Okay, so you want to start selling on ebay. There are thousands of reasons people begin this ritual:

• Want to clear out house or de-clutter
• Lost your job and need some extra cash
• Want to be a stay-at-home mom
• Hate your job, want a new career
• Had an accident and you're out of work for a while
• Heard there is great money to be made on ebay!

Well, this is just the beginning.  For as many reasons as there are for beginning, once you get started - you will not want to stop.  Ebay has given thousands of people an opportunity to become international merchants.  And the great thing is, you don't really need any special skills - just choose something you really have a passion for and that will be your starting point.

START SLOW:  Don't expect miracles overnight.  If you have already been buying on ebay and have gotten yourself a good feedback rating, you are already well on your way.  If you are completely new to ebay, expect slow sales in the beginning as people will be hesitant to buy from you with little or no feedback.  However, as you prove yourself and your positive feedback goes up, so will your sales.

WHAT'S YOUR PASSION?:  I am a firm believer that everyone can do what they enjoy and make a living.  What do you enjoy doing? What are your hobbies?  Do you have knowledge of designer fashions?  Are you "on top" of the current clothing trends?  Do you have children that keep you abreast of the favorite toys on the market?  All of these can help you build your business!

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH !!!:  This is probably one of the most vital issues when selling on ebay.  Do your research to find out what people are buying.  Search a category that you are familiar with or have an interest in. Do keyword searches, visit the pulse pages in your categories of interest to see what keywords other people are using, do your searches on completed listings and ONLY look at the ones that ended with successful bids.  This will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay, not what people think something is worth.  Remember:  An item is only worth what people are willing to pay for it!  Don't overprice your merchandise. If you have a hobby or interest in which you already have a great deal of knowledge, then you have a head start. Just be sure you know what people are willing to pay on ebay AND REMEMBER that they have to factor in the cost of shipping.

SHOPPING:  Ebay is now a common household word.  You hear it in the grocery store, at school, at church, and almost anywhere there is a group of people.  There is plenty to go around!  Crowded metro areas and larger cities offer much more competition for the ebay seller; yet there is still ample opportunity for money making.  Look for close-out sales, go to thrift stores (after you have done your research), yard sales, auctions, estate tag sales, and flea markets.  I personally don't recommend drop shippers - I like to make sure I can personally put an item in the mail to my customer and it is exactly as I described.  Nothing less will do. Make sure you keep an open mind.  Sometimes you will find something completely out of your line of expertise...if you can afford to lose the money, buy it...take it home...research it.  You will gain a lot of knowledge and perhaps even sell for a great profit.  If you've done your research, you will have a general idea if something will be profitable or not. Get an early start if you shop yard sales.  I often leave my house during yard sale season when it is still dark, have a plan in mind regarding what routes I will take, and keep going until there are no more sales. During the week estate auctions are great, but you are dealing with other people that sell on ebay (and other outlets), so be prepared and be knowledgable.  It's the same at the local auction as on ebay - sometimes there are "glass collectors" at an auction that advertised a lot of antique glassware, and you'll find some really great collectible items that they will overlook because they were there primarily for the glass.  Or an estate that advertises a lot of "farm equipment" - a lot of men go to those and have no interest whatsoever in the "knick-knacks" and "what-nots".  Here again is a great opportunity if you have the knowledge base to make wise purchases.  The NEXT POINT I'd like to make to assist you in research is SHOP on ebay.  Every time you need something at the store, be sure to check ebay first.  Check out the listings, both current & ended.  You might end up making a purchase on ebay (or at the very least, give you some ideas so while you are out shopping for yourself, you can keep your eyes open for bargains to list). I purchase at the stores when I don't have time to wait for a shipment. Otherwise, I always check ebay first.

SELLING:  Try and try again.  I recommend opening an ebay store if you plan to do this for income.  There have been many occassions when the right buyer just wasn't looking at my auction when I had an item up for sale.  Then, I put it in my store at a fixed price (that I was comfortable with) and it will sell shortly thereafter.  Also, there are people that shop for convenience.  They don't want the competition of bidding and they Want it NOW. They don't want to wait for an auction to end.  Your auctions will provide additional exposure for your store listings.

PAYMENT & SHIPPING:  Many sellers won't sell overseas.  Some sellers won't accept paypal.  Let me tell you, for all the complaints you hear about fees, this is definately a bargain!!! Let me give you some examples: 

• Compare the cost of setting up a merchant account with each of the major credit card companies. Look at what it would cost you to get the equipment and begin accepting the cards.  You will be happy to accept the fees imposed on each transaction through paypal.
• Ship Internationally.  You have an opportunity to be an international merchant.  Paypal will exchange the currency for you and it only takes one extra form at the post office.  You WILL get more sales if you are an international seller.  I enjoy shopping with international sellers as well.  Why just stay local when the whole world is at your fingertips?
• Stay Clean, if you do business in a professional manner, describe your items thoroughly, and ship promptly - you won't have problems.  Again, do your research and see which categories have the highest number of "buyer scammers" & negative feedback issues:  stay clear of those categories.  Imagine the types of people that are honest and you enjoy socializing with; what type of things to these people purchase. Sell that STUFF.
• Compare the cost of setting up a brick-n-mortar retail store. You have to consider the theft, rent, utilities, etc. etc. The cost of your ebay store is very affordable.
• Non-paying bidders.  If you sell on ebay for any length of time, you are sure to get one of these on occassion.  It's no worse than someone that steals from a store.  You have to expect a problem occassionally if you have a business.  File your non-paying bidder with ebay, relist, and go on with your life.  Don't dwell on it.  It will only make you bitter.
• Be professional. Keep in touch with your buyers. Let them know when you receive payment and ship.

DISCUSSION BOARDS:  There is a wealth of information on the discussion boards.  Be sure to allow time to scan through them and you'll find so much information.  It is important to be careful of "phishing" as the crooks are getting smarter and smarter about ways to "hook" you. Never follow a link on an e-mail...Never, Never, Never.  You can forward one to the spoof center at ebay, but you will get so many, you will have to delete most of them. I try to send at least one of each NEW type of "phishing" so they can see how the criminals are attacking.  You can get all information regarding your account when you securely log on to ebay.com and go to your my ebay page.  There should never be a reason you need to follow any link in an e-mail.  This is the same with banks, paypal, and any other institution which would send you an e-mail. Delete them!

HAVE FUN:  I truly enjoy collecting things...so when I sell an item, I know it is going to someone that will enjoy or appreciate it.  They took the time to find the listing, purchase & pay for it.  That is so important to me as I am passionate about history and historical things.  I like to know that my things are going to a good place.  It has been really fun meeting people from all over the world!!!  Be honest, kind, and join in the community. There are bad people all over, so don't get "hung up" on the negatives. Be a positive part of a growing community of buyers and sellers who enjoy being a part of this growing marketplace. Soon, you will be one of those people saying "I LOVE EBAY".