Step 2: Preparing An Item for Sale on EBay
Once you have found something you want to sell on EBay that you believe will be profitable, the next step is to prepare for and post the item for sale on the site. You will need to take photographs of the item as well as prepare an eye catching description of it.
Taking Product Photographs to Post On EBay
Take the photos of the item in a well lit area, preferably with a solid, light color (or white) background. One trick is to get a white bed sheet, fold it in half, and lay it on the kitchen table. Place the item in the middle of the sheet and take some pictures. Whenever possible avoid the use of a flash. If the item has any reflective surfaces they will reflect the light of the flash and make it look less professional. One way around this is to use a tripod to steady the camera and use a low light setting on the camera. Play around with this until you get the best image. Try using several different angles so you can show all parts of the object. Do not try to hide or “forget” to take a picture of any damaged areas as failing to disclose damage can come back to haunt you if the buyer feels you were intentionally trying to cheat them.
Writing a Description to Go With Your Item
You want the description of an item to be as colorful and eye catching as the object is itself to help draw in buyers to consider bidding on it. A poorly written description may pull in some bids, but they will not likely be as high as they would be with a well written one. Use descriptive words and try to write as though you were listening to a professionally done commercial for the product.
Never Mislead a Buyer
When writing a description there is a tendency to want to leave out certain problems with an item. Small blemishes, a tiny dent here or there, or other small cosmetic problems are usually expected with used merchandise. Beyond those limits though make sure to note anything that would affect the value of the item. It is far better to take a slight hit on the final sale price than to have to deal with angry buyers. An angry buyer will usually leave negative feedback for the sale and that feedback rating is extremely important in helping buyers decide who to trust when bidding on an item.
