How long will it take for me to get successful at this? What do I need to do to make this work

[reincarnated-treasures]

What is considered a successful eBay seller? I have been selling for 6 months and have 1,000 items in my store now. I sell between two and five items a week. I have worked at my descriptions, keywords , shipping prices ,added low price items. I have done promotion and have most things in my store on 30% to 20% sale. If not for putting the odd item on auction and getting an awesome winning bid .I would have been discouraged and given up. I am hoping to do this so that I can support myself. I watch resellers on YouTube all the time and they seem so successful and I just don't know if that happens with everyone? If anyone has any ideas for any helpful information, I would so appreciate it.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

A backgrounder burner would be your friend.  I like this one: 

https://www.photoroom.com/background-remover/

but there are many available.  Though in your clothing pics, I don't think the background burner would even work.  Too much clutter & that burgundy rug or whatever it is, is clashing badly with the clothes.  Also, many buyers don't like to see clothes on the floor.   If you MUST do it, lay down a white sheet first or try the background burner.  The one I put above is an excellent burner, but is going to have issues with some of your photos.  You want a dedicated, clutter free place to photograph that will have a white or other light neutral, solid background.   The leopard background is also clashing with your jewelry.   To me, it's your pics that need the most work.  Pay attn to shadows & flash.  You have a vase where the main photo has a bunch of flash glare, but your other photos don't, use one of the other photos.  The photo is the first thing that people notice, make it look good & highlight only the item for sale. 

Additionally, on clothes, you're selling mostly no name brands, which don't do well on eBay.  I also noticed that your Time & Tru item is $25, that's probably more than it was new, as T&T is Walmart brand.  

Other than that, I don't see any obvious issues, but it's not as easy as YTer's make it seem & your store has a mish mash of different items, so while there's nothing wrong with that, it's not going to get repeat business the way a store that focuses in one niche would.  

Also, use cosplay & renfair (check spelling), costume, steampunk KW's in your corset pattern - look at your competitor's listings, they are taking advantage of those KW's.   

You're doing well to start, it takes time & a lot of work & you must be selling items that people want.  I think improving your photos will help a lot. 

[cardsforauction]

Sell some of the same / similar items in lots.  People like getting more than one item at a good price in my opinion.

[inhawaii]

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@joseh1445 wrote:

It's trial and error.  You post stuff for sale.  If every one buys it.  You are doing amazing.  If no one buy's what you are selling its some thing that its slow selling.  That simple.  

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I couldn't agree with you more. 

[jamie19692014]

If your trying to be successful with eBay asyour outlet to sell and buy then you will be extremely disappointed.

they confuse ,lie cheat and steal from us.

we all need to find a better outlet than these new age bank robbers

[sakic92710]

I have been a seller on eBay since 2001.  I felt "successful" from 2001-2004 & from March 2020-July 2021.  The rest of it is a roller coaster ride.  Day-to-day; week-to-week.  2022 has been my worst year.  I've had a day when I sell $2,000.  I've had weeks when I sell $1400.  I've had plenty of months when I only sold $400.  Yet, in all of these years, I have never had any buyer pay more than $750 for anything.  Whenever I get a very value item, I've had to rely on local sales.  I suggest you try multiple sites.  You cannot only rely on eBay for an income.  You can temporarily but sales do not last.  Very few are lucky enough to have consistent sales all of the time.  Those that do usually have 1000s of listings & employees.  Best of luck to you!

[dhbookds]

I've just looked at a couple of your items........just some suggestions.......

On titles use the keywords first........

Picture Book Show Way Hardcover PLUSH DISNEY POOH

Show the Way HC J Woodson & Disney Pooh Plush   

Use author names in book listings........I don't think this book belongs in the antiquarian book category......

VINTAGE Angel Thinking Lladro porcelain figurine numbered 01004539

Lladro Angel thinking Angel Porcelain Figure #01 etc

Just looking at your prices (only on a few things) I kind of wonder what kind of research of solds you've done....that's one of the most important things.  This item seems overpriced from what I can see. 

I agree to use a solid background is important for most things.........

[collectfest]

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@discountitsolutionllc wrote:

Its tough lately to make profit off ebay because with the advance listing ad, Ebay MAKES money regardless of sales from seller, each click gives ebay more money.

Its tiring because sales is very slow. , it was very great in 2020/21

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I was wayyy better in 2000, LOL!!! There are a lot more sellers who sell modern or new items that I can get at big box store. I just don't understand how they make it although many do well. 

I never use advanced listing, tried other gimmicks (sale tools) a couple times, made no difference for me, for others they swear by them. I see how they may help if you're selling in competitive are like a popular phone etc. I pay a subscription to sell here, so if that's not good enough, I'll be let out to pasture. I want eBay, I don't need eBay.

I just keep learning what I can sell here to make a profit.

Honestly shipping fees have altered my sales more than anything. eBays just a small tool for me now. Use to be a huge one. Would love to do more here, it's a system I understand glitches and all.

[jewelbiz]

Rhetorical question…

You obviously know you made many sales this month…

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@fairdeal*lb wrote:

Did you enroll in eBays Pay-To-Play program otherwise known as Promoted Listings? Oh you did.. Might have to keep going up in %.. eBay pits sellers against each other.    

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Which is absolutely the right thing to do. That's how 'pay per click' has operated on Google, Bing etc. for over a decade. 

After all, there are over 50,000 "women size 7 black shoes"- how will YOU be on the first page?

[poptoys]

You've gotten some pretty good feedback in this thread overall. I would definitely encourage you to consider the pricing question. I don't know the specifics on your merchandise well, other than my general impression (seems shared by others) that some items are in categories with declining interest overall. In those cases, offering a really competitive price is your best bet for building sales. You need to make sure those sales are worth your efforts (cost of goods, time, etc), but keep in mind that more traffic on individual items will drive more traffic to your listings overall. So make the prices appealing to potential buyers. At this point in your selling experience, personally I would focus on generating more sales rather than maximizing each sale price.

Like others in this thread, I tend to prefer listing my items at a realistic sales price to start rather than the discount strategy. Some buyers really respond well to discounts, and will watch an item hoping it eventually gets discounted. But other buyers don't want to bother haggling and will simply skip over listings that don't seem like a great deal. 

[reincarnated-treasures]

What a difference ! I took off all sales. Did 15 % promotion e bay. I have had 18 (maybe more) sales in a week. A lot at the full price. I did put best offer on all items. I  went up to 20 %  to see what happens. Thinking it may be too soon to do this, or I may not need to raise it at all..  Did revise some prices. especially getting the shipping right. Will try to work on my pictures next. Thank you all !

[chapeau-noir]

@reincarnated-treasures   Glad things are working!  When you work on your photos - try not to crop them so closely - it actually makes it harder to see the item.  Also closer to a square frame works better both visually and across more devices.  The visual is very important because that's what first hits the eye. 

[esg-enterprises]

Not sure what advice I could give, but looks like you have some nice stuff.