Starting a business on eBay used to be somewhat of a lucrative prospect. However, eBay businesses can come in all shapes and sizes – people flip cars on eBay, some people sell makeup brushes.
How successful your business is can depend on what you choose to sell, how you market them, and the quality of the product. That being said, there are a few things to consider before you decide to start an eBay business in 2020. Read on:
1. The Seller Fees
One of the biggest and most important things to consider in 2020 are the seller fees. Sellers with a basic eBay account pay a 10% final value fee for most items, but this may vary depending on what you have sold and how much you have made.
eBay tends to take the fees monthly, so you may need to keep some money aside based on what you have sold for the month. Most platforms take a fee, so it’s simply about making sure you’re comfortable with how much eBay takes and how they take it.
2. Alternatives to eBay
Of course, there are alternative platforms to eBay – and in some cases, you may want to have multiple platforms so that you can be found everywhere and have more chance of making a sale. Some people like to set up an Amazon account, an Etsy account, and even a Depop account.
There are so many more, though, such as Vinted, Facebook marketplace, and ASOS marketplace. Some platforms will be better to sell on depending on what you want to sell, so do your research.
3. Pick Appropriate Shipping
Making sure your shipping is appropriate will make a big difference to how quickly your items arrive and how happy your buyer is.
Look for appropriate eBay shipping that you can afford and ensure they can be trusted. Offering free shipping can make your item twice as likely to sell, so you need something that’s going to be cost effective.
4. Make it Official and Legal
Make sure your eBay business is official and legal if you’re going to be selling more than the occasional item there.
5. Customer Service
Providing the best customer service is key. You’ll have people who aren’t happy and want to return items, as you can’t please everyone. Keeping your cool and providing the best customer service will set you apart.
6. Product Descriptions
Take your time to write accurate product descriptions. Some people don’t write enough and it can be off putting. Taking your time on descriptions can make a big difference to your sales success.
7. Your Own eCommerce Store
Another alternative is opening an eCommerce store of your own, although this can be a big, scary decision. You need to make sure it looks great and that people can find it, which is why many people still choose to use eBay alongside a store. It can be expensive to build a store, but you can also find free options.
Building an eBay business isn’t a bad idea in 2020, but it’s a good idea to have other options to bulk up your sales!