Selling Items Online
If you have a few expensive items to sell, such as furniture or collectibles, consider selling those items online, using an online auction service such as eBay, Half.com, or Craigslist.
An online auction is just like a live auction: people bid on an object, which is sold to the highest bidder. A potential buyer participates by bidding on an item that a seller has listed. The person who has offered the highest bid at close of auction wins the right to purchase the item at that price.
Make sure you list your items under the appropriate category within the online auction site. eBay, for example, offers a variety of main categories and subcategories, such as antiques and art, clothing and accessories, dolls and bears, jewelry, and so on.
Can I get someone to sell my items online for me?
Sure! If selling your items online feels like too much of a headache, consider using a service, such as “Sell it on eBay,” that will price, list, and ship your items for you. These middlemen always take a commission, but you may not actually lose money because their experience helps them to get the best price.
When preparing a listing, have the following information available. Also keep in mind that many potential buyers will be less likely to want to purchase an item from you if you have not posted a digital photo of the item.
Title: Include a brief, thoughtful title that accurately describes the item you are selling. A title that's easy to understand will make your item easier for bidders to find.
Description: Describe the product in detail. The more detail you provide, the more confidence you'll inspire among the bidders.
Sales policies: Select the types of payment you're willing to accept. These could include cashier's checks, money orders, cash, personal checks, credit cards, or an online payment option such as PayPal. (PayPal is an ideal option because the cash will be available almost immediately, although you will have to create a PayPal account.)
Shipping options: Decide whether you or the buyer pays the shipping costs. Decide when the item will ship, either upon receipt of payment or immediately after the auction closes. You might also want to save yourself the hassle of shipping and say “pick-up only.” Local Web sites, such as Craigslist.org, are ideal for the pick-up-only option.
Quantity of item: If you have more than one of the same item, and you would like to sell each one individually (in which case there may be several buyers), consider listing each product separately.
Starting price: Enter the price that will be used to start the auction.
Length of auction: Determine how many days the auction will last.
It's also very important to be completely honest about any flaws or damage on any items you're trying to sell. If you attempt to gloss over any problems with the item, you may get a very unhappy buyer. This buyer might then post negative feedback next to your name on eBay, and you could lose credibility. A loss of credibility will negatively affect your future sales.
