5 Tips for selling old clothes with eBay

Do you have a lot of clothes you no longer fit in or maybe just general clutter of things that you no longer use but you really don’t know how to start selling on eBay?

Here I have a guest post from the lovely Ruth who blogs all about making money. She shares with us her tips on how to make money on eBay. So if you have something lying around you would like to get rid of read on for her advice.

I’m Ruth, and I blog about genuine ways to make money online at RuthMakesMoney.com. Whether you want to earn a bit of extra cash to pay off a credit card or save for a holiday, or you dream of ditching the 9-5 for good, my aim is to show you exactly how you can do it.

One of the simplest and easiest ways to get started with your money-making journey is to have a good old rifle through your wardrobe and get rid of those clothes that you don’t wear anymore via eBay.

Why sell on eBay?

Maybe you’ve lost some weight and your old favourites no longer fit. Maybe you’ve changed your style and you’ve kept hold of items that no longer float your boat.

Or maybe you’ve just hoarded things over the years that you’re probably never going to get around to wearing. The good news is that your trash may well be someone else’s treasure, and you can swap your clutter for cash.

As I’ve mentioned, selling on eBay really is simple and straightforward, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to have a bit of a strategy behind you.

If you just chuck everything up on there on a 99p auction, you’re probably going to end up being disappointed – and perhaps even out of pocket, once you’ve factored in your postage costs.

Here are my top tips for maximising your profits on eBay…

Choose ‘Buy It Now’ instead of an auction

eBay is best known for its auctions, but they’re not the only way to sell. I buy and resell pre-loved clothing, and 99% of the time, I use ‘Buy It Now’ for running my business.

This means that you don’t run the risk of letting your item go for less than what you really want for it. You set the price, and buyers can snap it up instantly instead of placing bids.

Know how much your stuff is worth

eBay is almost like a little economy in its own right. You might find that you can easily sell some items at the same price as what you purchased them for, or even higher.

Some things just don’t hold their value though, and you’ll have to be prepared to pocket just a couple of quid. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be a guessing game.

You can search the platform for recently sold listings, which can help you to work out exactly how much you should be asking for your items. If you have good quality men’s business suits for example then ensure you do not let them go for pennies!

Take the time to carefully craft your titles

The title that you create for your listing is ultimately going to determine just how many people see your item – so take the time to consider what people will be searching for when they want what you have. ‘Size 12 Dress’ might be exactly what you’re selling, but it’s just not descriptive enough.

Where possible, include the size, colour, brand, style, and anything else that might be relevant. You’ll end up with something along the lines of ‘Size 12 M&S Baby Blue Maxi Dress – Floral, Festival, Summer’ – and that’s going to get way more eyes on your item.

Buy packaging in bulk

Being prepared when it comes to your packaging will save you a small fortune. Pop into your local corner shop for a padded envelope, and it’ll set you back a few quid.

If you’ve got a fair few items to sell, that can quickly add up. Instead, hit Amazon or eBay itself and stock up. You can make big savings even if you’re just ordering as many as 25 units.

Take good photos

You don’t have to be an expert photographer to sell on eBay, and you don’t need any fancy equipment. The camera on your phone will do the job. But do take a little time to make sure that you’re showing your items off to their full potential.

Natural lighting is best, and make sure that you take shots from plenty of different angles. This will give your buyers extra confidence and can make a big difference to your sales and your profits.

Selling on eBay involves getting organised, and making the most of your items. But do it properly, and you could quite comfortably bag a few hundred pounds for your efforts. Why not make it your mission this weekend to finally get around to clearing out that clutter?

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