- eBay Logo and Sign - Steven Arnold
When eBay started back in 1995, the results where nothing short of revolutionary for the online business community and those looking to earn a little extra money from their old and unwanted possessions. However, several years later the eBay community has evolved like all business models and simply listing one’s old unwanted items is no longer a guarantee of a sale. For the right person, eBay remains a viable way to make an extra income, or even a full time living, but as with all businesses, staying at the cutting edge of consumer trends is key.
What to Sell on Ebay: The Choice Between Selling New Goods or Selling Second Hand Goods
While the original online auction concept saw traders initially selling a large amount of second hand goods, everything from high quality antiques to second hand clothing. The current trend on eBay and other online auction sites is for the sale of new goods.
Deciding what to sell will of course depend upon what resources an entrepreneur has access to. However, before targeting the second hand market, check the availability of the same goods being sold as new. The key consideration here is, can the seller offer second hand goods at enough of a discount to attract business away from the market for brand new products. If the answer is no, then steer clear of selling such products in anything less than new condition.
Trends in Shipping Costs on Online Auctions
Many sellers in the past have chosen to use shipping costs, which are levied on the final price of a lot as a way to bump up the price. However, this has always been controversial amongst buyers who naturally would rather pay lower fees or at least a fee which reflects the true cost of shipping.
In a recent restructuring of the pricing policy operated by eBay, the company now levies a fee on the total transaction cost of a lot, including shipping. eBay state that one of the aims of this policy is to encourage reasonable shipping costs to be levied by sellers.
Online Business Ideas: eBay Business Ideas and Concepts
While there are many models of doing business on an online auction site, such as eBay here are a few business models to consider:
- Import Business Model – Many individuals are wary of buying goods in an online auction from overseas due to high shipping costs or a fear of fraud. As such, one business model is simply to become an importer, buying cheap goods from overseas and then selling the goods on to what buyers perceive as a safer environment.
- Arts and Crafts Businesses – If you have an artistic talent or are skilled in a particular craft, eBay and other online auctions can be a great outlet for your products. Getting one’s products found can however, be a challenge, especially in the art market. As such, it may be wise to link your “store” to a website or blog to drive in extra traffic.
- eBay Stores – These are great for those who have a commercially driven website or blog but don’t have the time or skill to set up independent merchant facilities for online sales. Here one can simply set up an eBay store and then place a link to a host website.
- Second Hand Goods – While the trend on online auction sites is for the sale new goods, there is still a market for second hand goods, especially if such items can be obtained at rock bottom prices, such as at a house clearance or from an offline auction.
Frank Smith - Frank Smith currently works as an full time industry analyst for a well known construction company in Lincolnshire. In his spare time, ...
