Help Selling on Ebay - Richmond Va.
Hi, I live in Richmond, VA. I have no experience selling on eBay and could use some help. Thanks, Kevin
6 comments
Hi, I live in Richmond, VA. I have no experience selling on eBay and could use some help. Thanks, Kevin
ladydfunkyg
·1 year agoHi Kevin! I know this is a year later for your original post but I thought I would let you know that RVA now has a official eBay chapter. I am the chapter leader and we have now over 70 members. We meet in person once a month and have some very knowledgeable people in our group. Our next meeting is Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30. All meetings are free to attend, have plenty of food and drink, lots of eBay swag and raffle prizes.
RVA eBay Seller Meeting
This meeting is exceptional as eBay community team will be visiting RVA in person! Hope to meet you in the future! Danielle
wastingtime101
·2 years agoHere's some new seller info to help you out @tess1450 :
New sellers are targets for scammers that will make fake offers and try to get you to text or email them outside of eBay. Keep messaging on eBay and if you have any more questions come back and ask.
Getting started:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-started-selling
Selling limits:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-limits?id=4107
Payment holds for new sellers:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816
Selling fees:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822
General payments info:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold?id=4814
Optimizing listings:
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/listings/listing-best-practices
Shipping basics:
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping
monroe67
·2 years agoDon't assume anything. Learn everything you can. There is a link to eBay's User Agreement at the bottom of every page when you access eBay on a desktop or laptop computer. It is not written in "legalese" so it's generally easy to understand.
This forum is a good source of information, as well as the Buying, Shipping, Returns, and Payments forums. You will still have to use your own logic, because sometimes there are comments made here that are just plain wrong and/or show assumptions that don't match up with eBay's policies and procedures.
Good Luck !!
maxine*j
·2 years agoIt's hard to give specific advice without knowing what you intend to sell, but a few practical tips just off the top of my head:
Before you start selling, create a simple spreadsheet to track the info you'll need come income tax time. Do this on a computer or use a paper notebook, but do it. What to track? Well, assuming you're going to operate as a sole proprietor, study this Guide to Schedule C because it is better than most business courses you'd pay to take and it certainly beats all heck out of the dodgy YouTube business guides, and you'll learn what records to keep:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sc.pdf
Don't list anything that you cannot afford to lose.
eBay is not a place to make quick cash. Things take time to sell. Plus, new sellers have holds put on their payouts to protect both them and buyers from the new sellers' inexperience.
Understand the fees before listing. Remember that the Final Value Fee is based on the total sale to the buyer, for the item, the shipping (if separate) and any sales tax the buyer is charged. If you use Promoted Listings, understand how those additional fees will impact your bottom line.
Do not use the auction format. Use fixed price, immediate payment required, and do not entertain offers. (Once you have your feet under you you can try that format if you care to, but time-wasters and scammers target new sellers who use the auction format and the best offer option. so spare yourself.)
If you will be selling a variety of items, with a variety of weights and measurements, invest in a postal scale and a yardstick so the shipping costs can be accurately determined. Whether your buyer is paying shipping separately or you are rolling into the price and offering "free" shipping, you need to know the cost.
Don't list anything until you have the necessary packing materials on hand for it, so you can ship quickly after a sale.
Remember that the customer may not always be right but the customer is always treated as though he were right. If you ever encounter a buyer or potential buyer who is a jerk, an idiot, or a nasty person, you calm, professional, polite, and brief in your own responses. Happily, the great majority of people are honest and easy to deal with.
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ckimodog
·2 years ago@tess1450
Hi Kevin-
Make sure you have set your payment account up so that you can be paid for your sales. Also note as a new seller, eBay holds your money for up to 30 days to make sure the transaction goes positively & if the buyer initiates a return, the funds are there to refund the buyer.
You may want to enroll in the Ebay seller school as well. Here's the link to get you started:
https://academy.ebay.com/student/catalog/
This school will provide you with some insight about selling and how to become a trusted seller.
Also, Consider accepting returns when you sell. No returns does not mean no refunds. eBay offers a 30 money back guarantee for all buyers and stands firm on this.
There's lots more to learn about selling than I can provide. eBay is a learning experience as well as a selling experience. If you ever have questions, most of the people here on this forum are happy to help.
Good luck to you.
juki1146
·2 years agoHi Kevin,
Welcome to eBay selling! Start by creating an account, research items you want to sell, take clear photos, and create accurate listings. Set up payment and shipping preferences. Communicate transparently with buyers, monitor your listings, and familiarize yourself with eBay policies. If you have questions, feel free to ask.
Best,
juki1146