Ebay and other online auction powerselling tips and information

Justin C. for PowerSellerKing:

I was reading an article on one person making money by buying used guitars and then turning around and selling them and that is when it struck me on how to make some real money on eBay.  People always hunt for stuff on eBay, that is what it is for, and often times they are looking for something in particular.  So you want to know how to make the big bucks?  I must admit I have only gotten a few things from eBay, but I have watched what really goes, and know several people that actually make a tidy amount by going to various places and turning around and selling it on eBay.  I could drag you through all the technical aspects of it, or I can get started, and I know which one you are thinking.  So here we go:

People are generally looking at items at below value prices.  For example, if you can get a rarer item at a cost below the price you would normally pay retail for it, but still list it under retail, you have already placed yourself in the group of people who have a higher chance of getting bid on.  But remember that you have to still make it competitive.  Great items I have seen people I know buy and then sell include:

Antiques
High value cloths
Tools
Software and Computer parts

Ultimately the goal is to buy things that are still packaged and unopened.  This gives the potential buyer a greater sense of security.  *For instance, if you can get a 80GB HDD for around $30 still in the package, which you can with some wholesale places, you can list it on eBay and fetch around $40, making a 33% profit just like that.  Other examples include buying items from going out of business sales.  If the merchandise, such as antiques, is used, you can really get good prices if you go to a small town dealer that is going out of business.  Also, another thing I heard was that baby supplies are also going at incredible rates.  At it is one of the few things you can get that you can buy really cheap, and clean up to make like new.  Some stores have cribs and car seats, for example, going for as low as $15, these can be turned around and sold on eBay for $10-$15 more.  At that price they will still be a third of what you would normally pay if you went to Walmart or Target.

The idea is to see what is in demand on eBay, but not very common as well.  Books come a dime a dozen on eBay, so naturally unless you have a rare book or one that is greatly desired, you will have a hard time selling it, or yield marginal profits.  However, things such as car parts purchased at a cheap price (many parts are stolen, so know that your source is reliable) also are good.  Tools are also good.  I know that a good DeWalt set can cost $800 and I for one would try eBay before anywhere else.  So if you go to a garage sale and you see hardly used equipment, you know you have a good purchase ahead.  Here are good places to get stuff:

Estate Sales
Garage Sale
Going out of Business Sales
Antique Dealers
County Auctions
Flee Markets (Beware though that most stuff is usually used, you have to be diligent in order to find something good here, or else it isn't worth your time)


The idea is to choose items that people want, and will continue to want, or at least items that are expensive.  I know some people can go to a garage or estate sale, buy a pickup load of stuff that is hardly used or rare, and turn around and make a $500 profit from one day's findings.  Obviously storage can be a problem, but if you choose the right stuff, you can keep moving old stuff out and new stuff in.  Good luck in your hunting and selling!