The eBay Seller's FAQ

Q: How do you know so much about eBay?

I am a former eBay employee and during that time I had many opportunities to speak with eBay Power Sellers, product managers, and category owners. I found out what works and what doesn't when buying and selling items on eBay.

Q: Which listing enhancements are really worth the money?

For the vast majority of listings, you really only need to choose one listing enhancement and that's Gallery. The Gallery picture allows eBay buyers to get an idea of what they are looking at before opening your listing. If you don't have a picture next to the listing, people are much less likely to open it.

Q: Are there any cases where I should not use the Gallery listing enhancement on my eBay auctions?

Yes. If you are selling a commodity item, such as a book, CD or DVD don't bother with a Gallery photo. Buyers already know what these items look like and seeing a thumbnail photo of the item won't hlpe them make their decision. These items will sell on price. Of course, if the item is rare or collectible, gallery should be used.

Q: Should I list my item on eBay or Craigslist?

If you are listing an item that is relatively easy to ship, you are usually better off listing on eBay. The sheer number of eBay members means that you will have many more potential buyers looking at your item. However, you should keep in mind that eBay charges listing fees. You need to be reasonably sure that your item will sell for enough money to make the transaction worthwhile after all your fees are paid. If you list the item with a gallery photo and you accept PayPal as a payment option (recommended), you can expect the fees to eat up about 10% of the total sale price including shipping.

In cases where you need to sell something bulky or heavy, say a couch, a refrigerator or a television, you are better off selling it on Craigslist. Craisglist caters to local transactions. That means you can simply instruct your buyer to pick up the item. This is very handy with heavy items which can often cost more to ship than they are worth. Craigslist is also free. This may sound like a huge advantage and sometimes it is, but keep in mind that your number of potential buyers will be dramatically reduced. You also need to be careful not to become a victim. Most Craigslist transactions take place face-to-face. That means there is a small risk that someone will try to steal the item from you or worse. Always keep your personal information, such as your address, private. Arrange to meet the buyer in a well-trafficked location and take someone with you. Require buyers to pay you in cash or via PayPal.

Q: Should I accept PayPal?

Accepting PayPal as a payment method is the easiest way to get your item sold. Savvy buyers often avoid items which do not accept PayPal. Like it or not, PayPal has become a symbol of trust on eBay. You may want to consider not accepting PayPal in cases where the amount of the transaction is expected to be low and your profit margin is very small. Some examples include things like books, movies and music. These items often sell for very little (sometimes as little as $0.99!) so you want to avoid fees as much as possible. Also, there is very little risk in accepting a personal check for $5.