Have a lot to sell on ebay - how to make the best of it?

[CatRace]

I've done a reasonable amount of ebay buying and selling (about 200 feedback) for domestic bits and bobs.

Now DH has had a massive spring-clean of his business equipement and has a list of literally several hundred secondhand things to sell running into thousands of pounds value. They have set up their own ebay account and registered as a business user. I am going to be helping with the listing but IME the basic listing tool is a bit slow and cumbersome.

Any tips or strategies for how to make the most of this without it taking months and months. Would it be worth them setting up an ebay shop? What is turbo-listing? It really is a bit out of my league.

[sixlostmonkeys]

Turbo lister is good.
Set it up, using the folders to make life easy for you.
Create a template with the bits on that will apply to each listing, using the opportunity to mention on each listing that you have other items that may be of interest/have a connection with each other etc.

I'd recommend a 14.99 shop for this venture. It will make each listing cheaper and as you have 100s of items it should work out more economical. You also have the option the have BINs for 30 days.

I think you need to have 10 transactions before you can do certain things for eg have a shop. Maybe buy some packaging and sell a few dead certs now to get it all up and running. While you are waiting for the account to reach 10 transactions you can start listing everything on Turbo Lister and then when the time comes upload all in one go.

Re Turbo Lister - I think until you have a shop; you may not have the option for 30 days (I could be wrong) but it is easy to 'update' once you have the shop, and then quickly edit each listing - you don't have to go into each listing to edit.

If you follow this route and need any further help pop back here and I will be more than happy to help.

[CatRace]

Thank you that is good advice. I'm going to download Turbo Lister now - had no idea it was free.

Guess we will have a lot of questions. DH's colleagues keep saying "haven't you sold anything yet" as if it was just a car boot sale, and I keep saying it needs setting up properly.

[sixlostmonkeys]

As it is high value stuff you are selling -remember to list the p&p as recorded delivery (it's for your protection not the buyer's) and to also check the compensation cover on royal mail.

Good luck!!!

[CatRace]

What's your view on low starting price vs. high? E.g. good condition piece of equipment that is say £500 new. DH would want at least £150 for it and £300 would be great. Do we put it up with Buy it now of £300 and start bidding at £150, or lower start and reserve of £150, or low start no reserve and leave it to market forces (for which you need nerves of steel!)

Thanks for postage tip too.

[sixlostmonkeys]

I don't have any experience of the type of things you are selling so i can't offer any real advice.
I would say have a look through completed listings for similar items and see what prices they went for, how many bids they got(and how many bidders). See if BINs seem to work well etc.

the only thing I would say is don't start low with no reserve - due to the new search on ebay not as many potential buyers get to see your item.

[skramble]

Always mention related items on each listing so people look at the other items.