Back in October 2020, I listed my first serious product on eBay — a vintage Patagonia fleece I found at a thrift store for $28. I’d sold a few personal items before, but this was different. I photographed it, priced it strategically, and waited. Within 36 hours, someone in Colorado hit “Buy It Now.”
That one sale didn’t make me rich, but it gave me something better: a blueprint. Over the next two years, I turned what started as a hobby into a consistent side business on the eBay market place, eventually crossing $45,000 in sales in 2023.
Quick overview:
The eBay market place remains one of the most accessible and profitable platforms for small and mid-sized sellers. With a clear account setup, the right sales software, and smart product choices, sellers can reach millions of buyers globally and grow a sustainable business.
Why the eBay Market Place Still Matters in 2025
Here’s where it gets interesting. Everyone talks about TikTok Shop, Amazon, or Shopify — but eBay remains a quiet powerhouse. With 132 million active buyers and a massive search-based ecosystem, it still outperforms many niche platforms.
Unlike newer marketplaces that rely on trends, eBay market place thrives on structured search and category dominance. Products from sneakers to vintage electronics can move fast if listed strategically.
And here’s the key: eBay still doesn’t require you to build a brand to make money. If you understand supply, demand, and pricing, you can start fast.
eBay or Etsy: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Product
When I started selling, I debated eBay or Etsy. Etsy was tempting — it had a cool aesthetic and niche vibe. But after testing both for six months, the results weren’t even close.
Here’s what happened between March and August 2021:
-
Etsy: 41 sales, $2,700 gross revenue
-
eBay: 164 sales, $12,200 gross revenue
Why the gap? Etsy rewards niche handmade or vintage categories. eBay rewards search velocity, variety, and product availability. I could list new and used, unique and repeatable.
My rule of thumb:
-
If you’re selling high-volume or mixed inventory, eBay wins.
-
If you’re selling handmade or highly aesthetic niche goods, Etsy can work.
But I’ve met dozens of sellers who start on Etsy and later move to eBay once they realize how much faster they can scale.
How to Sign Up for an eBay Seller Account (Without Overthinking It)
When people ask me how I got started, they often assume it’s complicated. It’s not.
The eBay seller account sign up process is straightforward:
-
Go to the official eBay market place homepage.
-
Click “Sell” and choose personal or business account.
-
Add tax information and a payout method.
-
Verify your identity (driver’s license or passport works).
-
List your first product.
I did my original setup in under 20 minutes while sitting on my couch. What mattered far more was what I did after — learning how to list efficiently and stand out.
Tip: if you plan to sell consistently, register as a business from day one. It’ll save you headaches later.
Honest Failure: The Time I Didn’t Verify Fast Enough
In January 2021, I listed three vintage jackets. Two sold almost immediately. But because my seller account wasn’t fully verified, eBay held the payout for two weeks.
That delay hurt my early cash flow. If I’d set up everything correctly upfront, I would’ve reinvested those profits right away.
Lesson: finish your seller verification before going deep.
Using eBay Sales Software to Scale Beyond Manual Work
When I was doing 10 listings a week, manual uploads were fine. But when I started hitting 100+ listings per month in mid-2022, I was drowning. That’s when I discovered eBay sales software.
The tools that changed my workflow:
-
Closo – automates crosslisting, price optimization, and relisting.
-
InkFrog – helps with bulk listing templates.
-
List Perfectly – syncs listings across multiple platforms.
-
Terapeak (inside eBay) – gives competitive pricing and demand data.
-
Sellbrite – for high-volume multichannel sellers.
With automation, I cut listing time from 3 hours to 45 minutes per batch.
And more importantly, I stopped making the dumb errors that cost me time and sales (like forgetting SKUs or using duplicate photos).
People always ask me… “Can I grow on eBay without fancy software?”
Yes — at the beginning.
I did my first $15,000 in revenue manually. But if you want to scale, software isn’t a luxury. It’s leverage. Without it, you hit a ceiling fast.
Think of it like hiring a silent assistant that never sleeps.
What’s Inside the eBay Sellers List (and Why It’s Powerful)
One underused resource on the eBay market place is the eBay sellers list. It’s not an official directory, but there are:
-
Public leaderboards by category (e.g., sneakers, electronics, collectibles).
-
Third-party tools that aggregate seller stats.
-
Insights on listing volume, feedback score, and product trends.
In May 2023, I analyzed three top sellers in my category. I noticed they all:
-
Used short, keyword-rich titles.
-
Priced 5–8% lower than average comps.
-
Relisted unsold inventory weekly.
I started applying those tactics, and my 30-day sell-through rate jumped from 9.8% to 14.6%.
Common question I see: “Should I sell on eBay if I don’t have a niche yet?”
Yes — in fact, it’s one of the best places to experiment.
Unlike Etsy or Amazon Handmade, eBay doesn’t punish sellers for testing multiple categories. I started with clothes, dabbled in electronics, then narrowed into vintage outerwear when I saw the numbers.
The eBay market place is flexible. You can adapt your strategy as you learn.
Comparison: eBay vs Etsy for Sellers
| Feature | eBay Market Place | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Audience reach | Global (132M+ buyers) | Smaller, niche audience |
| Product flexibility | New, used, bulk, one-offs | Mostly handmade, vintage |
| Listing speed | Fast, bulk-friendly | Slower, more manual |
| Competition | High | Moderate |
| Scaling potential | High | Limited in many categories |
When I finally leaned into eBay full-time, my daily volume grew naturally. I didn’t have to build a brand. I just had to build a system.
Honest Failure: When I Tried to Be Everywhere at Once
In late 2022, I tried selling on eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, and Shopify all at once — manually. Within three weeks, I’d double-sold three items, missed two shipping deadlines, and nearly burned out.
That’s when I learned about structured crosslisting. Automation made it manageable again. Without that lesson, I probably would’ve quit at 200 listings.
Why eBay Marketplace Works So Well for Product Testing
This is one of my favorite aspects of the platform. I can test product categories without spending thousands upfront.
-
List a few items in a new niche.
-
Watch impressions and sell-through.
-
Double down only on what works.
For example:
-
I tested electronics in June 2023 → Sold 8/12 units within 30 days.
-
I tested home decor in August 2023 → Sold 1/15 units. I pivoted back.
That level of flexibility is almost impossible on other platforms.
How I Combine Marketplace Selling with Automation
Today, my workflow looks like this:
-
eBay Seller Account for core sales.
-
Closo for listing automation and demand signals.
-
Terapeak to validate product categories.
-
Scheduled relisting to keep inventory fresh.
-
Optional Etsy crosslist for handmade or vintage one-offs.
This combination allows me to focus on sourcing and strategy, not busywork.
👉 If you’re serious about growing, Closo Seller Hub is the single best tool I’ve added.
People always ask me… “Isn’t eBay too competitive now?”
It is competitive — but not impossible.
The sellers who thrive:
-
Niche down intelligently
-
Price strategically (not just “low”)
-
Use tools to scale listing speed
-
Track and adjust constantly
When I crossed $50K in GMV in 2023, I wasn’t the cheapest seller. I was just the fastest to adapt.
Honest Limitation: eBay’s Learning Curve Is Real
eBay isn’t plug-and-play like Shopify. You’ll run into:
-
Payment holds early on
-
Buyer messages that test your patience
-
Pricing adjustments on slow-moving inventory
But if you embrace the learning curve, it pays off. My margins got stronger every quarter once I stopped resisting how the platform works.
Final Thoughts
Selling on the eBay market place isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about understanding a proven system and applying it consistently.
I made plenty of mistakes along the way — underpricing, overlisting manually, ignoring tools. But I also built a business that gives me daily cash flow and the freedom to experiment.
If you’re willing to learn and adapt, eBay can still be one of the best entry points into e-commerce.
Helpful Reads If You’re Scaling Your Store
If you’re ready to grow strategically:
-
Check out Closo Seller Hub (pillar) to automate listings and pricing.
-
Read my guide on how to choose between Poshmark or Etsy when starting out.
-
Learn how top sellers use eBay sales software to stay ahead.
