Question for eBay shippers.

[Joe Handley]

I'm looking into getting rid of some R/C stuff including a car that I intended to build but have lost that desire to do so over the last 2 years and want to get of it via eBay. It's currently in pieces and I have a bunch of hop up parts for it that are all still in the original packaging that would be easy to use the USPS prepay boxes and envelopes for. Is there anything I need to know about selling through eBay since I've only done it once?

[modelercarl]

I have sold about 200 items on eBay over the last 4 years (all model related) with no problems at all.  The first issue is your listing on eBay.  Take a lot of pictures to post with your listing, with loose pieces, spread them out on a neutral background and get clear pics.  I think they let you post quite a few pics for free with your listing, and in the description section of the listing note everything that you can think about what your are selling.  You will get more "watchers" and bidders.  You might want to download IRfan (free) for resizing your photos.

Another thing you might want to consider is getting an account with USPS (free) as it allows you to do all of your shipping very easily.  You can buy postage and print it out on your printer, you can get shipping estimates for any size package and between zip codes, you can order shipping boxes and envelopes (free) to be sent to you and  the part I like best...you can request and schedule pickups at your front door or mailbox.  I always have used 2 day priority express with shipping tracking numbers.

You might look at listings of items similar to what you plan on selling to see how they are composed, and may even use some of the content that might suit your listing.  You can browse completed listings also to give you some good ideas.

[TomZ]

I would suggest that you make every effort to establish your actual shipping cost before you make the listing and perhaps explain it in the description. My wife (2200 sales) adds 25 cents to the actual shipping cost (for incidentals) to her eBay shipping charge and says so in her listings, and she gets many very favorable comments for doing so. No buyer is fooled by a low asking price and a high shipping charge, and if you make a high estimate to CYA you are just hurting your marketability.

Good luck! Selling is a hoot!