After reading many guides on maximizing profits on Ebay by charging market value prices for items and by being reimbursed for your shipping time, I want to focus on the alternate view.

Ebay advertises that one should use their services to "clean out their attic."  Just exactly what does this mean?  As one who wants to "clean out their attic," this means to me exactly what it says:  Do what is necessary in order to have a spacious, clean attic that is not a fire hazard.  I don't sell junk by any matter of means, but I do sell at prices that will be attractive to buyers.  The end result is that someone can enjoy the items I no longer use, and I have taken a step, albeit small, toward making the attic a place where building contractors, inspectors, etc.  can do their jobs without falling over the trinkets I have gathered over the years.

I live near a Post Office and head in that direction daily so oil prices are not a concern; nor is time taken in wrapping my items.  I am happy to do this because such steps help me achieve my goal and hopefully a younger person, who wants to own nice things, can afford to buy at my prices.  As far as I am concerned, this is a win-win situation.  In my history of Ebay selling, no one has complained about shipping costs and I have sold everything except one item through my listings.

In summary, those who really want to sell, start your prices low and charge reasonable shipping fees.  And, to add one more consideration, I do not keep buyers from bidding up my items -- but that is strictly the choice of each buyer!  Even if you are depending on Ebay as your main income, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this philosophy.  You might sell each item at a lower price, but the end result is that you will sell more.  After all, isn't it the bottom line that really counts?