New data from eBay UK reveals the number of Brits looking to make some extra cash sky-rockets immediately after Boxing Day (27th December), with more than double the number of listings added to the site as the festivities draw to an end.
With almost 2 million items listed on eBay on the 27th of December last year, eBay has claimed ‘Boxing Up Day’ as the official day our Christmas spending catches up with us and most people look for ways to replenish their wallets. The online marketplace predicts a staggering 10 million items will be listed during the week following the 25th this year, as the UK packs up unwanted gifts from the big day and other items for resale.
Data suggests that the most unwanted gifts, i.e. the most listed items in the week following Christmas, are Women’s Clothes, with over 1.4 million new listings after Boxing Day last year (so don’t be surprised if that jumper you bought your sister suddenly goes “missing”)!
Toys and Games were also amongst the top listed items, with almost half a million listed in the days following Christmas – a clever way to give your cupboard some space back and make a bit of extra cash while making some other family create new memories.
“The lulling days between Christmas and the New Year are an incredibly busy selling period on our marketplace, with people looking to soften the financial blow of the most expensive season.
‘Boxing Up Day’ is a prime time to list any of those unwanted gifts you may have received or get rid of unused items that may be collecting dust around the house. Something you may not love or are not interested in anymore can very much be beneficial to someone else. All while you make a bit of extra cash.”
– Emma Grant, UK Head of Second-Hand Buying, eBay
So what are the sought after items most likely to line pockets? eBay UK search data shows that there’s a huge demand for video consoles, with the Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox One being amongst the most searched for items – totalling over a quarter of a million searches combined in the week after Christmas.
For those thinking of selling their unwanted gifts, decluttering the house as part of a one in, one out policy, or that are just strapped for cash after a heavy month of spending, here’s how much you could make by selling popular items on eBay in the new year:
- Women’s clothing – Average Selling Price: £11
- Watches – Average Selling Price: £205
- Men’s clothing – Average Selling Price: £22
- Video Games – Average Selling Price: £13
- Women’s Handbags – Average Selling Price: £57
- Apple Laptops- Average Selling Price: £438
- Toys & Games – Average Selling Price: £19
- Mobile & Smart Phones – Average Selling Price: £177
- Necklaces & Pendants – Average Selling Price: £44
- Video Game Consoles – Average Selling Price: £104
New to selling on eBay? Fear not, these 5 simple tips from Emma will help to optimise your listings and have you jingling all the way to the bank:
- 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.
- 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?
And don’t forget, if you’re looking to rehome unused tech items, make sure you get your tech ready for resale with this handy checklist:
- Backup data stored on your device with a free online storage service, such as iCloud for Apple products, Google Drive for Android devices and Chrome books, and One Drive for Windows phones, tablets and laptops.
- Use ‘factory reset’ (in settings menu) to remove personal data and access to social media accounts. This will also delete photos, music, documents and any contacts stored.
- Remove the SIM card and memory card, if there is a removable one. The ‘hard reset’ button will restart your device to ensure any software changes will take effect.
- Package up the charger, power cable, instructions and accessories.
2 Responses
“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.”
Someone at ebay needs to heed that advice when coding the category suggestion feature
@r
The search specifics are now so long and laborious that it actually may not matter at all what category you list in because the search algorithm is gamed by promoted listings anyway.
eBay is broken beyond belief