How to Set Up an eBay Store & Auction

EBay is referred to as the number one auction site for buying and selling everything you can imagine. Many sellers choose to sell at auction only, while others opt to also open eBay stores. Items in stores remain on eBay in an inventory format for an extended length of time. Opening a Store is relatively easy to do and can be a lucrative source of income. Once your eBay store is up and running, you can easily start an eBay auction from your seller console.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera

Instructions

Setting Up a Store on eBay

1. Ensure you meet the store seller requirements to open an eBay store. Current requirements indicate you must have a verified Premier PayPal account, have a valid eBay seller's account, have a credit card on file (for billing), and at least have a Feedback score of 20, (or alternatively ID Verify.)

2. Sign into your EBay account and go to the eBay store set up page. One way is to hold your cursor over the "Sell" tab at the top right of the page, then choose "Seller Tools & eBay Stores." Look for the tab that says, "What's an eBay Store" tab and click on it.

3. Review store subscription levels and choose from the Basic Store, the Premium Store or the Anchor Store. Each include monthly subscription fees, inventory fees, insertion and final value fees. It is advisable to read though all of the materials including the "Subscriptions and Fees" before choosing a store level. Once you click on the store level, you will be prompted to add additional information until your store is opened.

4. Add inventory. Always start from the "Sell" tab on the top right of the page. Choose your category, and eventually choose your format. Choose "Store Inventory" format which items have a longer duration and lower overall insertion fees, or move to Step 5 to list the item at auction. They will remain in your store up to 30 days, but they do have less clout in search results.

5. List an item at auction when continuing from Step 4. Regular auctions start at a minimum bid price, and run for a length of time wherein buyers will win your item for the highest bid and are most common. Reserve auctions allow you to set a minimum selling price. Fixed price auctions use a "Buy it Now" feature which allows bidders to buy instantly. Rarely used are the Dutch Auctions, for multiples of the same item. Choose one of these types and move on.

6. Finish your auction description and add photographs. Descriptions should describe the condition of the item, size and other pertinent information. Photographs should show detail for optimum sales results. Finalize your listing (whether it be store inventory or auction format), and you are on your way to making eBay sales.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are going to be listing a lot of items or have chosen the Premium or Anchors store, you should use the "Turbo Lister"' program that is free from eBay and will help list your items much faster. To obtain this, click on "Help" at the top of the page, and type "Turbo Lister" into the search box. Review the information, requirements and download if applicable.

• EBay Store owners can very easily change items in their existing "inventory format" to an "auction format" or "fixed price format" with only a few simple steps. Click on the "Help" section at the top right of the page, and then search for "Changing Store Inventory listings to other formats" which will take you right to the official eBay tutorial of how to do this.

• Ensure you are making enough eBay sales to warrant opening a store. EBay suggests that you should be selling at least selling $100 in total sales, or 10 items a month in order to open a "Basic" level store. More information can be found on their "Subscriptions and Fees" page in the Selling area.

References

• EBay Seller Tools
• EBay Storefronts
• EBay Subscription Guide