Top tips for eBay sellers

Posted on November 10, 2021

eBay is a great place to sell goods of all shapes, sizes, prices and anything else you can think of. It was created mostly with the idea for consumers to sell stuff they don’t need anymore. Over the years though eBay blossomed into a huge marketplace where you can still basically use it as a digital yard sale, but also use it as a merchant and build a business.

In fact, many online merchants do indeed have an eBay store alongside their other websites. It’s a practical additional channel to bring in more potential customers and increase sales. With that said, eBay has its specifics which you have to keep in mind when selling goods on the platform. For example, eBay delivery can be quite a hassle. So, here are some top tips for eBay sellers.

Do your research

Before you even create your eBay profile and store you should spend some time to do research. It’s very important to read the terms and conditions of eBay and make sure you are following the rules. eBay has strict policies about what you can sell and how to go about disputes or other issues.

Next, research the listings in the same categories you will sell goods in. See what the popular sellers are doing, how they have structured their profiles, the listings and so on. eBay has a lot of templates which are tailor-made for various goods and goals. You should use them as it will save you time and you will have a format which is already familiar to the eBay shoppers. This means it will be easier for them to find their way and sift through the needed information.

Mind the details

When you sell goods on eBay the small details can make a big difference. Obviously, this means to make a full, detailed listing for each item you sell. Write up the details about it, including current condition, any damages or imperfections and so on. Be as transparent as possible. Also note any additional details like shipping options or limitations, for example if you will not ship to a certain region or won’t accept a given method of payment and so on. Of course, do not forget about quality photos of the goods. None of this fuzzy, blurry malarkey anymore in the 2020s, please.

But the details continue outside the listing, too. Fill out your profile, too. Add as much as information as possible, especially if you are a merchant. Then you should add location, ways for customers to contact you and so on. All of this is important to build and retain their trust.

Check your prices

Pricing your goods can be quite the challenge. Obviously you want maximum profits, but you also want to be competitive and keep up both good, steady volume and revenue. Or if you are private user and just want to sell an old dining table – you want it gone fast.

Either way, choosing the right prices to attract customers is key. Naturally, you will first look at similar items and see the typical prices they go for. Depending on the condition of your item, you will choose the final price. eBay also gives you the options to have an auction and sell to the highest bidder or have a “Buy it now” price.

Shipping and handling

The way the goods will be delivered can be a deciding factor for many buyers. eBay delivery can be a challenge, especially if you’re not used to online selling. This is why you should research the options and decide whether you will only ship within the same country or internationally. The latter brings in more potential customers, but it can also be more of a hassle with taxes, fees, restrictions and other current events.

You should list all shipping options. It’s also OK to recommend a courier service. For example, if you’re in the UK, you could set up an eBay courier delivery partnership with to handle large items for local customers.

Also, when you write the weight of the item in the listing, note if this with the complete shipping packaging or not. It would be best if you can provide the final weight of the packaged item, as it will be much easier for buyers to calculate shipping fees.

Communicate with the buyer

eBay is great as it also allows potential and actual buyers to communicate with the sellers. The platform actually encourages that and a lot of users will indeed send you various questions before they ever place a bid on your listings. Sometimes it can get a bit irritating to answer the same questions over and over again, especially if you’ve already answered them within the listing for everyone to see.

Despite that, do take time to answer them. It goes a long way to build trust and increase your overall reputation. And when someone has won a listing, be sure to be available for additional questions. Sometimes things can go sideways during shipping and the buyer will return to you for help, so don’t neglect them.

Get that feedback

eBay has a feedback system where buyers can essentially score your service for each item they bought from you. And they can leave a detailed description of their interactions with you and the quality of the goods. All of this will be visible for everyone, so it’s vital that you do indeed be on your best behaviour and provide top service all the time.

Also, read the feedback. Even the positive reviews can tell you what you are doing wrong. People can write something like this: “great communication, great item, packaging was damaged” – so, improve the packaging. Users aren’t required to leave feedback, so do try and encourage them to do so.

Finally, learn to adapt and improve constantly. eBay evolves and all of its users and merchants also change. So, if you want to build a solid presence, you will have to always adapt and better your service.