Get Started Selling Online: Where should I sell?

Posted on Nov 15, 2010 in Selling Online | 0 comments

Selling online for newbies: what is the right marketplace to sell in?

Whether you want to start an online store selling your own handmade products or items in bulk from China, we’re going to cover the different buying and selling portals. In this section, we’re covering where you should take certain types of products to sell.

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::::::::: IDENTIFY WHAT GOES WHERE :::::::::

eBay: Name brand items or items with a searchable name. Don’t expect to be able to sell your handcrafted coffee mug on eBay. It just won’t be found with the quantity of products up there. Sony, Rolex, HP, American Eagle, Apple, brands that you can search would go best. Screen printed shirt with an alligator riding a unicycle, good luck people finding it.

You can sell two different ways on eBay: online auction or fixed price. If you have no clue what kind of price something will bring or if you want to spark interest in your item, start something at $9.99 and see what it goes for! If you know what price you want/need to get, you can put it as a Fixed Price listing. You can also choose “Or Best Offer” if you want to set the price higher and see what people are willing to pay for an item.

Bonanza: Has been considered, “the alternative to eBay” but it’s really nothing like eBay. It’s only fixed price listings and no auctions so you do need to know how much to sell the product for. Much less fees associated but also much less buyers too. Still in the millions but not the hundreds of millions. Bonanza is very social media centric compared to eBay too. As far that I’ve tested, the selling parameters are similar to the items sold on eBay.

Etsy: Stated plain as day, the only product sold here are homemade, commercial or handmade crafting supplies or vintage items over 20 years old. So if you have a stack of iPods, not the best avenue. More like custom knitted reindeer stockings.

Amazon: Well known for media and I think is still trying to break into the different categories that aren’t related to books, dvds, cds, vinyl and media accessories. You can find a Yellow Gold Plated Bracelet there but still the first thing that comes to mind when you’re looking for a book is Amazon. I’ve heard from someone that sells medical equipment that Amazon is their best place to sell (go figure). For the most part with non-media products, I think people are searching primarily for new products here and not the typical eBay (hand-me-down) products.

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Be sure to see all of our blog posts under our Selling Online category!