How to Find Products to sell on eBay
Selling on eBay has become a popular way to earn extra cash or replace lost income. You can't sell everything on eBay; you have to obey their restrictions and other applicable laws. But you can sell many products on eBay, including books, tools, antiques. You can start by selling things you already own and don't need. You can also sell products you get for free or buy cheaply for resale.
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Instructions
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Sell new and used items you already own but don't need. Sell any items you possess in duplicate, such as electric can openers, electric screw drivers or small appliances. Also sell some or part of your collections, including music CDs, movie DVDs, handbags or decorative items. Search the kitchen, closets, attic and garage. Get rid of anything you store at a relative's house or at a paid storage facility.
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Get things for free from friends and relatives or from trash discards. Help your neighbor or relative clean the garage in return for items she doesn't need. If the laws in your community allow it, drive up and down the street on trash days to pick up items you can sell on eBay. Some helpful residents even put out a "free" sign. Unless you are willing to do repairs, select only items you can sell as-is or with cleaning.
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Shop yard sales for resale. Many Americans buy at such sales for their own use, but if you buy for resale, you need an extra-low price to make a profit later. Negotiate by making a bulk offer to buy a number of items. Or wait until late in the sale and ask for markdowns. If you see a large box of 25-cent or free items, look through it for special finds.
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Buy products for resale at thrift stores. To get the best prices, wait for buy-one-get-one-free days, 50 percent off sales or senior discounts, if you qualify. Look for quality brand-name items and for new merchandise in the box or with tags on. Shop for the products you know best, whether they are handbags, kitchenware or collectibles. You will get the best bargains when you know more than the employee doing the marking.
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Shop wholesalers for products to sell. Ask local shopkeepers where they buy. Or find wholesalers online at Wholesale Central. It lists wholesale vendors by category, including baby items, gifts, toys, shoes, holiday, office supplies and many other products you can resell on eBay.
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Tips & Warnings
Before you stock up on a particular type of product, buy a few and do a sales test run. If you can get the price you want, buy more.
Help buyers find your products by following eBay's listing practices carefully.
The rules on eBay prohibit selling counterfeit items and dangerous items such as weapons. Sales of some other products have restrictions. These include health care items, some artifacts and vehicles.
References
- CNN Money; Resellers Win in Economic Downturn; Jessica Dickler; September 2008
- eBay.com: Listing Practices
- "Living the Simple Life"; Elaine St. James; 1996
- Wholesale Central: Suppliers by Category
- eBay: Knowing the Rules for Sellers
Resources
- Photo Credit Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
