How to Sell Other People's Products Online

Whether someone is selling a pair of sneakers, a chewing gum wrapper, an old newspaper, or an expensive painting, someone is always willing to buy. Online shopping has boomed recently as Nielsen says that more than 875 million consumers have shopped online, up 40 percent in two years. Selling other people's items online can be a good source of supplementary income and can lead to a full-time business if you shop around at auctions, yard sales, flea markets, or estate sales.

Things You'll Need

• Website or Account for Web store such as Ebay
• Quickbooks (optional for your own record keeping)
• Digital camera

Instructions

1. Gather all the information you can about a product you are selling. For example, if the item is a vehicle, find out previous owners, what condition it is currently in, make, model, year, if it is a rare item, and history of the vehicle. Anything you sell needs to have an accurate bio attached to it. Customers want information in lieu of being able to physically touch the items before purchasing them.

2. Capture photos of the item. Make sure you take pictures of the entire product from all angles. If there are imperfections, include them. Let the prospective buyers know of any flaws. Make sure the lighting is sufficient and take close-up and distant photos. Remember, customers won't actually see the item until it is shipped to them. Upload the pictures onto your computer and edit the pictures if needed before placing them up for viewing.

3. Join online auctions or stores such as eBay, Amazon, Sell, or iOffer. Customers view your auctions through quick searches. They can view pictures, information, price, shipping options, and your rules and regulations. Once you set up an account you should join PayPal. PayPal is a safe and secure money exchange site. Most online auctions deal through the PayPal site, so it would be recommended to join to maximize profits. You can start a PayPal account for you and the person you are selling for as you can transfer payments from your account to the other person's account, keeping the agreed-upon seller fees for yourself.

4. Once you have joined the auctions of your choice, start uploading the pictures of your items, begin creating bios for the products, and setting up a beginning bid and the shipping and handling costs of each individual item. Have the person you are selling for agree to a price and you can add an amount to that for your finder's fee -- or agree on a set price for each item beforehand.

5. Communication is often the difference between a sale and just a browser. Learn about the product for yourself without relying on the person who is wanting you to sell it for them. If a potential customer has a question about an item, be prompt and clear with your answer; trying to find your partner to find the answer can take you awhile and the customer may think you are avoiding them if you take too long. Always be friendly -- greeting the customer and giving a direct answer will go a long way in the selling of your products.

Tips & Warnings

• Brighten ads with cheerful lettering and pictures. The customer must feel comfortable buying from you, especially if you are new to a site. Include shipping charges into the price so you can advertise "free" shipping. This entices customers. Free is an effective target word. Keep track of all records either on your computer or in a program like Quickbooks. Create a paper trail whenever possible.

• Always remember to write up a contract between you and the holder of the items you are selling. Agree to payments and the plans for the auctions.

References

• EBAY

Resources

• Skip McGrath Auctions
• PayPal
• Amazon