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March 13, 2006

11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay

By Tim Knox

I was part of an eBay Roundtable discussion recently with six
other experts and we all agreed that the number one question most
new (and even old) eBay sellers ask is:

"Where do I find things to sell on eBay??"

To help answer that question I have compiled 10 ways that anyone
can use to find products to sell on eBay. This is by no means a
definitive list and depending on your situation, some of the ways may
not apply to you. However, if you're a beginner and don't know where
to start, this list should help you get on track.

1. Look Around The House:

We all have items lying around the house that we no longer use or
need. Have you grown or shrunk in size? If so, you have clothes
you can no longer wear and can sell. Did you get a gift for
Christmas or your birthday that you will never use? If so, slap
it on eBay (just don't let the person who gave you the gift find
out). Do your kids have toys they no longer play with? Just
looking around your house and garage should give you plenty of
things to get your eBay ball rolling.

2. Garage Sales and Flea Markets:

When it comes to eBay, remember this old adage: One man's junk is
another man's treasure. Now this is not to say that you should
sell junk on eBay. You should only sell products in good
condition. The point is you can find items in good condition at
garage sales and flea markets that you can pick up cheap and
resell for a profit. Remember, nobody wants to buy your old
Beanie Babies that no longer have eyes and noses, but they may
buy "gently used" items if they're in good shape and offered at a
good price.

3. Talk To Your Friends and Relatives:

After you've gone through your own in-house inventory, contact
your friends and relatives and tell them you have started an eBay
business and will sell their items for a piece of the sales
price. Chances are they have as much excess stuff lying around
their house as you did. Offer to list the items for them and if
they sell, take half the profits. You will probably have to pay
the eBay fees out of your pocket up front, but you can then
deduct the eBay fees from the sales price before slicing up the
pie.

4. Consignment Sales:

Consignment sales are a great way to find a wide range of
products to sell on eBay. Consignment selling means that you
offer to sell an item that belongs to a company. In exchange for
your trouble you get a percentage of the sales price. You can
charge up to 50% plus fees for smaller items like clothing,
lamps, jewelry, etc. and around 15% for larger items like cars,
boats, and bulldozers (yes, I said bulldozers).

Contact every business in town and offer to list their excess
goods on eBay for a piece of the action. Most businesses have
returned items, liquidated products, used equipment, etc. that
they would love to get rid of, but don't have the time to do so.
Many will see you as their hero if you can help them get rid of
this merchandise and you'll make a pretty profit for your
efforts. For business customers you should have them pay the eBay
fees on the front end, not you.

5. Thrift Stores:

Thrift stores are an excellent place to look for things to sell
online. Stores maintained by the Salvation Army and non-profit%

Tim Knox - Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker

Tim Knox is a nationally-known small business expert who writes and
speaks
frequently on the topic.

For more information or to contact Tim please visit one of his sites
below:

http://www.dropshipwholesale.net

http://www.smallbusinessqa.com

http://www.timknox.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Knox


How To Make Money On Ebay By Buying
By Dan Lim

Most people think you got to sell on ebay in order to make money. However, there are other ways to make money on ebay other than selling. One secret way is buying. What do I mean? Read on.

That secret method is called ebay arbitrage.

The term arbitrage has been around for a long time. It is a technique used in the stock market by large players who search (with powerful computers in real time) for price discrepancies from one market to another. For example if they see dealers in London trading IBM stock at 1/8th pt lower than in New York, even if it's only for a few seconds, they'll grab it at the lower price and sell it in New York where they'll make an 1/8th pt profit.

So how does that apply to Ebay?

The strategy is buying low in one central Internet market and selling in another more active market for a premium.

Ebay is a huge marketplace, and even though it's centrally located (in cyberspace) it is still a relatively 'inefficient' marketplace. There are several reasons for this : availability of detailed market information available to the participants being one, but the more common reason being the seller doesn't know a thing about the item he or she is selling

Here's where you can benefit. If you have intimate knowledge of a particular market, you probably already have a rough idea of how much an item listed on ebay is worth.

For example, I'm a IT professional who deals with computers all day long therefore it is easy for me to spot bargains relating to desktops, laptops, computer software etc.

Now, there can be many spins on this. I could simply buy the item and resell on ebay for a profit or I could buy the item and sell it locally either in my neighborhood.

Also, I could always do it the reverse way. Buying locally and then selling it on ebay or other auction sites.

By now, you probably realize in order for you to do ebay arbitrage, you need to have expert knowledge on the particular market you are interested in selling.

So do your homework, check out the discussion boards, ask your friends or consult shop owners which sells the items you want to sell. If you want to make more money on ebay, you have to do some research, there's no easy way out.

Dan Lim is an avid ebay fanatic who has been quietly earning a comfortable living online. For more ebay selling secrets and strategies, visit bestnzb.com

Posted by Dave Bromley at March 13, 2006 12:12 PM