In July 2022, I was scrolling through a reseller Facebook group when someone casually dropped a screenshot of their eBay dashboard: $187,000 in 90 days. My jaw actually dropped. I’d been grinding, flipping sneakers and vintage clothes, but I’d never thought about scale like that.
That night, I went down a rabbit hole researching what are the biggest sellers on eBay — not just in terms of volume, but in how they operate. What I found shifted how I approached sourcing, pricing, and even automation. The biggest sellers weren’t just listing more. They were working smarter.
Quick overview:
The biggest sellers on eBay operate in high-volume, high-margin categories like electronics, collectibles, and branded fashion. Many use automation, bulk tools, and the eBay AI listing tool to scale. Based on seller data, top sellers often list thousands of SKUs monthly and pay around 13–15% in eBay fees on each sale.
Why Looking at the Biggest Sellers on eBay Matters
Here’s where it gets interesting. When I first started selling, I only looked sideways — at other small sellers in my niche. But when I studied the top 1%, I realized the game was different.
Big sellers:
-
Don’t rely on luck — they rely on data.
-
List fast and consistently.
-
Use bulk uploading and AI tools.
-
Operate in trending, high-velocity categories.
In March 2023, I tried applying just one tactic I saw from a top sneaker reseller: bulk listing 50 pairs in one sitting. That week, my sales jumped 62%, even though nothing else changed.
Top Categories Dominated by the Biggest Sellers on eBay
Every year, certain categories consistently belong to high-volume sellers. From tracking sales and public leaderboards, here are the most common:
-
Consumer electronics – phones, refurbished tech, accessories.
-
Sneakers and branded apparel – Nike, Adidas, vintage Levi’s.
-
Collectibles – cards, toys, comics, watches.
-
Home & garden – bulk decor, tools, kitchenware.
-
Auto parts – predictable demand, strong margins.
When I started cross-listing vintage streetwear in late 2022, I noticed a strange trend — big sellers weren’t listing unique one-offs. They were listing repeatable SKUs. The categories above allow you to scale without reinventing the wheel for each item.
Honest Failure: When I Tried to Imitate a Top Seller Blindly
In September 2022, I saw a big collectible seller doing insane volume on sealed toys. I sourced $2,000 worth of stock without really checking the cost to list on eBay or actual sell-through rates.
Half of it sat for six months. I didn’t have their infrastructure — bulk storage, velocity pricing, or automatic markdowns.
Lesson learned: study big sellers, but don’t copy blindly. Strategy without structure just eats your capital.
What Percentage Does eBay Charge on Sales?
When you look at top sellers, you realize how much fees matter. What percentage does eBay charge on sales?
For most categories in 2025:
-
Clothing, shoes, accessories: ~13.25%
-
Electronics: ~12.9%
-
Collectibles: 13%
-
Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
So when you factor everything in, top sellers operate on 15–17% average total fees.
Here’s where the pros differ: they price with that number in mind upfront. I used to list items based on what I wanted to earn. Now, I list based on what I’ll actually take home.
People always ask me… “How do big sellers survive those fees?”
They survive because they build it into pricing.
In August 2023, I priced my first bulk sneaker listing like a top seller — factoring in 15% for fees and shipping. My margin went from 18% to a clean 28%. Same product. Just smarter pricing.
How the eBay AI Listing Tool Is Quietly Powering Top Sellers
Here’s the tricky part. Top sellers don’t have more hours in the day — they use tools better. The eBay AI listing tool (rolled out more widely in 2024) is a quiet weapon.
With a single photo, the tool:
-
Auto-fills product titles.
-
Suggests categories.
-
Writes descriptions.
-
Pulls pricing comps.
When I first tested it in April 2024 with 15 vintage hoodies, my listing time went from 2 hours to 45 minutes. And the kicker? My titles were cleaner — and ranked better.
Most of the biggest sellers I’ve studied automate 70–90% of their listing workflow using eBay’s AI tools plus third-party platforms like Closo or Vendoo.
Common question I see: “Can small sellers use these AI tools too?”
Yes. And honestly, they should.
When you only have 10–50 listings, AI tools might feel “extra.” But that’s exactly when they save you the most time. Think of it like compounding — the sooner you build speed, the easier scaling gets later.
How the Aplicación eBay Fits Into This Picture
You’d be surprised how many top sellers rely heavily on the aplicación eBay (the eBay mobile app).
When I met a high-volume seller at a sneaker convention in Atlanta (May 2023), he told me:
“Ninety percent of my offers and price adjustments happen from my phone. If I had to wait to log in on my laptop, I’d lose sales every day.”
The mobile app matters for:
-
Real-time offer responses
-
Bulk edits
-
Sending coupons to watchers
-
Adjusting pricing on trending items
And since trends move fast, mobility is leverage.
What It Costs to List on eBay (and How Big Sellers Keep It Lean)
The cost to list on eBay depends on how many listings you create and whether you have a store.
-
250 free listings per month for standard sellers
-
$0.35 per additional listing after the free allotment
-
Store subscribers get higher free listing caps.
Big sellers rarely pay insertion fees per listing. They almost always:
-
Use store subscriptions.
-
Batch list items to optimize fees.
-
Take advantage of category promotions.
In June 2023, I moved from casual seller to Basic Store. My per-listing costs dropped by about 18%, which meant more margin per sale.
Comparison: Small Sellers vs. Big Sellers on eBay
| Factor | Small Seller | Big Seller |
|---|---|---|
| Listings per month | 10–150 | 1,000+ |
| Fee awareness | Often reactive | Built into pricing |
| Tools used | Manual | eBay AI, Closo, bulk upload |
| Category focus | Niche or scattered | Scalable, repeatable products |
| Turnaround time | Slow | Fast—trends are hit early |
| Mobile usage | Occasional | Constant |
I sat in the small seller column for a long time. Once I started shifting even two rows to the right — especially around pricing and tools — my business scaled faster than expected.
Honest Failure: My Attempt to Scale Without Tools
In January 2023, I decided to “go big” — 200 listings in one month. I didn’t use any bulk listing or AI features. I just powered through manually.
I burned out. Badly.
Worse — I made inconsistent pricing mistakes, skipped SKUs, and my sell-through barely moved.
That month taught me what the biggest sellers already know: if you want volume, you need structure.
People always ask me… “Can you actually compete with the big sellers?”
Yes — if you’re smart about where to compete.
You don’t need to out-list them. But you can out-niche them. While they focus on volume, smaller sellers can:
-
Move faster on micro-trends.
-
Offer better personalization and photos.
-
Be more agile with pricing.
I beat a Top Rated Seller on a specific sneaker model in October 2023 simply because I listed two weeks earlier and used stronger keywords.
How to Learn From the Biggest Sellers Without Copying Them
Here’s the trick I wish someone had told me earlier:
-
Don’t copy their inventory — copy their infrastructure.
-
Watch their timing.
-
Analyze their pricing logic.
-
Mirror their operational speed.
You can learn a lot just by studying listings: how often they update prices, how they use variation listings, how they lean on trending keywords.
In March 2024, I built a simple spreadsheet tracking 5 top sellers in my niche. Within 60 days, I spotted patterns I could actually replicate on my scale.
Where AI and Seller Assistance Are Heading
The landscape is shifting fast. Between eBay’s native tools and third-party automation, it’s easier than ever to act like a big seller — even if you’re just starting out.
What’s becoming standard among top sellers:
-
AI-generated titles and descriptions.
-
Price syncing across platforms.
-
Real-time trend alerts.
-
Listing directly from the aplicación eBay.
I’ve seen sellers grow from 50 listings to 5,000 in under a year — not by working harder, but by embracing these tools early.
Honest Limitation: Scale Isn’t for Everyone
I’ll be real — chasing big-seller strategies isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy sourcing one-of-a-kind vintage, mass listing may not fit your business model. And that’s okay.
But understanding what are the biggest sellers on eBay gives you a blueprint. Even applying one or two of their strategies can boost your numbers dramatically.
Final Thoughts
Learning what top sellers on eBay are doing behind the scenes changed how I run my business.
I don’t mimic their inventory — I borrow their systems. I list faster. I price smarter. I respond quicker. And most importantly, I build with intent.
You don’t need to be in the top 1% to learn from them. But if you apply even a fraction of their strategy, your bottom line will feel the difference.
Helpful Reads If You’re Scaling Your Store
If you’re serious about growing your eBay business:
-
Check out Closo Seller Hub to automate repetitive tasks and scale smarter.
-
Learn more about what percentage does eBay charge on sales so you can price like a pro.
-
Explore how the eBay AI listing tool can help you move faster — just like the top sellers.
