• Cash In on Toys

• Find Out What's Hot in Toys

• Get Top Dollar for Your Toys

• Ship Your Toys

• Build Your Reputation

Cash In on Toys

Cash In on Toys

Many parents and toy lovers successfully use eBay not only as a place to find cool new Toys, but as a way to earn money towards their next purchases. Whether your kids are asking for the latest gadget, you want a new board game for family night, or you got to have that new model train to add to your collection, selling on eBay is the perfect way to earn extra money. Swap out your unused pieces—those slot cars at the bottom of the toy chest or the educational toys that are now too simple for your growing child—and buy yourself or your kids a new treasure.

What's It Worth?

Already have an item in mind? Visit Toys & Hobbies Seller Central to find out the average selling price of similar pieces on eBay. You can also search completed listings to see how others are selling similar items.

Find Out What's Hot in Toys

Find Out What's Hot in Toys

Millions of people come to eBay in search of Toys for all levels and interests—everything from foam footballs for kids to classic board games for all ages. The following provides just a small sampling of the myriad of Toys that you could sell on eBay. To get a real-time view of what’s in demand, what buyers are searching for, and what items are selling the most, visit Toys & Hobbies Seller Central.

• Action figures: From Star Wars action figures, Star Trek action figures, and Transformers action figures, to GI Joe action figures, Masters of the Universe action figures, and X-Men action figures, buyers are looking for all sorts of action figures on eBay. To learn about collectible action figures grading scales, visit the Action Figure Buying Guide. Not just collectible action figures are in demand on eBay—contemporary action figures are popular with kids of various ages.

• Board games: Board games are one of the most popular pastimes in America. From traditional strategy games to party games, all types of board games are in demand on eBay. As a popular form of entertainment, board games are as old as civilization. These classic board games have stood the test of time: Chess, Backgammon, Go, Checkers, Chinese checkers, Cribbage, Mah jong, and Parcheesi. Popular kids games include Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Sorry!, Hi Ho! Cherry-O, Operation, and Mouse Trap. Party board games are specially designed for larger groups or team play and can include Scene It?, Cranium, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, Balderdash, and Ouija Boards. Classic board games are part of households across the nation. Released by companies like Hasbro and Milton Bradley, board games such as Monopoly, Clue, Risk, Scrabble, Boggle, The Game of Life, Twister, Trouble, Bonkers, Stratego, Masterpiece, Mystery Date, Tiddly Winks, Skunk, and Trivial Pursuit are perfect for buyers looking to share their childhood favorites with family and friends alike.

• Educational toys: Buyers are looking for educational toys for every age group from companies such as Fisher-Price, LeapFrog, Playskool, VTech, Discovery Toys, Montessori, and other favorite brands. Toys for babies (0-12 months) can include mobiles, music boxes, crib mirrors, stuffed animals, play mats, activity gyms, building blocks, baby books, and stacking toys. Toys for toddlers (12 months to 2 years) include crayons, Play-Doh, puzzles, musical toys, and LEGO Duplos. Popular with preschool and kindergarten students (3 to 5 years) are electronic games that help kids work on their numbers and letters, kid-sized cameras, toy telephones, magnets, and toy binoculars, educational floor puzzles, climbing gyms, playhouses, and dollhouses. Grade school students (6 to 12 years) enjoy more complex toys that reinforce the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Some popular toys include toy cash registers, spelling games, and other electronic quizzing games, model airplanes, jewelry kits, chemistry sets, telescopes, microscopes, magnifying glasses, talking globes and map games.

• Stuffed animals: Stuffed animals are always a popular gift for children and adults alike. Teddy bears, stuffed cats, dogs, fish, penguins, lion, tigers, dinosaurs, cartoon characters such as Winnie the Pooh and more are in demand on eBay. A few popular collections include Care Bears, Cherished Teddies, Beanie Babies, Beanie Buddies, and Webkinz.

• Toy cars: Toy cars such as diecast cars, NASCAR model cars, slot cars, and radio controlled cars are popular on eBay with both kids and collectors. Buyers are on the lookout for every model, make, color, and size. Some popular brands include Hot Wheels and Matchbox, both of which have produces thousands of different cars.

• Toy trains: Parents and collectors are looking for toy trains of all colors and sizes—from little red cabooses that sit at the end of a train to refrigerator cars that include beer cars, candy cars, and more. Popular are trains with certain road names, such as Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, or Great Northern. Or you can sell your train cars individually such as steam engines, boxcars, refrigerator cars, gondolas, flatcars, and cabooses. For the younger child, in demand are toy trains made of plastics and toy train sets that include railroad tracks, signs, scenery, and even little figurines to place on the train.

• Trading card games: Trading cards have become increasingly popular outside of sports with recently introduced trading card games. Recent games out of Japan such as Dragonball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh have buyers searching for cards to add to their collections. Magic the Gathering is another enormously popular fantasy card game. Buyers are looking for both core decks or starter decks and individual cards. There are even strategy books, rulebooks, and even encyclopedias on the market as well. Also popular are deck boxes, binders, sleeves, and cases to protect cards.

Get Top Dollar for Your Toys

Get Top Dollar for Your Toys

Once you have an idea of what you’re going to sell, it’s time to think about how to attract Toys buyers. Here are the top tips from eBay’s most successful sellers.

Help Buyers Find Your Items with Keywords

Keywords are a great way to attract buyers to your listing, especially when used correctly in your Listing Title. Use your 55 characters wisely, and try to anticipate what buyers will be searching for. Find out what is being searched right now with our list of Top Toys & Hobbies Searches. Be sure to include common search terms like “Webkinz” and “Fisher Price,” when appropriate. State important characteristics of your item—what it is, brand and model number or name, color, appropriate age range, and condition. Of course, you should only include keywords that are relevant to the item you are selling. You can also search current and completed eBay listings to see what other sellers include in their titles.

In your Listing Description, make sure to include both basic information and details about your item. Create bold section headlines, bulleted lists, and be sure to restate the information featured in your title plus more details such as sizes and dimensions, features, materials, related products, repairs or restoration, estimated value, and any other interesting features. Also note if your item has been in a smoke free or pet free home—it helps assure buyers that fabrics are smoke-odor free and will not trigger any pet allergies. You can also insert photos or links to videos that highlight the unique attributes of your item. Think about your listing from the buyer's perspective. The more information you provide, the more likely the buyer will be to place a bid on your item.

Here are some terms commonly used by other sellers to describe their Toys. Make sure you only use a term when you are sure it applies to your item.

• New In Box (NIB): An product that is new in box if it remains in the original packaging from the time of purchase and has not been opened.

• Gently Used (GU): Toys in gently used condition have no scratches or blemishes and are in original condition.

• Excellent: Toys in excellent condition are clean, and have only very small nicks or scratches.

• Very Good: Very good condition toys have some scratches but no dents.

• Good: Good condition toys have some scratches and dents.

• Fair: Well-worn toys in fair condition may have dents or warping.

• Poor: Toys in poor condition are highly damaged, but may be good for parts.

Do Your Research

Before you list your Toys, please make sure it has not been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as a potential consumer hazard. Recalled items cannot be listed on eBay because of safety concerns. You can learn more about the CPSC and view a list of recalled items by going to the CPSC About Me page.

Showcase Your Toys with Great Photos

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words! Photos are the closest you can get to putting your Toys in the hands of potential buyers. Here are some tips on how to best represent your item:

• Choose the Right Background: Use a contrasting, solid backdrop. By placing your Toys on a solid black or white backdrop, you draw a buyer’s immediate attention onto the item. This is easily achieved by hanging a bed sheet or placing poster board behind the item. Use a plain, colored fabric backdrop to make your item stand out. Most importantly, avoid background clutter that can distract buyers or confuse them regarding what you are selling. If you are selling more than one item in your listing, take pictures of the set as a whole and of individual pieces.

• Cover All Angles: Take pictures from multiple angles and distances, zooming in on important details. Make sure highlight any signatures, dates, and details. Zoom in to show textures and colors. Always include photographs of any flaws—it gives the buyer a clearer idea of what they are bidding on and builds buyer trust.

• Use Proper Lighting: Natural light tends to give the best representation of your item, however direct sunlight can have the nasty effect of shadows. Find an area that receives indirect sunlight. Try taking your item outside on a sunny day and photograph it in a shady area. If you can't seem to find an area like this, or would prefer to use indoor lighting, try surrounding your item with desk, overhead, or floor lamps. Above all, avoid using your camera's flash which causes distortion and shadows.

• Add Gallery: Including a Gallery photo with your listing is extremely important for success. You can attract attention to your item with a photo next to your listings in search results. In addition, when a buyer uses “Picture Gallery” to look at search results, your listing will be shown. Your Gallery picture should be a very clear, uncluttered view of your item. Since it is the only photo visible on search pages, make sure it provides a good representation of your item.

Maximize Profits with Low Priced, No Reserve Listings

Auction style listings are a great way to create excitement around your Toys, which in turn can develop into a bidding frenzy among buyers—which could result in a higher selling price for you. The keys to a successful auction style listing are to get your first bid and encourage bidders to continue bidding.

• Low Starting Price: Getting that first bid is critical, as other buyers are generally more likely to jump in if they see there are already bids on an item. To do this, many sellers prefer to set an opening bid below what the item is actually worth. Try beginning with a low starting price—such as 99 cents—to jumpstart bidding activity.

• No Reserve: Be careful when setting a reserve price. Buyers may lose interest in an item if they place a bid and find it doesn't meet the reserve. Because they do not know the reserve price, they may assume the seller is simply asking too much for the item. To prevent this from happening, try listing your item with "No Reserve." Items sold with "No Reserve" typically attract more buyer interest, as buyers know that they will actually win the item if they are the high bidder.

• Accept PayPal: Buyers want to know that they can pay securely when making a purchase on eBay. By accepting PayPal payments, you can build buyer confidence and helpprotect yourself. PayPal transfers payments to a bank account of your choice and notifies you when a payment has been received. Best of all, PayPal offers free online tools to make managing your payments easier. You can even print shipping labels and track your shipments.

Ship Your Toys

Ship Your Toys

Specifying reasonable shipping and handling costs in your listing is essential for smart selling—and it improves your search ranking when buyers sort by total cost. Never leave a buyer wondering how much shipping will cost.

Calculate Shipping Costs

Often times, shipping costs will vary by distance. To make sure your shipping charges reflect this, incorporate a shipping calculator into your listing. With the shipping calculator, eBay can automatically calculate the shipping cost for your buyers based on the size and weight of your item and the buyer’s location. You can also program the calculator to add in the cost of packaging materials and your handling fee.

Select a Service Option

If you are selling larger items such as climbing gyms or playhouses, freight shipping might be the easiest and cheapest way to get your item to your buyer. Freight shipping is usually reserved for items over 150 pounds, and is available in the United States and Canada. Find out more at the Freight Resource Center.

Package Your Toys Securely

After your item sells, you are ready to ship it off to its new home. Make sure you package your item safely and securely. Use bubble wrap, foam, or other packaging materials to make sure your item is not damaged during its move. If you take an item apart to ship it, include a list of pieces and instructions on how to put it back together. Here are a few steps to think about:

• Wrap It: Individually wrap items and provide lots of cushioning (bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, corrugated dividers, or crumpled paper). Be careful if you choose to reuse newspaper—the ink can rub off and damage your items. If you use foam peanuts, be aware that they may shift in transit, so overfill your box. If any pieces could be damaged by water, make sure you wrap them with a layer of sealed plastic or place them in waterproof Ziploc bags. Remember, wrap and pack firmly—you don’t want to hear any rattling!

• Box It: If the item is on the smaller side, you can order free USPS Priority Mail boxes right on eBay—the United States Postal Service will even deliver them right to your door for free! For larger items, use a corrugated box with rigid sides, intact flaps, and plenty of room for cushioning on all sides. Don't exceed the maximum gross weight of the box (usually printed on bottom flap).

• Seal It: Use strong tape designed for shipping, rather than masking tape, cellophane tape, string or paper over-wrap. Once you’ve sealed up your package, you can pay for shipping and print shipping labels right from your PayPal account. You can even request a pickup from USPS or UPS, saving you a trip to the Post Office or UPS location.

Build Your Reputation

Build Your Reputation

Communication is the key to a successful transaction. Make sure you’re available before, during, and after the sale. Answer any questions about your item promptly. Include a thank you note in your package—it’s a great way to surprise and delight your buyer and encourage them to leave you positive feedback.

Always Leave Feedback

Feedback is extremely important for all eBay users. Consistent positive feedback lets buyers know that you manage transactions well and that you care about your reputation. One way to help ensure good feedback is to communicate well, represent your item truthfully in your listing, and be polite. Also remember your buyer’s feedback score is as important to them as yours is to you—so be courteous, thoughtful, and truthful when leaving feedback.

Express Yourself

Be more than just a username to your buyers. Introduce yourself through your About Me page and MyWorld. Add pictures, keep track of your favorite buyers, and tell the community about your interests and collections. Show your expertise by writing Reviews & Guides. Connect with other Toys traders on the Toys & Hobbies Discussion Board. Remember, be yourself—and have fun!

Sell for a Cause

Support your favorite cause and enhance buyer trust and loyalty at the same time. eBay Giving Works listings tend to sell at higher final prices, because buyers are more willing to purchase, and often pay more for, items that benefit a nonprofit. Get more exposure and receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donations!