If you’ve got a product to sell and are thinking about selling your goods online, you’ve probably already heard of Ebay. But did you know there are many other websites which allow you to sell and buy products? Don’t limit your selling options, think about increasing your business exposure by using other online selling sites. We’ve been checking out some great sites for some of our customers and in this article, we list our recommendations.
Whichever trading sites you use, remember that photographs are the most important aspect of selling anything. Only use clear, attractive photos and take time to write good descriptions for each article. Give all pertinent information including size, weight, materials and other interesting details. Also include information about why the item is so special so that potential customers will be persuaded into buying it.
Depending on where the site is hosted, prices may be listed in other currencies such as US dollars or Euros. Keep up to date of current exchange rates and use a currency calculator such as www.xe.com to update prices at least once a month. Remember to update the shipping price if necessary.
Never provide your personal or banking information (e.g. credit card number) to others over the Internet. Also, when buying or selling and you are to meet in-person to see the item and exchange money, for personal safety, always ensure you take someone with you.
1. ETSY (www.etsy.com)
Etsy.com is the most well-known place to sell handmade items online. But you are not just limited to selling crafts here, you can sell artwork and prints, craft supplies and vintage items. With over 3.3 million members, only 250,000 of those are sellers, meaning that there are more than enough customers to go around.
To become a seller on Etsy, the first thing to do is register for a buyer account. Be careful when choosing your username, as it will also be your shop name, located at http://username.etsy.com
It costs 20 cents to list an item for four months and when your item sells, you are charged a 3.5% transaction fee. Fees are paid monthly using either PayPal or the credit card on file. Listings expire after a few months and a fee must be paid to re-list them.
A quick look on the website gives the impression that this business is primarily in the United States, but do not let that put you off, as 40% of sales are from international buyers.
While prices are listed in US dollars, PayPal will correctly convert your currency, but all other sales, such as money order and cheques, need to be calculated by you.
Remember to keep up to date of current exchange rates and update your prices at least once a month. (Don’t forget to check and update your shipping price if necessary).
2. DAWANDA (www.dawanda.com)
Dawanda.com is similar to Etsy, but lists prices in Euros. Anyone who makes handmade products or offers customised and tailor-made items can become a seller on DaWanda. All you need to do is register and then create your shop.
To create your shop you will have to provide details such as your address, your payment details, your shop name and a description about yourself.
You can upload your personal banner and photo to customise your shop. After that you can start to list the items you would like to sell.
DaWanda charges no listing fees, just 5% commission when an item sells. The items remain listed until they sell or 120 days.
3. AMAZON (www.amazon.com)
Amazon.com became famous for selling books, but in the past 10 years the website has expanded and now sells everything from bicycles to bath mats.
Unlike eBay, Amazon sells at fixed prices and listings can last for months or years and listing an item is even easier than you would think.
A listing for a book, for example, only requires a search for your books by title, ISBN or EAN, so there is no need to write a description or bother with pictures.
The EAN, or The European Article Number, is a bar code that is similar to a UPC code in the US. This 12- or 13-digit product identification code, uniquely identifies the product, manufacturer, and its attributes; typically, the EAN is printed on a product label or packaging.
Just select the condition of the item, for example, like new, and choose a price. You will be notified by email when an item sells and postage is broken down by item category and is automatically added to your listing, so you do not need to bother with a set of scales.
4. EBID (www.au.ebid.net)
Ebid is the leading alternative to eBay but the biggest difference is that at eBid it is free to list your auction no matter what price you start accepting bids.
To register for a selling account, you must first sign up as a buyer, then upgrade your account to either Seller or Seller+.Seller gives you access to the “Standard” auction format which is free to list with a 3% final value fee. If you upgrade to Seller+ can use the “Free Auction” which has no listing fees and no final value fees.
Prices range from $1.99 for one week to $49.99 for a year. The only catch is that these subscriptions are recurring payments, so unless you cancel your membership, you will be charged regularly.
5. GUMTREE (www.gumtree.com.au)
This website is becoming more popular for local community classifieds and it is free to post sale items on the site.
Posting an advertisement on Gumtree is quick and easy. Simply visit the site home page and click on the “post an ad” button, choose the most relevant category for your ad and then enter the details.
Once submitted, there can be a delay of up to 3-4 hours before the ad will appear online, so please be patient. Please also be aware that it can take longer for photos to appear in your ad than the text. After you submit your ad, you’ll be sent a confirmation email which will contain your reference number and password. Just make sure you keep this email, because you can use these details later to edit, report or delete your ad.
6. EBAY (www.ebay.com.au)
It’s not an exaggeration to say you can sell anything on Ebay! To begin selling, you will need to register and then create a seller’s account. To open an account, visit www.ebay.com.au and click on the “Sell” link at the top of every eBay page. Then select the link marked “Create a Seller’s Account” and enter your details.
For verification purposes, you will be asked to provide credit or debit card details and bank account information.
But before you place anything for sale, remember that preparation is key – make sure you do your research and be realistic.
To get an idea of how much you can expect to sell your item for and to find out how other sellers have sold similar items, check eBay’s “Completed Items” search.
There are two ways to sell your items, either through an auction-style listing or at a fixed price with “Buy It Now”. For beginners, the auction is generally the way to go as with the fixed price option you will need feedback from at least 10 sales in order to list.
It is now free to start your auction-style listing at 99c and keep in mind that the lower you start the bidding, the more likely you are to sell your item.
Many sellers list their items for seven days, in order to include a weekend to capture weekend shoppers. Sunday evenings are the busiest for shoppers.
Once the listing ends, contact the buyer to arrange payment and to get delivery details. Only post the item once you have received payment.
