Get the most out of selling on the internet

DON’T be greedy. Putting a low starting price is going to attract more potential buyers, but if you have a price in mind quote a realistic ‘buy it now’ price. This is the way the majority of eBay goods are sold.

PROVIDE an accurate description. Honesty is much better than pretending something is in ‘near mint’ or ‘as new’ condition when it is a secondhand item. Include lots of photos that highlight any blemishes.

TIMING is often everything when it comes to making a sale. Auction website sales such as with eBay tend to end on a Sunday night – perhaps 8pm or 10pm after being listed ten days. This is seen as a time when bargain hunters are trawling the web.

CONSIDER different auction websites. Ebay may still be the most popular but Etsy is a great place for handcraft goods while Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace offer the cheapest forums for selling.

TRY to escape the PayPal racket. Encourage sales by promoting other payment methods – debit or credit cards, direct bank transfers or cash on delivery. This saves money that can be pocketed or passed on to buyers by selling at a cheaper price.

POSTAGE must always be taken into consideration when selling goods – especially if you try to lure in buyers with ‘free postage’. Packing up and selling can be a hassle. Get proof of postage, wrap up well to avoid damage and send out as soon as possible.