Advice for a new eBay seller needed please!

[civilfawlty]

Hello. I want to sell clothes my daughter has grown out of - only the special stuff (rest goes to chazzers). So-if I'm selling, for example, an I love gorgeous dress she has worn twice, do I still start at 99p or go a bit higher? And what is the best time of day for an auction to end? And any other brilliant advice also welcome. Thank you.

Do a bit of research on ebay before you list. Search for the item you're listing and click on 'advanced' which will give you the option of looking at completed listings so you can see how much they've sold for in the past. Branded stuff will always sell well. Make sure you list it in the right place and put as much info. in the title as possible, i.e. size, colour and brand. Use all CAPS for title is a good idea too. Try to end your auctions at the weekend - Sunday nights is good as people have more time to mooch around ebay at the weekends.

Great. Thank you v much.

I've just started doing this myself. I started with researching what similar terms sold for etc, as sensibly advised above. however I soon tired of letting beautiful, excellent quality dresses etc go for peanuts. So started putting them on at a starting price being the amount I would be satisfied for it to be sold at (crap grammar there soz).

Funnily enough I have still sold all but say 5% of my items, and who knows whether they would have sold anyway? I have been listing on all these free listings weekends so it has not cost me extra to raise starting price. Any that haven't sold I can relist. And feel a lot happier selling stuff for a reasonable price (but still waaaay less than its value).

Also I started with Sunday night finishes but found that for what I am selling - ostensibly children's clothes - a midweek finish has been better (and avoids the eBay scrummage at the post office on a Monday morning to boot). I finish in the evening after kids bedtime.

Take loads of photos - its free on clothes so grab the camera and fill your boots. I'm sure that has helped with my listings sell.

Finally I am very honest in my descriptions and try to give lots of information, have immediate communication with any questions, post very quickly. It has oven me very good feedback which in turns helps sell further auctions.

Although the fact that some people don't pay and you have to chivvy them , and others don't leave feedback, and everyone wants a bargain - its a bit of a bugger tbh. Not sure I'm cut out for it long term.......had one person contact me about postage somewhere in Europe (forget where now) and I gave her the price for Airsure (tracked service) and she REALLY WHINED about it. I had to sit on my hands not to write back - that's the price, if you dont want to oay it then don't bid you stupid cow! I don't moan about Internet shops that charge for returns, for example, I just don't shop with them! (hate paying to send things back). I don't whine to the bloody company!

God sorry went off on one there. See, told you I dnt think I'm really cut out for it......

So-I heard the midweek post bedtime finish was a good idea. Went for that. Maybe I've put up too few photos. May ammend that now. Also not sure its a long term strategy - but all these pretty dresses gathering dust needed a good home!
Interesting re starting price. May give that some thought

Didnt know about free listing weekends...

I agree about avoiding Sundays and find Mon and Tues nights are better for ending - avoid classing with EastEnders or the like if possible.

Anyone have any idea when there will be a free listing weekend again? Are they held regularly? I just started selling with eBay last week, all clothes so far and have made £36 gross. Not quite enough to retire on yet :)