Things You'll Need:
- An eBay account
- A good thrift store that sells items that are of collectible or historical interest
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Step 1
Shop first, but don't buy a lot of items on your first trip to the thrift store.
Look for a few items that are worth a lot more than the thrift store sticker price. These items could be very nice clothes from designer brands, designer accessories, sports equipment in good condition, or vintage, valuable electronics. If you buy commonplace items, you probably won't be able to sell them for a profit. One way to practice is to make a list of items you would buy. Write down the names of the items you'd like to buy, but don't buy them. Then, when you get home, check the recently sold prices of similar items on Ebay. The recently sold prices will help you see if you would have made a worthwhile profit if you had purchased the items and resold them on Ebay. -
Step 2
With a few good items, start selling on Ebay.
You should only sell items where you are guaranteed to make at least $10 profit per item when you start out. Otherwise, you'll likely get discouraged. -
Step 3
Make sure you have good feedback.
If you have little feedback, or negative feedback, people will be less likely to buy from you. This is especially true if you are trying to sell high value items. -
Step 4
Sell items with some value.
When you first start out, your items should be easy to ship inexpensively, and less then $100. This will build the confidence of your bidders. They should have some value, and should sell at least for $20 each. -
Step 5
Don't bother competing with similar sellers at first.
People will find your items through search terms, not by perceiving you as a brand. This is especially true when you first start out or if you are selling items not similar to each other. -
Step 6
Find a niche.
If you are making a profit reselling one type of item, find similar items to sell. Then, people who buy one of your items are likely to buy a second and combine shipping. -
Step 7
Answer people's e-mails.
Ebay is time intensive. Answer people's questions right away. List items when you know you will be available to deal with the Ebay system. -
Step 8
Ship promptly.
Shipping promptly will give you good feedback and satisfy the person who purchased the item. An Ebay item should ship within 3 business days. -
Step 9
Leave positive feedback.
Never leave negative feedback to a buyer unless they have left you feedback first. If you leave negative feedback before the buyer leaves you feedback, there is a close to 100 percent chance they will leave negative feedback in return and ruin your reputation as a fledging seller.
