Selling on eBay takes skill, I’ve realized. It’s a lot of work to become a professional eBay seller or eBay PowerSeller. But, not everyone that sells on eBay does so full-time. Some people are casual eBay sellers, looking to make a little extra income or fund fun hobbies and family vacations with the extra money they earn from selling on eBay.

Whether you decide to sell on eBay casually or full-time, finding items to sell is probably one of the first things you’ll need to figure out. I have had my own personal struggles with finding items to sell on eBay that will be well-received. Sometimes you just have to give it a try and list an item you no longer need, without giving it too much thought. You might be surprised and find that it actually sells well!

eBay also offers support in this area through their Selling Inspiration House, which I previously shared with you. But, I thought it would be great to find out how others go about finding items and deciding what to sell on eBay. Here’s what a couple of eBay Parent Panel members said, plus insight from an eBay PowerSeller.

“If it hasn’t been used in 6 months and I don’t see it being used in 6 more months, if it doesn’t meet a need where it could or should be donated to someone less fortunate than I and if I’d be willing to buy it myself in the condition that it’s currently in…then I’ll sell it on eBay,” Eric Payne from Makes Me Wanna Holler told us.

Kris Cain, author of LitleTechGirl.com, shared on her site a suggested process for finding items and pricing them to sell on eBay: “Grab a pencil and a notepad. Then, walk from room to room and write down at least one thing in good shape that you do not use…could [be] something brand spanking new in a box that you never opened…Think about designer clothes, shoes, and purses.”

“I began…listing unused merchandise in our home. I also sold used books, DVDs and CDs…I was making decent money from junk I could barely give away at yard sales!…I cleared out our closets and sold items collecting dust. I began reselling clearance merchandise…,” said Jessica Kirby, eBay PowerSeller that shared her tips for selling on eBay last month!

I hope these ideas get your eBay selling kick-started! I actually need to list some items myself and plan to sit down to do so after returning from some travel this week. I’d love to hear your own tips for finding items to sell on eBay, so please, share them in the comments below!

Bonus eBay Mother’s Day Info!

As you know, Mother’s Day is coming up and eBay has a lot going on to celebrate the mamas in your life! Some of what you’ll find includes:

• Mother’s Day Twitter party on May 1 (from 12-2 PT)
• Mother’s Day Gift Guide, plus a reference for items to sell right now as well!
• Facebook Photo Sweepstakes
• eBay Flowers Promotion – Buy ProFlowers through eBay and get $10 to spend on eBay (4/18 – 5/12)

Cool, huh? Don’t forget to share your ideas in the comments below for finding items to sell on eBay and your experience in selling!

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo: Mary Anne Enriquez/Flickr

This month, as part of my eBay Parent Panel participation, I decided to chat with a local Orlando blogger who sells on eBay regularly and gain her insight and tips for selling on eBay.

Jessica Kirby is a self-described eBay guru who shares tips on her blog, The Unemployed Mom. When she isn’t focused on eBay, you’ll find her running all over downtown Orlando and/or enjoying the Central Florida theme parks.

I asked Jessica a few questions about her experience with selling on eBay and becoming an eBay PowerSeller. Read on to learn how you can get started selling on eBay and find out Jessica’s eBay selling tips.

How did you get started selling on eBay? What kind of items did you start selling?

I began selling over 10 years ago by listing unused merchandise in our home. I also sold used books, DVDs and CDs on eBay’s partner site, Half.com which helped me establish feedback. I was making decent money from junk I could barely give away at yard sales! That’s when it clicked and my obsession began. I cleared out our closets and sold items collecting dust. I began reselling clearance merchandise and was amazed at my success level.

What do you currently sell?

I have an eBay store  that is open 24/7 and sell a variety of items such as antiques, vintage clothing, high-end fashion, brand name clothing and accessories. I am a Top Rated PowerSeller always looking for profitable merchandise.

How do you find items to sell on eBay? Do you sell a lot of items from around your house?

I still sell items in my home (books and CDs on half.com, clothing, shoes and toys). I also hit yard sales every weekend because “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” as well as thrift stores. Clearance racks are another place I find eBay merchandise to resell.

What advice would you give a beginner wishing to sell on eBay?

If someone is interested in selling on eBay, I would recommend understanding the selling process and fees prior to getting started. I encourage those interested in having a successful experience to take the free tutorials and read the starting out information available on eBay.

Also, recognize that eBay does take a lot of time (finding merchandise that sells, researching products, understanding international shipping policies and forms, taking photos, listing your auction, packaging and shipping merchandise, tracking the delivery, etc.). A lot of people assume eBay is easy, but there really are a lot of steps involved when it comes to completing a sale.

Establishing feedback is vital, too! A seller MUST have credibility in order to be successful. My advice for establishing feedback is to sell items you no longer use. As I previously mentioned, another fantastic way to establish feedback is by selling media items via Half.com.

One last thought is to find experienced eBay bloggers who share tips online. This can be a fantastic way to learn about selling and find answers to questions you may have. I provide eBay tips on my blog and love helping others succeed. I also encourage my readers to email topics they’d like to learn more about.

Do you think it’s possible to earn a full-time income by selling on eBay?

Absolutely! It all comes down to finding the right product, having the time and putting in the effort.

eBay allows me to stay home and raise my son. With that said, it is nearly impossible to concentrate on eBay during the day since my focus is on him. Also, my husband is a huge help when it comes to shopping, taking photos, and going on “daddy duty” when I need to concentrate on my business.

I think it is more realistic for a new seller to set small goals such as using eBay to pay for a child’s birthday party or an upcoming vacation. The sky is the limit, it all depends on how much effort a seller is willing to put into it. Also, finding the right merchandise AND successful advertising methods is key.

Thanks Jessica for your input and sharing your tips from your successful eBay business! If you want to connect with Jessica, you can find her on Twitter or Facebook. You can also check out Jessica’s eBay store, like her eBay store Facebook Page and follow her eBay tips on Twitter.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo: Jessica Kirby

Last month, I finally took the plunge into eBay selling and listed an item for sale. It wasn’t a huge item – I listed a spare digital pocket camcorder I had in the office. The process of listing my item on eBay was simple enough. I used the eBay mobile app on my iPad to fill in some details, take a picture and list the camcorder. I then sat back and waited.

After a few days, I began to worry since my item hadn’t received any bids. But, I decided that I had nothing to lose and would just relist it with some changes if it didn’t sell. The eBay team informed us that most items don’t see any bids until the last day anyway, so that calmed my concerns.

Sure enough, the last night my listing was live, it received a few bids and sold for almost $4 over the listing price! Even though it was a small transaction, it was pretty exciting to see my item sold. My daughter now wants to see if she can sell something and even my husband has joined the bandwagon and has pointed out a couple of items in our house we can try selling.

Lessons Learned from Selling on eBay

Through my first experience selling on eBay I learned a few things:

• Don’t hesitate. Go ahead and list an item you no longer need and see how it does. You really have nothing to lose since you pay no eBay fees if it doesn’t sell.
• Be patient. Many people wait until the last day (or even last few hours) of a listing to place their bid. This is mainly to avoid being outbid.
• Small items sell too! My digital camcorder that sold was a generic brand, not very expensive, and without many features. And yet, it sold!
• Be prompt. After my item sold, I went to the post office the next day to weigh it so I could have an accurate shipping cost. Once my buyer paid, I shipped out the item the next day as well.

Of course, there are many tricks and tips for selling on eBay out there and more experienced sellers have a lot more advice. But, these are just a few quick lessons I learned after selling my first item.

Look around your house. What do you have that you can sell on eBay? List it today!

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo: Nelson de Witt

Up until now, I have been looking for something to sell on eBay, so I could test out the selling process and hopefully make a little extra cash. But, as I shared with the eBay team recently, I was getting a little frustrated because I hadn’t found anything that seemed to be worth selling. I thought about selling some books, but once I saw how much they were selling for, plus factored in the shipping cost and eBay fees, it didn’t seem I’d actually make a profit. In fact, I was worried I’d lose money.

Just last week, the eBay team shared with us their newly launched Selling Inspiration House, which helps sellers find items around the house that are currently selling on eBay. The site also allows you to easily look up how much various items are selling for with just a couple of clicks. The timing was pretty perfect for them to send along that link, considering my challenges.

I checked out the site and got a couple of ideas of things I can look for in our house. I also saw a note on the site that says you can actually list your item to sell for free and only pay the fees if your item sells. So, really, all this time I had nothing to lose! I just needed to dive in and try it out. And that’s exactly what I did this morning.

I found a spare pocket digital camcorder that we don’t need and decided to list it for sale and see how it does. It only took me a few minutes too, using the eBay mobile app on my iPad. Hopefully, it sells and I can learn more about how the fees work and if I estimated the shipping cost accurately. If not, I’ll adjust the listing and try again. My goal is that this will be the first of other items we sell on eBay. We decided to use the extra cash towards a vacation fund, so I’m looking forward to that.

Why not try out the Selling Inspiration House and see if you find any of the suggested items around your house?

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo by Mark Hillary

Through our partnership with eBay, I’ve been learning a lot about how various people use eBay to either earn a little extra spending money, make a living from selling on eBay, and every scenario in-between. One of the latest ways I’m learning about families who sell on eBay is through the eBay MoneyMakers video series. Each video series highlights a family and shows how selling on eBay has impacted their life. It’s amazing to hear these stories and see how families are earning money online through selling on eBay.

Selling on eBay Helps Family Overcome Unemployment

The first eBay MoneyMakers video introduces us to the O’Brien family of Westfield, Indiana. Soon after relocating for a job, Tristen O’Brien’s position was eliminated and he found himself unemployed. Sadly, this occurred just a week after their son’s birth. As you can imagine, they needed to find a way to earn some money fast! By selling household items on eBay, they began to fund their day-to-day expenses. Eventually, as they gained experience in selling on eBay, they began to sell clearance and vintage items for profit. Tristen O’Brien is now employed, but the family continues to sell on eBay and even have a blog to share their tips for selling on eBay. Check out their video below to find out more about the O’Brien family, then read on to learn about another family who’s had success selling on eBay.

eBay MoneyMakers: The O’Brien family makes money online in the midst of economic difficulties

One-Income Family Supplements Earnings by Selling on eBay

The second eBay MoneyMakers video in the series features the Sibbersen family, who has been using eBay since they got married to supplement their one-income family. The extra income from selling on eBay allowed Windy Sibbersen to stay home with their children. Much like the O’Brien family, they began by selling items in their home they no longer needed, then moved on to buying discounted items they could resell. The family has been able to fund family trips with their eBay income, as well as extra expenses not normally within budget. Additionally, the family uses their funds to give back to the community by ‘adopting a family’ during the holidays. Learn more about the Sibbersens and check out their story in the video below.

eBay MoneyMakers: The Sibbersen family finds financial comfort through extra eBay income

ModernMami™.com Reader Giveaway

We want you to treat yourself courtesy of eBay, so we’re giving away a $25 eBay gift card!

How to Enter

Required entry: If you’d like to enter this contest for a $25 eBay gift card, simply leave a comment below sharing how you would use extra funds earned from selling on eBay.

Extra entries (optional):
Each of the following will count as 1 extra entry. You’ll need to leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Follow @modernmami on Twitter.
2. Tweet the following (1 time entry only): Enter to win a $25 eBay gift card from @modernmami! http://bit.ly/ujc6Ht #giveaway #contest #eBayMoney #eBayParent
3. Receive post updates by subscribing to our RSS feed. You can do so either via email or through a RSS reader. Leave a comment saying you did so or are already a subscriber.
4. Subscribe on friendfeed and leave a comment with your friendfeed ID.
5. Write a blog post on your own blog sharing the details of this contest. Be sure to include a link back to this post. Leave a comment with your post link.

All entries must be in by Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. You must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident. No purchase necessary. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified via email. (Please be sure to provide a valid email address with your entry.) Winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo by Mike Knell

It’s been about three months since we moved from one house to another. We got rid of a lot of things in that move. A few things went to our nearest donation spot, while I piled up many others so I could resell them. Since then, I’ve been planning to have a garage sale “one of these weekends.” But, of course, one thing or another always happens that prevents me from preparing for a garage sale. Now, the holidays are coming, so there will be even less time for me to prepare for a garage sale.

This all got me thinking that maybe it would just be better if I took a whole day to sit down with my phone by my stacks of things to sell and used the eBay app to take pics and get the items listed. It would take a while with the amount of items I have, but at least it would only be the time spent getting them listed. I wouldn’t have to prepare AND host a garage sale, which would take a whole day (or two) out of my time. There are some other benefits I thought about that would make selling on eBay better than having a garage sale.

One plus is that with eBay, I get more privacy. I don’t have to worry about listing my home address as I would need to on a classified ad for a garage sale. Nor is there a need to provide my home address via email after being contacted with interest for an item listed on Craigslist. There’s a lot of anonymity with selling online, which I think is great since you can never be too sure these days. I can list items, answer questions, and sell, all through the eBay platform. When I ship an item, I can write my address in the return address spot, but I certainly won’t have to if I choose not to.

Another benefit is that I can reach more people by selling on eBay than through a garage sale. I’ll also be able to market my sale items by sharing them via social media. Chances are that my items would sell for more than I’d get at a garage sale too. Garage sales are known for being able to find great deals and for negotiation.

So, while I’ll probably still have a garage sale for some of the larger items that would make shipping them cumbersome, I think I’ll invest some time to list the smaller items on eBay. It’s definitely worth a try!

What has been your experience in hosting garage sales? Do you find there’s a benefit to selling on eBay in comparison?

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo: marya (emdot)

Photo by Tonja Deegan of Airfoil PR

Earlier this month, I joined several other members of the eBay Parent Panel to kick-off the program during eBay on Location. eBay had a day of sessions just for the Parent Panel prior to eBay on Location officially starting that same night. I was unable to attend the remainder of eBay on Location, but many Parent Panel members joined the 1000+ expert eBay sellers in sessions the next day, which varied from selling basics to selling as a business.

During my day there, though, I was able to fully benefit from the information eBay presented to us. As is typical of attending a brand event, we learned more about the company, their social media goals, and our roles as eBay Parent Panel members. What surprised me and the majority of attendees was that they also took time to provide us with key information that would benefit us during our Parent Panel commitment and beyond. Information on topics such as SEO and media basics was presented to us by eBay staff and Airfoil PR. It was detailed information and the SEO presenter even took time to visit each of our blogs ahead of time in order to provide detailed tips on how we could improve our SEO. The media basics presentation was basically a mini-training session on handling interviews and media appearances. Again, this is all information that will help us in our blogging career beyond our participation in the eBay Parent Panel.

Another thing that stood out for me was learning about the available eBay Mobile apps. I was not aware that these apps existed and was impressed when the presenter listed an item for sale in just about 3 minutes using his iPad. Time is something I expressed to the eBay team that deters me from selling on eBay more often. As I told them, it just seems faster to toss old items into a donate pile and drive them to my local thrift store. I don’t have a ton of time as it is to sit and sort items, take pictures, and list them for sale individually.

However, I realized that using the mobile apps will resolve this issue. I can simply use my phone to quickly take a picture, upload it using the app, add some details to the listing and post to eBay. You can even scan the bar code of items and the app will show you similar already-listed items and their selling price so that you can compare and price according to the competition. It also pre-fills information for you. This works particularly good for books.

I’ve been playing around with the app a bit and am getting ready to list my first few items for sale. I have a couple of boxes of books I decided to get rid of during our recent move that I plan to list on eBay and see how they fare. Using the app, I hope to list them all in a very short time!

Do you sell regularly on eBay? Have you ever tried their mobile apps? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the eBay Parent Panel, a compensated program.

Photo of eBay Mobile App bar code courtesy of eBay