Ebay Selling Novice

[HowToShoutSoHusbandsWillListen]

Hello

I'm sure some of these questions will have been covered before (though I have had a look at the archives I promise ). If there are any pertinent threads please do point me in that direction instead.

Have an ebay and paypal account. Have bought a few items in the past and am now thinking of finally getting around to selling some stuff.

I've seen the ebay instructions on how to actually list stuff.

Could any of you lovely people give me any pointers on how best to maximise profits? Will mainly be selling maternity clothes (have already seen advice to advertise seasonal clothing) and some baby stuff.

Particularly:

Is there a best day/time to start and end an auction? Weekend?

Can you set up your sale listing beforehand and then "publish" it when you are ready?

Is there a best option to send - 1st/2nd/Recorded Delivery? How should clothing in particular be packaged and what is reasonable to charge for this?

Anything else I should know?

TIA

Sell in bundles (but within the max postage of £4 or you'll be out of pocket)

Try to have auctions ending Sunday afternoon/evening in Autumn/Winter.

I just package stuff up as best I can, usually in plastic bags (I save Boden ones etc) and brown paper (or I reuse jiffies)

You can set up the auction and have it start at a specified time, but I think that costs 6p. So I just list on Tuesdays (for 5 days) Thursdays (for 10) and Sundays.

Be aware that some clothes sell ridiculously well (have just sold a pair of kids Boden trousers for almost as much as I paid for them) while others won't be looked at.

Enjoy!

Best IMO for your auctions to end in the evening - around 8.30-9pm. So anyone putting kids down will be free and also, it's not too late.
Yes, you can set a time in advance for it to come on at but you do pay a little more for your listing when you do - not much, just pence and worth it if you can only find time to list during the day.
I always post 1st class next day but just do whatever is manageable for you. For smaller packages, there's not much difference in price between 1st and 2nd.
I never do recorded delivery in order to keep my postage costs low but some sellers always do. I haven't had any experience of stuff going missing so someone who has would have a different view on that. hey, I'm a risk taker!
I always wrap my outfits in tissue and then put in a postage bag. I re-use postage bags that I've gotten from stuff I've bought but do buy them as well.
The Royal mail postage calculator is good for working out what the stuff will cost. Weigh on the kitchen scales and check it online.
Good photos are a must and one thing I have noticed is that if you are selling little girls clothes, make up outfits and if possible, add matching tights. That seems to help with selling.
Finally, you may get questions from people on mainland Europe wanting postage quotes so decide up front if you want to post to Europe or not and state that on the listing. I personally prefer not to as I have had some negative experiences from people with unreasonable expectations in a certain European country....saying no more!

Good luck!

All really good stuff. Thank you both.

Off to research maternity bundles now.....

Have some lovely (Boden) outfits from DD that DS will probably refuse to wear, but my mother has started hinting I should save these for my brother's as-yet-unconceived (AFAIK) child. But that's a different thread for AIBU

Lol....depends how generous you're feeling But if it's first, it's likely his DP will want to have new stuff. My SIL wasn't really that interested in the hand me downs I gave her...