Selling on Ebay has a big learning curve, but after the first one or two, it is very simple.  Don't do anything yet, we will get started with the auction later on.

  Start out with something you don't like, an old shoe, an old book.  Have a starting price of .99 and run it for 7 days ( 10 days is even better, but cost .40 ).  For this example, you only need one photo on your computer to upload to Ebay.  This is the photo that is on the listing and the photo that is on the search page.  It is called the gallery photo and will cost .35 but it is well worth it. 

 First:  Type up a nice description of the item using Outlook Express using your email ( this way you have spell checking and it will not use up lots of time typing on Ebay ).  Usually a short paragraph or two is all that you need.  It is not necessary to type in all the stuff about mailing, insurance, refunds, shipping and handling, and what type of people can not bid on your item.  I see a lot of this in auctions, but everyone of these remarks can be safely typed in at a section on the Ebay site, so forget this for now.

  Second:  Get a very clear photo of your item.  I use my sundeck at about 5pm when the sun has moved out of the way and is heading down.  This is why most of my photos have a very slight deep orange glow.  Sometimes I have to put my finger over the flash to get a photo just right.  If the photo is fuzzy, take another photo, and another, until it is very good.  Ever minute you spend with the camera, will add bidders and bucks at the auction.  Someone sees a clear and cool photo, they will know you really care about your item.  I don't sell anything that I would not want to keep for myself but can't anymore. 

  Second and a half:  Download the photo to your computer into a directory you want forget.  I have a directory called Ebay and I make a new directory using the date my auction will end, like Oct31.  Put your photo in the new directory.  Ebay likes files that are about 180kb in size.  Use some photo editing software ( I use ThumbsPlus ) to clean up any color issues and uglies in the background of your photo.  Since most of my photos have afternoon orange, I have to adjust the colors to get them right.  As for uglies ( like one time I had taken a photo with part of my lawnmower in the background ), I use the cut and paste to get sections of the photo that are good and paste them over the uglies.  When you are satisfied with your photo, and it is the right size; save it to your directory.

  Third:  Select a time and day you want the auction to end on.  Ebay allows you to select any time and any date to sell your item ( for .10 more ), so just count back until you get the correct time and day you want your auction to end on.

  Forth:  Look up an item like the one you want to sell and see what category it is in.  Write this category down.  Then see if any other item just like yours is selling well.  If the item is selling badly, you might have to wait and check back later in a few days.  If the items like yours are going fine, it is now time to get on Ebay and start your auction.

    

P.S.S. 

   Please VOTE at the bottom of this page to let me know if this guide was helpful.  It might not sound like much, but no one paid me to spend three hours writing this guide.  I just thought if this information made my life easier, then someone else would like to hear my story.  Bless my old bosses and every one of our other soldiers.