Why I Decided to Start Selling on eBay
When I began my reselling journey, I thought that Poshmark would be more than enough to keep me busy and content. I was right, for a little while. But then I began to think about ways to amp up my revenue by adding in new streams. This is when I became determined to learn just how to start selling on eBay.
I had kept telling myself that I was in no way, no how going to become an eBay seller. This seemed like the biggest and baddest platform after all, and I was still just a newbie barely making ends meet with my little Poshmark side hustle. I don’t have a date for exactly when I decided to take the leap, but it was around 6 or so months into my journey.
It seemed like a literal overload of new information, and heck, I was still learning the ropes over on Posh. However, I thought I’d had a good enough grasp on what I was doing there, that I felt comfortable in adding a second platform.
Learning a New Platform Like ebay
At first glance, I was quite sure that I’d gotten way in over my head. There was such ease to the Poshmark way of listing, sharing, and well everything, really. When learning how to start selling on eBay, I had so many more buttons and so many more options and I was just going googly-eyed over it all.
Fees were yet another thing that made me concerned. Poshmark had made it so easy to know what your profits were, right then and there with each and every sale. Figuring out how fees worked seemed so complicated on eBay, and this was also something that was holding me back.
I had watched several videos in the past for Posh, but there were so many more revolving around the eBay world on YouTube. This ridiculous amount of learning ahead definitely freaked me out a little, so I decided to back out.
Yep, I spent several months logging in every now and then, just to dabble in the different sections. After a while, and a bunch more YouTubing, I thought maybe I should give it another go.
Related: How To Determine What ebay Listings Are Stale
Take 2, Let’s Do This.
I decided that this time around, I better stick with it because if not, I was just wasting loads of time. Focusing on how to start selling on eBay was difficult at first, especially since Poshmark was way outperforming at the time. However, I was determined to make it work.
Listing took me quite literally, FOREVER. I kept thinking I was going to miss something or add something twice, you name it. It was definitely not nearly as user-friendly. But I kept pushing forward.
After a solid month or so of getting a sale here or there, I was beginning to get excited. Yay! I must be doing something right at least. There weren’t always big sales, and there wasn’t always many sales, but hey, they were sales. I wasn’t complaining. It was right before the holidays at this time, and of course, I got to thinking that this must solely be the cause.
Don’t Be Afraid to Call ebay Customer Service
After the holidays rolled around, I was bringing in a lot more sales. I was making 1-2 sales a week, instead of just a handful a month. This is when I started hitting it harder, as I got more comfortable with what I was doing.
Listing became increasingly easier, and there was no sharing factor. I liked that a lot. However, I had a slew of questions, so I spent a lot of hours on the phone with customer service. (Just one of the many benefits of eBay that I definitely stand behind). They were quick to help me out and answered mostly all of my questions with honesty and personalized advice.
Having someone to help guide me through the beginning was extremely helpful, and I am forever grateful for those who had patience with my many questions. Another helpful aspect that they provide, is several emails.
These emails come every so often and give updates on how you can implement new ideas to increase your sales. They even send you ones whenever your items may need revising. Coolness!
Perseverance Pays Off For ebay Sales
At this point, the sales were coming in pretty regularly. I was over the moon to be able to finally have two successful streams of income. It was hard work keeping up with both platforms, but I was more than satisfied with the results. This proves that hard work and perseverance really does pay off in the long run.
During this time I still held a regular part-time job out of the house. It was a little frustrating due to not being able to answer questions or comments diligently, but I did the best I could with the time that I had.
However, once I made my way into going at it full-time, things really geared up. For a while, sales were up and down, a bit scattered. Nowadays they’re more regulated, on both platforms actually.
How Did I Regulate My ebay Sales?
This is where strategy and consistency really make a difference. The key to success, (for me at least), was forming a way to make sure I always had enough inventory to list, pictures taken and ready to edit, and listings ready to be drafted.
Forming a plan for all of this always seems easier on paper, or in your head. Mapping it out in real-time is where it gets a little tricky. I was always rushing to try and complete all of these tasks, while still trying to fit in everyday life as well. I needed balance.
After several months of switching back and forth on different strategies, I finally got into a system that worked best for me. This will of course be different for everyone, based on your priorities and daily activities.
Find Your Balance on Your ebay Store
I determined that my health, house, and family had to come first of course, so I made time for those in chunks throughout the day. Personally, I work best whenever I can switch in between things over a few hours, instead of just boring myself with one thing for a longer period of time.
Since discovering that I am most creative in the morning, I like to jump right onto the computer as soon as my husband leaves for work. I really like the feeling of having so much accomplished before most of the world even wakes up.
By cranking out as much creative content as I can manage before my hunger kicks in, I find comfort in knowing that I at least have a head start on the day. Then when I’m finished with my work in the morning, I focus on completing my stretches, and exercises. (Read here how I strive to stay healthy and in shape while working from home). This is helpful especially after I’ve been cramped up in a chair for some time.
Stay Consistent With Your ebay Inventory and Store!
Consistency is key. How often have you heard that? Let’s be real, it’s easier said than done. It is so true though! Being consistent with my business has most definitely been the number one key to my success in learning how to start selling on eBay.
Finding your balance and finding what works best for you personally, is the hard part. Once you have that under wraps, you’re good to go. Now that I have been able to keep up with being consistent every day, yes, even weekends, *sad face* I have seen a giant improvement in my sales.
To do this, you need to make sure that you are preparing yourself. Preparation pairs well with consistency, and it is vital to running your business smoothly.
Do the Prep Work
Preparation is something that I most surely used to lack. I was always behind, always running late. Trust me, this is not the way to be when you’re trying to start a business from scratch.
Since becoming more prepared in everyday life, I’ve found that things aren’t as rushed, and not as many mistakes are made. If you try to plan in advance but are having a rough time, try just taking it one day at a time. Instead of planning a week, or even a month ahead, just go for one day.
During the weekdays, this is usually what my goal is. It keeps me on top of everything, and I always know what I’ll be working on in the day ahead.
These changes come Friday though when I work diligently to get two or three days’ work done. I’ve started this method because I was noticing that Saturdays and Sundays were really dipping in sales for me. This is because I began slacking when my husband was off during the weekend, and I was just doing the bare minimum.
The bare minimum will work of course, but you will unlikely see the same results. By getting everything prepared Fridays leaves me to be able to spend a lot less time getting things done, while not sacrificing precious time with my family.
Will You Take the Leap?
So, do you think you can handle more than one platform? If you are seriously thinking about it, I would definitely take the chance on eBay. It’s for sure a lot of work upfront, but the longer you are a seller, the more you will learn. The more you learn, the more sales you will make and the easier it will become over time.
In my opinion, once you’ve mastered eBay, you can even add a few more streams in, if you wish. But I highly recommend using eBay as a first or second option, since it is so widely recognized, with currently 168 million buyers that will be looking for your items, worldwide. That’s pretty sweet.
They by far have the furthest reach, and are not just a dinosaur of the reselling world, but constantly updating and changing to better themselves. Take advantage of this opportunity and do yourself a favor! Take the leap and see what potential you truly have.
Patience is something that helps very much when reselling on any platform. It’s going to take time, and a lot of it, to build any new store. And for this, you need to be consistent in your work, even if you don’t see results right away. Trust me, it will be worth the wait.
Thank You!
A giant thanks to everyone that has supported me this far into my journey! I greatly appreciate you returning to read my posts hope that you will continue to drop by in the future.
Please feel free to drop any comments below that you would like to add! I am always open to advice, suggestions, or even hearing related stories of your own!
I stay as active as possible in the comment section, therefore I will reply to any questions asap.
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Happy selling friends!
-Shelby
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