11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay
11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay
"Where do I find things to sell on eBay??"
To help answer that question I have compiled 11 ways that anyone can use to find products to sell on eBay. This is by no means a definitive list and depending on your situation, some of the ways may not apply to you. However, if you're a beginner and don't know where to start, this list should help you get on track.
1. Look Around The House:
We all have items lying around the house that we no longer use or need. Have you grown or shrunk in size? If so, you have clothes you can no longer wear and can sell. Did you get a gift for Christmas or your birthday that you will never use? If so, slap
it on eBay (just don't let the person who gave you the gift find
out). Do your kids have toys they no longer play with? Just
looking around your house and garage should give you plenty of
things to get your eBay ball rolling.
2. Garage Sales and Flea Markets:
When it comes to eBay, remember this old adage: One man's junk is
another man's treasure. Now this is not to say that you should
sell junk on eBay. You should only sell products in good
condition. The point is you can find items in good condition at
garage sales and flea markets that you can pick up cheap and
resell for a profit. Remember, nobody wants to buy your old
Beanie Babies that no longer have eyes and noses, but they may
buy "gently used" items if they're in good shape and offered at a
good price.
3. Talk To Your Friends and Relatives:
After you've gone through your own in-house inventory, contact
your friends and relatives and tell them you have started an eBay
business and will sell their items for a piece of the sales
price. Chances are they have as much excess stuff lying around
their house as you did. Offer to list the items for them and if
they sell, take half the profits. You will probably have to pay
the eBay fees out of your pocket up front, but you can then
deduct the eBay fees from the sales price before slicing up the
pie.
4. Consignment Sales:
Consignment sales are a great way to find a wide range of
products to sell on eBay. Consignment selling means that you
offer to sell an item that belongs to a company. In exchange for
your trouble you get a percentage of the sales price. You can
charge up to 50% plus fees for smaller items like clothing,
lamps, jewelry, etc. and around 15% for larger items like cars,
boats, and bulldozers (yes, I said bulldozers).
Contact every business in town and offer to list their excess
goods on eBay for a piece of the action. Most businesses have
returned items, liquidated products, used equipment, etc. that
they would love to get rid of, but don't have the time to do so.
Many will see you as their hero if you can help them get rid of
this merchandise and you'll make a pretty profit for your
efforts. For business customers you should have them pay the eBay
fees on the front end, not you.
5. Thrift Stores:
Thrift stores are an excellent place to look for things to sell
online. Stores maintained by the Salvation Army and non-profit
organizations are best. Many church thrift stores price their
goods at almost retail level, so you may not find too many
bargains there.
Much of the merchandise you will find at thrift stores has been
donated by middle to upper income families, so many times you can
find high quality merchandise in excellent condition. And don't
be afraid to make them an offer, especially if you are buying in
bulk. Nobody pays sticker price at thrift stores.
6. Mini Storage Unit Sales:
Mini storage companies are everywhere and most of them are filled
with stuff that people no longer want, but have no other place to
store. Did you know that if someone who is renting a mini
storage unit fails to pay the rent the owner can confiscate their
stuff and sell it? This is bad news for the renter, but great
news for you. Call every mini storage company in your area and
ask that they notify you if they ever have items to sell. Many
will put you on a notification list for their upcoming sales.
Some may even say, "Sure, come on over!"
7. Local Auctions And Estate Sales:
I'm a live auction nut. I'm not talking about the hooty snooty
art auctions. I'm talking about the good old fashioned auctions
with hard benches and hot dogs and cheap, good stuff. I love
going to auctions and digging through boxes and bidding on
things. My problem is I don't know when to quit buying. It's just
so dang much fun holding up that little paddle and winning a
sale, even if it's something you don't really need.
Check your area for auctions and sales you can attend. Just make
sure you don't pay more for something than you should. Your goal
is to buy low and sell high. Don't get so caught up in the
bidding that you pay more than a product is worth (voice of
experience here).
8. Closeout Stores:
You can find some great bargains at the big warehouse closeout
stores. Look for liquidated items or items you can buy in bulk.
And don't be afraid to make them an offer. I never pay sticker
price at closeout stores and neither should you. Call the manager
over and ask him what he'll take for the entire box of something
you're interested in. You may be surprised to find him more than
willing to deal.
9. eBay And Other Online Auctions:
Did you know that you can find great deals on products you can
buy and resell on eBay and other online auctions? If a seller
does a lousy job on his ad chances are he will get very few bids
and you can snap up the item at a deal, then create a great ad
and sell it for a profit.
You can also find wholesale bulk lots on eBay that you can buy
and piece out for sale one at a time. This requires the cash to
buy the inventory and a place to store it, but this is the best
way to get the lowest price on most wholesale goods.
You should also visit the other online auction like Yahoo and
Ubid.com to look for bargains. These sites do not have the
traffic and customer base that eBay has, which means auctions
there get fewer visitors and lower bids. Do a Google search for
"online auctions" to hunt for treasure there.
10. Wholesalers and Dropshippers:
Once your eBay business is rolling you can move it up a notch by
establishing relationships with wholesalers and dropshippers who
can provide you with merchandise to sell. You will get the lowest
price by buying in bulk from wholesalers, but that is a level you
should build up to. Don't buy a truckload of liquidated products
until you are sure you can sell them.
11. Contact The Manufacturer:
If you find a product that you think would be a good seller just
pick up the phone can call the company that manufactures. Tell
them you are interested in the product and were wondering if they
had a distributor in your area. If they do, contact the
distributor and inquire about buying the product wholesale. If
the company does not have a distributor in your area simply say,
"How do I go about becoming your distributor."
There may be costs involved that makes if prohibitive for you to
become a distributor, but you never know until you try. Again,
research the market thoroughly to make sure there are customers
who will buy the product and if you do have to invest money to
get started, only invest the minimum allowed and consult an
attorney if there are legal forms you're asked to sign.
11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay - To learn more about this author, visit Tim Knox's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
I was part of an eBay Roundtable discussion recently with six other experts and we all agreed that the number one question most new (and even old) eBay sellers ask is:
"Where do I find things to sell on eBay??"
To help answer that question I have compiled 11 ways that anyone can use to find products to sell on eBay. This is by no means a definitive list and depending on your situation, some of the ways may not apply to you. However, if you're a beginner and don't know where to start, this list should help you get on track.
1. Look Around The House:
We all have items lying around the house that we no longer use or need. Have you grown or shrunk in size? If so, you have clothes you can no longer wear and can sell. Did you get a gift for Christmas or your birthday that you will never use? If so, slap
it on eBay (just don't let the person who gave you the gift find
out). Do your kids have toys they no longer play with? Just
looking around your house and garage should give you plenty of
things to get your eBay ball rolling.
2. Garage Sales and Flea Markets:
When it comes to eBay, remember this old adage: One man's junk is
another man's treasure. Now this is not to say that you should
sell junk on eBay. You should only sell products in good
condition. The point is you can find items in good condition at
garage sales and flea markets that you can pick up cheap and
resell for a profit. Remember, nobody wants to buy your old
Beanie Babies that no longer have eyes and noses, but they may
buy "gently used" items if they're in good shape and offered at a
good price.
3. Talk To Your Friends and Relatives:
After you've gone through your own in-house inventory, contact
your friends and relatives and tell them you have started an eBay
business and will sell their items for a piece of the sales
price. Chances are they have as much excess stuff lying around
their house as you did. Offer to list the items for them and if
they sell, take half the profits. You will probably have to pay
the eBay fees out of your pocket up front, but you can then
deduct the eBay fees from the sales price before slicing up the
pie.
4. Consignment Sales:
Consignment sales are a great way to find a wide range of
products to sell on eBay. Consignment selling means that you
offer to sell an item that belongs to a company. In exchange for
your trouble you get a percentage of the sales price. You can
charge up to 50% plus fees for smaller items like clothing,
lamps, jewelry, etc. and around 15% for larger items like cars,
boats, and bulldozers (yes, I said bulldozers).
Contact every business in town and offer to list their excess
goods on eBay for a piece of the action. Most businesses have
returned items, liquidated products, used equipment, etc. that
they would love to get rid of, but don't have the time to do so.
Many will see you as their hero if you can help them get rid of
this merchandise and you'll make a pretty profit for your
efforts. For business customers you should have them pay the eBay
fees on the front end, not you.
5. Thrift Stores:
Thrift stores are an excellent place to look for things to sell
online. Stores maintained by the Salvation Army and non-profit
organizations are best. Many church thrift stores price their
goods at almost retail level, so you may not find too many
bargains there.
Much of the merchandise you will find at thrift stores has been
donated by middle to upper income families, so many times you can
find high quality merchandise in excellent condition. And don't
be afraid to make them an offer, especially if you are buying in
bulk. Nobody pays sticker price at thrift stores.
6. Mini Storage Unit Sales:
Mini storage companies are everywhere and most of them are filled
with stuff that people no longer want, but have no other place to
store. Did you know that if someone who is renting a mini
storage unit fails to pay the rent the owner can confiscate their
stuff and sell it? This is bad news for the renter, but great
news for you. Call every mini storage company in your area and
ask that they notify you if they ever have items to sell. Many
will put you on a notification list for their upcoming sales.
Some may even say, "Sure, come on over!"
7. Local Auctions And Estate Sales:
I'm a live auction nut. I'm not talking about the hooty snooty
art auctions. I'm talking about the good old fashioned auctions
with hard benches and hot dogs and cheap, good stuff. I love
going to auctions and digging through boxes and bidding on
things. My problem is I don't know when to quit buying. It's just
so dang much fun holding up that little paddle and winning a
sale, even if it's something you don't really need.
Check your area for auctions and sales you can attend. Just make
sure you don't pay more for something than you should. Your goal
is to buy low and sell high. Don't get so caught up in the
bidding that you pay more than a product is worth (voice of
experience here).
8. Closeout Stores:
You can find some great bargains at the big warehouse closeout
stores. Look for liquidated items or items you can buy in bulk.
And don't be afraid to make them an offer. I never pay sticker
price at closeout stores and neither should you. Call the manager
over and ask him what he'll take for the entire box of something
you're interested in. You may be surprised to find him more than
willing to deal.
9. eBay And Other Online Auctions:
Did you know that you can find great deals on products you can
buy and resell on eBay and other online auctions? If a seller
does a lousy job on his ad chances are he will get very few bids
and you can snap up the item at a deal, then create a great ad
and sell it for a profit.
You can also find wholesale bulk lots on eBay that you can buy
and piece out for sale one at a time. This requires the cash to
buy the inventory and a place to store it, but this is the best
way to get the lowest price on most wholesale goods.
You should also visit the other online auction like Yahoo and
Ubid.com to look for bargains. These sites do not have the
traffic and customer base that eBay has, which means auctions
there get fewer visitors and lower bids. Do a Google search for
"online auctions" to hunt for treasure there.
10. Wholesalers and Dropshippers:
Once your eBay business is rolling you can move it up a notch by
establishing relationships with wholesalers and dropshippers who
can provide you with merchandise to sell. You will get the lowest
price by buying in bulk from wholesalers, but that is a level you
should build up to. Don't buy a truckload of liquidated products
until you are sure you can sell them.
11. Contact The Manufacturer:
If you find a product that you think would be a good seller just
pick up the phone can call the company that manufactures. Tell
them you are interested in the product and were wondering if they
had a distributor in your area. If they do, contact the
distributor and inquire about buying the product wholesale. If
the company does not have a distributor in your area simply say,
"How do I go about becoming your distributor."
There may be costs involved that makes if prohibitive for you to
become a distributor, but you never know until you try. Again,
research the market thoroughly to make sure there are customers
who will buy the product and if you do have to invest money to
get started, only invest the minimum allowed and consult an
attorney if there are legal forms you're asked to sign.
11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay - To learn more about this author, visit Tim Knox's Website.
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Dianne CramptonDianne Crampton is an executive leadership coach, team culture consultant, author and president of TIGERS Success Series, Inc. Dianne has been helping CEO's and Executives connect their employees to their core values and goals for over 20 years using the trademarked TIGERS team culture process, which stands for trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success. To download a free white paper on behaviors that build strong teams and behaviors that will predictably tear them down go here. Dianne's contribution to the 2010 Pfeiffer Consulting Journal (an imprint of John Wiley and Sons Publishers) entitled TIGERS Hearted Teams is available in November 2009. Her new book TIGERS Among Us: 5 Winning Business Team Cultures And Why, Three Creeks Publishing will release in March 2010. To receive publishing discounts, subscribe to the free TigerTracks Newsletter here. - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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