Top tips for selling pre-loved items on eBay

eBay saw that many used the long Easter weekend to kick start their spring clean, revealing that Tuesday 14th April saw a notable increase in pre-loved items on eBay. It’s no real surprise that many are looking to make some additional pin money and, with many shops closed, there are an equal number of people more than happy to buy pre-loved items if they can find them.

Knowing that the nation is looking to sell unwanted goods to make some extra cash, eBay UK has crunched the numbers to reveal the best selling second-hand items, alongside the average selling price, so you can tally up how much you could be sitting on within the surrounds of your four walls.

The most pre-loved items sold on eBay UK include smartphones, watches, video games and women’s apparel including handbags, coats and jackets.

Most popular recently sold pre-loved items on eBay

1. Mobiles and smartphones – Average selling price: £163
2. Wristwatches – Average selling price: £131
3. Women’s bags – Average selling price: £45
4. Video games consoles – Average selling price: £85
5. Men’s coats and jackets – Average selling price: £48
6. Tablets and e-readers – Average selling price: £115
7. Women’s coats and jackets – Average selling price: £23
8. Apple Macbook laptops – Average selling price: £483
9. Video games (PlayStation/Xbox) – Average selling price: £14
10. PC laptops and netbooks – Average selling price: £166

Top eBay Selling Tips for pre-loved items

New to the eBay thing? Fear not, these simple tips from eBay’s Head of Preloved, Emma Grant, will help to optimise your listings and turn you into a successful seller in no time!

• Donate to charity – when listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% – you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform. Tens of thousands of eBay sellers do this every year, making money and feeling good at the same time! Look out for items that have a blue and yellow ribbon next to them on site, showing that they are being sold for charity next time you’re shopping too!
• Key words are key – Take the time to get your keywords right and bidders will come. When buyers search, eBay.co.uk automatically filters the listing titles, so it’s crucial to write your listing in your fellow users’ language and use the terminology they search for – especially brand and product names.
• Choose the right category for your product – It might sound obvious but it’s very important to always choose the most specific category to sell in. Make sure if you are selling old children’s clothes, to sell in the children’s fashion category, rather than just fashion in general.
• Pictures are important – Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or aesthetic damage to the item.
• Be as detailed as possible – Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear. By including details that can’t be seen in the image, for example if you are selling clothes noting the feel or fit of the product, you’ll help buyers decide if this is the item for them.
• Look at past sold items – eBay.co.uk has a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it.
• Timing, Timing, Timing – Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for 10-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it’s time-sensitive, pick 10 days.
• Be realistic with pricing – consider your pricing strategy carefully following the eBay pricing recommendations. Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you’re going for the right price and always ask yourself ‘would I pay this price for this item?’

Tips for Buyers

• Use sensible precautions when receiving parcels – wash your hands after opening your delivery and dispose of packaging immediately. If your parcel is being delivered by hand, be mindful of social distancing guidance. If your purchase is urgent, or if you are buying and collecting on behalf of a vulnerable person, arrange sensible social distancing rules and ensure you stick to them when delivering the item.
• If you’re buying an item for collection, please keep the government regulations in mind. We encourage you to think about only making necessary purchases, or perhaps postponing collection until after the lockdown restrictions have been lifted. This should be agreed with the seller ahead of the transaction.
• Keep social distancing in mind. Keep collections restricted to your local area so that they can be incorporated into your daily exercise outing, and of course practice social distancing.
• Encourage the seller to use Packlink which enables them to get your item to you quickly, easily and safely, without having to leave their own home.