Selling items on eBay is a great way to make money as a teenager. I’ve been selling on eBay for a few years and love that it doesn’t take much time and can make you a significant amount of money.

What is eBay?

eBay is a website where you can buy and sell items. If you want to sell something, you can make a listing and auction it off or charge a flat price. Then when you receive payment, you package and ship the item, and you’re done!

How much money can you make? 

I started using eBay about two years ago and since then have made over $2,500. I know that may not sound like a lot but considering that I make an average of $20 per listing and that a listing takes approximately 30 minutes, it’s a great hourly wage.

How to start selling

Making an eBay listing may sound like a daunting task, but it actually isn’t that hard, and it gets easier over time. Once you’ve decided what to sell, there are only three steps. 

1. Make the listing:
   1. Decide on a detailed title that clearly and accurately describes your item.
   2. Elaborate on your item with a well-written and concise product description.
   3. Decide on a selling format (but it now or auction).
   4. Choose a fair price.
   5. Specify shipping and handling details.

2. Take photos:

        1.  Look for a place with good lighting and background to take a photo
        2. Take clear pictures of the item, making sure to show all sides and highlighting                  any imperfections (scratches, dents, scuffs, etc.) Then insert the photos into your              listing.

3. Ship it: 

         1. Find or make a cardboard box that fits your item well.
         2. Safely package the item within the box so that it doesn’t have room to                                   move around.
         3. Print out the shipping label and securely tape it to the exterior of the package               4. Take the package to the post office or put it in your mailbox to be collected.

What to sell

For me, finding things to sell is the hardest part. Everyone has to find their own niche, but personally, I’ve found success selling electronics and books. 

Old or broken electronics can sometimes have a surprisingly high value and are typically easy to sell. For example, I sold a MacBook with a cracked display that that didn’t work at all for $115.

Used books are easy to get, list, and sell, typically making you between 5 and 15 dollars per book. Even though they’re not as lucrative as other items, it is easy to sell them in high quantities to make up for their low price.

How to get inventory

The easiest way to get inventory, in my experience, is by buying from friends, family, or other people you know. For example, if one of your friends breaks their phone and gets a new one you could ask to buy the broken on from them. First, research how much it might sell for on eBay and if you can both agree on a price lower than what it would sell for on eBay, buy it! This method isn’t just limited to electronics. You can buy anything from books to clothes from people you know and resell them for more on eBay. 

What’s great about this method is it’s a win-win. They get money, and you get items to sell that otherwise may have gone to waste. 

How to get good ratings

Getting good ratings/feedback from your customers makes you a more trustworthy seller that people will feel safe buying from. This will make it significantly faster to sell items, potentially allow you to charge higher prices.

These are the three best ways I’ve found to get excellent reviews:

1. Write an accurate description of the item you’re selling and describe any flaws or imperfections so that the buyer isn’t surprised when they receive it.
2. Make sure your packaging protects the item your shipping, especially if it’s delicate, to prevent it from arriving damaged or broken.
3. Once an order is paid for, try to ship it immediately so that the customer will receive your item as quickly as possible. 

Doing these three things should ensure that you will get great reviews! Even though not everyone will leave a review, I find that around 50% of people do.

Tips and tricks

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that an item’s original sale price doesn’t always determine its value. For example, a book that costs $50 new may only sell for a few dollars on eBay if it isn’t in high demand. It’s easy to fall into the trap of finding expensive used items and assuming they will resell on eBay for a similar price.

Another thing I’ve learned is not to have auctions. Unless you’re selling something thats in high demand, like a MacBook, or don’t know what something’s worth, it’s best to charge a set price. I generally stay away from auctions since it may deter buyers if they think they’ll get bid-up or have to wait longer to receive their item.

Why it’s great for teens

Selling items on eBay is an easy and flexible way to make money. You can decide what you want to sell and how much time you want to spend each week making listings. It’s also easy to fit in even with a busy schedule. 

The takeaways:

1. Making an eBay listing isn’t difficult.
2. Write clear and accurate titles for your items.
3. Write a thorough and concise product description. 
4. Safely package items so that they don’t arrive broken or damaged.
5. Buying from friends, family, and other people you know is a great way to get inventory.
6. An item’s original sale price doesn’t always determine its value.
7. Only make auction listings if you don’t know the value of your item, or it’s in high demand.
8. You can easily fit selling on eBay into a busy schedule.
9. Selling on eBay is an essay way for teens to make money and is a great alternative to throwing out your old stuff.