As a staff writer at 'home based business' we regularly answer questions submitted by our members,one great topic is making money on ebay.

More and more people are joining the eBay phenomenon, selling their items for profits that can exceed 500% of the initial purchase price of the item. A limited edition $5.99 toy can sell for $50, $60, or even $100. If you have finally decided to get in on a part of the eBay action, there are several things you need to consider before signing up and auctioning off items. Simply diving in can cost you money and bring about frustration that you did not want.

1.)Scope out the site. Ebay has a lot of features, selling methods, rules, and guidelines both sellers and buyers have to follow. Familiarizing yourself with the site makes it easier for you to navigate and less likely to become confused by something later on. Learn where to find help if you need it, contact information, and the different methods eBay allows for payment and the methods the majority of sellers and buyers prefer. Now there exists the regular eBay and eBay Express; learn the differences between the two before deciding which front to sell on.

2.)Understand how auctions work. Auctions themselves have a lot to them; listing, bidding, best offers, buy it now options, shipping fees, return options, photo options, and a myriad of other things sellers and buyers alike may or may not deal with. Because there are occasional scam artists on eBay, both in selling and buying, learn how to deal with people who do not pay, the time limits eBay has on items not received, and your overall rights as a seller. There are items you are not allowed to sell (weapons, livestock, illegal items) so before you list something you are unsure of, check to make sure you are in the green.

3.)Familiarize yourself with the community. Ebay has a large community forum where other members and even eBay staff can help answer a question you might have or discuss and issue you may encounter with the site. Ebay is not full of people just trying to get tons of money for as little as possible. There are plenty of members out there working legitimate eBay businesses and enjoy helping out others in their endeavor.

4.)Decide what you want to sell. Some people simply roam about their house and pick off objects they no longer want. A series of books. Cosmetics in unused condition. Collectables like Beanie Babies or figurines. Other people buy their items from various places before selling them, for example, specializing in glass vases and buying them at garage sales. You may buy the vase for $0.25 and sell it for $30 on eBay. Still other people specially make objects, selling their talents to those interested. Shadowboxes. Artwork. Know which method you will use to acquire items to sell, where you will store them, how much you will want for them, and what your shipping costs might be.

5.)Set up shop. Register with eBay and create your seller's account. It is also recommended that you get a PayPal account as soon as possible. PayPal is the preferred method of payment by numerous eBay sellers and is the method used to make credit and debit card transactions. You can also opt for money orders and checks via mail, and though some people avoid PayPal, it is the best way to help maximize your business. If you plan on selling a large amount of items, you should look into opening an eBay Store where buyers can go to get a good look at all your items and what you specialize in. Do not forget to set up your "About Me" page, which will help give you more of an identity among the eBay community, promote your business, and help buyers see more about the person they are purchasing from.

6.)Start listing! Begin listing items you want to sell, setting preferences for each, such as reserve prices, whether or not people can buy it now, shipping options, your return policies, and whether or not you wish to add pictures to your listings. Pictures are important because it gives the buyer a sense of faith in the seller; you are allowing people to see your items, what shape they are in, and a general idea of what they are buying. Items listed with pictures tend to sell faster and more often than items without.

7.)Feedback and communication. Do not underestimate the power of feedback or communication. Being a good seller will get you more sales, either through word of mouth, people visiting your feedback page, or repeat buyers. If a buyer checks your feedback page and sees one too many negative feedbacks, he or she will get scared off and you will not sell any items. However, you may not be able to please everyone, so the occasional negative feedback from a buyer who expected too much is should be anticipated at some point.

When you start on eBay, there will be some trial and error involved; one item you listed may sell for lower than you wanted, or another item may have more shipping than you expected. There are various options you can choose while listing, so feel free to try different selections until you find one that seems to be the most effective.

Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for people to bid on your items. Happy eBaying!

The staff at www.homebasedbusiness.com regularly updates the Home Based Business website with new information on the up and coming work at home jobs and other Internet based home businesses opportunities.


Author's Info:

Bill Scott Webmaster Homebasedbusiness.com Features Home Based Business and Internet Business Opportunities. It's like a Myspace for entrepreneurs.