# Help me sell things online **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429 "2003-08-25T01:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/1 "2003-08-25T01:16:40Z")
By poking around some websites, I have found that 14-year-old girls in the Midwest are willing to pay a lot more money for cute Japanese products than I can buy them for. I have decided to capitalize on this by selling stickers, stationary, nipple pads, what have you on ebay. Not having actually sold anything on ebay before, I was surprised to learn that they have a series of small fees I would end up having to pay. Individually, these fees are generally under $1.00, but there’s several of them and considering that I don’t expect to get any more than $5.00 for any of my things, they don’t leave me with much of a profit. Does anyone have experience with this kind of thing? Would I be better off making my own website and selling my things via paypal or money order? Or is there a different auction site that won’t charge me quite as much? And to justify this being in IMHO, share your stories of internet market mayhem! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/2 "2003-08-25T01:24:09Z")
Try [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). It has Amazon Marketplace, & Amazon Auvctions. It’s cheaper, easy to use, & Amazon will cover you if you get scammed/robbed/ripped-off. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/3 "2003-08-25T01:27:27Z")
I’ve had a number of eBay experiences as a buyer, and as a seller. When selling, ensure that you have clear, detailed photographs along with a painfully accurate description. Have your friends critique the description looking for conflict and FAQ, or you will be answering a gazillion emails from the land of DUH. Depending upon how you plan to ship these items to the winning bidder, you could conceivably take your costs of shipping, and add a handling fee, as most places that I’ve found online charge a modest S&H amount-hey, it’s part of your cost of doing business, so factor it in, IMHO. Based upon your present feedback rating, you may be able to include the “buy it now” option and get a higher amount. Also you should read about the eBay stores option which would then be linked to the auction page with any other stuff you’re selling. Hope this was helpful. ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/4 "2003-08-25T02:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > **When selling, ensure that you have clear, detailed photographs along with a painfully accurate description.** That’s actually one of my problems with ebay’s little fees - the seem to want to charge me for each photo I put up and I plan on putting up LOTS of photos. Thank you for the prompt replies. I’m now leaning more and more towards making my own website, which would enable me to build a loyal customer base and control the whole supply/demand thing. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/5 "2003-08-25T14:11:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by karomon \* > \*\*That’s actually one of my problems with ebay’s little fees - the seem to want to charge me for each photo I put up and I plan on putting up LOTS of photos. > > Thank you for the prompt replies. I’m now leaning more and more towards making my own website, which would enable me to build a loyal customer base and control the whole supply/demand thing. Any thoughts? \*\* In this case, where you plan to repeatedly sell similar items, wouldn’t a eBay Merchant’s Account (which would help with the fee structure) be a better idea? ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/6 "2003-08-25T14:39:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by karomon \* > \*\*That’s actually one of my problems with ebay’s little fees - the seem to want to charge me for each photo I put up and I plan on putting up LOTS of photos. \*\* I don’t know if US eBay is any different, but with Australian eBay the first photo is free for every auction. If I need any more I’ll usually use a photo hosting site (boomspeed is the best I’ve found) and upload the images to the actual text of the auction. This is one of my closed [auctions](http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3427349364&category=18788&rd=1) so you can get an idea of what I mean. I’ve seen quite a few sellers with items on eBay but who link to their online stores in their “about me” pages, which gives them greater exposure than if they simply had an e-store. Maybe that could be a possibility? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/7 "2003-08-25T14:48:09Z")
I sell on ebay and the majority of my stuff is in the $1.25 range. I charge $1.00 s/h. 60 cents goes toward postage, about 20 cents for packaging and the the last 20 cents are for my ‘handling’. I will also suggest that you get an off site host for your pictures if you need to post more than one. I also have a website and sell through that. My website and my ebay name are the same, to avoid confusion. Another idea for you is to group items together in lots and sell that way. You may find that ebay’s fees (plus you forgot…paypal charges a fee too) are steep for this type of item. I can tell you that little by little, you can make some money. Just be warned that you will really work for that money. If you use paypal, you may consider a $5.00 minimum or you’ll add a charge. Oh, and e-bay stores run approximately $10.00 a month, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/8 "2003-08-25T14:51:28Z")
**Kayeby** , the US ebay has the same “first picture free deal”. May I ask how much meny you end up giving the ebay per sale? > [@](#): > > I’ve seen quite a few sellers with items on eBay but who link to their online stores in their “about me” pages, which gives them greater exposure than if they simply had an e-store. Maybe that could be a possibility? I’m a little slow about this kind of stuff, it seems. When you say “online stores”, do you mean a site other than ebay or their own ebay store? Why would this give them greater exposure? Do potential customers tend to surf around sellers’ profiles? ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/9 "2003-08-25T14:57:25Z")
urgh. by “meny” I, of course, mean “money”. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/10 "2003-08-25T15:37:45Z")
Umm, I have to ask this one, what are ’ nipple pads’? ebay is nice if you set up one of their storefronts, but what would do about having little or no feedback? You can make a website & have your ebay items point to it too. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/11 "2003-08-25T15:49:36Z")
**karomom** , I pay 35c for the listing fee and the final value fee which is a little 5% of the end price, so for the auction that I linked to above I paid a little under $2 in total. By online store I meant their own store hosted at their own website. I always check sellers’ “about me” pages and if I like the items they’re selling I will happily hop over to their online store. An example is [this](http://members.ebay.com.au/aboutme/earthchylde/) seller. My sister bought a couple of things from her on eBay and then went to her website and proceeded to spend a boatload of money. I imagine this e-store has gotten quite a few sales from people who would not have found it other than through eBay. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/12 "2003-08-25T15:51:16Z")
Ah crap. I couldn’t stop it in time. I meant a little _over_ 5% of the end price. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/13 "2003-08-25T16:21:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\* You can make a website & have your ebay items point to it too. \*\* This is against E-bay’s policy. The only store you can direct customers to is your ebay store. Pointing to a website can very well get your ‘membership’ at ebay canceled, thus losing all of your feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/14 "2003-08-25T17:27:01Z")
First picture is free. Additional fees for Gallery pictures or other pictures. eBay, I think, will let you link to a “jumbo-sized” version of your posted picture of something if you want to show more detail than their small size allows. Anyother way to avoid the fee-being-a-large-percentage-of-value problem is to sell things as “lots”. Don’t sell a $5.00 sticker, sell a $15 “set of four”. Really figure it out, if you net $4.50 on a $5.00+S&H bid, then you’re not too bad off. Just set a minumum bid price so you don’t lose money & don’t waste your time. Use S&H fees to cover your costs. Don’t try to stuff too much profit into S&H, though, as some of us avoid high shipping costs. Don’t lose money on it, though. (Yesterday the Lady B and picked one auction over another similar item. The first was charging $4.00 for shipping, the other wanted to rip us off for $12.00). I sold some CD’s for $5.00 and I told the person 3.50 for S&H. The padded mailer was .50 and the postage was $2.85 (?). Just about right. I consider my labor to be free. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/15 "2003-08-25T17:42:16Z")
Just found this: > [@](#): > > **eBay Link Policy** > > Navigate to “Help” -\> “eBay Policies” -\> “Rules for Sellers” -\> “Listing Policies for Sellers” -\> “Links Policy” > > Adding Links to Item Listings > eBay allows sellers to place the following types of links in your item’s description (see the Links Frequently Asked Questions for the definition of a link): > > One link to a page that further describes the item being sold in that listing > One link to your email address that opens an email client for potential buyers to ask questions about the item in that listing > Links to photos of the item for sale > Links to your eBay (including your eBay Store) or [Half.com](http://Half.com) listings > Links to your About Me page (in addition to the About Me icon already provided by eBay) > Links that provide credits to third parties > One link to your listing terms and conditions (providing that the most relevant information is within the listing itself and that this page does not include any links off of eBay) > If you have a logo for any of these links, it may be no greater than 88x33 pixels and it may not flash or otherwise move. (The exception to this guideline is links to your eBay or [Half.com](http://Half.com) listings). > > Linking to Web sites that offer to trade, sell, or purchase goods or services, or including links for any purpose other than those listed above is not allowed. Prohibited links include, but are not limited to: > > Links to Web pages that offer to trade, sell or purchase goods or services outside of eBay. This applies whether it is a static URL or an active link > Links to Web sites or pages offering merchandise not permitted on eBay > Links to sites that solicit eBay User IDs or passwords from buyers > Links that encourage buyers to place their eBay bids through a site other than eBay ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/16 "2003-08-25T17:47:14Z")
I did a search for “linking” in the eBay help page and this is what I came up with: > [@](#): > > **What links may I have on my About Me page?** > You may link to your own Web store from your About Me page. However, you may not directly offer any non-eBay merchandise on the About Me page itself. So it seems that while it’s a no-no to advertise your web page in the actual auction, it’s fine to do it in your About Me page. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/17 "2003-08-25T22:32:58Z")
" So it seems that while it’s a no-no to advertise your web page in the actual auction, it’s fine to do it in your About Me page." How about as your UserID? I think there actually are some. You know like a user ID of: webstoredotcom ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/18 "2003-08-25T22:52:32Z")
Yes Kayeby, you are correct. It’s just that a lot of people don’t go to the ‘about me’ page. in all my time on E-bay, nobody has ever bothered. I know I have never looked at any one’s about me page. YMMV. Handy, that is why my seller name is the same as my online site…minus the dotcom part. I get custom orders that way. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/19 "2003-08-25T22:58:58Z")
Actually Kayeby, I just reread what you wrote. I would have to disagree that it’s ok to link to a selling site on your “about me” page. You can have a link on your “about me” page. That link, however, may not link to a site selling “non e-bay merchandise”. It can be a link to a personal site or what have you. While E-bay may not find out about it, if (and when) they do, they can cancel your membership. You’d also be surprised about how some competitors can act. I’ve heard stories about competitors deliberately asking people to break e-bay rules so that they can turn them in. ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429/20 "2003-08-26T01:56:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*Umm, I have to ask this one, what are ’ nipple pads’? \*\* Glad you asked. They’re little flesh-tone stickers that you’re supposed to put on your nipples, so as to hide them underneath thin clothes when not wearing a bra. Thanks everyone for all the advice. Continue to keep it coming while I work on my plan. So far, I’ve set it up this way: I’ll start doing a few auctions on ebay, selling the really cheap items in lots (thanks **Belrix** ), and determine what amount of money people are prepared to pay for the different products I put up. Meanwhile, I’ll be working on my super-sleek website where, once finished, I can sell my stuff from, with only the minimum Paypal fees to detract from my profit. Sound good? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-sell-things-online/197429.md?page=2)