Beginner's Guide To Selling On Ebay 2025 Edition

​BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SELLING ON EBAY

​

2025 EDITION

By Ann Eckhart

Contents

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SELLING ON EBAY

2025 EDITION

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: LEARNING THE BASICS OF EBAY

CHAPTER TWO: HOW TO SET UP YOUR EBAY SELLER ACCOUNT

CHAPTER THREE: IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS

CHAPTER FOUR: UNDERSTANDING EBAY'S FEES

CHAPTER FIVE: NAVIGATING EBAY’S SELLING FEATURES

CHAPTER SIX: UNDERSTANDING EBAY’S SELLER HUB

CHAPTER SEVEN: ALL ABOUT THE ‘MY EBAY’ PORTAL

CHAPTER EIGHT: ESSENTIAL RESELLING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: CREATING EBAY LISTINGS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ADVANCED EBAY LISTING TIPS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HOW TO SHIP EBAY ORDERS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO INCREASE EBAY SALES

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: USING EBAY’S MARKETING TOOLS

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: WHETHER OR NOT TO OPEN AN EBAY STORE

CHAPTER NINETEEN: HANDLING EBAY ACCOUNTING & TAXES

CHAPTER TWENTY: TAKING YOUR EBAY BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: DEALING WITH CUSTOMER ISSUES

BONUS: RESELLING CLOTHING ON EBAY

CONCLUSION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COPYRIGHT 2024 Ann Eckhart

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INTRODUCTION

Are you looking to make some extra cash?

Are you struggling to stretch your paycheck after covering all the bills? Or do you need help just paying bills?

Have you dreamed of starting a home-based business but need help figuring out where to begin?

Well, I've got the perfect solution for you: eBay!

My name is Ann Eckhart, and this is the Beginner's Guide To Selling On eBay: 2025 Edition. I have been reselling on eBay since 2005. I have also been educating others about selling on the platform for nearly as long through YouTube videos, books, and thousands of social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I write about selling on eBay and have also authored books about making money on Etsy, Amazon, WhatNot, and YouTube. Oh, and I even have books about how to write and self-publish on Amazon, such as the book you are reading now!

But out of all the books I have written, my yearly editions of the Beginner's Guide to Selling on eBay have consistently been my best-sellers. This is because eBay offers the best opportunity to earn money immediately, regardless of your experience or location.

eBay remains the top platform for people who resell primarily secondhand goods. These people are called resellers and are in the reselling business. Most resellers buy gently used items from garage sales and thrift stores to sell online for a profit. However, some resellers purchase new goods (from liquidation companies or the clearance racks at stores) to resell. Millions of individuals make money on eBay. Some resellers sell on eBay for extra spending, while others earn a full-time income from the site.

Fun Fact: Resellers were called pickers not too long ago, as on the television show American Pickers. However, the term picker has fallen out of fashion and replaced with the term reseller. Since I mainly sell vintage items, I consider myself both a reseller and an antique dealer.

For every person selling on eBay, dozens have thought about selling online but have yet to take the leap. This isn't because they don't want to resell but because they are afraid. They fear eBay is too complicated and technical and requires too much effort. They think they need a lot of money to start. They don't know what sells. And even if they have an idea of what items they could sell, they have yet to learn where to find those items.

That's where this book comes in!

In Beginner's Guide to Selling on eBay, I cover every step required for making money reselling various items, from antiques and collectibles to clothing and housewares. I break it all down into easy-to-follow steps. Afraid it's too technical? Well, if you purchased this book in eBook or paperback format, you used a smartphone or computer to place your order. This means you already possess the basic computer skills needed to sell online! And remember, with eBay, the profit potential is limitless.

In this book, I will cover the following topics:

The basics of eBay: eBay is a user-friendly platform perfect for reselling. In this section, I'll explain what eBay is and why it's the best platform for reselling, and I'll guide you through the simple process of setting up your selling account.

eBay fees and features: A breakdown of what eBay offers you as a seller and the costs associated with selling there.

Reselling equipment and supplies: Everything you need for photographing, listing, and shipping items.

What to sell and where to source: This section details the most sellable items on eBay, where to find them, and a list of wholesale and liquidation companies from which to order inventory.

Taking eBay photos: Learn how to take, edit, and upload pictures to help you sell your items quickly and for the best price.

Creating eBay listings: A step-by-step guide through the entire eBay listing process.

eBay shipping: A step-by-step tutorial on setting up shipping in your listings.

Processing orders: How to print labels and package orders.

Advertising and marketing: How to grow your business using eBay's promotional tools and social media.

Managing an eBay Store: How an eBay store can help you organize and grow your sales.

Taking eBay to the next level: Moving from hobby seller to part-time or full-time.

eBay accounting: Managing bookkeeping and taxes.

Customer service: Handling demanding customers and other issues that may arise.

I also provide a BONUS CHAPTER dedicated to reselling clothing, the largest category on eBay.

I used to divide these topics into shorter eBooks, but now I've compiled everything you need to know into one volume. This book is the ultimate guide to selling on eBay, covering everything from getting started on eBay to turning it into a full-time business. Whether you're a beginner or already an experienced seller, this book has something to offer you.

Why would anyone need to read a book about selling on eBay? Isn't that information available for free online?

Well, that's true to some extent. There are active reselling communities on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube where people share a lot of information about making money selling on eBay. eBay's website also provides tutorials to guide you through listing and shipping. However, what you're likely to find online are only the highlights of selling on eBay: the big successes, impressive sales numbers, and the basics of photographing, listing, and shipping.

Online posts about eBay reselling often provide only a partial view of the process. They may not always be honest about the time and effort required, the actual cost of goods, the net profit, or the full range of costs, including taxes. This lack of transparency can lead to unrealistic expectations and potential pitfalls for new resellers.

While online tutorials can be a good starting point, many people need more comprehensive guidance. This book is designed to be your supportive companion, guiding you through all the intricacies of reselling on eBay.

The fun parts of reselling are finding and selling treasures and seeing the money deposited into your bank account. However, those are only two parts of the reselling process. There is a lot more that goes into selling successfully on eBay. While huge package piles make for a fun photo opportunity, they only tell part of the story. They don't tell you the TRUTH about selling on eBay—the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly.

In this book, I'm honest with you about every aspect of eBay. I don't tell you these things to scare you away; I want to provide you with all the information necessary to make your eBay journey successful and profitable. After all, you want to sell online to make money, not lose it!

Selling on eBay can be a fun and lucrative endeavor. However, doing things right is essential to avoid issues and maximize profits. This book covers everything you need to know about selling on eBay to help you navigate its unique marketplace. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned seller, this book offers practical, up-to-date advice that successful resellers use to make money on eBay. Selling on eBay might seem overwhelming initially. Still, once you start, you'll realize how easy it can be. And as your bank account grows, so will your confidence.

So, if you are ready to start making money on eBay, let's get started!

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CHAPTER ONE: LEARNING THE BASICS OF EBAY

Here's a fun question: Do you remember when eBay first started?

While some might think I was an early adopter of the site, I didn't start selling on eBay until 2005—ten years after its launch! eBay debuted in 1995 as one of the first online shopping platforms, similar to what Craigslist looks like today. It was an online classified ad marketplace where people from all over the United States could list items for sale and reach customers nationwide. The site was bare bones then; the earliest listings didn't even have photos! But look at it now: a global e-commerce giant, the third largest shopping website in America behind Amazon and Walmart!

When it launched, eBay was strictly an online auction site. Sellers listed their items, and buyers bid on them, with the highest bidder winning. You couldn't just buy an item outright with a set price like you can today. This innovative feature, Buy It Now (also called Fixed Price), revolutionized eBay, making shopping more convenient. Buyers no longer had to bid on items, hoping they would win. Instead, they could purchase them outright.

Customers paid sellers through PayPal, eBay's payment system, and the seller shipped the item to the buyer. Initially, customers could skip PayPal and send checks—or even cash—directly to sellers. You heard that right: people would send envelopes stuffed with dollar bills to complete their eBay purchases! And yes, I even had buyers send me cash!

After initially only being available in the United States, eBay soon expanded globally, welcoming sellers and buyers worldwide. As the platform grew, so did its policies and features, including allowing sellers to open their own eBay Stores. Before Amazon's rise, eBay was the number one shopping site in the world. While the site is still well-known for antiques, the largest category is clothing and many big brands now have a presence on eBay.

I sometimes get nostalgic for the days when you could start an eBay auction at just 99 cents and watch the bids climb higher and higher. I remember sitting at my desk, constantly refreshing my computer screen to see the latest bids, eagerly watching the price rise until the auction closed. Those were exciting times!

It's natural to feel a twinge of nostalgia for the days when eBay was all about the thrill of the auction. Today, eBay operates primarily as a buy-it-now shopping site, similar to Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers. While the transition may be bittersweet for some, it's a change that makes eBay more accessible and user-friendly, leveling the playing field with other shopping websites. And to be honest, we, as sellers, make more money now as we have more control over how we price our items.

Another big change in recent years is that you no longer have to use PayPal to buy or sell on eBay. In 2015, eBay and PayPal separated and became independent companies. Although eBay continued to use PayPal as its payment processor for a few more years, things changed in 2019 when eBay introduced its own payment system, Managed Payments.

Now, all eBay sellers are automatically enrolled in eBay's Managed Payments system, and PayPal is no longer an option for sellers. However, shoppers can still use their PayPal accounts to pay for purchases by linking them as a payment method, such as a credit or debit card or even a bank account. eBay processes all transactions through Managed Payments, streamlining the payment experience for both buyers and sellers.

Today, all listing fees, final value fees, and shipping charges are automatically deducted from each sale. eBay disburses the remaining balance to sellers according to a schedule they select: daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly. This is one of my favorite features because, in the past, sellers often had an outstanding bill to pay each month. Now, sellers don't have to worry about the accumulation of fees, as they are taken out before funds are dispersed into our accounts.

As a seller, you'll need to link a bank account to your eBay account so eBay can deposit your payouts. The option to request a paper check is no longer available. Additionally, if you have an eBay Store subscription, you must have a credit card on file to cover that fee.

Thanks to Managed Payments, shopping on eBay is as straightforward as shopping on other websites, including Amazon. Buyers can pay using various options, including credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, and even PayPal. This change has made eBay more accessible to new customers who may have hesitated to create a PayPal account. Now, anyone with a credit or debit card can shop on eBay.

I've been selling on eBay since 2005 and have shipped items to nearly every corner of the globe. When I started, eBay was one of the few online shopping sites, making it possible to sell almost anything. In those days, eBay and Amazon were the only major e-commerce platforms where you could buy and sell goods. And if you remember that far back, in the beginning, Amazon only sold books.

However, the e-commerce landscape has undergone a seismic shift. Today, eBay competes fiercely with industry giants like Amazon and Walmart to get the top spot in online marketplaces. Additionally, individual retailer websites and the emergence of platforms like Poshmark, Etsy, Mercari, WhatNot, and Facebook Marketplace have injected a new level of competition into the online reselling scene.

The battle among online sellers has intensified significantly since my early days. This has led to a notable shift in the types of items sold and the methods used to sell them. Many sellers have transitioned to Amazon to sell new goods, while eBay has carved a niche for itself in the secondhand market. Many clothing sellers either only sell on Poshmark or cross-post their items to both Poshmark and eBay. Some vintage sellers prefer to sell on Etsy.

However, the most significant difference for sellers is the sheer number of people who now sell on eBay. When I first started listing on the site, there were very few sellers. My items sold quickly and for top dollar. What were once considered rare items are now offered by numerous sellers. It's no longer enough to snap a few photos of an item. To be competitive, your items and your listings need to be the best they can be.

Even though sales on eBay might be slower than they once were, you can still sell almost anything, whether new or used, on eBay. Moreover, more companies are expanding onto eBay to sell their products, just as they do on their websites and other retailers. For instance, KitchenAid sells its products on its website, through other retailers like Target and Kohl's (both in-store and online), and directly to customers on eBay. This multi-channel approach allows companies to reach a broader audience. It gives eBay buyers access to a more comprehensive range of products, but it also creates more competition for small sellers.

Despite the increased competition, eBay remains the top platform for individuals and small businesses to sell their items to a global audience. Though it's grown significantly since its inception, eBay still feels like the world's largest flea market, offering various items at all price points. The platform continues to expand and improve, giving sellers like me confidence that eBay will be around for years. With nearly 200 million registered users, plenty of opportunities exist to make money.

So why choose eBay over a garage sale or consignment shop? Simply put, you're likely to get the most money for your items on eBay compared to selling them locally. With a massive user base of nearly 200 million, you have far more chances to find a buyer for your items.

Imagine you have a rare collectible to sell. Only a handful of people might see it at a garage sale or consignment shop, and how many of them are in the market for that collectible? However, if your item is on eBay, it is available worldwide to millions of account holders. You only need that one particular buyer who's specifically looking for your item and willing to pay your asking price. The chances of that buyer stumbling upon your garage sale are slim to none. That's why, when people at garage sales mention something's worth a certain amount on eBay, I always tell them they should go ahead and list it on eBay!

However, in my opinion, the most significant benefit of learning to sell on eBay is the financial security it can provide. Once you know how to sell on eBay, you can quickly turn your unwanted items into cash. While you might make a couple hundred dollars at a garage sale, you could earn a few thousand dollars by listing those items on eBay. I firmly believe selling on eBay should be taught to high school seniors as it's an invaluable life skill!

Most people who start selling on eBay do so by listing their extra stuff from around their homes. Once they get hooked on the thrill of selling their own items, they begin exploring thrift stores and garage sales for more treasures to sell. When I first started, after selling off some overstock of supplies from my short-lived gift basket business, I went through my house. I pulled everything I wasn't using – from clothing and books to CDs and collectibles – to sell on eBay.

But that was just the beginning. Soon, I was sourcing wholesale goods to sell online. Eventually, I found myself selling secondhand and vintage items, realizing the growth potential that someone like me could have on eBay. However, no matter what I've sold on eBay, one thing has remained the same: the money! eBay remains the number one marketplace for selling overstocked and secondhand goods, whether from around your house or from the thrift store down the street.

The question isn't why should you sell on eBay, but why aren't you?

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CHAPTER TWO: HOW TO SET UP YOUR EBAY SELLER ACCOUNT

Creating an eBay account is the first step to buying and selling on the platform. Buyers need to provide payment information to shop on the site, but sellers must submit additional details, such as a backup funding source, bank account numbers for payouts, and tax information.

eBay makes the registration process easy. To begin, go to eBay.com and click on Register at the top right corner. Follow the prompts to create a free account while considering the following:

Username: When setting up your eBay account, you must choose a username, also called a screen name. Be thoughtful about your choice; avoid sharing too much personal information (for example, singlewomanlivingalone) or using confusing names (for example, a mix of letters and characters such as dhi&#atg89yrew, which users can't read or remember). An easy-to-remember username can help attract repeat customers and establish your brand.

Since eBay has millions of registered users, your first choice for a username might already be taken, so it's good to have a few alternatives in mind. If you plan to sell consistently on eBay, choose a name that reflects what you intend to sell but isn't too specific. For example, you may start selling vintage dolls but later expand to other vintage collectibles such as home decor. A name like Sue's Vintage would be more versatile than Sue's Dolls. Remember that if you open an eBay store, you can select a different name for your shop, though ideally, it should match your username.

U.S. Sellers: American sellers must provide their Social Security number, and all users must provide financial information, such as a bank account routing number or a credit card, to create an eBay account. Some people are afraid to give this information, but it's a standard requirement for any selling platform, whether online or in a physical store.

For U.S. users, providing a Social Security number is required for tax purposes. Although the IRS announced plans to lower the reporting threshold for receiving a 1099 form from $20,000 to $600 annually, this change has been repeatedly delayed.

As of the writing of this book, the IRS has continually postponed the $600 threshold implementation, with the latest delay announced in 2023, pushing it back for another year. It remains to be seen whether this new threshold will apply for the 2024 tax year.

Regardless, eBay will notify all sellers about any updates to tax regulations. Additionally, eBay reports sellers' earnings directly to the IRS, so there is no way to hide any income you earn on the site. eBay will alert you when your tax form is ready, allowing you to print it as needed.

International Sellers: The information required to set up an eBay account can vary depending on the country. Here's a general overview of what might be needed for sellers outside of the United States:

Personal Information: Your personal details, such as your full name, address, and date of birth, are crucial for us to verify your identity and ensure the safety of our platform. For some regions, an official form of identification, like a passport or a national ID card, may be required for additional verification.

Financial Information: Your banking details are securely stored and used only for payouts. This typically includes the name on the account, bank name, routing number, and account number. In some cases, additional verification may involve linking a credit card or bank account, especially for international sellers.

Tax Information: International sellers may need to provide tax-related details, such as a national tax identification number, depending on the local regulations and eBay's requirements in their country.

Payment Methods: While eBay continues to expand Managed Payments to sellers outside of the United States, some countries are still not enrolled. If the country you are selling from is not eligible for eBay's Managed Payments, eBay will walk you through your options, including offering payment methods like PayPal or a Merchant Credit Card account. Additional verification methods like PostIdent or ID Verify may be required in countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Additional Verification: Some sellers, especially those in specific regions or categories, might need to provide extra documentation or complete additional verification steps to list items on international eBay sites.

Banking Information: All eBay sellers in eligible countries must enter banking information to participate in eBay's Managed Payments. This involves providing details like the bank name, account number, and routing number.

While it is common for sellers to open a separate business bank account specifically for their eBay transactions, using a personal checking account is also an option, especially for those just starting out.

Pro Tip: If you decide to open a business bank account, it's essential to ensure that the name on the account matches your eBay username. When you print shipping labels through USPS on eBay, your username will appear on the label. If you need to file a claim with USPS for lost or damaged packages, the claim check will be issued with your username that was printed on the label. Most banks will only cash checks made out to the exact name listed on your bank account.

Backup Funding: Having a credit card on file with eBay as a backup funding source is strongly encouraged. While eBay typically deducts your fees and shipping charges from your pending balance, having a credit card provides a safety net in case of unexpected charges that exceed your available balance or your bank account funds (the bank account you sign up with for eBay to deposit your earnings to). Moreover, if you have an eBay Store, your monthly subscription fees may be charged to your credit card rather than being deducted from your sales balance.

Complete Your Account: Once your eBay account is set up and enrolled in Managed Payments, it's time to explore the site and get comfortable with its features. You may be familiar with the layout if you shopped on eBay. However, selling on the platform involves a different interface with more sections and options than the buying experience, which we will cover extensively in the following chapters.

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CHAPTER THREE: IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS

Reselling is a unique skill; like any new skill, it takes time to learn. To get started, I recommend you complete the following three steps:

Step #1: Buy Some Low-Dollar Items On eBay

Begin by purchasing some inexpensive items from various