Can Someone Help Me Get Started with eBay?
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
Singapore
January 11, 2011 4:38pm CST
I have decided that I want to learn how to sell items on eBay to supplement my income. I'm not setting up a business on eBay, just selling some used or new stuff I have at home. I also would like to sell some of my books to make space for new ones.
How would you recommend I begin my journey with eBay? I seriously do not know where to begin. Okay, let's start with the listing fees. Is it true that first 100 listing is FREE is the starting auction price is below a dollar?
That is just about the listing price. What about the other things? Do share with me tips or personal experiences on how you got started on eBay. Thanks in advance for your help.
4 responses
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
Hi Sydney, you are going to sell locally or overseas?
Are you talking about ebay dot com or ebay dot com dot sg? There is no charge at all for listing in ebay dot com dot sg.
If you are talkinag about ebay dot com, then there is a price for listing the content, and you have to calculate the shipping cost and insurance cost. I do not know which ebay, as in the ebay in which country, has free limited listing. You have to check on the website of the respective country.
If you are selling to US market, take a look at Craigslist as well. I find it very messy but Craiglist is even better than Ebay in term of popularity and sales.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
hmm...
Didn't think there was any difference in the policies between ebay.com and ebay.com.sg. I can't even remember where I signed up a few years back. I think I went in via ebay.com.sg. If listing is free there, I don't mind starting out there. Just don't want to incur unnecessary cost.
If I can sell to locals, it would be good. But if I can't, I'd turn to overseas market. Which do you think is better?
I have tried looking at Craiglist, but like you said it's messy and I really do not know where to start. It looks like Freecycle of sorts to me...
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
Hi Sydneyhazelton, there are so many free classified in Singapore.
The ebay website in Singapore is not even as good as some of the local ones. If you have a specific item in mind, such as gold coins and gold bars, you can join the forum for gold and silver investors.
If you have Super Red Dragon fish for sale, then join the forum for Dragon fish. Those forums usually have a For Sale section.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
Thank you for your suggestions...
They are just everyday things, not as specific as gold bars or anything like that. Okie, I try what I can...
@alwayzzcitra (1861)
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
Hey there, I'm an ebay casual seller. I started selling July last year, but since this month, I decided to sell more seriously. It's a little too late for you to test the water because the free listing promo is over 
. But, there's no "too late" in learning something new, right?
Yes, it's true that it's free to list if your starting price is $0.99, but it's up to 100 listings per month. But I personaly do not use this because if you end up getting only one bidder, then you'll lose money. I recommend to start the price at least the amount you are happy to let the item go if you only get 1 bidder.
Oh, I recommend you to go to ebay discussion board in ebay community. The folks there are very freindly and extremely helpful.
Good luck! And hope you got that first sale 
. But, there's no "too late" in learning something new, right?
Yes, it's true that it's free to list if your starting price is $0.99, but it's up to 100 listings per month. But I personaly do not use this because if you end up getting only one bidder, then you'll lose money. I recommend to start the price at least the amount you are happy to let the item go if you only get 1 bidder.
Oh, I recommend you to go to ebay discussion board in ebay community. The folks there are very freindly and extremely helpful.
Good luck! And hope you got that first sale @SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
hello Citra,
Thank you for your response and the information you have provided. Some of the items I have were given to me as gifts, but I don't have any use for them at all. As such I'm willing to let go of them at a small price. But it's a good tip not to have the starting price put so low, just in case I only have 1 bidder. Did not think of that, actually...
I'm not into forums very much, except on mylot. That's why I'd rather post my discussion topics and questions here. Have you sold anything? To locals or abroad? What was your experience like?
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
12 Jan 11
Hi Citra, if you can do it, I'm sure I can. You have given me great tips. I'm still finding my way around the site. So your idea to go to the completed listings is useful. I just have to find where that is.
At this point in time, I'm just clearing my wardrobe and get rid of things I no longer use. I will bear in mind selling locally first, before internationally unless I can't find local buyers.
Last question for you, Citra. Which website do you list your articles? eBay.com or any others?
@alwayzzcitra (1861)
• Indonesia
12 Jan 11
Well, yes, I made sales here and there. To date I have sold about 10 items 
which I hope will add up in the future. I sell internationally, but there are countries that I do not ship to though. I have to sell that way because ebay is not popular in my country, so to get sales, I have to sell it abroad whether I like it not
Why not try to do research on your items. Go to completed listings on items that are similar to yours. Pay attention to see which items sell at what price. You don't want to under or overprice your items.
If your goal now is to get rid of things around the house, you may want to sell locally. Once you figured out how it works and have decided your niche, then you can start selling internationally.
Good luck!
which I hope will add up in the future. I sell internationally, but there are countries that I do not ship to though. I have to sell that way because ebay is not popular in my country, so to get sales, I have to sell it abroad whether I like it not
Why not try to do research on your items. Go to completed listings on items that are similar to yours. Pay attention to see which items sell at what price. You don't want to under or overprice your items.
If your goal now is to get rid of things around the house, you may want to sell locally. Once you figured out how it works and have decided your niche, then you can start selling internationally.
Good luck!
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
11 Jan 11
I'm sure there are good books and articles out there. I was hoping for kind mylot souls who can help me jumpstart my learning process, so I can proceed much faster.
@sam3m1 (190)
• United States
18 Feb 11
can't help with ebay, but you may want to try paperbackswap.com.
you join for free, post books you'd like to trade. clubmembers then request a book from you and you send it to them (postage in the usa is under $3.50 usually). in return you get a credit for any book on the site, over 4 million. you request a book and it is sent to you for free. take a look. i read about a book and a half a week and was spending 30-50 dollars a month. it's saved me a lot of money.
