FAQ

1. When selling something on eBay does the buyer pay for postage?
Yes, postage is a cost that is added to the final auction (or ‘buy it now’) price when the buyer is invoiced. eBay encourages the seller to clearly state postage costs in the listing so buyers can consider the postage cost when bidding. If the postage cost is not listed, buyers should email the seller and ask how much postage would be to their particular location (usually a postcode or city). When listing, the seller should try to include a postage price where possible. The price should be as accurate as possible because bidders know when a postage charge is over the top (they are looking for similar items all the time and notice postage prices). It is however, acceptable to include about 50c to $2 for packing (depending on the complexity of the item.

2. As a seller, do you wait for payment before posting?
Yes, payment for the item should be received by the seller before they post your item. The eBay users feedback is the security in this process. A seller is looking to keep their feedback good by providing good and honest service. So the seller’s service is reflected in their feedback. If the transaction still goes wrong, eBay have processes for mediating the resolution.
If you are the winning bidder and the seller has a low feedback (less than 5 feedbacks for selling) and your final bid was more than you could handle loosing – then you could ask to pay via PayPal (expect to pay an extra $1 or so to cover PayPals charges) or see if you can pick the item up and pay in person.
If you are uncertain about any aspect of the transaction, try emailing the buyer or bidder and asking a few questions. Many uncertainties can be resolved through simple and direct communication before they turn into problems!

3. How do I sell on eBay?
Basically, if you are registered with eBay, click on the Sell link in the top right corner of the screen and flollow the instructions! For more detailed instructions, including tips for a successful listing, see the ‘how to sell your item on eBay’ post.

4. Where do I find stuff to sell on eBay ?
Start in your own home! If you look hard enough you will find heaps of stuff around your own home to sell. Try looking in those old suitcases and boxes in the attic or garage, gifts you have never used, furniture you don’t need any more. Take something you don’t need any more (no matter how small) and follow the ‘will it sell’ post to see what it might be worth.
Once you’ve exhausted your own things look at our ‘where to find retro and vintage items to sell on eBay’.

5. Do I need to download anything to be able to sell on eBay?
No. You only need access to the eBay webpage to sell your item on eBay. You can even edit you photos within eBay if you need to. Read the ‘how to sell on eBay’ post to learn how to sell on eBay using just the eBay webpage.
There are many software tools for eBay sellers available online and some make listing and tracking your items much easier. These are only really useful if you sell on eBay regularly. See the ‘Tools for Sellers’ post for a discussion of some of the software available for sellers.