eBay is Easy

The fads and enthusiasms that led you purchase a surprising amount of "stuff" that now resides in the attic, in the garage, in a spare room can be turned into hard cash. The on-line auction house eBay exists to bring sellers with all kinds of objects into contact with a whole world of potential purchasers.

A quick surf with the eBay "find" button reveals a plethora of sellers ranging from full-on businesses and serious collectors to ordinary sellers. The whole business, though, depends on trust: you build up a rating based on feedback from previous transactions.

Bearing this in mind, people are more wary of purchasing from a newcomer than someone with even a small but 97%-plus positive rating. It is therefore well worth buying a few items first to build up your rating as a respectable "eBayer" before you start selling. You pay eBay a small percentage of the purchase price – which is how eBay is so successful.

For an additional payment per transaction, you can also choose to receive secure payment via credit card, using PayPal. This gives both buyer and seller a measure of protection, but it is far better to sort out problems directly with a purchaser if possible.

Given that the stuff you choose to sell would probably gather dust otherwise, it is worth ensuring a quick, smooth transaction to your buyer. Think in terms of adequate packaging, fast postage and offering PayPal – after all, you are earning money from objects you no longer need.