Sometimes it’s not that easy to find the money for all the adventures you want to have, so I’m writing a series about the ways I find the extra dough!
This time I’m sharing some advice about eBay because I just listed a bunch of things myself.
How Much Can You Make?
I think last year I managed to get £500 or so just for selling stuff I didn’t need any more. Some were bigger ticket items (old iPhones and iPads) and some cheaper, more obscure items. How much you can make all depends on what you have to sell.
Some people make money buying things for cheap on eBay and then selling on at a profit. I prefer to just get rid of my old junk.
How Easy Is It?
Super easy! If you have an iPhone, the app is ace – just find a similar item on eBay, tap ‘list similar item’, edit the details and add photos straight from your phone camera. Job done!
Plus, you can list up to 20 items a month for free!
What Sells Well On eBay?
I’ve sold a whole range of stuff on eBay. Here’s my list of things that have worked well for me.
Handbags
I started selling on eBay with a whole bunch of handbags. For some reason I now can’t fathom, teenage me required a different handbag for every single outfit.
The bags got packed in a box when my parents sold their house. Then that box sat in my garage for a few years before I decided to get rid.
I listed the 20 bags on eBay and they sold for £5-10 a pop. They weren’t designer by any means and I’m sure some sold for more than I paid for them when I was 18. Win!
Glasses and Sunglasses
For sunglasses, pick your time of year and sell at the start of summer. Branded ones have fetched me £20-30 at least. Even if they were a little scratched. (That’s fine by the way as long as you’re honest about it in the description.)
Don’t forget your old specs either! Glasses are expensive and people will pay quite a bit for them on eBay. If they’re a designer brand, so much the better.
No worries if the lenses are scratched – the buyer will replace them anyway.
Branded Clothes
Clothes are a bit hit and miss. You won’t get a whole lot for your H&M tshirts but if there’s a Ted Baker label you should get a sale.
Shoes
Shoes always seem to sell well no matter what state they are in! I sold a pair of absolutely battered French Connection pumps for a tenner. Non branded shoes work just as well!
Accessories
Any dress jewellery, scarves, belts, watches etc. sell pretty well. You might only get a few quid for unbranded ones but hey – it all adds up!
Make-up (Unopened, of course)
Normally I only list make-up that I got free and don’t want. But it sells well. Even tiny free samples!
Old Tech (even if you think it’s obsolete)
Any old technology sells well on eBay and will probably get you more money than you expect. Even if it no longer works.
I don’t know what people do with it and I don’t care much – it adds up for that next adventure!
iPhone and iPad cases sell well too. Yep, even the really scuffed ones!
Anything With A Cat On It!
Ok, bit random. But true. Anything with a cat on it.
Just stick it in the ‘cat collectibles’ category and your cardboard cat bookmark with fetch you at least £1. Got something fancier than that? You will be pleasantly surprised!
Tips
Sell Anything You Got For Free
I recently bought some new GHD hair straighteners and there was an offer to get a free gift set worth £40.
I didn’t really want the gift set but I thought I could make some money from it on eBay!
Split Things Up To Get More Money
Still on the GHD gift set… it contained two hair products, a paddle brush, and a make-up bag.
I looked up the individual items on the GHD website. They would cost over £60 if somebody purchased all of those items individually on the official GHD website.
So, rather than selling as a set, I’ve listed the items individually on eBay at half of their RRP. I have bids on them already.
This also works well for things like sunglasses and the case they came in – especially if both are labelled with a popular brand.
List For 10 Days
Listing for the maximum amount of time (10 days) is a good idea because it gives more people a chance to find what you’re selling.
A lot of people say that ending the auction on a Sunday is best, but I’ve never found that the day makes much difference.
I prefer to end auctions a few days before the weekend. This gives the buyers a chance to pay before Saturday morning, when I usually walk to the post office.
Upload Good Quality Photos
You don’t have to be a professional photographer – iPhone photos are just fine.
But do make sure you take the photos in good light (near a window, out of direct sunlight). Make sure the details are in focus. And minimise the background complexity (nobody needs to see your messy living room, right?).
Try to think “What would I want to see if I were searching for this item?”.
Reuse Packaging From Anything You Order Online
There’s only so many Jiffy Bags you can ‘borrow’ from work. Save the packaging that anything you order online arrives in and you’ll save yourself having to buy envelopes and bubble wrap.
Get A Postage Receipt
I’ve never needed the proof of postage receipts that I insist on asking for, but you never know. If your parcel doesn’t arrive with the buyer you’ll want proof that you sent it – especially if the item was expensive!
Is There A Downside?
Is there a downside? No, not really.
I guess it’s a bit of a chore gathering things to sell, taking the photos and filling in the descriptions in the eBay app. But the return you get is definitely worth it. Just set aside an hour this weekend and see what you can do!
What do you think? Do you have any other eBay selling tips? Comment below to let me know!