Sometimes it seems like everybody including your daytime boss is hawking his or her wares on Ebay. Some make money; others spend more in listing fees than any amount they will ever recoup through sales. It is possible to build a business that will earn you a sizable second income through this Internet auction site.
Research what you are intending to sell to see if there is a market for it at Ebay. Check not only the current listings, but also the completed listings. This will give you a much clearer view of a product's sales potential.
Be professional in shipping your merchandise and in the pricing of shipping. Offer various payment services such as Pay Pal to make it easier for customers to pay for purchases. Take the time to leave feedback for buyers, so you in turn will receive feedback. Buyers do read feedback profiles, especially when considering a first time purchase from someone.
Networking and building a name for you is important to bring back repeat customers. For example, two sellers selling very similar jewelry have quite a degree of separation in their sales figures. One is a frequent visitor to online chat rooms devoted to jewelry, and is quick to answer emails and provide additional photos of any items in question. The other is new, and figures that by undercutting the other's prices, they will be able to garner some of the previous seller's sales. Not so surprisingly, shoppers stick with the first seller, even though the product costs a few dollars more. They know they can trust the first seller to provide merchandise as promised.
This is a lesson in building your own sales through quality and attitude and not just through lower pricing. Be prepared to put time and energy into the endeavor if you truly expect to make money.