What are your Top Tips for a newbie

[irememberthesilverjubilee]

I have been using ebay for 1 week now and have sold 4 items - but wanted to know what are your top tips!!

I don't sell often but I'm always pleased with what I get.

1. Only sell good makes on ebay - unbranded or bargain shop stuff won't fetch a good price if it sells at all.
2. Take really good photographs - you still see an odd sideways on photo and I always get a bargain when I bid on one of those.
3. Include measurements - especially for clothes.
4. Describe honestly including flaws - I recently got a good price and excellent feedback for a Brora Jumper I described as "well past its best"
5. Think twice about selling anything black on ebay - very difficult to take good photos and I've noticed black clothes tend to get poor prices.
6. End your sales in the evening - there is much debate about which is the best day but a weekday morning when everyone is at work will cost you sales.

Yes you are right re: being honest !

1. don't try and make any money out of postage especially with price increases try and keep to cost plus 30p as you mostly sell clothes

1. Don't list at 99p unless prepared to sell for 99p

1. there is free listing about every second weekend anyway but loads of people list then so lots of competition

1. don't write " I am not responsible for loss damage in post " because you are responsible, you have to refund buyer and claim from post office yourself

1. look at the big picture not much gets lost in post, don't take critciism personally most people are honest and decent but their are a few idiots in all walks of life and the more you sell the more likely you are to met a few "keep calm and carry on"

1. do not charge 95p extra for signed for on low value items as you will get low DSR for postage and it stops people buying no-one will pay over £3 for a £1 top to be delivered

7 if you squash childrens clothes flat they will go as large letter, if someone pays a total of £5 for something much better that £1.60 goes to PO (as 2nd class large letter) and £3.40 to you than £ 3.15 to PO ( as 2nd class signed for packet)and £1.85 to you , you do not have to sell much that way round to cover against the odd refund

1. don't offer first class post unless you can really post the day after they pay

1. be very careful listing designer stuff if not much feedback there are limits on number you can sell so if you have any list them one at a time a few weeks apart

Listings ending sunday or monday evenng tend to do well

Some more great tips!
Thanks so much
What about 'collection etiquette'

I have had 2 collection in persons so far - I have had the item in the hall so no need for them to come in?

Also I have suggested to them to check the item?

only take cash for collection items - never paypal

Look at Completed Listings before doing any work and decide if it's likely to be worth the effort for likely reward.

Buy mailing bags, £5 for around 50 and they make it so much easier to post and also mean you can charge the same as the lowest postage competitor without losing money.

Go to a small post office and get to know the staff, its usually quicker than larger ones with longer queues anyway and they.ll be more likely to pass items as large letter or lower bands.

IN SMALL LOCAL PO once they get to know you you might find you can just take all your parcels leave them behind counter they do them when they have time and you pay next time you go in, i just say all as cheap as possible except X which is international signed for and Y which needs 1st class it would take me much longer to weigh and measure and book couriers though couriers are much cheaper over 2kg not much difference under 2kg

personally I think selling things for 99p is a waste of time

supermarkets are a good source of free cardboard boxes just follow the shelf stackers

Why (sorry if this is a daft q !!)