eBay fees
eBay takes a "final value fee" when your item sells — a percentage of the total the buyer pays, including shipping — plus a small per-order fee. eBay handles the payment and deposits your money straight to your bank account. You also get a batch of free listings each month; beyond that, or with a Store subscription, the details change. Fee percentages vary by category and change over time, so check eBay's current fees or the estimate eBay shows you rather than a number from an old guide, and factor it in when you price.
Auction vs Buy It Now
eBay lets you sell two main ways. 'Buy It Now' is a fixed price and is best for most items — it's simple and lets buyers purchase instantly. Auctions, where buyers bid over a few days, can work for rare, in-demand, or hard-to-price items where competition drives the price up. When unsure, use Buy It Now with the option to accept offers.
eBay item specifics
Item specifics are the structured details eBay asks for — Brand, Type, Size, Color, Material, Model, and so on. Fill in as many as you truly know, because buyers use them to filter searches; the more you complete accurately, the more often your item shows up. If you don't know a specific, leave it out rather than guessing. Inky suggests item specifics from your photos when it writes an eBay listing.
eBay basics
eBay is the biggest, most general marketplace — almost anything sells here, from clothes to electronics to collectibles, to buyers worldwide. It's more form-driven than the social apps: you fill in 'item specifics' and pick a category so buyers can filter and find your item. eBay provides shipping labels and handles payment. Strong titles full of the words buyers search, complete item specifics, and real sold-comp pricing are what win on eBay.
Promoted listings
eBay offers 'promoted listings,' where you pay a small extra percentage only when the item sells, in exchange for showing up higher in search. It can help items get seen in crowded categories. Start with a low promotion rate and only on items that aren't moving on their own — it's a tool, not a requirement.
eBay Money Back Guarantee
eBay's Money Back Guarantee means a buyer can be refunded if an item doesn't arrive or doesn't match your listing — even if you said "no returns." "No returns" only means you won't take change-of-mind returns; it does not block a not-as-described claim. The way to stay safe is to ship on time with tracking and describe items accurately with photos of flaws — that combination protects you in most disputes. Offering returns is optional, but it builds buyer confidence and can help you sell more.
eBay returns
Offering returns (for example, 30-day returns) can boost buyer confidence and sales on eBay, and it can help your listings rank. The trade-off is you may occasionally take an item back. Describe items accurately and photograph flaws to keep returns rare. Decide based on your comfort level — many successful sellers offer returns to win more buyers.
No fakes, and the Authenticity Guarantee
Never sell fakes on eBay — counterfeits are banned even if you call them replicas, and it's one of the fastest ways to lose your account. For some higher-value items like sneakers, handbags, watches, and trading cards, eBay runs an "Authenticity Guarantee": the item ships to an expert to be checked before it goes to the buyer, which actually helps you sell genuine goods for more. If you're not sure an item is authentic, don't claim that it is — describe exactly what you know.
eBay shipping and handling time
On eBay you set a "handling time" — how fast you'll ship — and faster is better for both sales and your seller status. Buy your label through eBay: the rates are discounted and, importantly, the tracking uploads automatically, which is what protects you if a buyer claims an item never arrived. You can charge the buyer for shipping, or offer free shipping (build the cost into the price), which can help you show up higher and win more buyers. Ship within your stated handling time, every time.
eBay seller standards
eBay grades sellers on a few things: shipping on time, accurate listings, and resolving problems without eBay having to step in. Stay in good standing and your items show up better; fall to "below standard" and you can pay higher fees and get buried in search. The things that hurt most are late shipments, cases closed without your help, and defects like cancellations. None of this is tricky — ship fast, describe honestly, and handle issues kindly, and you'll keep a strong account.
