Chapter 5. Sell Stuff, Make Money

Where else but eBay can you reach millions of customers, find buyers for everything from those old toys in your closet to brand-new diamond necklaces, and accept paymentall while relaxing in your bunny slippers? Selling stuff on eBay is so easy that regular peoplethat is, folks without prior retail experienceare doing everything from supplementing their income (and cleaning out their basements to boot) to starting full-fledged home-based businesses. Everybody, it seems, is making money selling on eBay.

There's gold in them thar auctions, all right. And with the tips and tricks you'll find in this chapter, you can join the rush. It includes the lowdown on:

• Finding stuff to sell.

• Registering as a seller.

• Figuring out what it'll cost you.

• Listing an item: the Sell Your Item form in glorious detail.

• Deciding on the best time to end an auction.

• Getting paid.

• Packing and shipping properly to reduce dreaded returns.

• Troubleshooting disputes and other problems.