1st time ebayer!

[jay4568]

Ok, I've bought things on ebay before but have never sold anything and am thinking I really must sort through all dds stuff (clothes, toys etc) and have a go at selling them.

So, any advice for a newbie? What sells well? How do I work out postage without trapsing all the stuff to the PO?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Im interested too.Have just put my first few items on.Post office web site is good for prices.

How did you weigh your stuff... on normal scales at home?

I've found that dd's used clothes actually sell better than new clothes. People think they are getting a bargain. Either sell individually or put together things that look good such as a t shirt and trousers.
To work out the cost of postage I stick things on the bathroom scales and then go to the Royal Mail website. Always add a bit extra on for your packaging materials and time etc.
I find that I sell a lot of things overseas for example a pair of dd's used Next cropped trousers went for £4 plus P&P to a woman in the Czech Republic last week.
I would always list very honestly- if there is a small mark on the item then say so otherwise when the buyer gets it they can often moan.
Have fun! I love it and it's become my job now.

Just about to start selling again and wondering about the new rules the Post Office has set up where post is charged by size as well as weight. These pages on royalmail.com should help.
I used to weigh my parcels at home, but usually managed to underestimate the actual costs!

I'd steer clear of anything difficult to package up, and anything heavy just list as pick-up only.

On the Royal mail website, royalmail.com there is a postage price calculator according to weight. Do be generous to yourself in terms of postage costs, as this is how you make money for packing the item, going to the post office etc. That way even if your item makes you no money, it wasn't a total waste of time.

One thing I would do is have all your items for sale finishing at around the same time, that way when it comes to posting you can hopefully just make one trip to the post office (as long as people pay quickly) - it's annoying going every day. Perhaps worth adding that you reserve the right to relist an item if the winner has not contacted you within 3 days of end of auction.

If you have a PayPal account, you have to change it to a sellers' account, which isn't hard I dont think.

Hope there are some useful tips there.

sorry was a bit slow with my post, didn't mean to repeat things others had already said!

Make it clear what payments you are willing to take. If you'll accept cheque say that item will be dispatched after the cheque has cleared.
Put a photo in the listing, I don't tend to bother much with ones without a picture.

Thanks, these are all really useful tips, I'm definetly going to give it a go!

MAke sure if you sell name stuff like Next Gap etc then put it in the title as some people just search for makes.

Right, I've put a few bits on... mostly baby clothes.
If they sell is brown paper sufficient to wrap them in or will it tear too easily?

I bought these .I think they look better than brown paper and stronger.(thanks to scoobydooo's recomendation!)

Thanks, I've ordered some.

Great.Good luck selling your items.