Online
auctioning is an online marketplace for buyers and sellers. The goods
can be used or new. The basic system works by a seller (you) auctioning
an item, setting a starting price and schedule, and then waiting for
bids to come through from potential buyers. The person who places the
highest bid at the end of the auction wins the item - it's as simple
as that. You can sell anything at online auctions, from clothes to DVD's,
Mobile Phones to toys, Electrical products to ornaments, the list is
endless. The good thing about online auctions
is that it gives you a platform to sell your items without all the hassle
of running your own e-commerce website. They do all the promoting and
advertising so all you have to do is place your items on sites such
as ebay
Once
you have established the item/s you want to sell you can get started.
Firstly, you will need a tape measure to give the potential buyer accurate
details of the item you wish to sell, remember he or she can't see the
product so you will have to give them as much information as possible.
A good photograph is an excellent selling tool because it gives your
buyers the opportunity to view what you have on offer. A digital camera
is ideal. If you don't already have one you can get a basic, inexpensive
one from many retail outlets or grab yourself a bargain at ebay.
If you plan on selling on a regular basis a digital camera is an excellent
investment and should pay itself off in no time at all.
You will also need packaging materials such as brown wrapping paper,
sellotape and bubble wrap (for delicate items). Finally you will need
a measuring device to weigh your items for postal costs. A good set
of kitchen scales is adequate enough. If you take a trip to your local
post office you can obtain a size guide that lists all UK prices according
to size and weight. When posting your items at the end of the auction,
always be sure to ask the post office for a proof of postage receipt
in case the goods go missing. You can claim compensation for lost items
when using first or second class post if you have proof of postage.
The following URL will give your details for First
Class Compensationand for Second
Class Compensation. If your item is worth more than
this then send by Secure
Delivery.
Selling
at online auctions has become a great medium for home workers. Whether
it's selling items that you no longer need or unwanted gifts, it's a
great way to earn some money from the comfort of your own home. Unlike
some of the other home working options, which may just give you a bit
of extra cash, selling at online auctions really can earn you a good
income. So study the market and choose your items well. Vintage items
and used designer brands, in good condition, are high in demand, so
a trip to your local charity shop and/or car boot sale is well worth
a visit. Or you can even buy from online auctions and resell those same
items, either at a later date on the same platform or via a different
auction, and make a profit!
if you're really serious about selling at online auctions you can buy
and sell from dropshippers and wholesalers. Many people have boasted
great profits from online selling by starting up small home-based businesses
selling goods bought from wholesalers and dropshippers.What
is drop shipping? See
below for further details.
That
depends on what you are selling and how often you sell. You can make
anything from a few pounds to hundreds or even thousands of pounds if
you are completely dedicated. One thing you must remember is that people
who buy from auctions are either after a bargain or a collectable item.
The objective here is to make a profit so you should set your item at
a price you are happy to settle with. Make sure that your starting price
is reasonable and expect to sell for less than the RRP. Marketing your
item is very important at online auctions because remember there is
a lot of competition out there. Make sure your title is eye-catching
and your description accurate. You must make your item desirable so
don't cut corners or you may lose a sale. And remember feedback is king.
If you get yourself a good reputation by showing you are a sincere and
dependable seller your sales will increase in no time.
Why
not sign up with an online auctioneer today and give it a go? Registration
is free. Some selected online auctions below:
ebay:the
most popular online auction system. Buy and sell practically anything.
Also allows you to open your own shop too- great if you're using drop
shipping. Free sign-up.
e-Bid:Buy or sell just about anything on e-bid.
Free listings, no reserve or store cost fee, 2% final value fee on
Silver registrations and free on Gold. Free to join.
PrelovedBuying or selling second hand? Preloved is
packed with nearly new and really old bargains in over 500 categories
so there’s something for everyone. It’s free to advertise
so why not start turning your clutter into cash today.
Online Car Boot Salei iBootSale is the UK's Online Car Boot Sale.
Offering FREE pitches to seller and completely FREE registration to
all users. Haggle, make offer and bag a bargain at iBootSale - The
UKs Online Car Boot Sale.
Amazon
is still associated by many people as a retailer but you can in fact
sell your stuff on Amazon too! Many business sellers and personal
users sell on Amazon at a handsome profit.
Play.com
is another great podium for sellers and buyers. Give them a try -
you might pick up a bargain or get a great price for your item.
Buy Secondhand
Music CD's and Games to resell at a profit
Another
way of earning cash from auctions is to buy music CD's or Games at rock
bottom prices and them resell them at online auctions. Okay, so why
would someone want to buy secondhand CD's when they can download them
now for free or at very cheap rates? A few reasons - some people don't
like to join shareware sites to get their music for free, firstly for
some of the legal restrictions involved and secondly for fear of downloading
from an unscrupulous website and risk having their computers hacked.
Another reason is because some people prefer to have the original hard
copy of their favourite artist's CD, either to display on their CD rack
or because they like to own the original disc - haven't you got some
CD's that you'd never part with? That have sentimental value, perhaps?
And how many people tire of the Games that they have and want to buy
new ones at affordable prices? So where can you buy secondhand CD's
and Games from? Charity shops often have a good and varied selection
as do car-boot sales. You can also buy from online auctions and resell
them at a profit. But our favourite is
Music Magpie (buy cheap music CD's and GamesThis
site has an array of secondhand music CD's and Games that you can buy
at rock bottom prices - they are in good condition and play perfectly.
You can also sell all your unwanted music CD's and Games here, but because
of the nature of the site, don't expect to get very much for them. Finally,
our tip if you are buying music CD's or Games to sell, is to visit the
online auction sites, such as e-bay, and find out what sells and what
doesn't. Watch them for a while to see what price they go for, then
act accordingly. Otherwise you may find yourself stuck with CD's and
Games that you don't really want.
What
is Dropshipping?
Drop
shipping is a system that allows you to buy single items - no minimum
order is required, at wholesale prices to sell at online auctions at
your set price. So basically you place as many advertisements as you
want on the online auctions and order from the drop shipper once you've
found a buyer for the product. In effect you do not hold any stock at
all so you have nothing to lose if the product doesn't sell apart from
your listing fees on the online auction site, if any apply. When you've
secured a sale you place your order with the drop-shipper who can either
deliver the item to you for forwarding or send it directly to your buyer
by secure delivery. All you have to do is pass on your buyer's details
to the supplier, pay for the product and keep your profit. As a precaution
it is best to get as much information and feedback about the drop-shipping
company that you intend on using to ensure that items are delivered
on time and are as described. A quick search on any major search engine
will give all the advice and feedback that you need on a company. For
further information about drop shipping visit theUK
Wholesalers and Dropshippers
Wholesalers
and Dropshippers
Wholesale
Pagesoffers an enormous list of UK Wholesalers,
Drop shippers, Manufacturers, UK Importers and Car Boot Events, as well
as International Directories such as USA, France and Hong Kong Wholesalers.
Joining Wholesale Pages will save you time and effort, as everything
you need to sell online is under one roof. They have a comprehensive
list of categories in their database, which includes Clothing, Electronics,
Cosmetics, Toys, DVD's, Jewellery and lots more. They claim that you
can save up to 90% off the retail price, which will give you a great
scope for profits. They also offer a 'Quotes Directory' where you can
make a request for a specific product to thousands of wholesalers and
drop shippers who will then reply to you if their products fit your
needs. This system will save you trawling through the directories looking
for specific items. Wholesale Pages offer the following packages:
Access to all suppliers, their profiles & products.
Access to international suppliers.
Submit unlimited buying leads.
Add favorites, access special wholesale offers, special discounts &
more.
All the following packages include:
All free membership benefits plus:
Access designer branded wholesale products
Ability to contact other buyers
Access market analyzer tool
Dedicated 24x7 support and other privileged
services
The
Bronze package is useful if you are not quite sure and would like to
test the water first but please note that this package only offers a
list of wholesalers. If you find that the system doesn't meet your needs
then you do not need to continue with your membership and won't be at
a great loss.
This is a good start-up package that offers a comprehensive
list of Dropshippers and Wholesalers. Valid for six months, it's a good
place to start - if you're happy with the results and the programme
meets your needs you can renew your package or upgrade to Gold when
your membership expires.
If you're serious about buying and selling online
then this one is for you. You will only have to pay a one time fee and
will be eligible to use the facilities forever. This one works out cheaper
in the long run.
If you are serious about selling at online auctions
then Wholesale
Pages is a good place to start.
Once you've made a sale you should always add a note
inside the parcel listing the item and thanking the buyer. This helps
you to keep everything in order and ensures that the right product is
sent to the right person, it also builds customer relationship. Instead
of just using a plain sheet of paper, why not use your own printed stationary?
You can order notepads, business cards, sticky notes or a rubber stamp
from VistaPrint.
They offer a range of good quality products at very affordable prices,
they're so good, we use them ourselves! Printed stationary will add
that extra touch to your service and is a great way to self-promote
your Blog, Website or products.
Help with Tax and registration
If you are an online trader buying goods for
resell on e-bay or to sell on your own website then you will have to
register as self-employed and possibly have to pay tax and national
insurance contributions. If you only sell unwanted personal items then
this probably will not apply to you. To be safe, please follow this
link
to find out if you need to register with the Inland Revenue. For more
details on tax and VAT visit DirectGov.
If you'd like to register as self employed click
here - registration is simple and help with filling in forms, tax
returns etc., is supplied by the Inland Revenue.
