Selling old items you don’t use anymore is a great way to earn some extra cash – perfect for recovering financially from the holiday season. Here’s how to sell online, with eBay and Gumtree.
eBay
As one of the world’s biggest online marketplaces, eBay is quite easy to use, especially if you don’t want the hassle of dealing with buyers in person or if you want to sell internationally. You can sell items as a simple set price – Buy It Now – or in an online auction.
How to sell on eBay: First, you’ll have to create a seller account, confirm your details and set up payment information so you can receive money and pay eBay fees.
Next, you have to list your item. It’s important that you put it in the correct category and check for spelling mistakes. If anything is spelled or categorised incorrectly, your items can be difficult for others to find or they might only attract a few bidders rather than dozens.
It’s also important to include as much information about the item as possible and take some great photos – sellers want to see the item in detail.
Once it’s up for sale, you can monitor your item and see how it’s going, as well as respond to questions from potential buyers.
Fees: To list an item on eBay you have to pay a small fee. However, you are typically given a few free listings each month. Additional fees apply if you wish to list your item in more than one category or use some of the other available features. You will also be charged a small fee as a percentage of the sale price of your item.
Get started selling on eBay.
Gumtree
Gumtree is the number one classifieds site in Australia and a great way to sell if you prefer to exchange goods and cash in person, while still taking advantage of free online advertising for your items.
How to sell on Gumtree: Posting ads on Gumtree is easy and if you don’t wish to sign up for an account, you don’t have to. To list an ad, you will have to choose a category to enable people find your items, and choose the type of ad you would like to post. ‘Free’ is the ad type that most will choose, but for $5, $15 or $30, you can increase the visibility of your ad to increase the chance of it selling. Now you’ll have to enter a description of your item, set its price and upload some photos, if you wish. When you post an ad, it might take a few hours to appear on the site, so don’t worry if you don’t see it straight away.
Fees: The only fees you will pay on Gumtree are for extra advertising or features on the website. It’s up to you if you want to purchase these and you can definitely sell your item without them. You will not have to pay any fees once your item sells, but the onus is on you to ensure a safe transaction.
Get started selling on Gumtree.
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