eBay Selling - What Not to Sell on eBay - 5 Tips
1. Items That Cost Less Than $10
Doesn't everyone like a bargain? What a great idea. But items that sell for less than $10 on eBay have one big issue: Shipping costs.
It's quite likely that the shipping for the item will cost more than the item itself and this can be very off-putting to eBay buyers. For example, if the item costs $4.50 and shipping costs $6, the total cost for the item is $10.50.
If the shopper can acquire the item somewhere else, for $7 or less, then they
immediately have a more appealing offer. The best way to avoid this problem,
for small items and accessories, is by bundling similar items, for example 5
place mats or sets of 8 golf-balls.
2. Products sold by everyone else
Many sellers think that the best way to get started on eBay is to sell items that everyone else is selling. Surely those super hot items such as ipods, cell phones, psps and so on will be a quick route to riches? Well, no.
The sellers who are already selling these items are not only more established on eBay - and thus familiar to and trusted by buyers - but they will be able to buy wholesale stock in larger bulk and lots than you will, so their prices will always be better.
Thus it will almost certainly be very difficult for you to make a profit in a
market that is already well supplied.
3. Things you love...but no-one else does
Hobbies can be a good money spinner, but only if they are of interest to lots of other people.
Another scenario is when you find a product that you think is absolutely wonderful and could be the next best thing...but no-one seems interested in buying it. Oh well you think, it's only short term, eventually they'll learn about my item and start flocking to buy it. Ah, no they won't.
It's a friendless task attempting to inform the masses of the advantages of a
product all on your own. Its almost impossible to start a trend by yourself,
regardless of how remarkable the product might be. To show a profit from a trend,
magazines and newspapers, word of mouth and television are needed to carry out
some of the labor for you.
4. Shipping difficulties - e.g. fragile pottery and plants
Now I'm not saying that these are bad items to sell altogether. Many eBay sellers do very well from these items. But I don't suggest you sell such difficult items when you are first starting out.
These items of merchandise both carry an above-average shipping risk, which is
increased with inappropriate packaging. You receiving any negative feedback,
as a newbie on eBay, could be particularly harmful to your career, especially
at this early stage.
5. Items of significant bulk
You think that you can start your eBay career with tanning beds or organs? Unless you are familiar with the logistics of selling and transporting such products I would advise you to start with smaller items.
Shipping such large items is a major operation. Not only that, these items will sell less often than mid-priced items as they won't attract the same number of impulse buyers.
About the Author:
by Alan Johnson
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Comments (0) 14.09.2009. 00:12