Selling your belongings online can be a great way to make some extra money, but it isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. If you do find yourself in a tight spot, or you have decided to start selling other items online like homemade crafts to see if you could start a small business, below are some considerations you need to think about before you move forward with your plans.
Finding the Right Platform
Whether you’re selling products or second-hand items you no longer want, it’s important to find the right place to do this. Numerous websites are dedicated to sellers, but not everyone will give you the results you’re looking for. For example, there might be fees you need to pay to sell via that platform, and it’s important to check these first to make sure you’re making the profits you want.
Remember Shipping Fees
Another thing to keep in mind when preparing to sell items online is the shipping fees. While you can list your items as available for collection only, this can put people off and limit your potential customers to those who are local to your area. Instead, do some research into shipping costs both nationally and internationally and set these fees as part of the price, so you’re not left using most of the sale money to cover this. You can even look into this eBay shipping service for delivering your eBay bargains to find a more cost-effective solution that could help your items sell quicker.
Photographing the Items
People aren’t going to want to buy items that they can’t see, so you must take the time to photograph the items that you want to sell. Take several photos from different angles so that potential customers can get a better idea of the quality of the item, as limited photos can be off-putting. If you’re selling items that you have made and want to make a more professional impression, use props and good lighting to make your products look more appealing and to reflect your brand.
Payment Options
If you’re selling items online, bank transfers are typically how payments are processed. However, double-check to see if your websites also allow customers to use PayPal and if it does, set your account to accept this kind of transaction as well. This will make it easier for more people who prefer to use this method to purchase your items. You should also check transaction fees and incorporate this into the overall price that you’re listing your product to make sure you’re getting the amount that you want for these items.
Order Fulfilment
Finally, when your customers have placed an order and the payment has been processed, you need to make sure that you’re sending their items to them quickly. Some websites allow sellers 5 days to ship their items before a refund is given to the customer, but you should try to do it within 1-2 days of receiving your order. This will keep your customers happy and reduce the risk of getting negative reviews as a seller on these sites.
Selling items online can be an excellent way to make extra money, but before your commit to doing this, think about the points above and whether or not you’re willing to put in this effort.