eBay for Beginners:
What You Need to Know to Shop, Buy, and Sell
New to eBay? There are a few things you need to know as you begin to trade actively. Below are tutorials that show you how to join, how to buy, how to sell, how bidding works, what your responsibilities as an eBay user are, and how to trade on eBay safely. If you've tried to use eBay and found it to be difficult or confusing, start reading here to begin your eBay experience.
What it Costs to Join/Trade on eBay
If you're not yet an eBay trader, you may assume that it actually costs a lot to trade on eBay: annual memberships, transaction fees, surcharges, and so on. In fact, this isn't the case. If you're a shopper, eBay doesn't cost you a thing, and if you're a seller, your charges depend entirely on how much you sell.
If you're not yet an eBay trader, you may assume that it actually costs a lot to trade on eBay: annual memberships, transaction fees, surcharges, and so on. In fact, this isn't the case. If you're a shopper, eBay doesn't cost you a thing, and if you're a seller, your charges depend entirely on how much you sell.
Join eBay in 10 Easy Steps
Want to buy and sell on eBay? First you've got to join. There's no up-front cost involved, never a surcharge to buy, and selling charges only if you actually list items for sale. If you think you're ready to take the plunge and join the world's largest online shopping community, this step-by-step visual guide will show you how.
Want to buy and sell on eBay? First you've got to join. There's no up-front cost involved, never a surcharge to buy, and selling charges only if you actually list items for sale. If you think you're ready to take the plunge and join the world's largest online shopping community, this step-by-step visual guide will show you how.
How to Shop on eBay, Step by Step
If you've already joined eBay, you're ready to start shopping. If you're new to eBay, though, the eBay shopping process might seem a little daunting in comparison to your experiences with other online retailers. Here's how to find what you want to buy, bid on and win it, pay for it afterward, and have it delivered to your door.
If you've already joined eBay, you're ready to start shopping. If you're new to eBay, though, the eBay shopping process might seem a little daunting in comparison to your experiences with other online retailers. Here's how to find what you want to buy, bid on and win it, pay for it afterward, and have it delivered to your door.
Browsing Items For Sale by Category
Searching for items by typing in keyword after keyword isn't for everybody, and sometimes search results on eBay don't actually show you what you're hoping to buy. There is, however, another way: browse eBay's huge selection according to a system of categories. Here's how.
Searching for items by typing in keyword after keyword isn't for everybody, and sometimes search results on eBay don't actually show you what you're hoping to buy. There is, however, another way: browse eBay's huge selection according to a system of categories. Here's how.
Evaluating eBay Item Listings
The key to shopping successfully on eBay is being able to read item listings carefully so that you know whether or not you really want to bid on or buy a given item. There's a lot of information there, but when you're new it can be difficult to sift through it all. Knowing the kinds of information that you'll find in item listings can help.
The key to shopping successfully on eBay is being able to read item listings carefully so that you know whether or not you really want to bid on or buy a given item. There's a lot of information there, but when you're new it can be difficult to sift through it all. Knowing the kinds of information that you'll find in item listings can help.
Understanding eBay Bidding
Bidding on eBay is the one thing that drives most new members crazy. Controversial and spectacularly useful, eBay's proxy bidding system bids automatically for you if you ask it to, leading some members to think that they're being cheated and other members to bid more often than they have to. Here's everything you need to know about how the bidding process on eBay's auction listings works.
Bidding on eBay is the one thing that drives most new members crazy. Controversial and spectacularly useful, eBay's proxy bidding system bids automatically for you if you ask it to, leading some members to think that they're being cheated and other members to bid more often than they have to. Here's everything you need to know about how the bidding process on eBay's auction listings works.
How to Sell on eBay, Step by Step
Lots of people join eBay because they're interested in selling. eBay has become one of the hottest destinations for budding businesses and surplus sellers looking to turn inventories into cash. The process of selling on eBay is actually a simple one. Here's how to do it, step-by-step.
Lots of people join eBay because they're interested in selling. eBay has become one of the hottest destinations for budding businesses and surplus sellers looking to turn inventories into cash. The process of selling on eBay is actually a simple one. Here's how to do it, step-by-step.
Put Something Up for Sale, Step by Step
Selling on eBay can seem intimidating, given the wide range of options and features offered to sellers. Luckily, for beginners there's a simplified selling form appropriate for most types of sales. Using the simple form, you can get started as a seller on eBay with a minimum of fuss and a shallow learning curve.
Selling on eBay can seem intimidating, given the wide range of options and features offered to sellers. Luckily, for beginners there's a simplified selling form appropriate for most types of sales. Using the simple form, you can get started as a seller on eBay with a minimum of fuss and a shallow learning curve.
Five "First Items" to Get You Started Selling
Sometimes the hardest part of becoming an eBay seller is deciding on and making your first sale. This can be especially true for would-be casual sellers that don't have a "business model" and aren't particularly interested in developing one. Here are some basic "what to sell first" ideas for the casual seller.
Sometimes the hardest part of becoming an eBay seller is deciding on and making your first sale. This can be especially true for would-be casual sellers that don't have a "business model" and aren't particularly interested in developing one. Here are some basic "what to sell first" ideas for the casual seller.
Understanding the eBay Feedback System
eBay's feedback system is one of the crown jewels of the eBay marketplace. Endlessly copied and emulated, eBay's public feedback system gives buyers a chance to rate sellers on their performance, and sellers a chance to reward buyers for being good customers.
eBay's feedback system is one of the crown jewels of the eBay marketplace. Endlessly copied and emulated, eBay's public feedback system gives buyers a chance to rate sellers on their performance, and sellers a chance to reward buyers for being good customers.
eBay Rules Survival Guide
There are a lot of rules on eBay. A lot of them. If you've taken half a glance at eBay's own help system, you know that it's unlikely you'll be able to learn them all quickly. Don't worry, though; you probably don't need to know them all by heart. eBay's rulebook can be simplified into a few basic ideas and values. Keep them in mind as you start trading on eBay and all will be well.
There are a lot of rules on eBay. A lot of them. If you've taken half a glance at eBay's own help system, you know that it's unlikely you'll be able to learn them all quickly. Don't worry, though; you probably don't need to know them all by heart. eBay's rulebook can be simplified into a few basic ideas and values. Keep them in mind as you start trading on eBay and all will be well.
Introduction to PayPal
When you joined eBay, you more than likely also joined PayPal. But what is PayPal, why did you have to join it, and why do they want your credit card and bank account numbers in the process? This introduction tells you what you need to know about the eBay-owned and increasingly popular payment system.
When you joined eBay, you more than likely also joined PayPal. But what is PayPal, why did you have to join it, and why do they want your credit card and bank account numbers in the process? This introduction tells you what you need to know about the eBay-owned and increasingly popular payment system.
Using the eBay Help Center
eBay knows that new users (and even experienced users) will need detailed help from time to time, so eBay has designed and implemented an extensive help system with thousands of useful documents, tutorials, and links to make your eBay experience a smooth one. Here's how to use eBay help.
eBay knows that new users (and even experienced users) will need detailed help from time to time, so eBay has designed and implemented an extensive help system with thousands of useful documents, tutorials, and links to make your eBay experience a smooth one. Here's how to use eBay help.