Computers & Technology
Buying & Selling on eBay
New to the auction block?
More than 275 million users can’t be wrong: whether you’re buying stamps from
dealers in Budapest or selling figurines to collectors in Baton Rouge, eBay makes it
a snap. Before the bidding starts, teach yourself to:
• Understand the online auction process and eBay’s feedback system
• Search for, bid on, and win items at bargain-basement prices
• Create effective eBay listings to sell your own items quickly and at a profit
What’s eBay?
The first and largest auction website, eBay is known as the “world’s online marketplace.”
By eliminating the middleman it has revolutionized the way people can buy and sell almost
anything. eBay has more than 275 million registered users and offers millions of items at any
given time—over two billion auction listings per year. These auctions offer:
• New and used everyday products (from garage sale-type items to brand new HDTVs)
• Services (expert advice, graphic design, printing, and contract work of all kinds)
• Real estate, boats, cars, and trucks
You can browse any of these listings for free anytime on eBay’s website, www.ebay.com.
Though eBay organizes items by category, most buyers use eBay’s powerful search tools
to scan the site’s inventory quickly. eBay never touches any of the auction merchandise;
sellers ship items directly to buyers.
What’s an Online Auction?
An auction is a public sale in which merchandise is sold to the highest bidder. Online auc-
tions are auctions in which buyers and sellers are connected “virtually” via the internet.
Once an auctioned item is sold, the seller delivers it via mail to the highest bidder. A typical
online auction works as follows:
1. The seller posts a listing of the item that includes a description and, often, photos.
2. Bidding opens at a price that the seller sets and continues for 1–10 days.
3. Buyers view the listing and either bid or contact the seller via email if they have
questions about the item before bidding.
4. When the listing ends, the buyer with the highest bid wins the item.
5. Once payment is received, the seller ships the item to the winning bidder.
Types of eBay Listings and Auctions
Though eBay allows its users to buy and sell using standard auctions, it also provides a
number of variations beyond the traditional auction-style listing. Some of these options are
variations on a typical auction; others aren’t auctions at all. The following table lists com-
mon ways to buy and sell on eBay.
Type of Listing Description
Online Auction A sellers lists an item, and buyers make bids on it. Seller decides
how long the auction will run. When the auction ends, the highest
bidder wins. Seller may choose to add Buy It Now, a feature that
allows him or her to name a price at which a buyer may purchase
the item without having to bid. A buyer can end the auction early
by paying the Buy It Now price.
Fixed Price In Fixed Price listings, the seller names the price, which allows a
buyer to purchase the product immediately. The buyer doesn’t bid;
rather, he or she buys the item at the price named by the seller.
Sellers can also add a Best Offer option so that buyers may make
them an offer.
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Best Offer This feature allows a seller to solicit offers from buyers and accept
or reject them at his or her choosing. Sellers may choose to include
the Best Offer option in Fixed Price or Store Inventory listings.
Store Inventory Store Inventory is similar to Fixed Price. A seller who chooses this
option sells his or her item at a certain price. Buyers don’t bid:
they buy by paying the fixed price. Store Inventory listings are less
visible than Online Auction and Fixed Price listings. They also
last for longer: either 30 days or indefinitely, with automatic fees
charged every month until the seller takes down the listing.
Classified Ad A seller lists an item and may respond to any potential buyers he
or she likes. Buyers may talk to sellers without being required to
buy the item listed. Classified Ad listings last either for 30 days or
indefinitely.
eBay Membership
To buy or sell on eBay, you need to register (it’s free). To register, look for the Register link
at the top of every eBay web page. When you register, eBay asks for the following:
• Contact information: eBay will ask for your address, email address, and so on.
• User ID: You’ll be asked to choose a User ID for yourself. When selecting an ID, it’s a
good idea to use words related to your hobbies or the items you intend to buy or sell
on eBay. Avoid using your full name in order to protect your privacy. If you decide later
to change your user ID, eBay will let you do so, but will impose some restrictions to
prevent fraud that could result from frequent user ID modifications.
• Password: Choose a password to ensure no one but you uses your account.
• Credit card number: Depending on the type of email address you use to register, you
may be asked to place a credit card number on file. Your card won’t be charged.
When you finish registering, eBay will email you instructions for confirming your registration.
Once you’re a member, you’ll have to log in to your eBay account to buy and sell.
eBay Costs
Registering, browsing, bidding, and buying are all free on eBay. Buyers pay sellers directly
for the items they win, as well as for shipping charges. Sellers, in turn, pay eBay a variety of
fees for the opportunity to offer and sell their wares on eBay (see Seller Fees).
eBay Help
If you need help while using eBay, the best place to look for the information you need is the
eBay help page, located at http://pages.ebay.com/help/index.html. Just click the Help link
in the top right corner of any eBay page.
eBay Feedback
The eBay feedback system is crucial to your success as a buyer and seller. Feedback allows
eBay members you’ve sold to and bought from to comment on your reliability as a buyer or
seller. The feedback you receive establishes your reputation on eBay, which affects other
members’ willingness to buy from or sell to you. Sellers like to sell to buyers with high feed-
back ratings, and buyers prefer to buy from sellers with high feedback ratings.
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How eBay Feedback Works
After each transaction, the buyer and seller have the oppor-
tunity to leave feedback about each other’s conduct, though
starting in May 2008, sellers are only permitted to leave posi-
tive feedback for buyers. Here’s how eBay feedback works:
• Giving feedback: After the auction ends, buyers and
sellers have the option to leave feedback that consists
of an overall rating (positive, negative, or neutral)
and a brief comment. Sellers can only leave positive
feedback for buyers.
• Feedback scores: A positive rating adds 1 to your
overall feedback score, while a negative rating
subtracts 1. A neutral rating doesn’t change your score.
• Feedback score display: Your feedback score
appears in parentheses next to your user ID. The user
ID appears whenever a user sells or bids on items. For
example, a user with the ID orchidluvr65 (200 )
has received positive feedback from at least 200 other
eBay members. Stars indicate eBay members who have
achieved certain feedback milestones. For instance,
users with feedback scores of 100–499 have turquoise
stars next to their feedback scores.
• Positive feedback percentage: A percentage
displayed in the Meet the Seller Box at the upper right
corner of all listings shows the positive feedback that
an eBay seller has received (see How to Look at eBay
Listings). A percentage over 98% is considered good—
anything less is suspect.
How to Check Feedback
You can check your Feedback Profile page (click on Feedback
under My Account) to review and respond to feedback left
about you. You cannot change or delete any feedback you
receive, though if both parties agree, negative feedback can
be mutually withdrawn. Because feedback is permanent,
it’s important to keep your comments fair and factual.
How to Get Positive Feedback
To ensure positive feedback, follow a few key guidelines:
When Selling
• Describe your item as honestly as possible.
• Use photos that accurately depict the item up for bid.
• Pack the items you ship carefully, using cushioning
materials such as Styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap.
When Buying
• Pay promptly.
• Let the seller know exactly when to expect payment.
• Leave positive feedback for sellers immediately upon
receipt of your item in good condition.
How to Use My eBay
My eBay is an eBay feature that allows you to manage your
eBay buying and selling activity, correspondence, and ac-
count information from a single location. You can access
the My eBay page by clicking on the My eBay link at the top
of almost every eBay page, just to the right of the links for
Buy and Sell.
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reliance upon our charts and the information found therein.
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My eBay Features
My eBay’s core features include:
• My Summary: Displays the status of all your buying
and selling activities.
• All Buying: Follow your bids, purchases, and the
items you’re currently watching (see How to Look at
eBay Listings).
• All Selling: Track your listings, unsold items, and
sales. Receive reminders about actions required to
complete sales.
• My Messages: This contains email communication
from eBay management and from other eBay members,
including buyers and sellers with whom you’re doing
business.
• Favorites: Select and view favorite categories,
searches, eBay sellers, and eBay stores.
• My Account: Manage your personal information, eBay
preferences, feedback, seller account, and PayPal
account (see After the Auction Ends).
How to Find Items on eBay
Buying items on eBay is like attending thousands of swap
meets, garage sales, estate auctions, and retail stores
virtually all at once. Though this can be thrilling, it can also
be daunting because eBay offers millions of items for sale
at any given moment. Fortunately, eBay provides several
effective ways to for you to find just what you’re looking for
among all these listings.
How to Browse eBay
By browsing through eBay’s few dozen major categories of
items, you can shop for things that interest you just as you
would at a conventional store.
The best place to start browsing is on the Browse page,
which you can find by clicking on Buy at the top of almost
any eBay page. The Browse page enables you to search by
category, featured item, or popular eBay store.
• Category: To browse by major category (stamps,
coins, clothing, art, and so on), click on any category
or subcategory that interests you on the Browse page.
Many of eBay’s major categories are also accessible
directly from the long list of links on the left-hand side
of the site’s home page.
• Featured items: On the right-hand side of the Browse
page is a Featured Items box. Sellers pay additional
fees to have their items classified as “featured items.”
These listings often include especially interesting or
valuable items.
• eBay stores: eBay Stores are often run by experi­
enced, often specialized, high-volume eBay sellers or
individuals who have a full- or part-time business on
eBay. These merchants, classified as PowerSellers
once they hit certain sales volume benchmarks, set up
storefronts that allow you to search exclusively within
their listings. You can browse eBay stores by clicking on
the eBay Stores link in the Other Ways to Browse box at
the bottom of the Browse page.
Buying & Selling on eBay
How to Search
If you know exactly what you’re looking for on eBay, search-
ing is the best way to find it. The main Search box is located
near the top left of most eBay pages. To search, enter two
or three keywords that describe the item, then click the
Search button.
Keywords aren’t case sensitive, so “CD” and “cd” yield
the same results. But correct spelling does matter, so be
precise. If you do misspell a word, eBay’s software may try
to suggest the correct word and search for that instead.
For general keyword searches, think of the various ways
sellers may have listed their items and try different searches
for each. If you’re looking for a specific type of shirt, you
might try substituting “blouse” or “top” for “shirt” in subse-
quent searches. The more specific your keywords, the more
specific the results. A search for “Harry Potter” might yield
about 10,000 results, but a search for “Harry Potter pen”
might yield as few as 15.
How to Use Advanced Search
Advanced search helps you focus and improve your search
results by allowing you to specify various parameters of
your search. With advanced search, you can search by:
• Bidder
• Category
• Completed listings (listings with completed auctions)
• Country or region
• Currency
• Gift item (suitable for gift giving)
• ISBN (enter without hyphens in the keyword box)
• Item number
• Keyword
• Seller
• ZIP/postal code
You can access advanced search by clicking on the
Advanced Search link to the right of the Search button at the
top of most eBay pages. You must be a registered user and
be logged in to use advanced search.
How to Refine eBay Search Results
While searching or browsing within a specific product cat-
egory, you may spot an item that interests you. In that case,
click on the item’s title—a hyperlink—to go to its listing
page (see How to Look at eBay Listings).
If your search doesn’t yield the results you expected, you
can refine your search by sorting or filtering.
Sorting
Sorting rearranges the information in your search results
according to priorities that you choose. The number of
results remains the same, but the information is listed in a
different order. To sort, select the Sort By pull-down menu
at the upper right of the search results list. You can sort the
items in your list based on the following conditions:
• Ending soonest (the auction closest to ending)
• Newly listed
• Price: highest first
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MIB Mint in box

• Price: lowest first
• Distance: nearest first
• Country/Region
If you select price: lowest first from the pull-down menu,
your search results will show the cheapest items on top.
Filtering
When you filter your results, you modify the search criteria
and repeat the search, making your new results more spe-
cific. The simplest way to filter is to select a filter from the
Search Options box (to the left of the results list) and press
the Show Items button. eBay will then repeat your search
and provide filtered results. Helpful filters include:
• Location of seller
• Whether the seller accepts PayPal
• Whether the seller offers Buy It Now
• Listings that end within a specified time period
• Listings currently priced within a specified range
How to Save Searches
You can save time by adding frequently performed searches
to your Favorite Searches page. You can save up to 100
Favorite Searches. To save a Favorite Search:
1. Run a basic search or advanced search.
2. Once your results appear, click the Save This Search
link located above and to the right of your search
results. You’ll be taken to a page where you can specify
your preferences and name your search.
3. When finished, click the Save button.
Saved Search Notification by Email
When saving a Favorite Search, you can choose to have
new search results sent to you by email. With this option,
eBay will automatically run your favorite search each day
and send you emails with links to up to 20 items that meet
your search criteria. This is a great way to find out about new
listings for specific types of items you collect or search for
often without having to return to the eBay site.
How to Look at eBay Listings
If while browsing or searching (see How to Find Items on
eBay) you find an item catches your interest, click on its
title and you’ll be taken to its listing page. The listing page
includes the information you need to decide if you’d like to
bid on the item.
MNB Mint no box
MO Money order
NBW Never been worn
NC No cover
NIB New in box
NM Near mint (condition)
NR No reserve
NWT New with tags
VHTF Very hard to find
Considering Whether You Want to Buy
When deciding whether to bid on an item, remember to:
1. Learn about the item: Is information about shipping,
insurance, and payment options clearly stated?
2. Check the seller's feedback: Click the number in
parentheses after the seller’s user ID to find out what
other buyers have said about this seller.
3. Know the item's value: Compare your item to similar
items already sold on eBay by doing a completed
listings search. Check prices at online stores that sell
similar merchandise.
4. Contact the seller with questions: Always contact
the seller before you bid. Click on Ask Seller a Question
on the item listing page. The seller will receive an email
with your question and your email address.
Based on the shipping options, the seller’s feedback, the
current status of the auction, and any emails you exchange
with the seller, you may at this point decide to do one of
three things:
1. Bid on the item: For details how to bid on an eBay
item, see How to Bid and Win on eBay.
2. Not bid on the item: You can continue to search for
an item that’s more to your liking.
3. Watch the item: If you’re interested but not ready
to bid, you can track the item’s status throughout the
duration of the auction. To do so, click on the Watch
This Item link. Items you’re watching will be displayed
on your My eBay page (see My eBay). You’ll receive an
email alert when any of the auctions you’re watching
nears its close.
current bid price
How to Bid and Win on eBay
Once you’ve found an item you want that’s being sold by
a seller with good feedback scores, it’s time to think about
bidding on, and winning, the item. Be aware that placing
a bid is equivalent to signing a contract with the seller, so
when you bid you’re committing to pay the amount you
specify if you win the auction.
How eBay Bidding Works
eBay auctions use a system called proxy bidding, which
is a bit complicated at first glance. In proxy bidding, you
enter the maximum amount you’d be willing to pay for the
item. This amount is revealed neither to other bidders nor
to the seller.
Depending on how other eBay members bid on the item
in question, eBay’s software bids for you automatically in
bid increments up to your maximum bid amount. The bid
increment is the amount by which eBay raises your bid any-
time your current bid is outbid by another potential buyer.
The precise increment is determined by the current high
bid—the higher the bid, the higher the bid increment. For
instance, when the high bid is $25.00–$99.99, the bid incre-
ment is $1.00; when the high bid is $250.00–$499.99, the bid
increment is $5.00.
If another bidder surpasses your current maximum bid,
you’ll receive an email from eBay indicating that you’ve
been outbid. You can then enter a new maximum bid to
remain in the running to win the auction, or do nothing,
which effectively cancels your bid. You’ll win nothing and
owe nothing. When the listing auction closes, you can either
win or lose.
1. You win if: No other bidder has entered a higher
maximum bid. (To win a reserve price auction, you
must have the highest bid and meet or exceed the
reserve price.) If two bidders have the same maximum
bid, the bidder who bid first wins.
2. You lose if: Another bidder has a higher maximum bid.
seller’s user ID

• A written description and specs about the item

• Photos (almost all listings for goods include photos)
• Shipping costs and related information, such as how
and to where the item can be shipped
• Day and time at which bidding on the item closes
• Number of bids already placed on the item
• Amount of the current high bid
• Whether the Buy It Now option is available
• Payment methods that the seller accepts
• Seller’s user ID
• Seller’s feedback score and positive feedback
percentage (see eBay Feedback)

eBay Acronyms
eBay sellers use a variety of common acronyms to com-
press the language in their listing titles, including some of
the following. seller’s
seller’s
feedback
where feedback
Acronym Meaning percentage
photo of description of to place score
BIN Buy It Now the item click to see item up for bid time a bid
up for bid who else has remaining
GU Gently used
bid so far until auction ends
LE Limited edition
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An eBay Auction Example
The best way to clarify eBay’s proxy bidding system is
through an example: in this case, a vintage Pez dispenser
listed with a starting bid of $30 and no reserve price.
1. Bob bids: Bob sees the listing and bids a maximum
of $50 for the item. eBay sends Bob an email notifying
him that he’s the high bidder, and the Pez dispenser’s
listing page updates to show that Bob is the high bidder
and the current bid amount is $30. eBay knows that
Bob is willing to go as high as $50 to win the item,
but because there are currently no other bids, if the
auction ended now Bob would win for just $30.
2. Coco bids: A few hours before the auction ends, Coco
decides she would like to buy the Pez dispenser. She
sees Bob’s bid for $30 and bids $40. When she clicks
to confirm the bid, eBay immediately tells her that she
isn’t the high bidder (because Bob’s initial bid was $50).
On the listing page, Bob’s high bid jumps to $41—
rising to match Coco’s bid, plus the $1 bid increment.
3. Coco bids again: Coco now bids $60. The listing page
updates to make Coco the high bidder at $51. eBay
sends Coco an email notifying her of her high-bidder
status and Bob an email telling him he’s been outbid.
4. Bob rebids: Bob sees that the new high bid is $51 and
bids $60. Because his bid doesn’t exceed Coco’s bid by
the necessary $1 bid increment, eBay immediately tells
Bob that he has still been outbid. On the listing page,
Coco’s high bid jumps to $60 because that’s the bid
needed to beat Bob’s most recent bid. Bob gives up.
5. Amy snipes: All this time, Amy has watched the
bidding develop but has not bid herself. Then in the last
minute before the auction closes, she snipes (places a
last-second bid) for $100. She becomes high bidder at
$61 ($1 higher than Coco’s max bid). The auction ends
before Coco can respond. Amy wins the Pez dispenser
for $61, an amount far less than her maximum bid.
Before You Bid on an Item
Before you bid, there are a few issues to consider:
1. What you’re willing to pay: Consider how much you
want the item, how difficult it might be to find another
one, and how soon you need it.
2. If it’s the item you want: Don’t bid on similar items
from different sellers unless you intend to purchase all
of the items you might win.
3. Buy It Now: If your auction includes a Buy It Now
option, consider paying the Buy It Now price. That will
guarantee that you win the item and also means you
won’t have to wait for the auction to end.
How to Make Your Bid
When you’re ready to bid, follow these steps:
1. Enter your maximum bid in the space provided and
click the Place Bid button.
2. You’ll be asked to confirm your bid: this is a great time
to check for misplaced decimals.
3. If all is well, click the Confirm Bid button. You’ve now
placed a bid.
How to Bid with Sniping Software
All bids placed before an eBay listing ends are valid—even if
placed by software seconds before the listing ends. Sniping
software allows eBay bidders to snipe even more effec-
tively. Sniping software provides:
1. Convenience: If you’ve set sniping software to bid for
you, you’re not going to have to sit at your computer
monitoring every auction you’re interested in.
2. Precision: Sniping software sends in your bid so close
to the wire that if your bid ends up being the high bid,
no one else will have time to try to outbid you.
The use of sniping software often results in auctions in
which the high bid jumps dramatically in the final seconds.
Many newcomers to eBay are disappointed when an auction
they thought they were about to win suddenly is won by
someone else using sniping software. To beat sniping soft-
ware, you usually have to use sniping software yourself.
Types of Sniping Software
Though dozens of websites offer cheap sniping software
that runs off your local computer, the best services are web
based. Web-based sniping services are fast and reliable; if
you use computer-based sniping software, your snipe may
not always get in before the auction ends. Two of the most
popular online sniping services are the websites www.
esnipe.com and www.auctionsniper.com.
After the Auction Ends
Only one person can win the auction for each listed item.
Here’s what to do when you win and when you lose.
If You Lose the Auction
When a listing ends, eBay sends an email to all losing bid-
ders to inform them that they didn’t win the item. It also
provides a list of active auctions offering items similar to
the one they lost.
In some cases, a seller can make a Second Chance Offer
to a losing bidder. A Second Chance Offer lets you use Buy
It Now to purchase an item you didn’t win with your original
bid. The seller may make this offer if:
• The winning bidder in an auction fails to buy the item
• An auction ends without meeting the reserve price
• The seller has a duplicate item for sale
If You Win
If you’re the highest bidder of a completed auction, you will
receive an email confirmation of your victory from eBay, as
well as an auto-generated invoice on behalf of the seller.
Both the confirmation email and the invoice will contain the
seller’s contact information and a Pay Now button.
Once you receive these emails, you should contact the
seller to confirm details on shipping and any other fees.
eBay rules state that buyers and sellers should contact
each other within three business days after a listing ends.
When those details are squared away, it’s time to pay.
The seller won’t ship the item until you’ve paid for it.
How to Pay for an Item You’ve Won
There are four main ways to pay for items on eBay:
• PayPal
• Credit card
• Check (personal or cashier’s)
• Money order
The seller may not accept all of these forms of payment.
(The payment forms the seller does accept should be noted
in the item listing.) Regardless of which payment method
you use, the Pay Now button is the fastest way to pay. The
Pay Now button can be found in the confirmation email and
invoice, as well as in the following locations:
• On the listing page, which remains active for 90 days
• In My eBay, under Items I’ve Won
Here’s what you should do after you click Pay Now:
1. Get payment details: They are calculated
automatically using the information in the item listing.
2. Review your purchase details: Include shipping,
insurance, and taxes in your review.
3. Select your payment method: usually PayPal,
personal check, cashier’s check, or money order.
4. If you’re paying by a method other than PayPal:
eBay sends you an email with the seller’s mailing
Buying & Selling on eBay
address. You then send payment directly to the seller.
Email the seller to request confirmation that he or she
has received your payment.
5. Request tracking info: Ask the seller to provide
tracking info when the item ships. If tracking info is
unavailable, request email notification of shipment.
Paying with PayPal
PayPal is eBay’s proprietary account-based payment sys-
tem. PayPal allows you to send and receive payments
instantly using your credit card or bank account information.
It is free for buyers and simple to use.
To use PayPal you need to set up a PayPal account,
even if you’re already an eBay registered user. The PayPal
account links your email address to your credit card and
checking account information. To set up a PayPal account:
1. Go to www.paypal.com.
2. Click the Sign Up link at the top of the page and follow
the instructions.
When you use PayPal to pay on eBay, you’ll be directed
to log in to your PayPal account on the PayPal website to
review your purchase. Once you’ve paid, PayPal updates
your payment status information on eBay and notifies your
seller of your payment. You’ll then receive an email receipt
for the transaction. The details of your PayPal payment are
always viewable on your My eBay page.
How to Leave Feedback for Sellers
When you receive the item in the mail, inspect it to confirm
that it matches the description in the auction. If you’re hap-
py with the item and the other aspects of the transaction,
it’s good eBay etiquette to give the seller positive feedback.
To leave feedback for your seller:
1. Click on My eBay, a button that appears at the top of all
eBay pages. (You may need to sign in.)
2. Click on Feedback, which appears under My Account
on the left side of the My eBay page.
3. Click on Leave Feedback.
These steps will take you to a page where you can leave
feedback for any transactions that have occurred in the
last 90 days. If you have a dispute with a seller, first try to
resolve it with the seller via email or phone. Leave negative
feedback only as a last resort.
How to Sell on eBay
Imagine if 275 million people showed up to your next garage
sale. That’s what happens when you sell an item on eBay:
your merchandise is offered to a global audience.
How to Establish a Seller’s Account
To sell on eBay, you need to have a free seller’s account.
The seller’s account is essentially an “upgraded” buyer’s
account—you can use the same user ID to buy and sell.
Whether you already have a buyer’s account or not, you
can sign up for a seller’s account by rolling over the Sell link
at the top of any eBay page and selecting Sell an Item from
the drop-down menu.
When you apply for a seller’s account, you’ll be asked to
provide credit or debit card information and, in some cases,
checking account details. This information is used to verify
your identity, to ensure that you’ll pay your seller’s fees,
and to help prevent fraud. If you don’t have a credit card or
don’t want to place your card on file, you can establish proof
of identity with eBay’s ID Verify service. Verification costs
$5 and is valid until your name, home address, or phone
number changes.
Seller Fees
eBay makes most of its money through fees it assesses to
people who sell items on its site. As an eBay seller, you must
pay two mandatory fees:
 www.quamut.com Buying & Selling on eBay

• Insertion fee: A fee for the opportunity to list your
item on the eBay site. The insertion fee depends on the
starting or reserve price you set for the item.
• Final value fee: A fee that is a percentage of the
winning bid or Buy It Now price of your item. If you do
not sell your item, no final value fee is charged.
eBay changes its fees periodically. To check the current
fees, check the eBay Help page and click on eBay.com Fees
under Selling.
Rather than deduct these seller fees directly each time a
buyer pays a seller, eBay keeps a running tab for each seller
and then charges his or her credit card for the balance due
each month.
Optional Listing Fees
eBay offers a number of optional features and several list-
ing upgrades you can use to offer buyers more payment
options or to enhance the appearance and placement of your
listings. Some of the most commonly used options include:
• Buy It Now: Lets buyers buy your item at a fixed price
• Gallery: Adds a thumbnail-sized photo next to your
listing that buyers see on search results pages
• Bold, Border, or Highlight: Adds visual enhancements
to make your listings stand out on search results pages
• eBay Picture Services: Allows you to store photos on
eBay to include in your listings
Fees for these features are in the $3–5 range.
Survey the Competition
To sell your items as effectively as possible, it’s helpful to do
some research of the competition.
• Find similar items that have sold on eBay: Get a
sense of the value of your item by doing an advanced
search for Completed Items. Look for the items
that attracted the most bids and sold for the highest
amounts and note how they were presented.
• Watch some eBay auctions: If you intend to sell many
similar items, determine which category you plan to list
them in and use the Watch This Item feature to track
some auctions in that category.
• Do a web search: Search regular online retail stores
for pricing information on your item.
• If you’re selling collectibles: Consult current print
or online price guides or talk to a dealer, store, or
collector to inquire about items similar to the one you
intend to sell. Ask for an estimate of the current price.
Consider the Weight of Your Items
Don’t overlook shipping costs when deciding whether it
makes sense to sell particular items on eBay. You may have
a set of free weights that you’d like to unload, but since
shipping them will likely cost more than the sale price they’d
fetch, it’s unlikely that anyone on eBay will buy them.
If you do want to sell a heavy item on eBay, consider
offering the item for local pickup only. Buyers bidding on
items for local pickup only agree to pick up your merchan-
dise at your home or a mutually convenient location.
4. Item description: Use short, simple sentences.
Include the details buyers will want to know about the
item: condition, color, brand, model, size, and so on.
5. Start price, listing duration, and shipping details:
Choose the starting price for the bidding of your item.
Also choose how many days you want your auction
to go for. Choices include 3, 5, 7, or 10 days. Longer
durations often lead to higher bids since more potential
buyers have the chance to see your listing. Additionally,
specify the locations you will ship to. Choices include
U.S. addresses only and worldwide. Finally, choose
the shipping service that you want to use. Note that
if you’re using FedEx or UPS to ship, you cannot ship
to P.O. boxes. If you’re shipping with UPS or U.S. mail,
offer Calculated Shipping Rates to minimize potential
buyers’ inquiries regarding shipping costs.
6. Payment methods: Specify whether you will accept
PayPal, and decide whether you will accept bids from
buyers using other payment options.

eBay and Taxes What Not to Sell

Income from eBay sales is subject to income tax. If you sell
to a buyer within your home state, you may also be required
to pay state sales tax. Consult your tax advisor regarding
your eBay sales transactions.
PayPal Fees
Only premier and business accounts on eBay are charged
a per-transaction fee to receive payments from buyers
using PayPal. Personal accounts can receive PayPal pay-
ments free of charge. Most eBay sellers accept PayPal
because it’s so convenient, but some refuse PayPal pay-
ments because of the fees.
How to Decide What to Sell on eBay
The type of eBay seller you want to be will determine what
you sell on eBay as well as how much time and money you
intend to spend looking for items, managing listings, fulfilling
orders, and doing customer service. There are four broad
categories of sellers:
1. Garage sale seller: Sells unwanted everyday items
from his or her own house. These sellers typically don’t
run more than a few listings at once.
2. Thrift store seller: Buys merchandise at garage sales,
estate sales, flea markets, outlet stores, and thrift
stores, then resells the items for a profit on eBay.
3. Bulk seller: Purchases goods in large quantities,
known as lots, to resell individually at a profit. Many
sellers buy lots on eBay, break them up, and then use
eBay to sell each individual item.
4. Specialist seller: Offers a specific type of item in
which the seller has a particular expertise or talent.
Specialist sellers often are people with unique
access to particular types of goods or are artists or
craftspeople looking to expand the market for their
original work.
You can try more than one of these approaches or combine
them. Whatever method you select will depend on a variety
of factors, including your level of commitment to selling on
eBay, the existing competition, and the feasibility of ship-
ping the items you’d like to sell.
eBay places restrictions on what can and cannot be sold
on its site. eBay recognizes three types of item restrictions:
prohibited, questionable, and potentially infringing items.
• Prohibited: Items that may not be listed on eBay
• Questionable: Items that may be listed only under
certain conditions
• Potentially infringing: Items that may violate
copyrights, trademarks, or other rights
As a seller, you’re responsible for making sure your listed
items meet eBay’s criteria. If you list a restricted item, your
listing or even your eBay account may be terminated. For a
complete list of current prohibited and restricted items, go
to the eBay Help page and search for “prohibited items.”
How to List Items to Sell on eBay
Listing items on eBay is simple: log in, fill in a few forms with
information about your item, upload your photo(s) submit
your listing, and let the bidding begin. The easiest way to
list your item is to roll over the Sell button on the top of any
eBay page and select Sell an item. You will be brought to a
new page. Select the Keep It Simple option and then click
the Start Selling button.
Listing Options
Once you click Start Selling, you’ll be brought to a
Create Your Listing form, which allows you to tailor your
listing according to your wishes regarding photos, shipping,
payment methods, and more. The decisions you have to
make before your listing goes live include:
1. Listing title: Include specific and descriptive keywords
you expect buyers to use when searching for your item,
such as any relevant brand names, titles, and so on.
Don’t include misleading keywords in your headline to
lure buyers to your listing.
2. Listing category: Select an appropriate category for eBay’s Create Your Listing form
your item from the Suggested Categories tab or browse
for one in the Browse Categories tab. Sell Your Item Form
3. Add a photo: Uploading the first photo is free, but The Create Your Listing page is the simplest way to list
each additional photo will cost $0.15. your items, but it also has a limited number of options.
 www.quamut.com
If you want to customize your listing and choose from more
options, such as different selling formats and the ability
to have your listing go live at a later date, you can use the
Sell Your Items Form. Get to this form by scrolling to the
bottom of the Create Your Listing page and clicking the
Sell Your Item Form link. You can also access this form by
selecting the Customize Your Listing option instead of the
Keep It Simple option when you first get started with listing
your item.
How to Set Starting Prices and Reserves
When you list an item, you have a number of pricing options:
• Set no limits: You can set no limits on bidding and just
wait to see what develops (every auction on eBay has
an automatic starting price of $0.99). Though setting
no limits may result in a winning bid that is much
lower than what you expected, many people feel that
a low starting price encourages more bids—possibly
resulting in a higher final price. Low starting prices also
reduce your insertion fees.
• Set a starting price or reserve: A starting price is a
stated limit on the lowest bid you would accept as a
winner. A reserve is an unstated limit on the lowest bid
you will accept. While these options reduce the risk of
a low winning bid, they raise insertion fees and tend to
limit the numbers of bidders you can attract.
In general, it’s best to list your item with a low starting price
and no reserve in order to attract as many bids as you can.
How to Present Your Listing Effectively
The more professional and reputable your listing looks, the
more likely you are to sell your merchandise consistently
and at the highest price possible. To make your listings look
their best:
1. Use HTML tags to style and format your text.
2. Use a template to make your listings appear uniform.
3. Use plenty of detailed, high-quality photos.
Using HTML
HTML (hypertext markup language) is a simple coding lan-
guage used to create web pages. HTML gives your listings
a professional feel that distinguishes them from those that
lack any HTML-enhanced style.
If you aren’t familiar with HTML code, you can use eBay’s
HTML Text Editor to edit your item listing when you fill out
the Sell Your Item form. The HTML Text Editor allows you to
specify the style, font, font color, and/or font size you want
as if you were using word processing software.
Making a Listing Template
If you’re listing many items at once, you can save time and
establish a consistent branded feel by using a standard
template—a set of design and text elements for each of
your auctions. To create a template:
1. Use basic HTML in any word processing program.
2. Save a blank version of the template.
3. Fill in the blanks of the template for each item you sell.
4. Copy and paste the filled-in template into eBay’s Sell
Your Item form to list the item.
For basic HTML tips, see eBay’s Help page.
Adding Photos
Photos are crucial to successful selling on eBay because
they give the buyer confidence that your product is in the
condition that you describe. Your photos should be clear
and brightly lit and should show your item from various
angles. There are three main ways to include photos in your
eBay listing:
Buying & Selling on eBay
1. eBay Picture Services: In the Bring Your Item to How to Leave Feedback for Your Buyer
Life section of the Create Your Listing form, choose If your buyer paid you promptly and in full according to your
eBay’s Picture Services to host your images. eBay expectations, leave the buyer positive feedback (see eBay
will store and display your pictures (up to 12 photos, 2 Feedback).
megabytes or less each; the first is free, the rest cost
a small fee). If Your Item Doesn’t Sell
2. Photos from your own website: Include links in your If your listing ends without a winning buyer (or with a non-
listing description directly to photos on your website. paying bidder), you may relist the item. If the item sells the
The photos will appear wherever you include links to second time, eBay will refund the Insertion Fee charged
them in your item description. This option is free, but for relisting.
you’ll have to pay for your own website hosting and
know how to upload photos to your personal website.
3. Image hosting services: Sellers who conduct a How to Ship What You Sell on eBay
high volume of business may need a larger amount Typically, the buyer is responsible for shipping costs.
of storage space for photos. There are a number of Shipping costs typically include shipping fees and packing
image hosting services that allow you to store images materials. As a seller, you can calculate your shipping costs
exclusively for eBay listings. Some are free, though the based on where the winner of the auction lives. You should
more reputable ones charge monthly service fees. Find not inflate shipping costs or add handling charges to make
them by doing a web search for “eBay photo hosting.” an additional profit.
Packing and Shipping Tips
What to Do After Your Item Sells The feedback you receive as a seller will be affected by the
After your item sells, you should do the following: condition in which your item gets to the buyer. It’s therefore
important to ship your items responsibly.
• Contact your buyer.
• Arrange to receive payment. • Cushion the item with packing material on all sides.
• Leave feedback for the buyer. For fragile items, use bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, or
• Pack and ship the item. paper. For less fragile items, use newspaper.
• Seal the box and reinforce its seams with packing tape.
How to Contact Your Buyer • Properly label the package, including a return address.
When your listing is over, eBay will send you an email with • Always ship with a tracking number. Email the tracking
your buyer’s contact information. It’s usually a good idea to number to the buyer when the item ships.
email your buyer directly to confirm:
Shipping Methods and Costs
• Payment amounts Most eBay sellers ship with one of the “big three”—FedEx,
• Address information UPS, or the United States Postal Service (USPS). Each has
• Shipping and insurance costs advantages and disadvantages.
• Shipping method you will use
• Payment options you accept Shipper Pros Cons
• Sales tax (if applicable)
FedEx Reliable, convenient Expensive; won’t
• Total price
retail service accept odd-
• Your mailing address (for check or money order)
available at FedEx shaped packages;
Kinko’s locations won’t ship to P.O.
How to Arrange Payment nationwide boxes
How you receive payment depends on the payment options
you allow the buyer to use. UPS Convenient UPS Won’t ship to P.O.
Stores nationwide; boxes; UPS stores
If You Accept PayPal or Credit Cards will ship most odd- won’t let you
If you accept PayPal, you can receive payment instantly and shaped or large pack items in the
with very little effort. eBay’s Checkout system will email packages store
your buyer an invoice requesting payment via your pre-
USPS Less expensive than Often less
ferred method. The buyer simply logs into his or her PayPal
FedEx and UPS; efficient than
account and authorizes the transaction. provides free boxes, UPS or FedEx,
tape, and other sup- especially during
If You Receive Checks or Money Orders plies for premium holidays
For checks and money orders, always verify the payment services; convenient
before shipping any items: hold checks until they clear and locations nationwide;
cash money orders to confirm their authenticity. ships to P.O. boxes
While you wait to verify the payment, it’s a good idea to
send the buyer an email to acknowledge you’ve received eBay allows you to present your shipping charges within
the payment and that the item will soon be on its way. the item listing in one of two ways—using either a flat ship-
ping rate (a fixed fee) or a calculated shipping rate. If you
Dealing with Nonpaying Bidders choose to include calculated shipping rates in your listing,
If you don’t hear from your high bidder within three days of eBay will automatically calculate USPS and UPS shipping
the auction close, you have a number of options: and insurance rates for your buyers, based on item size and
weight, as well as the locations of the buyer and seller. This
• Try to reach him or her by phone if email fails. option won’t work with FedEx or other carriers.
• File an Unpaid Item report by clicking on the Dispute
Console on your My eBay page. eBay will give you an Insurance
Insertion Fee Credit that you can use to relist your Insurance protects your package against loss or damage
item for free. during shipping. As a seller, you can choose whether to offer
• Make a Second Chance Offer to the next highest bidder. shipping insurance. It’s often a good idea to require buyers
to pay for insurance in order to avoid hassles over lost or
damaged packages. Check with your shipper to confirm
insurance rates.