How to Find out if an Auction Item Will Sell on Ebay

You may be sitting on a gold mine and not even know it! With eBay, items in your home that you thought had little or no value could be worth a ton. No longer are you restricted to the "yard sale" to get rid of old items or presents you didn't want. Now you can sell them to the rest of the world on eBay! Here are a few tips to see if your item will sell.

Instructions

1. Get specific about your item. Check out the item that you were thinking of selling. What is the make and model number of it? What condition is it in? Is there anything unique about the item you wish to sell? The important thing about this step is being honest. If you are trying to sell an old baseball card, that you wish was in "mint" condition but truthfully you know it's just average, then that's how you have to look at it.

2. Surf the Web. Now that you've gotten specific about your item, search the Web for that same item to see if it's found on other sites or in other stores. If so, what is the price? Is that item in the other store in better or worse condition than yours? This will give you a ball park estimate of what your item might be worth when you try to sell it on eBay.

3. Go to eBay. Now that you've gotten a ballpark estimate in your head, go to the ultimate auction site, eBay! Type your item into the "search" box and see if any results return. Be specific in the search box down to the make and model number of the item. This will allow you to get an apples to apples comparison to other auctions.

4. Scan the results. eBay is so vast now that most of the time a duplicate item will be selling on the auction site. (If there isn't one, then refer to your previous research on other sites to gauge what the item is worth.) Pour over the results and see if you can find a duplicate item that is in about the same condition as yours. Scan the profile of the item to find specifics. Then see what that other seller is selling it for. Does the price seem fair to you given your previous research? If it does, then look to the "Bids" column. If there are bids on the item, then that means that the seller has priced that item fairly. If you list your item starting at a similar price with similar terms, you should most likely sell your item. Log on to the site, list it, sit back and wait to collect your money!

Tips & Warnings

• Always package your items well. It would be a shame to sell something on the site, package it poorly and have it arrive broken or damaged to your buyer. Don't be afraid to charge an adequate amount for shipping from the buyer. Most buyers will be happy to pay a few extra bucks to insure that their item arrives as described.