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Getting started selling on eBay

Whether you're starting a business or just want to make some extra cash, selling on eBay is a fun way to do it. Here's how.

1. Create a seller's account
When creating a seller account you'll need to:
2.
Set up your Q&A
Buyers often have questions before, during, and after a sale. When they do, they click the Ask a question link in your listing. As a seller, it's important for you to respond quickly and thoroughly. This keeps the buyer interested in your listing, saves you time, and you'll be more likely to get positive Feedback when the transaction is complete.
Your Q&A can be made up of answers generated automatically from your listing, answers you create yourself, and stock answers about eBay policies. Up until the end of the listing, you also have the option of whether buyers can contact you directly.
Learn more about answering buyers' questions .
3. Research your item and the rules of selling
Do some research, especially about setting a starting price, listing format, and category. This research will help you create a good listing and get the best price for your item. Compare your item with active and completed listings on eBay based on category, format, and selling price. Selecting a category explains how to search for and select a category. Selecting a selling format tells you more about format choices.
Buyers feel more compelled to bid and buy when they know the postage costs beforehand. Package, weigh, and measure your item so you can use calculated postage. If this is your first time selling an item, you may be required to specify postage. Calculating postage costs tells you how to specify postage costs. Visit the eBay Postage Essentials Center to learn more about how to post your items.
Know the rules for sellers about eBay policies on prohibited and restricted items, and what's okay or not okay when listing and completing the sale.
4. Create your listing
Depending on your item category and which listing form you use, you'll have a variety of listing options. If you're selling an item associated with a product that's in our catalogue, you can add product details from our catalogues to your listing. You can sell using an auction-style or a fixed price format. Listing upgrades such as font or picture enhancements make your item stand out. You can even sell to benefit a non-profit organization that you choose using eBay Giving Works.
Use multi-quantity listings for items with variations.If you sell multiple versions of a product – like a T-shirt in various colors and sizes – you can list all the variations in one multi-quantity, fixed price listing by listing items with variations.
Learn more about the listing process and options. Otherwise, you can just start selling using our Sell Your Item form. To get there, click the Sell button at the top of most eBay pages.
Fees for selling on eBay apply to most listings.
5. Manage your listing
When you have your listing up and running, you can check it to see how bidding is going by going to the Sell section of My eBay. In My eBay you can also:

  • Set notification preferences to let us know how and when you want to receive alerts or notifications.

  • Set seller preferences about picture hosting, receiving payments, postage, and more.

  • Set member-to-member communication preferences to say how buyers can connect with you.

  • Set general preferences for searches and My eBay preferences.

Be sure to answer any questions you receive about your listing. Communicating with potential buyers will help you sell your item by establishing good rapport and trust. Learn how Feedback works to become a stronger seller on eBay.
6. Wrap up with your buyer
The way you handle these last steps will go a long way toward your personal satisfaction and getting great Feedback from your buyer.

  • Communicate with your buyer: If you use eBay checkout, you’ll be notified by email when the buyer has completed checkout. If you have disabled checkout, you can contact the buyer directly by email or phone. If you don't specify postage and payment details in your listing, the buyer can request this information during checkout.

    Important: Contact your buyer directly if you haven't heard from your buyer within three days of your listing's end.

  • Receive payment: Be sure you receive payment before you post your item. Make sure that the credit card or electronic payment has been accepted and credited to your account before sending the item. If you listed in one of the categories that allows you to accept checks, make sure the check has cleared the bank before delivering the item.

  • Ship the item to the buyer safely and on time

    • Package your item as securely as possible. Read our packaging tips.

    • Make sure your shipment information is correct and be sure to include your return address.

    • Save time by creating your posting label and packing slip right from eBay when you print one label at a time and ship through the Singapore Post.

    • When you include postage information in your listing, the information is prefilled into the posting label.

    • You can even insure your package as you create your posting label.

    • You can go through PayPal for UPS or to print multiple labels in bulk for Singapore Post postage.

    • If you use free carrier pickup (available with orders that include Priority Mail or for a small on-demand fee), you can save a trip to the post office. Otherwise, because your posting label is already printed, you can just drop off your package at the post office counter rather than stand in line.

  • Leave the buyer Feedback: Our Feedback system helps create a trustworthy community for everyone. Your Feedback about your buyer is important information for other sellers.

Please visit our Seller Central for useful selling tips.

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