Internet Business Society

1. Sell what everyone else is selling
When you start your home business with eBay, on the surface it sounds very inviting to sell what everyone else is selling. After all it is working for them, why shouldn’t it work for you. It is important that you understand that the seller who is selling these hot items on eBay are more established and have a track record and are trusted by buyers. They have good resources and are in a position to buy in wholesale quantities enabling them to offer good prices. Before you start selling what everyone is selling, it is absolutely necessary for you to research what others are selling their items for and compare it with what your costs are. You want to be profitable as well as competitive.

2. Cheap items under $10
This is a big problem area. Perhaps you reason that everyone wants a good deal. While this is true, the big problem with items that sell for under $10 is shipping. More often than not, shipping for the item will cost more than the item itself, and this can discourage buyers from purchasing. For example, if you have the item listed for $7.95 and the shipping on that item is $5.00, the total cost for that item is $12.95. If the buyer can go to their local store and buy that item for $9.95, it becomes a better value for them. You will find that one of the best ways to sell inexpensive items is to put them together in a group like a group of 4 cups, 5 cards, etc…. Grouping your items in this manner allows you to offer items under $10 and still be competitive.

3. Things that you really like a lot
This will only work if their are a lot of other people also that are interested in what you like too. Don’t make the mistake of finding an item that you feel is so great, but no one else is interested in buying it. It would not be wise to continue to nurture that item in hopes that people will come around. Indeed, the product may be good, but it is difficult to start a trend on your own. To make money from a trend requires a massive marketing effort that could include television, magazines, radio and other sources. You will be more effective by finding an item that generate interest and activity from the very beginning and focusing your efforts on what people are interested in instead of what appeals to you.

4. Items that are very large
Large items like furniture, pianos and similar large items can be a good items to sell, and can be very profitable, however if you are just starting out, you might want to consider starting with smaller items. Shipping large items is a major undertaking, and also they won’t generate as many impulse buyers as other medium items. Having impulse buyers is very important to your cash flow when you are just starting out.

5. Hard items to ship…..fragile china, glassware & plants
Once again, I am not saying that these are bad items to sell, there are many sellers that do very well with these items. If you are just beginning, I don’t recommend that you sell such challenging items. These items carry an above average shipping risk for you. Because you are just starting out you want to do everything you can to protect your reputation, by avoiding any negative feedback. As you grow and become more confident and experienced, you may want to consider selling items that are hard to ship.