times like same-day or one-day delivery that meet eBay’s Guaranteed Delivery (EGD) guidelines.

To learn how to ship on eBay, first, fill out the information as follows:

  • Type of rate: Select a flat rate for all buyers, a calculated rate based on the buyer’s location, freight shipping for large items weighing more than 150 pounds, and “No shipping: Local pickup only.”
  • Carrier services: You can choose from various carriers and services, including USPS, FedEx, and UPS.

    If you offer international shipping, you must also select a rate type, but you will only have two options: flat rate or calculated rate based on the buyer’s location. If you need assistance with sending orders on time, consider signing up for eBay’s Global Shipping Program (GSP).

6. Prioritize Customer Service:

The next step in the How to Start Selling on eBay for Beginners guide is to set up return and exchange policies. 

Providing a 30-day return option is something eBay recommends for sellers. It’s what most eBay buyers expect. If you also offer free returns, it can make shoppers feel more confident about buying from you, boosting your sales.

Remember, eBay makes this information clear to shoppers, so ensuring your listings match these expectations is essential to compete effectively.

Go live!

The last piece of the puzzle How to sell on eBay for newbies: After finishing all the steps from the 6 stages above, you’ll receive an email notifying you that your listing has gone live. Congratulations! Your eBay store is now on. And all you can do is wait for the first sale.

You may need to answer questions from buyers and then complete the transaction when you sell on eBay. Clicking My eBay in the top right-hand corner of the menu, you can view your active listings, see how many people are watching your listing or have bid on it, and answer any buyer questions from this page.

Bonus Tips for Success

  • Promote Your Listings: Utilize eBay’s advertising tools to increase your listings’ visibility and attract more buyers.
  • Optimize Your Listings Regularly: Monitor search results and update keywords to stay ahead of the curve.
  • Build a Positive Seller Reputation: Every positive interaction adds up, leading to greater buyer trust and repeat business.
  • Stay Updated on eBay Policies: Regularly review eBay’s policies to ensure your listings and practices comply with the latest regulations.

Embrace the Journey!

Selling on eBay can be a rewarding and lucrative experience. With dedication, these valuable tips, and a commitment to exceptional customer service, you’ll be well on your way to conquering eBay in 2024!

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Table of Contents

How to Get Paid on eBay – FAQs
How to sell on eBay for beginners?

7 steps to sell on eBay for beginners in 2024:

Step 1: Create an eBay seller account

Step 2: Set up your eBay store

Step 3: Price your item competitively

Step 4: Create a listing on eBay

Step 5: Set up shipping options and speed

Step 6: Create your return and exchange policies 

Step 7: Go live!

When you sell your items on eBay, this marketplace keeps a portion of the sale. This final value fee is usually 13.25% of the sale price or lower (depending on your products’ category), plus $0.30 per order. Along with that, you’ll pay for listing upgrades, store subscription, and international selling fees (optional). 

Yes, we think it’s definitely worth selling on eBay. eBay is a great place to sell, you can sell both unwanted things around your house or brand-new products as well. Many eBay sellers have found success, and so can you. Especially if you only have some items to sell, you won’t have to pay for listings or additional fees.

When you start on eBay, you can create a free seller account and list your items on this marketplace. A free seller account means no fees to sell items on eBay. However, it’s kind of limited. As you grow your business, you can create a decent eBay store. A paid monthly subscription offers traffic and sales benefits.

There’s no one answer! Each type of E-marketplace has its own strengths and weaknesses and will be suitable for a certain store.  For example, eBay is much better when you’re selling handmade stuff. But Amazon will be a trusted brand with an enormous customer base so it’ll be better if you have a medium or large medium store.

Finding suppliers is super essential for eBay sellers because there are too many suppliers out there, and you need to know the fundamentals to be able to pick out the right supplier.

There are 3 types of suppliers:

  • Trading company: Focus on some specialized categories;
  • Wholesale company: Pretty much sells anything;
  • Manufacturer: More customized option.

The final decision lies with you, depending on your products and your needs. If you’re new to online selling, go with wholesalers, which can lower prices for a few goods. A manufacturer is the best if you need more handmade items with a large number. Alibaba is a recommended place to find whatever kind of seller you want to sell. 

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