How to sell on eBay and Shpock

Want to declutter your home and make some cash while doing it? Selling on eBay and Shpock can be a great way to earn a bit of extra money, and you’d be surprised how much some of your old stuff is actually worth.

It might seem a little daunting – dealing with potential returns and refunds – but here are a few helpful tips to get you started with the process and help you stay safe when dealing with buyers.

1. Safety

It’s important to think about how you can look after both yourself and your sensitive information, while avoiding the scammers.

- Don’t meet buyers in person if they request to do so. There’s no reason for a buyer to want to meet you, unless you’re selling a large item that is marked for collection. Always go for the delivery option unless you’re confident the buyer is someone you can trust.

- Never agree to payment methods that eBay and Shpock don’t agree of. If a buyer asks to pay in person, with a bank transfer or anything other than PayPal, decline the offer. PayPal can help you with any seller protection problems and will resolve issues in your favour if you’ve done nothing wrong.

- Keep contact within eBay and Shpock’s messaging systems. A buyer may ask to contact you on Facebook or on the phone, but that would mean that eBay and Shpock could not help with any disputes as they can’t see your messages. Don’t risk it.

-Consider setting up a specific email address or separate phone number for selling. Both of these options help separate selling from the rest of your life. A second phone is a good consideration if you’re privacy conscious. You could sign up for a cheap pay as you go SIM card and put it into an old smartphone – with SMARTY’s affordable plans there’s no credit check or contract, so if you sell all your items in the first month you can just cancel your plan.

2. Selling tips

With your safety concerns put aside, we can now get onto the exciting bit – selling!

- Describe the product well. If it’s something that people won’t know much about, like an antique, give background and history to help it achieve some authenticity. But be honest.

- Take high-quality photos from different angles. Make sure the product is clear and include pictures of any flaws or defects – if you don’t, you’ll only have to answer for it later.

- Give technical specifications about electronics. You can usually find these online if you don’t have them yourself. It will help buyers find you if they’re looking for specific components.

- Measure the items and give accurate information. If you’re selling clothes or furniture, make sure measurements are accurate and that information is clearly presented.

- For high-value items, try and show a receipt. Where possible, a receipt will help prove that your items are legitimate and not counterfeit.

- When pricing, look at similar items. You may not know exactly how much your item is worth, so take a look at what other people are selling similar items for. Take into account the current condition of your item, as well as whether it comes with original packaging (this may bump up the price).

- Be truthful. If there’s damage or if there are faults, the buyer should know before they purchase. And don’t think that it will make your item unsellable – there are always people looking for a bargain, who don’t mind minor faults, or will use broken items for spare parts.

Hopefully these tips will help your items stand out in the crowd, keep you safe from scammers, and make you a little pocket money to save for a rainy day.