Ebay, the number one auction site in the world, lots of fun and often a place to score some great bargains. But, can you really make an income from being an Ebay retailer?

What you sell on Ebay is not nearly as important as how you sell it. The art of making money on Ebay is all about the pitch and the customer service you provide as a seller.

How much you can make on Ebay is just as much up to you as it is in any retail business. There are thousands of listings posted everyday on Ebay and in order to get your product sold you of course have to get them noticed. That does not necessarily mean paying extra fees to eBay for featured listing banners and bigger photos though. A well worded ad with a catchy headline works just as well. Photographs are a must, as most people will simply bypass an auction that does not have a visual representation of the merchandise on offer.

Price is key on Ebay and not just the cost of the item but, shipping and handling too. Keep shipping costs to the buyer as low as you can to attract more bidders. You can always add a more expensive option for a winner who wants their merchandise shipped quickly if they request it but, if not stick to the most economical option available.

These days the Ebay system is completely geared towards using PayPal as the preferred method of payment for an auction. Although you may be tempted to accept a check or money order to avoid PayPal fees it is not the best idea, as such transactions are hard to dispute if something goes wrong.

When shipping any item, even a very small item, always use a tracking number. In the event of a dispute when a buyer claims they have not received their merchandise from you, if you do not have a tracking number to prove you sent the item Ebay and PayPal will almost always decide in the buyer’s favor. There are quite a few dishonest people out there willing to take advantage of a seller’s lack of documentation to claim an item that they received was lost and receive their money back too.

Good feedback is critical to an Ebay seller’s success. Create a simple thank you email to send to your buyers and include a handwritten note of thanks in the package too. Little things like that really make a seller stand out in Ebay buyers’ minds and can improve the quality of your feedback immensely.