James GordonDo you run a business and sell your products online? Perhaps you’re simply decluttering and want to earn some spare cash from your old possessions? Whatever the situation, one of the best online platforms to sell products is undoubtedly eBay.
In operation since the 1990s, eBay has been the most popular online auction platform with millions of users. It is a fantastic platform for buyers to source second-hand discounts, rare products, and deals that cannot be found anywhere else. For sellers, it instantly opens the door to a large audience interested in what they have to offer.
However, selling on eBay isn’t something you can do haphazardly. Without the correct approach, you can miss out on sales or maximize your profit margins. To stop that from happening, here are some key mistakes to avoid when selling on eBay:
The lack of original photos
Say you’re selling a common item like a book or videogame. It is all too easy to take the quickest route and go with a stock photo of this item found on the internet.
However, it’s vital you avoid going down this route. Not only is it lazy and easy for potential customers to skip over your product listing, but it can also make people suspicious about scams.
With original photos, this shows buyers that you genuinely own the product you’re selling. Furthermore, you can share 12 images per eBay listing, which means you can capture it from every conceivable angle.
This is important if there are certain elements that require spotlighting, such as visible damage.
When taking these photos, avoid going down the amateur route. Admittedly, you don’t require a professional photo studio – particularly if you are only selling your personal possessions – but images have to be clear and captured in the right light.
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Limited details
Alongside these photos, a complete product listing is one that has an informative description. If your description is only a simple sentence, this is unlikely to contain the information customers are looking for about your product.
Now, this doesn’t have to be the size of a novel. You only require a paragraph or two and maybe a few bullet points to detail the key components of the product for sale.
However, this is necessary to explain the item’s function, its condition, where it comes from, and any other details a customer will find useful.
Setting the wrong price
You want to get the most money you can from the products you’re selling. That’s only natural. With that said, you have to avoid setting the item at too high a price. By doing this, nobody is going to bite – and your product will simply sit around.
One way to ensure your product is at the right price is by looking at past auctions. By seeing what the same product sold for recently, you get an idea about what people are willing to pay right now.
Setting the wrong price also goes the other way. While you would be right in assuming a low auction starting big will entice people in, this tactic can backfire.
This is particularly the case if you’re selling an uncommon and less desirable product with a reduced customer pool. This could result in your product going for a disappointing final price.
Paying too much on shipping
Shipping is, understandably, one of the biggest concerns for sellers on eBay. First of all, it can be confusing for people to figure out how much they should be charging customers for shipping.
This is problematic because if someone goes too high on the shipping costs, this will scare away potential bids. If they go too low, this could make it pointless to sell the product in the first place.
One way to avoid both potential scenarios is by paying less on sending your products out to customers. eBay shipping costs can be reduced significantly by using Shiply, and this eBay shipping platform is especially beneficial when selling large, bulky items that usually cost a bomb to deliver.
You can reduce shipping costs by up to 75%, which benefits both you and your customers.
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Avoiding the international market
Selling internationally on eBay can be confusing. You have to factor in different shipping requirements, customs, and the added possibility of your package being lost. However, the financial rewards potentially on the table mean you should never avoid the international market.
Did you know that eBay is currently available in 180 countries? If you’re only sticking to one of those 180 when selling, you are significantly reducing product reach.
This isn’t good if you are selling a rare, desirable product that will have people flocking to your listing from across the globe. By opening the door to an international audience, you can sign up for the profits gained from an auction listing.
James Gordon
