How you can use eBay to cash in on your unwanted Christmas presents
From timing the auctions right, to taking the correct pictures... here's you can make the most from your undesired gifts
SO, Santa didn’t quite get it right this year.
Sure, you got some lovely bits and bobs but that jumper from your gran is a size too small – and only suitable if you were 12.
As we reported yesterday, some £200million of unwanted gifts are expected to be returned this week.
But you don’t even need to leave the house to do it – auction site eBay is chock-full of Christmas cast-offs. Last year, the site’s Christmas Day listings saw a surge in scents, watches and handbags.
After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
But how can you make the most of your listings to ensure you get as many Pounds for your prezzies as possible? For starters, eBay allows you to list up to 20 items a month for free, but you can sell more for 35p each time.
When your item is snapped up, the site takes a “final value fee” which works out at ten per cent of the final transaction value, including postage. It is capped at £250 per item.
Here, we share the site’s handy tips to help you make more money out of your unwanted gifts.
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Good pictures are crucial to high bids
THE vast majority of eBay users will not bid on items without pictures.
A decent photo allows potential buyers to not only see what you are selling, but it proves you actually have the item and the condition is as you’ve described.
The quality of the picture or pictures is everything. Make sure photos are clear and taken in a good light.
A clean white background with nothing to distract the buyer is the best way to show off an item. A cluttered photo can give the impression of carelessness.
The photos should also be well lit and taken from various angles, with some close-ups so the buyer can get a real feel for what they are bidding for.
If you’re selling clothes, don’t just put the item on a hanger, take a picture of a person wearing it.
This will attract a lot more attention and give buyers a much better idea of how it will look on their body.
Of course, you don’t need to include your face if you don’t want your friends to see you in that old pink frilly dress or unwanted Christmas jumper.
2) Get word perfect to attract attention
TAKE the time to get your keywords spot on and bidders will come flocking.
When buyers search, eBay only looks for words in the listing’s title, so it is crucial to use keywords such as brand names and sizes.
Consider “stylish plunging neckline plum dress”, for example. No one is going to search for that.
The more practical “new size 10 purple wrap Topshop dress” is much better.
Also, if an item is new with tags, it’s worth flagging up.
And keep the box for those swanky M&S cufflinks or your Adidas Gazelles (the trainers you wanted, but NOT in green). It makes them easier to post, too.
3) TEN DAY AUCTION IS BEST
WHEN starting an auction, you can choose whether it lasts one, three, five, seven or ten days.
The longer your item is listed, the more chance people have to see it. So unless it is time-sensitive, always go for ten days.
For Buy It Now listings – where you can set a price you want for an item and if a buyer is happy to pay it, the auction immediately ends – you can choose three, five, seven, ten or 30-day auctions.
They all cost the same but we advise the 30-day option.
After all, some extra cash in February wouldn’t go amiss . . .
4) Imitate to articulate
CHECK out the competition to compare listings and prices.
There is nothing worse than selling an expensive item for much less because you didn’t know its true value.
This is vital for items such as watches, where it can also help to find out the usual retail price.
For example, a new Timex watch would set you back around £120.
5) END IT ON A SUNDAY
MAKE sure you get the timing right.
According to eBay statistics, the busiest time for buyers is Sunday evening, so try to schedule your auctions to end around that time.
Avoid times when most people will be busy, such as weekday mornings, or when there are any big events such as sports matches or TV finales.
Happy selling!