In 2012, I found a weird, dusty board game called "Dark Tower" at a garage sale for five dollars. I didn’t know much about it, but something about the circular tower in the middle looked expensive. I listed it on a whim, and three days later,my phone buzzed with a notification: it had sold for $425. That single transaction sparked a decade-long obsession with e-commerce. It’s a wild feeling to realize that the "junk" sitting in your garage or found at a local thrift store can literally pay your rent. Today, the marketplace is more crowded, but the opportunity to how to sell things on ebay has never been more accessible if you know the right levers to pull.
How to Find Things to Sell on eBay Without Breaking the Bank
One of the most common hurdles for beginners is simply how to find things to sell on ebay. People often think they need to find some secret wholesaler in China to get started. But the truth is much closer to home. When I first started scaling my business in 2015, I didn't have any capital. I literally walked through my house with a cardboard box and filled it with things I hadn't touched in six months. (I call this the "Inventory Audit," and it's surprisingly effective).
Here’s where it gets interesting: the best sourcing locations are often the most overlooked. I’ve had massive success at estate sales, local auctions, and even "Free" sections on local classified sites. I once found a box of vintage 1980s calculators at an estate sale in 2018 for $10. After some quick research using the eBay mobile app, I realized they were scientific models used by engineers. I sold them individually for a total of $650.
But you have to be careful. A major failure I experienced early on was "over-sourcing." I got so addicted to the hunt that I filled my spare bedroom with inventory I hadn't listed yet. It sat there for six months, tying up my cash and creating a massive amount of stress. My advice? Don't buy anything else until you’ve listed what you already have. It sounds simple, but it’s the hardest rule to follow.
Top Sourcing Spots for New Sellers:
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Thrift Stores: Focus on the "hard goods" section—electronics, vintage kitchenware, and board games.
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Garage Sales: Use the "Map" feature on apps like Garage Sale Map to plan your Saturday mornings.
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Clearance Aisles: "Retail Arbitrage" involves buying discounted items at big-box stores like Walmart or Target and reselling them.
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Facebook Marketplace: Often, people just want stuff gone and will sell items far below their eBay market value.
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Your Own Closet: It’s the highest profit margin because your initial "cost of goods" is essentially zero.
How to Sell Things on eBay and Make Money Consistently
If you want to know how to sell things on ebay and make money, you have to treat it like a business, not a hobby. That means understanding your margins. I see so many people get excited because they sold a shirt for $20 that they bought for $5, but they forget to account for shipping, packaging, and the time it took to photograph it.
The real secret to how to make money on ebay is volume and consistency. I set a goal in 2020 to list five items every single day, no matter what. By the end of the year, I had a steady stream of "payouts" hitting my bank account every Tuesday. Consistency signals to the eBay algorithm that you are an active, reliable seller, which often results in your items being ranked higher in search results.
Now the tricky part is pricing. If you price too high, your item sits for months. If you price too low, you’re leaving money on the table. I always look at the "Sold" filter—not the "Active" listings—to see what people are actually paying. (Active listings show what people dream of getting, which is usually 20% higher than reality).
How Much Does It Cost to Sell Things on eBay?
This is the question that scares people off. How much does it cost to sell things on ebay? It’s not free, but compared to opening a physical store, it’s incredibly cheap. You generally deal with two main fees: the "Insertion Fee" (listing fee) and the "Final Value Fee" (the commission eBay takes when the item sells).
For most categories, the Final Value Fee is around 13.25% plus a $0.30 per-order fee. However, this varies. If you're selling sneakers over $150, the fee is lower. If you're selling heavy industrial equipment, it might be different. I once sold a vintage motorcycle part in 2021 and was shocked at how much the shipping and fees ate into my profit because I hadn't calculated the weight correctly. (Always weigh your items before you list them, not after they sell).
And don't forget about "Promoted Listings." eBay will offer to show your item to more people in exchange for an extra percentage of the sale. I’m honestly undecided on whether this is always worth it. For high-competition items like iPhone cases, it’s a necessity. For rare antiques? You’re probably just giving eBay extra money for a sale that would have happened anyway.
Where to Sell Used Things: Why eBay Still Wins
When people ask where to sell used things or where can you sell stuff, they often mention Poshmark, Mercari, or Depop. While those platforms are great for specific niches like trendy clothes or handmade crafts, eBay remains the king for almost everything else. If you have a car part from 1994, an old textbook, or a broken PlayStation, eBay is the only place with a global enough audience to find a buyer.
I’ve tried to sell things online on other platforms with mixed results. I once tried to sell a high-end camera on a local app in 2019 to avoid fees. I ended up waiting in a Starbucks parking lot for forty minutes for a guy who never showed up.That’s when I realized that the "fee" I pay to eBay is actually a "convenience and safety tax." I’d rather pay 13% to have a buyer pay me instantly and let me drop the package at the post office on my own schedule.
Learning how to sell things online effectively means understanding where your specific audience hangs out. If you're selling to collectors, eBay is the destination. If you're looking for a quick, local cash flip for furniture, Facebook is better.But for the widest possible reach, eBay is unbeatable.
How to Sell Thing on eBay: The Step-by-Step Listing Process
Wait, did you notice I said how to sell thing on ebay? Sometimes you only have one specific, high-value item you want to get rid of. The process for a one-off sale is slightly different than running a store. You want to focus on "Title Optimization." You have 80 characters—use every single one of them.
And here is a pro tip: don't use "fluff" words like "L@@K," "AWESOME," or "NICE." Nobody searches for those words.People search for "Vintage 1990 Nike Windbreaker Large Blue." Use keywords that describe the brand, model, size,color, and condition.
I use Closo to automate inventory management, which is a lifesaver when I'm listing across multiple platforms—it saves me about 3 hours weekly. But when you're just starting with one "thing," you can do everything through the eBay mobile app. The app’s "Background Removal" tool is surprisingly good now, allowing you to get that clean, white-background look even if you’re just taking photos on your kitchen counter.
Essential Tools for Every eBay Seller:
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Closo: For multi-channel syncing and keeping your sanity as you grow.
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Terapeak: eBay's built-in research tool that gives you years of pricing data.
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A Digital Scale: I recommend the Accuteck ShipPro; it’s saved me hundreds in postage errors.
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A Thermal Label Printer: If you sell more than 10 items a month, an Arkscan or Rollo printer will pay for itself in saved time.
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Poly Mailers: Buying these in bulk on—ironically—eBay is much cheaper than buying padded envelopes at the post office.
People always ask me... Do I need a business license to sell on eBay?
This is a classic "it depends" answer. If you are just cleaning out your garage and selling old clothes, you generally don't need a license in most U.S. states. However, the moment you start buying things specifically to resell for a profit, the IRS considers you a business.
In 2022, the rules changed regarding the 1099-K threshold. Now, if you sell more than $600 in a year, you’ll likely receive a tax form from eBay. I highly recommend setting aside 20-25% of your profit for taxes from day one. I failed to do this during my first big year in 2016, and let’s just say that April was a very painful month for my savings account.(I'm not a tax professional, so definitely talk to one as you scale!).
Common question I see... How do I handle difficult buyers?
Here's something everyone wants to know: how do you deal with someone who says an item didn't arrive or wants a refund for no reason? The honest truth is that "The Customer is Always Right" is the rule eBay lives by. You will occasionally get a "bad apple" who tries to scam you.
My strategy? I factor a "shrinkage" rate into my business model. About 1% of my sales will go wrong through no fault of my own. If you accept that as a cost of doing business, it becomes much less stressful. Also, always use tracked shipping.Never, ever send an item without a tracking number. Without it, you have zero protection if a buyer claims the package never arrived. For more on protecting your store, you should check out listing optimization strategies which help in setting clear expectations from the start.
Advanced Strategies: Growing Beyond the Basics
Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to sell things on ebay, you can start looking into more advanced growth. This includes things like "International Shipping" through the eBay Global Shipping Program (now called eBay International Shipping). This allows you to ship an item to a hub in the U.S., and eBay handles the customs and international leg for you. It’s an easy way to increase your potential buyer pool by millions.
I also recommend checking out the Closo Seller Hub for deeper insights into ebay growth strategies. Scaling is about removing bottlenecks. For me, the bottleneck was always shipping. I eventually moved to a "Systematized Shipping Station" where everything I need—tape, labels, boxes—is within arm's reach. It sounds trivial, but shaving two minutes off every package adds up to hours over a month.
Conclusion: Is Selling on eBay Still Worth It in 2025?
After more than a decade in this game, my assessment is a resounding yes. While the fees have increased and the competition is stiffer, the infrastructure is better than it’s ever been. You can reach a buyer in Tokyo from your living room in Ohio with just a few clicks.
My personal recommendation for anyone starting out is to focus on "niche" knowledge. Don't try to sell everything.Become the person who knows everything about vintage Pyrex or used power tools. That expertise is your "moat." The biggest caveat is that eBay is not "passive income." It requires physical labor—packing boxes, going to the post office,and answering messages. But if you're willing to put in the work, it’s one of the best ways to build a flexible, profitable business from scratch.
