My sister and I are both stay at home moms. My husband is also in the Army. We both have started painting pictures to match different nursery themes and sell them on eBay. I also plan to start making baby clothes to sell on eBay. I make clothes for my two daughter's age 22 months and 3 months. The clothes I make for my own children turn out really well so I plan to make and sell them. I recently purchased 11 patterns from Joann's when they had a sale on Simplicity patterns for $.99 each to make different children's clothes. -- Jennifer, 32, from GA

I've been shopping on eBay since I first found out I was pregnant.  Once I found a seller online that had items I liked I tended to keep an eye on their future auctions.  It was great to find someone with a child just a little older than mine because I knew that they'd have the items I wanted coming up for auction just when I needed them and I also knew that they had the same taste in children's clothing and toys as I did so I didn't have to go through the tons of listings available. -- Trixie, 30, from Ontario

First of all sell what you know. When I first started out I would buy anything at yard sales hoping it would resale on eBay. Now I never buy unless I have done my research first and know it has been selling. Also after you enter an item on eBay pack it and weigh it right away, that way you can give accurate shipping prices when asked. One of my biggest mistakes was offering exact shipping charges only, I always came up short somehow. You don't need an expensive digital camera for selling on eBay, I use a 1.3 mega pixel and it works just fine.  Fed Ex Ground in the most inexpensive way to ship items over 5lbs and they are automatically insured for up to $200. One more thing, if an item is fragile and needs packed by a pro get a estimate before entering the item on eBay, people like know exactly how much shipping will be. -- Ronda, 32, from IL

Go to the message boards that are available for each category.  If you are selling your kids outgrown clothes, there is a Clothing and Accessory Board.  You will learn so much from experienced sellers there.  Don't waste your money on websites or cds that teach you how to sell -- they get a lot of their info from the boards! -- Leslie, 33, from GA

Research first: do a search on what you want to sell and see if there are interested buyers out there.  Since I have started doing this, all my items have sold.  Also, you can get a good idea of what others are charging, shipping costs, etc.  Make your title very specific especially when it comes to listing clothes.  Be sure to put the size in your title.  If you want your clothes to get noticed, mention at least one popular name brand (ex. Gap, Disney, etc.)  I don't bother putting a clothing item on or a lot of clothes on if I don't have at least one recognizable brand name to list. Also, try to list shipping costs (even if an estimate) in your description.  Many people won't bid on an item if you don't include shipping: no one wants to get stuck with unexpected high shipping costs.  Also, it helps to say you will leave positive feedback for a successful transaction: feedback is very important to eBay buyers and sellers. -- Julie, 40, from FL

I've been selling on eBay for about four years, to supplement hubby's income so I can be a stay-at-home mom.  I have over 1000 + feedback with no -.  Here's a few simple things I try to do:  List on Thursday or Friday for 10 days, therefore covering two weekends.  Include what shipping will be or use a shipping calculation program, most people want to know.  Including it saves you from getting lots of emails asking and answering the question 20 times instead of once.  Offer choices on shipping; some people want quick, some people want cheap.  Use descriptive words in your title for the people who "Search" instead of "Browse".  Include a picture or two and use Gallery.  Combine like items in one auction, or at least mention that you have like items listed also, for potential multiple sales, and combine shipping costs.  I also try to always toss in a related small "freebie" for people who make multiple buys, as a way of thanking them. (I do not charge them the extra shipping) Don't sound demanding or hard-to-deal-with in your auction ("I will not do 'this' "... "Do not do 'this' "...) It puts off the good bidders who know better anyway, and won't stop the bad ones who will do 'it' (whatever it is) anyway. Be friendly.  You may have to deal with a few bad bidders, that's the chance you take with a worldwide virtually anonymous forum.   Thank your good payers and post their feedback to help guide the next seller they work with, and it will "come around" to help you. -- Melany, 42, from NV

Hello, I have been selling oneBay for over 4 years now, and have learn quite a bit about how to list an item.  First off, I did invest in a digital camera, as many items will sell quicker and better if you can see what they look like.  I also have a program that came with my camera for cropping and brighten up the picture of the item.  A great picture is sure to help!  Next, make sure that your item or items are clean, pressed and in great condition.  When I list clothes, etc, I make sure that if there are any imperfections, I do list them.  Letting people how the condition is helpful towards any sale.  I also let them know in my description my guidelines for payment and discount on shipping for multiple items.  I try and treat any buyer like I want to be treated-with kindness!! Finally, you would be surprised what you can sell on eBay - anything from water balloons (LOL) to unique items-ANYTHING is possible!! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me, and list in the subject that you have questions about selling on eBay! I wish you all great luck!! -- Jody, 43, from KS

Always put a Buy It Now price on items...I made most of my initial money on sales this way. I put the BIN price at what I would love to get for the item. Start the bidding low but with a price you are willing to let the item go for.
Use the turbolister tool provided free by eBay to prepare your auction items, and list when they are having a "sale" on a listing feature. (find out the sales by subscribing to the eBay newsletter) -- BethAnn, 35, from TN

I was on a website a while ago checking out info on eBay and paid $20 for some bogus info to make money on eBay.  I then during other searches found www.freeauctioncourse.com.  The person who has this site offers a video so you can learn how to make money on eBay but he also will give you a 5 day mini course for free.  I signed up and every day for 5 days I received information on how to buy and sell on eBay.  Yes, at the end of each email he does advertise for his own video but you are not obligated to buy it.  I felt this 5 day mini course was extremely helpful on how eBay works.  I would recommend everyone to at least check out the free mini course and then at your own discretion buy the info.  Good luck, I am going to see if I can use my new knowledge. -- Kim, 30, from MN

I am an eBay Mom and last week I sold over 200 dollars of junk that was just laying around. I see so many people come into eBay thinking they can make a fortune.. so many fail.. the thing is this.. Sell what you know or what you buy.  Every item I have ever listed has sold.. I believe that this is because I know what I buy and I watch around all the time.. I buy things at Yard sales that I am already shopping at to resell on eBay.. some things sell and some things don't. Shipping is very important to ALL buyers.. ship the best deal. The PO provides Priority mail supplies at no cost however... the shipping costs your seller more.. ALWAYS ALWAYS insist on Delivery Confirmation.  It costs 55 cents and worth every penny if a buyer says that they didn't receive that one of a kind item you shipped out last month.. etc.. Be a buyer or at least a window shopper before you start.  GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY EBAYING!!! -- Mona, 43, from VA

Do some research before you sell your items....check to see what the selling prices are of the items you want to sell.  Start your bids at lower than what you would pay new or used for your own item. Baby clothes sell especially toddler sizes, shoes too!! Give your layout for the auction some color, eBay offers this now...and it does make a difference Give good descriptions and detail if you can. People are very picky.  hope these help someone out -- Amy, 27, from NC

Make sure you take pictures of everything you are selling.  People like to see what they are bidding on no matter what it is.  I have noticed that auctions with pictures have more bids then ones without. -- Kristina, 28, from CA

Look at similar items before you sell yours.  It will give you ideas for your description, your price, the category you should use, and note what others are charging for shipping.  If you are not sure how much it will be to ship, either guess high, or use e-bay shipping calculator.  Most of all, be honest.  Describe your item as best you can.  You don't want any negative feedback because you didn't tell all. -- Kim, 39, from MI

I have been selling on eBay for about 4 months and LOVE it!! If you are serious about doing it, invest in a postal scale-you can buy it on eBay too. :0) That way you won't underestimate shipping costs. I primarily sell baby and children's clothes and have been finding wonderful items at garage sales. It's a bit late for that this year, but thrift stores are great places too. You have to really search, but I have made some wonderful finds! Remember to look over each item VERY carefully and make sure it's in excellent condition. Gymboree, Baby Gap and any boutique brands can do really well. Do your "research" on eBay under completed items to see what is selling. If you like to hunt for bargains and are willing to put some time into it, it can be a great supplemental income. And you'll have a ball doing it! Just be careful not to spend.  -- Margaret, 34, from TX

I am a stay at home Mom with two children, Robert 12 and Lindsay 10. I have made great extra money with eBay. I sell kids clothes as they out grow them. Toys we no longer need. My kids play every sport and my daughter dances and cheers. As we outgrow an item we put it up for sale. It makes room for new items and helps organize the clutter. I just sold 2 cheerleading uniforms that originally cost me $125 each. We took a picture to remember them and sent them off to someone who could get some use out of them. It is better than hanging in my closet for another 25 years collecting dust. I love eBay! It has helped make it easier to be a stay at home Mom. You can check out my gently loved items on "ginialeigh" at eBay! -- Virginia, 40, from MS

Believe it or not, I have very good luck selling some of my children's clothes on eBay.  If you have a very expensive name brand child's clothing item (i.e., Tommy Hilfiger) and it's in good condition, you can easily sell it.  Price reasonably, and you'll still end up getting more than you would selling in a consignment store or garage sale! -- Lisa, 33, from CO

I think the best tip for successful selling on eBay is an accurate, yet catchy title for your item. Even if you think that your item isn't that desirable, there's often someone SOMEWHERE looking for that exact item in not necessarily new or mint condition. -- Elizabeth, 20, from NH

1.  Try  to fit as much info. as possible in the title of your auction,  brand etc. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes, what key words would you be typing in the eBay search field.  use those words in your title so your auction will appear for those buyers.

2.  Be very descriptive in the body of the auction.  Include shipping charges and what type of payments you are going to accept.  -- Kristie, 30, from CA

I just love eBay.  A friend of mine got me started on there about a year ago.  I started out just selling things I would normally have sold at a yard sale (which we all know are a headache!).  I did so good on those things, I started to going to yard sales and thrift stores to buy things to put on eBay.  I enjoy it so much and it gives me time to spend at home with my son.  Plus, he gets to "test" all of my toy products before mommy auctions them on eBay!  eBay is truly for stay at home moms!! -- Vanda, 28, from AL

Take a picture of your item for sale.  Write your description clearly and with decent spelling, punctuation, etc.  You want to seem like you know what you're doing.  Measurements for clothing are important, especially when selling plus-sized things.  Don't make it too expensive.  Be courteous and answer emails promptly and politely.  Have fun and good luck! -- Rhenda, 32, from CA

Be sure to spell your item name correctly! I have seen so many items sell for next to nothing (great for the buyer who stumbles upon them) or not at all because of this. Always be sure to look up the item you want to sell under "Completed Auctions" to get an idea of how much to set your price at and see how others have described the item. It could mean a few extra dollars!  -- Christina, 36, from NY

Do not forget the little details!  Sizes, colors, what payments you will accept, what ways you will ship and on what days.  Auctions with a picture will always do better than the same one without.  Email your customers when you receive their payment, and let them know when you have shipped the item.  This small courtesy will get you positive feedback, which will help your sales in the long run.  And leave feedback for your customer as well.  Just remember to treat every customer as you would like to be treated!  -- Courtney, 27, from PA

I LOVE eBay! I have bought and sold on eBay, with no problems whatsoever. To be profitable on eBay the key is organization. I keep a divided binder set up to store information such as items up for auction, emails from "buyers", payment receipts, bank deposits, etc. This way I can track anything and know what is going on if there is ever a problem. Be friendly with buyers and they may buy from you again, offer to combine shipping or let them know when you are setting up another auction or if you want to sell exclusively to them. Keep copies of EVERYTHING and send little notes w/ the items. I post feedback once payment is received and the item has shipped, I also email the buyer at that time to let them know. I have even shipped dishes, only to have some break and still got praise from the buyers for the way I handled myself and the situation. All of this can add up to success and if you think no one may buy what you want to sell, look it up first on eBay and chances are somebo  dy is already selling it!! -- Kim, 29, from NY

I always do a search on the item I am selling and look at the way others word the title of the item.  Then, I go to the completed items area to see what the items are typically listed and then sold for.  I try to look at the highest price wins and then model my listings after them.  Also, be sure to download Turbo Lister to make listing items much simpler and take a great deal less time. -- Angie, 34, from MN

When looking to sell items on eBay, or any other auction site for that matter, research is definitely the key.  Check out what your item sold for when other auctioneers listed it (on eBay just do a search for your item, using appropriate key words, then click on "Completed Items" to see what similar items sold for in the last 30 days).  Find a listing for your item that sold for a really good price and try to figure out why.  Was it listed in a good category?  Was the title full of catchy key words?

First, sign up with PayPal so that buyers can easily make payments.  Any fees you incur will most likely be worth the added sale price.

Second, pictures speak a thousand words.  Make sure the photo you are using for your listing is a clear, good looking picture, and that you didn't take it on your dirty basement floor.  Also make sure it is small enough to load quickly for all buyers (especially true if you have a dsl/cable hook-up, remember some people use a dial-up connection!).  

Third, don't forget that you will be paying fees to list your item, a percentage of the final sale price, and possibly a PayPal payment.  Make sure your item is going to sell for a decent enough price that it is still worth your hard work.  Sell in ‘lots’ if you have many similar items that wouldn't sell for a lot of money separately.  Oh, and make sure you mention that it's a 'lot' of whatever in your title.

Make sure you are certain of shipping.  Placing too low a price on the cost of shipping can cut into your profit.  I use a shipping calculator that can actually be placed directly in your listing.  It can be found here:  http://auctionsupplies.com/postal/original.htm

Order free Priority Mail packaging supplies from the Post Office website: http://www.usps.com/
You can get boxes in various sizes as well as packaging tape.  Just make sure you mention in your listing that you only ship via Priority Mail.  Also, if you print your shipping label at the USPS website they give you free delivery confirmation (although you may have to argue this with your local post office - come armed with printed proof from the website and don't back down!)  Encourage your buyers to get insurance, especially on fragile items. Buy small items that you want or need before you start selling - it will build up your positive feedback which means a lot to most eBay buyers.  I am sure there's more but that's all I can come up with for now.  Good Luck! -- Anet, 31, from NY

Collectibles!  I have found that anything collectible like Strawberry Shortcake, Elvis, coins, Hello Kitty, comic books, etc. is the way to go.  If you can find these things at thrift stores, garage sales, swap meets then you've got a very profitable business ahead of you.  A great tip is to find items on eBay that you feel would sell well or even something you might be interested in selling and put them on your "watch" page.  Then after a few days, you can see how much it went for.  It gives you ideas on what sells and what doesn't and for what kind of prices.  Good luck! -- Shelley, 31, from CA