by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: August 18, 2010   Last Updated: April 03, 2012

eBay offers a platform for selling just about anything. It is an easy way to start your own business or to supplement your current income.  If you have not gotten into it yet, you may be wondering what type of items people are selling and more importantly,  what things people are buying. How you find things to sell on eBay depends on whether or not you plan to open an eBay store or you just want to sell a few items each week. There are people who claim to make a substantial  amount of money selling items on eBay.  Selling things on eBay is a great home business for mothers who want to be able to remain at home with their children but still have an income.

Home

The first place that most people start looking for items to sell on eBay is in their own home. Search through the closets, drawers, attic, basement, garage, shed  and any other place where items that you no longer want may be located. This is where you start to find items to sell. Items that sell well are  old toys, clothes, shoes and just about any household items. Do some research to find out what the current market is like for the items you have so that you can set the price correctly.

Yard/tag sales, flea markets

When you run out of your own things, it is time to start looking for other people's things. Keep in mind that you need to pay very little for these items. A good idea is to try to buy large amounts of items. Usually they will give you a much better price. Consider driving around at the time when most tag sales close and see what they are giving away. Some really great items have been found sitting at the side of the road in front of people's homes  with signs saying free on them.

Charity Shops

Charity shops can be found in almost every town. They may support a local hospital or charity and the prices are insanely low. You can find some real treasures in these shops. Don't forget the old standbys the Salvation Army and Goodwill. They often don't distinguish the designer duds from the bargain clothes. Going  when they sell bags of items at a set price can be very cost effective.

Auctions

Many auctions sell what they call box lots. These are a given number of boxes that are all sold as one lot with you bidding for all of them. Don't get carried away and forget the buyers premium and also be sure to preview the items in the boxes so that you know what you are buying. This can provide some excellent items as well as lots of junk.

Drop shipper

If you want to get serious about eBay then you can consider getting a drop shipper to provide you with goods to sell. You will price and do the selling and the drop shipper will actually ship the items to your customers. This is a very competitive side to eBay and lots of people are doing it. You can actually lose money if this is done incorrectly. Take the time to do your research so that you don't get burned.

Conclusion

eBay is a great way to sell items. You can sell one or two or you can sell hundreds, it is your own business so it is up to you.  Keep in mind that you need to charge to ship items and you will need to invest in packing materials. Set your prices accordingly.

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