A short guide on how to sell on eBay and create a successful brand
You can buy and sell just about anything on eBay, a massive online marketplace. With 165 million buyers from over 190 countries, this platform is an invaluable asset for any business looking to broaden its reach or launch an online store.
How to sell on eBay: Product categories
You’re probably here because you’re interested in learning more about selling on eBay. In this article, we’ll lay out the straightforward steps you need to take to become a thriving vendor.
However, before we get started, you should decide what exactly you want to sell on eBay. If you already run your own company, you may have developed expertise in a particular field; if not, you’ll need to choose the goods and services you intend to market. You can sell almost anything on this marketplace, so long as doing so is legal in your country and the buyer’s country.
eBay welcomes sellers with and without VAT IDs and provides competitive pricing and terms for all.
Consider importing y products from China at a discount and reselling them domestically to increase your profit margin.
However, keep in mind that some product categories have got restrictions, such as food, which has got to be sold before the expiration date and has got to have all the necessary certifications, and electronic equipment, which has got limitations imposed by law.
eBay’s best sellers products
You can see the preferred order of the year’s top-selling items on eBay by consulting the 2018 ranking.
There is a purchase every 4 seconds for mobile phones and accessories, according to the company’s data, as well as purchases of tablets, computers, audio equipment (like mp3 players, headphones, stereos, etc.), dermo-cosmetics, and gardening supplies (including tools, seeds, and bulbs).
If you zero in on one of these areas, you’ll be selling products that are in high demand and may bring in more money.
You could also choose to sell private label products on eBay, which are manufactured by a supplier but distributed under the store owner’s (your) own brand name. Since the value of these items is based purely on their raw materials and labor, they are significantly less expensive than those produced by the designer industry. Because it is likely that both sets of products are manufactured by the same factory, especially in China, this does not necessarily imply that the quality of the knockoffs is lower than that of the designer’s.
For this reason, it may be worthwhile to establish your own label and offer private label goods for sale on eBay.
How to sell on eBay and to open a professional account
To create an eBay account, visit the site’s homepage and click “Register” in the top left corner; once your account has been created, you can access it by visiting the site again, clicking “Log in,” and entering your login details. Your company’s name and desired industry will be required fields to fill out, as will your VAT ID (which will be viewable by buyers) and an active email address. Your user ID is both your means of accessing the system and the name that will appear to your clients. That’s why it’s important to give your company a name that conveys what it does. The registration is not complete until the user clicks the link provided in an email after entering the password and answering the secret question.
You are almost ready to begin experiencing sight, but keep in mind that:
eBay will charge you the local VAT rate regardless of whether you enter a VAT ID or not.
In order to receive payments and commissions, you will need to open a PayPal account and link it to your eBay account.
How to sell on eBay
There are two ways in which you can sell your products on eBay:
use of a set “Buy It Now” price for brand-new items;
used frequently by collectors, “Online Auction” describes a particular type of auction held online.
You can also set up an eBay storefront to showcase all of your wares on the website. Because of eBay’s emphasis on seller control, you can use the platform to establish a strong online presence for your private label goods.
If you want to make a sale, you need to make an advertisement that:
a titled and sub-titled piece;
elegant images;
a detailed explanation of the item being sold;
to pay the cost;
the terms of shipment and transportation fees;
safety measures for monetary transactions;
consumer protections such as the “cooling off” period
Info on costs and shipping
eBay charges a fee for each listing you create. They vary with the medium in which the ad is presented:
Payment terms for “Online Auction” listings are 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, while “Buy it now” listings offer terms of 3, 5, 7, 10, 30, or no time limit at all.
Free 30-day or “no-deadline” ad tariffs are available for businesses.
There is a commission based on the final sale price minus any shipping fees. If your item did not sell, you owe no money.
Internet retailers must pay eBay monthly listing fees in order to keep their online stores open.
Members of the Premium Shop get preferential insertion rates on the websites of Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. While Premium Plus Shop members instantly gain access to the following perks: Rates for the first 2500 monthly insertions on eBay.com and eBay.ca are free.
How to organize your shipping logistics from eBay
You can save time and money by using eBay’s Shipping Manager to coordinate your shipments with the world’s leading logistics providers. By logging in with your eBay account details and importing your orders, you can quickly and easily manage your shipments.
You can create shipments manually or upload them all at once, pay per shipment or every 15 days with PayPal or a credit card, and choose from a variety of courier services to meet your needs.
How to sell on eBay your products bought from China
Now that you know the ins and outs of eBay selling, you need to source inexpensive goods that can hold their own.
Purchasing goods from China that are suitable for use in one of the above scenarios may be a viable option.
mobile phones and their peripherals; information technology components; audio components (i.e., mp3 players, headphones, stereos); dermo-cosmetic items for personal care; gardening implements and supplies (including seeds and soil).
In spite of their low prices and high sales potential, generic and non-branded products often face stiff competition.
You could also consider importing similar products from China and having them branded with your company’s name and logo in order to establish a genuine brand and a more trustworthy reputation among your clientele.