So how do you get paid on Poshmark? After you successfully sell something and the transaction is complete (delivery must be finalized), Poshmark will release your earnings to your Poshmark account. You can see available funds by tapping on your account tab in the bottom right of the app (@username), then scroll down to “My Balance.” You can choose to keep the funds on Poshmark to shop, or redeem via Instant Transfer ($2 fee), PayPal ($.35), Venmo ($.35), Direct Deposit (free) or a paper check mailed to you (free).

If you’re still wondering more about “how do I get paid on Poshmark,” this article explains exactly how the process works.

I’ll also give you some tips for making it as smooth as possible so you can get your money fast. After all, you need to have cash flow in order to keep buying new inventory!

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and create no additional costs for you.

What is Poshmark?

Poshmark is a popular online marketplace or resale website where people can buy and sell new or gently used clothing, accessories, beauty products, home decor, pet products and even electronics. The company was founded in 2011 and has since become one of the most popular ways to make money from the secondary market.

Selling on Poshmark is actually pretty easy, and it’s a very flexible business idea. The key is research and knowing the market. You’ll need to know the items and brands that sell best on Poshmark as well as how to price them.

Just about anyone can make money selling on Poshmark with the right strategy (Should you ever list items as “firm on price”?).

How Does Poshmark Work?

The way Poshmark works is that you create an account, upload pictures of the items you want to sell, and set your own prices. When customers buy items from you, Poshmark takes their fee out of your earnings when the item sells. They charge $2.95 for sales under $15 or 20 percent for anything over that.

The buyer typically pays for shipping, unless you offer free or discounted shipping (Does Poshmark ever pay for shipping?). After you ship the package and the buyer receives it, hopefully they will mark it as received so that you get your earnings. If they do not mark it as received, then after three days, the sale is considered complete, and Poshmark will release your earnings to you. 

FYI: Poshmark sends emails to the customer throughout the sales process to encourage them to confirm receipt and share a rating. But you still receive your funds even if the customer does not leave a rating.

How Do You Make Money on Poshmark?

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The process is fairly easy to get started as a seller on Poshmark.

Do you want to get started on Poshmark? Sign up with code THRIFTYIQ and get $10 toward your first purchase!

Decide what you want to sell; clothing can be a simple kickstart. You can get started for free by selling things from your own closet or getting items from friends and family members.

Learn all the platform rules and guidelines, including their Terms of Service and what you cannot sell.

Sign up for a Poshmark account and download the Poshmark app so you have it on the go.

Choose a name for your closet (find out how to change your username), take photos of the items you want to sell, and create your listings.

Whenever a buyer purchases something, give great customer service and ship their package quickly. Before you ship, wait the 3 hours they have to cancel a sale.

Like any other business, reinvest in it. For example, you can use your profits to buy more inventory to sell.

Is It Worth It to Sell on Poshmark?

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The nice thing about Poshmark is the platform is easy to use. Listing items is very simple and there are not a lot of required details. Just the important ones. And you don’t need to be too tech-savvy to navigate it.

There are also some great benefits, like free listings. You don’t have to pay upfront to list products, which is great for new Poshmark sellers just learning what clothing or other items sell best.

Also, while some shoppers on Poshmark are laser-focused on deal hunting, most shoppers are more willing to make purchases. They also are generally willing to pay more for certain brands, (although some shoppers make a sport out of low-ball offers🤨).  So, I definitely think that selling on Poshmark can be worth it.

As long as you price your products right, making money on Poshmark is easy. But like anything else, it can take time to learn the process and research to source popular products.

What You Need to Know to Be Successful as a Seller on Poshmark

The way to get paid on Poshmark is to start selling clothing, accessories, and other items to buyers. So here are some tips to help you make money on Poshmark and the steps for getting paid.

Learn the Market

One of the best tips I can give you for selling on this platform is to understand the market. You must pay attention to trends and prices. Regularly check comparable sales. See what other Poshmark sellers are selling similar items for; listing price means nothing until it sells.

Being successful on Poshmark relies on what you are selling and the prices you list items. If you price something higher or lower than everyone else, make sure there’s a good reason.

Know Your Brands and Inventory

Selling on Poshmark and making money requires you to understand the brands you sell, and you must know your inventory. If you know your products, then it’s easier to convince buyers to purchase.

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Sellers that know the ins and outs of the brands they sell are much more successful than those who don’t do the research and don’t share item specifics.

You also want to keep your inventory fresh by listing new items regularly.

Learn the Platform

TERMS: To sell on Poshmark, you need to know the platform. As mentioned, you want to make sure you know the rules, so you don’t violate them.

SHARING/FOLLOWERS: But another MAJOR element to Poshmark – unlike other selling platforms – is the social sharing aspect. Yes, to be successful on Poshmark you must grow your followers and share your listings regularly. Aim to share multiple times a day. It can help to share during Posh Parties, themed sharing events held at specific times. While this can be a turn-off for some, sharing and growing your followers are what exposes your listings to more potential buyers.

PRO-TIP: Posh Parties are Noon, 3p, 7p and 10p EST daily. Check the schedule (you may need to sign in to view this info) to find out guidelines for each theme. 

BUY SOMETHING: Using the platform as a customer is a great way to understand the complete buying and shipping process through their eyes. You can use this info to make a great impression on your buyers by providing them a superior experience. 

Also, connecting with other sellers on Poshmark, on social media or at live events is a great way to get to know the platform and get good tips.

How to Get Paid on Poshmark

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Here are the steps to get paid on Poshmark.

Make a Sale

Once you list an item, potential buyers will see “Offer” and “Buy Now” on the bottom right of your listings. With the “Buy Now” option, people can tap the button and purchase immediately. But with the “Make an Offer,” someone can send you an offer of a lower price, and then you can choose to accept, counter or decline it. Similarly, as the seller, you can see an “Offer/Price Drop” tab on the bottom right when you view the same listing.

Then you want to ensure that your listings are seen, so regularly share your closet within the app and with your social media followers to increase the traffic to your closet.

Ship the Order Quickly

Shipping (and professional, sometimes elaborate, packaging) is a huge part of customer service on the platform. Once you make a sale, Poshmark automatically emails you a shipping label that you need to print off and attach to your Priority Mail box or waterproof envelope (learn how to ship with Priority Mailers).

I’ll briefly go into shipping a little later. Make sure you follow the shipping guidelines, so products don’t get delayed. Poshmark uses USPS Priority Mail for shipping and charges customers a flat fee.

NOTE: If your item weighs more than 5 lbs, you will need to upgrade the label, which you can easily do in the app or online (find out how shipping on Poshmark works). The max weight for a single Poshmark package is 10 lbs.

Wait for the Buyer to Accept the Item or the 3-Day Waiting Period

This part can be annoying because customers are told that they need to “accept” the item once they have checked it over. But many buyers don’t do this. Poshmark gives buyers 3 days to review their order, after which they consider the sale final.

Then Poshmark releases your money to redeem it.

How Do You Get Your Money from Poshmark?

Once the 3 days have passed, you should be able to log in to redeem your money. There are now 5 ways you can redeem your Poshmark balance:

• Instant Transfer: Get funds in 30 minutes or less; $2 fee
• PayPal: $.35 fee
• Venmo: $.35 fee
• Direct deposit: 1-3 business days; no fee
• Mailed check: 2 weeks; no fee

Instant Transfer, PayPal and Venmo are the fastest ways to get your money. But there are additional fees. Direct Deposit can take 1-3 business days, but it is free. And it’s the method I use because I prefer to maximize my profits.

Here’s how to redeem your money using the app or web:

In the App

1. Log into your Poshmark account.
2. Navigate to the account tab (@username)
3. Select My Balance.
4. Choose Redeem.
5. Select your preferred cash-out method; then confirm transfer.
6. If you haven’t connected a bank account you may need to enter a verification that’s sent to you.

On the Web

1. Login to Poshmark.
2. Select your account tab/profile picture at the top-right.
3. Choose My Sales or Order Activity.
4. From the menu on the left side, select My Balance.
5. Choose Redeem Your Balance Here.
6. Select your preferred cash-out method.

FAQs

Do you need a PayPal account to Sell on Poshmark?

No. You can choose to use PayPal to redeem your balance when you make sales. But it’s optional. You can also use Venmo, Instant Transfer, Direct Deposit or request a check be mailed to you.

How Do I Link My Bank Account on Poshmark?

Please follow the directions under “How Do I Get My Money To My Bank Account”

Does Poshmark give you real money?

Yes, this isn’t one of those schemes where you get credits or gift cards for selling things. Poshmark is legit and pays you actual money for the items you sell.

How long does it take Poshmark to direct deposit?

It usually takes one to three business days for the money to get to your bank if there are no errors in your bank account information. It may take longer over holidays.

How do I ship items on Poshmark?

Shipping orders for Poshmark is pretty easy. You can get Priority Mail boxes for free online at USPS.com or from your local post office. You can also use plain or recycled boxes and padded envelopes.

Print the prepaid shipping label Poshmark emails you and attach it to the box or envelope. Buyers pay one flat fee for shipping depending on the weight of the package, which makes it easy for users and sellers.

Then schedule a pick-up or take it to the post office to mail it.

For more in-depth information on shipping, read my article on priority mailers for Poshmark and shipping.

Final Thoughts on How Do I Get Paid on Poshmark

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Now you know the answer to, “How do I get paid on Poshmark?” The steps are simple and easy to follow.

Selling on Poshmark is a great way to make extra money as a side hustle. You also may decide to become a full-time seller.

The key to making money and growing your business is to research and price your items right. Be sure to take high-quality photos of each item you sell, and remember to provide great customer service.

The post How Do I Get Paid on Poshmark? Easy Ways To Get Your Payout | With How-To Video appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

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PoshPost is the super simple way to ship your sold items with a prepaid USPS label using FREE Priority mailers for Poshmark. This can be Priority boxes or envelopes from the post office. All of your sales – except for electronics – are shipped with the post office’s expedited Priority Mail, which takes 1 to 3 days. Electronics are shipped with USPS Ground Advantage, which takes 2 to 5 business days. For electronics, you may NOT use Priority Mail shipping materials because the USPS does not allow the use of Priority Mail shipping materials for Ground Advantage. No matter what type of items you ship, you should always follow Poshmark’s shipping guidelines.

This post will discuss USPS priority mailers for Poshmark and how they can help you ship your items quickly and securely. We’ll also provide some tips on selling and shipping your items so that they arrive at your buyer’s door in perfect condition.

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and create no additional cost for you.

How Much is Poshmark Shipping And Who Pays?

The Poshmark shipping process is actually pretty easy.

Poshmark charges a $7.97 flat rate for expedited shipping up to 5 pounds in weight. Orders weighing more than 5 pounds require an upgraded shipping label, meaning you – the seller – need to upgrade the original shipping and pay the difference. I’ll discuss that more below, where I outline the Poshmark shipping and packaging process.

Once you get an order, you double-check each item, package it, ship it, and wait for your money to come in. Let’s look at this process in-depth.

What Kind of Box Can I Use to Ship Out My Poshmark Order?

Poshmark uses USPS Priority Mail for all orders in the United States. You can pick up Priority mailers for Poshmark, including boxes and envelopes, for FREE at your local postal service or order them online at usps.com.

Poshmark orders can be shipped in any free Priority Mail boxes or envelopes labeled:

• Priority Regional Rate
• Priority Mail Flat Rate
• Priority Mail

Other Types of Shipping Materials

They can also be shipped in bubble mailers, plain or decorative envelopes and brown shipping boxes, though you may have to pay for those. But it’s OK to recycle boxes from Amazon and other deliveries, or ones you can grab for free from stores that toss them in the trash.

Also, you’re allowed to use flat rate boxes; they are free if the item you’re shipping is under 5 lbs. Just make sure you pay attention to pricing and mailing rules for these boxes on all the marketplaces you use – Mercari, eBay, Poshmark, etc., will all have different rules.

Poshmark is clear in their rules that you can’t use any other USPS boxes like Express Mail boxes as they could cause shipping delays. And that will also delay the money you make from the sale.

Packaging and Shipping Checklist

Let’s take a look at the Poshmark shipping and packaging process so that you know exactly what to do when it comes time to ship orders.

1. Double-Check the Item Sold

First, you’ll want to check the item sold on Poshmark. Pull the item out of your inventory and double-check your Poshmark order to be sure that was the actual product sold.

Make sure there isn’t anything wrong with the product before you ship it, like defects, flaws damage, etc. since you stored it. The product should be as you described in your listing. If you find something wrong with it, just message the buyer and let them know (find out when you or the buyer can cancel an order before you ship).

They will usually be thankful that you caught the issue before they received it. The customer may even still want the item.

Depending on how you store the clothes or linens you sell, you may also want to run a lint roller over each piece. Also, you can go the extra mile and steam or press them. Or you can store each item rolled up, hang them, or store them upright. Keep shoes in their boxes if you have them, or wrapped neatly to protect them during storage.

This guarantees they won’t get damaged in storage.

If you do these things before you package them in plastic storage bags where you store your inventory, you can ship each product quickly. And this saves time in the Poshmark shipping process.

Then, when each order comes in, all you need to do is package it in one of the priority boxes you picked up and slap a shipping label on it. Then schedule a pick-up or take it to your local post office.

Do you want to get started on Poshmark? Sign up with code THRIFTYIQ and get $10 toward your first purchase!

2. Poshmark Shipping Guidelines: How Do I Ship an Item Once It’s Sold?

Congratulations, you sold an item on Poshmark! Nailing your sales strategy and making your first sales on the platform is so exciting! Now, what do you do?

After you double-check the clothing, shoes, accessories or other products that you sold, you want to make sure you package them the right way, so they don’t get damaged in transit.

Waterproof envelopes are a great shipping option. But if you’re shipping anything larger or fragile, or a bundle of items, you may want to use free Priority Mailers for Poshmark or any of the other shipping boxes mentioned above. And using bubble wrap or something similar will keep fragile items safe. 

Waterproof envelopes (like Tyvek) and USPS boxes are my favorites for packaging most of the things I sell on Poshmark and other platforms.

If you use cardboard envelopes for clothing, they can get wet in bad weather, unless you wrap them in plastic, which a lot of resellers do.

If you’re selling fragile items like glass, make sure you wrap them well. And you may even want to double-box them with air pillows or other protection to ensure they get to the seller in one piece.

It’s totally up to you whether you mark the box as fragile. Some resellers swear that this is a must so your package will be treated with care. Others swear it’s guaranteed to make postal workers treat your package with LESS care.

*Pro-Tip – Always keep various boxes and envelopes of different sizes on hand. That way, you can ship things quickly without needing to run out and get boxes from the post office last minute.

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3. Presentation is Everything

Poshmark considers the packaging as part of the user experience – they want you to “surprise and delight” customers. So you want to make sure that your packaging looks nice and professional. Wrapping the items in plain tissue paper makes them look like they would if you bought them at a retail store.

You’ll see some sellers get extra fancy with decorative packaging, while others think you should stick with the basics. Consider the way people package the products you order online. What impressed you and made it look professional?

Also, consider the cost of decorations as well as your time. You can add pretty ribbons and colored tissue paper to make orders look like holiday gifts. But if it significantly reduces your profit margin, then is it worth it?

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Your packages can still look nice even without all the bells and whistles. Wrap items in plain white tissue paper, shipping paper or plastic bags for weather protection. And consider adding your business card or a nice thank you note.

A thank you note isn’t a requirement, but it is a nice gesture of appreciation for the buyer. If your items are packaged professionally and are exactly as you described them, then buyers are more likely to rate you 5-starts and may buy from you again.

4. Ship as Soon as Possible

Now, you’re ready to ship your items. You need to package and ship the order through the USPS quickly, so the buyer gets the product quickly and you get your money.

Also, you need to understand upgraded shipping. Customers who buy one of your items pay for standard shipping no matter how much the item weighs.

Once the buyer pays, Poshmark will email you the shipping label. You can also access your shipping labels online in the Poshmark app or website.

But if the item weighs over five pounds, you’ll need an upgraded shipping label. And the seller pays the difference for the upgraded shipping label.

Here are the directions to upgrade shipping labels for packages weighing more than five pounds.

On the Web

1. Go to the Poshmark website
2. and log into your account.
3. Tap your profile picture are the top right of the web page.
4. Select My Sales and the order you need an upgraded shipping label for.
5. Select New Shipping Label.
6. Select Need Heavier Weight Label from the drop-down menu.

On the App

1. Log into your account and go to the Account Tab (@username)
2. Select My Sales from the menu and the order you needed an upgraded label for.
3. Choose Need New Shipping Label.
4. Select Need Heavier Weight Label.

This is a table that shows you the Poshmark fees for shipping items over 5 lbs:

You don’t need to get your labels on the USPS website as you can do directly through Poshmark or via the confirmation email that is sent to sellers to find your shipping labels. Just make sure you package the things you sell carefully, use the right Priority Mailers for Poshmark, and ship your orders on time.

FAQs

Does Poshmark Handle Shipping?

The process of shipping is handled through the Poshmark marketplace. This means Poshmark will email sellers an pre-paid, pre-addressed label after orders are paid (sellers can also access labels through their account tab). But sellers cannot use outside shipping methods like PirateShip to ensure proper tracking.

Does Poshmark Pay For Shipping?

Poshmark doesn’t generally pay the shipping costs; buyers do. Poshmark charges a flat rate of $7.97 for 1-3 day Priority Shipping on all orders up to 5 lbs. The one exception to this is Closet Clear Out days, which are usually Fridays and Sundays. This is a special discount day, when sellers can drop an item’s public price by at least 10% (final price MUST be at least $10) and Poshmark will automatically offer the buyer a discounted shipping rate of about $4.99. The difference of $2.98 is covered by Poshmark and not the seller.

Do Sellers Pay for Shipping on Poshmark?

Buyers are responsible for the shipping cost of Poshmark orders. However, sellers can offer different shipping discounts to buyers as an incentive to purchase, but those discounted rates are deducted from the seller’s earnings. Also, if a package weighs more than 5 lbs, it’s the seller’s responsibility to purchase a label upgrade (see fees in the chart above).

How Much Can My Poshmark Package Weigh?

The $7.97 Priority flat rate covers packages up to 5 lbs. If you need to ship something weighing more than 5 lbs, then the seller must pay the additional costs (see fess in the chart above). The maximum weight of any single package shipped through Poshmark is 10 lbs.

Can I use Priority Mail Envelopes for Poshmark?

Yes. In fact, you should use Priority Mailers for Poshmark, including envelopes and boxes, because Poshmark charges all customers a flat rate of $7.97 for 1-3 Day Priority shipping. You can also use your own shipping supplies if you prefer. But do not ship anything in an Express Mail box as it can delay shipping to the buyer.

My personal faves are the 1) Priority Mail Tyvek envelope and the 2) Priority Mail Medium flat-rate box.

How do I get Priority Mail boxes and Envelopes for Poshmark?

You can order Priority Mail boxes online at the USPS website and they’ll ship them to you for free. Or you can pick them up at your local post office for free.

Can I use a Priority Mail Flat Rate box for Poshmark?

Yes. You can use Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes for shipping sold items to buyers. Poshmark recommends every seller use Priority Mail boxes or envelopes to ship products that are sold.

Can I ship to P.O. Boxes?

Yes. You can ship Poshmark orders to Post Office boxes.

Can I Ship Poshmark Orders Internationally?

No. U.S. sellers can ship to U.S. addresses, while Canada sellers can ship to Canadian addresses.

Final Thoughts on Priority Mailers for Poshmark

Now you know the best ways to ship the items your buyers purchase from your closet on Poshmark. The more sales you make, the easier it gets to make money selling clothing and accessories on the platform.

It’s important that your packaging looks professional and not sloppy. You can use simple things like tissue paper to wrap your items in, and adding a thank you note provides an extra level of customer service.

Making the buyer feel special and packaging your items with care will make them fans for life. And since Poshmark includes packaging in the customer experience, it’s something to pay attention to.

I recommend you use a waterproof, padded envelope or the Priority Mailers for Poshmark that I mention in this article, so the things you’re shipping don’t get damaged in bad weather.

Selling on Poshmark provides an amazing, flexible way to make money working from home so you can enjoy more freedom and flexibility in your life. And the more you ship items, the easier it becomes.

The post Priority Mailers for Poshmark: The Ultimate Guide to Successful Shipping | 2024 appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

The answer is it is completely up to you! I say yes, because I think there is a business benefit for you as a seller on eBay, Poshmark or other marketplaces (and partly because of my Southern sensibility😉). There are definitely pros and cons on either side of the debate. But thank you notes don’t have to be fancy, handwritten, time-consuming or expensive! It’s a simple, but potentially impactful way to show gratitude for customers’ support while marketing your brand.

Plus, it may (though not guaranteed!) increase the chances that the buyer will leave you positive feedback.

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Of course, there are many online resellers who never add thank-you notes, cards or stickers and they receive consistently positive feedback. There also are some sustainably-minded buyers who prefer not to receive the extra paper that they then have to recycle.

But I am a HUGE fan of showing gratitude. And a branded thank you note doesn’t have to be fancy – it can be a really simple postcard, notecard, business card or sticker. So, here is everything you need to know about sending thank you cards with your orders for eBay or other platforms, including how to write them and what you should say.

What Are eBay Thank You Notes?

An eBay thank you note can be a simple card you add to each order you ship for eBay, Poshmark, Mercari or other marketplaces. Basically, they thank the buyer for their purchase and can even include a personal note saying, “Hope you enjoy the top,” “Thank you for supporting my small business,” “Positive feedback is welcome,” or something similar.

When I started reselling, I used to handwrite every single card for every single order. I created a basic template that I would then copy every time. Great, but once the volume and pace of sales picked up, I realized that was not the best use of my time (Video: how not to send a thank you note). Also, after I ran out of cards that I already had on hand, I realized buying fancy cards would bite too deeply into my profit margin.

Now, I include a small business card for my brand (above) that says “Thank You” while listing my website and social media accounts. I made mine for free on Canva, who also prints at a low cost and I choose free shipping, which takes a little longer to arrive. (FYI: I tried Canva’s print and pickup for free at FedEx, but I did not like the quality as much).

Beyond the different types of cards, another popular option is thank you stickers attached to the packaging, inside or outside. You can buy these on Amazon, Poshmark, eBay, Etsy and many other marketplaces (check out examples below).

Why You Should Send a Thank You Note

Sending thank you cards to your eBay buyers encourages them to leave positive feedback and shows that there is an actual human behind your business.

Since you know how important good reviews are, especially on eBay, a note may encourage them to give you positive feedback when they may not have left any at all. 

Many sellers report that more buyers leave feedback in general, and that they receive more positive feedback than negative. And positive feedback can really make a difference on the status of your account or eBay store.

Plus, it is a great way to advertise your resale business. Buyers can connect a voice with the brand. A simple note can make your customers happy and feel special.

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In short, sending out a thank you note with every order shows that you aren’t just an eBay seller – you’re a professional business. It also proves that there is a person behind the screen, and it increases their trust.

The downside is that it could add a nominal fee to your COG (cost of goods), and it could take more time if you decide to hand-write the notes. Also, there are some shoppers who do not like the idea of adding paper waste to the planet. 

Still, while you have to choose or design a pre-made card and purchase it, this is simply reinvesting in your business especially considering their potential benefits.

Your genuine thank you note expresses a level of sincerity you can’t do so otherwise, particularly with online shopping. And it’s generally easier to get someone to buy from you again versus finding new customers. On average, the success rate of retaining a buyer is 60 to 70 percent, while the success rate of persuading a new buyer to purchase something is significantly lower at 5 to 20 percent.

What Should I Include in a Thank You Note to a Buyer?

Here are some things to consider adding to your thank you note as well as the tone and voice you want to set.

1. Be thoughtful and Sincere

The key is to add a note that reflects your brand, and is not too cold or generic. Since you want each customer to feel appreciated, you may want to avoid terms like:

• Thank you for your business
• Thank you for your order

Instead, say something like:

• Thank you for shopping with us
• Thank you for supporting my small business
• Your support means the world or is invaluable
• Thanks for choosing us; it means a lot

2. Send a Physical Thank You Note, Not an Email

In a forum, I saw that many people did not like emails because too many could be annoying, and many say they didn’t even read them. Plus, it may be against a platform’s terms of service to message about anything other than order/delivery details (e.g. Amazon). Also, make sure you send a physical card with the purchase, not afterward.

3. Stick With Your Brand Voice

When creating a note, be sure it matches your brand voice because your thank you card is building a relationship with your customer. Besides the item they purchase, a thank you note may be their first real connection with your online business.

4. Make Sure Your Note Looks Professional

While yes, we want our eBay thank you cards to be friendly and cordia

l, you also want to look professional. Don’t tear off a piece of notebook or journal paper to write your thank you note on.

5. The Thank You Note is About Your Customer and Not You

When writing your note, remember it is about the customer, not you. It’s best to focus on being thankful and sincere instead of trying to get more sales.

6. Include Your Store Name and Logo

Since it is all about people getting to know your brand, be sure your eBay thank you cards are customized with your shop name and logo. And if you cross-post to other platforms, include those without cluttering up the note. Push shoppers to your website or social media accounts if that’s less overwhelming.

7. Consider Adding Your Return Policy

If you include your return policy, it may prompt buyers to ask for a return rather than leave you negative feedback if they are unhappy with their purchase.

8. Add Your Website or Social Media Channel to Follow

You can even add your website, store or most popular social media channel to ask them to follow you for more great deals or something similar.

9. Consider Adding a Blurb About Your Brand

Help your buyers connect with you more by adding a quick message about your business. You can share your sustainability practices, goal to pay off student debt, mission to support loved ones or your donation of proceeds to a certain organization. Your reasons are your own IF you decide to share. Just remember, friendly but professional.

10. Ask Them to Leave Feedback … Maybe

Like most things, resellers don’t agree on whether you should ask buyers to leave your feedback. People are busy, and they often forget to leave feedback. And they don’t know how important that is as a seller or online business, so this could be a great reminder.

But it could also annoy some buyers, because most platforms including eBay, Poshmark and Amazon, send reminder emails to buyers seeking their feedback and ratings.

It’s your call on whether to ask for feedback, but this is one I do not do. I just focus on showing appreciation and inviting them to shop with me again.

How to Write an eBay Thank You Card

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Here are some quick tips on how to write eBay thank you cards.

1. Start with the Introduction

When you only get one first impression, it’s important to start your thank you note right. If you ordered customized thank you cards, here is your chance to personalize them for your customer and add a handwritten introduction.

Use your customer’s first name and write a greeting like “Dear Cynthia” or “Hey Jennifer.” This approach makes your buyer feel special and adds a personal touch.

Handwriting part of your note can further humanize you and let them know you’re a person and not a robot.

I used this very technique until I quickly learned that the greeting cards I already had on hand were “free”, but still costly, because of the added weight to the packages. [Check out this 15-second YouTube Short video to see the type of card I’m talking about] AND because of the TIME it took to write each note even with a pre-written script.

Now I include a business card that has a pre-printed “thank you” note as well as additional ways to shop with me. The weight is negligible, and it takes hardly any extra time to grab a card and toss it into a package.

2. Add the Thank You

If you ordered cards, then this part is already done, so you need to consider what you are going to say ahead of time. If you ordered blank cards to hand-write the whole card, now’s the time to write a sincere thank you.

Include something about how much you appreciate their business and maybe even add a discount code for the next purchase. People love to save money!

Let them know how thankful you are that they chose you.

Most importantly, have some pre-written notes that you save on your phone, laptop or notebook so you can reference the text without making up something new every single time. 

3. Request Positive Seller Feedback

If you choose to, you can kindly ask your customers for feedback. I personally do not ask for feedback or ratings, because most shoppers are aware of the process and will do so if they want. For me, the downside of annoying buyers is too big a risk.

4. Include Your Store or Closet Details

Be sure to include your store details as many customers forget the seller they ordered from.

Provide them with at least one way to contact you either via your marketplace store/closet, website or social channels.

With so many scammers out there, providing your store details shows your customers that you are a legitimate business.

4. Be Sure to Personalize It

I already mentioned using your customer’s first name, if you write a note or simply add it to your business card.

You can also customize it by showing you’re paying attention to that customer and their specific order, like mentioning that the product they ordered is one of your favorites or that you hope they enjoy it.

But this is not required! You have to judge whether this personalization step is best for YOUR business and brand. I typically do not do this because I also communicate with my shoppers on the marketplace’s messaging app.

5. End It Casually

End your thank you notes for eBay buyers by saying thanks again or whatever goodbye phrase you typically use like “Cheers,” “Enjoy,” “Thanks Again,” etc.

If you still aren’t feeling confident about writing your own little thank you card, there are plenty of scripts online you can use. In this case, “just Google it” actually works😊

FAQs

How do you thank customers on eBay?

You can easily thank your customers on eBay or other marketplaces by adding personalized thank you notes to each order. It can be as simple as, “Thank you for supporting us!” A nice note with each purchase could help you connect with your buyers.

Instead of sending a thank you note with every order, another option is to just send one with special, unique or high-dollar orders.

Are thank you notes required with every purchase?

No. You are not required to add a thank you note with orders. It is completely optional! In fact, many sellers do not include notes to save time and money. And they do not suffer negative feedback or ratings.

Where can I buy pre-made thank you notes?

Basically, anywhere cards are sold. I originally had pre-made thank you cards left over from WalMart, Target and stationery shops. eBay sells thank you notes in their branded stores (if you pay for an eBay store subscription, you can use your quarterly allowance towards these). Etsy has lots of cute ones that you can personalize to match your brand. Here is an example of a Poshmark thank you note and another simple card you can send to buyers. This is another simple thank you note that would work on most reselling marketplaces. 

eBay and Poshmark both sell branded stickers and cards (see examples above), but there are sellers across most selling platforms that sell good options.

How do I add buyers’ notes on eBay?

You can add buyers’ notes on eBay by clicking the item in your sold area that you want to add a note to.

Then look up towards the top of the page, and you’ll see “Other Actions.” Click on that and select Add/Edit Notes” to leave a message. Once you’re done, save it.

How do I give feedback to a buyer on eBay?

First, go to Orders in the Seller Hub or Sold in My eBay. Then choose the item you want to provide feedback on and select, Leave Feedback.

Once you select that, you can choose positive or negative, then enter your comment. When you are finished, click Leave Feedback.

Final Thoughts on Thank You Notes for eBay Buyers

Sending thank you notes to eBay, Poshmark or other buyers could make customers feel special and appreciated. It helps connect your buyers to your brand and is a great way to get repeat customers.

Your buyers may appreciate that you took the time to leave them a note. And while there are no guarantees, shoppers may be more likely to leave positive feedback and ratings, which helps your reputation as a seller.

The post Thank You Notes for eBay Buyers: How to Send Them And Decide If You Should appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

The same can be said for many of us eCommerce sellers. That’s why it’s critical to know how online resellers can prepare for the holidays.

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Blog posts may contain affiliate links, and as an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases that create no additional costs to you.

The 4th Quarter (Q4), the last three months of the year, include Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals and other online shopping opportunities.

Q4 is almost always THE most important time of year for most eCommerce sellers. My online reselling business, for example, earns nearly 50% of annual profits during this time. 

That’s why you need a game plan packed with insider tips for how resellers can prepare for the holiday shopping wave. So join me as we prepare to S.O.A.R. in Q4! Yes, acronyms can be silly, but they also can be helpful memory tools.

S.O.A.R. loosely stands for source, organize, advertise, research, though I recommend doing these activities in a slightly different order.

RESEARCH POPULAR PRODUCTS

Researching popular products to sell should be an ongoing part of your eCommerce business, especially during downtimes like Summer.

Your goal is to identify trends and themes, including colors, brands and products that are expected to be popular this holiday. You can also find out the top-sellers and profit potential for your niche. 

So exactly how do you research popular products to sell? There are several ways to find this info.

• Review your own year-over-year, month-over-month and season-over-season sales data to spot themes and trends for your shoppers.
• Search for terms like “fashion”, “toys”, “kids” and “holidays 2022” on Google, YouTube, Pinterest, Etsy, Instagram, TikTok and the like to see what’s most popular.
• Leverage tools like the Amazon Seller App and eBay’s Terapeak analytics to identify potentially popular items for the holidays. 
• Discover the top-sellers on marketplaces like Facebook, Shopify, Etsy, Poshmark, eBay, etc. And be sure to check platforms you don’t currently sell on.
• Review marketplace trend reports released directly by selling platforms including Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, etc. Check their sites or sign up for their email lists.
• Attend seller conferences hosted by online selling marketplaces including Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, Amazon, etc. Many are virtual and free to attend!
• Consider popular products and trends in popular culture. A great place to start is social media sites including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

STOCK UP ON SHIPPING SUPPLIES

Shop, shop, shop and then shop some more!

Shipping, Packing & Listing

It’s imperative that resellers have enough supplies on hand especially for shipping (boxes, bubble mailers, bubble wrap, tape, etc.), printing (labels, ink) and packing (business cards, thank-you cards, etc.).

Make sure you have the reseller essentials on hand. This includes measuring tape, a durable, inexpensive scale (my #1 must-have tool!) and a letter opener.

Soft, Flexible Measuring Tape

Accutek Shipping Scale

Why something as old-school as a letter opener?😁 This is a secret weapon if you are reselling clothing, especially vintage, retro or delicates. 

Solid Black Metal Letter Opener

Additional Resources

• Check out this 30-second video showing how resellers can use a letter opener for great photos.
• Free Priority Mailing Supplies for Poshmark and beyond
• Does Poshmark Pay for Shipping?

Inventory to Sell

You also want to ensure you have enough inventory to sell during the holiday rush. Most eCommerce sellers have zero extra time once the sales rush hits. Plus the shipping of supplies to YOU could be delayed just like order to your shoppers can be delayed.

PRO-TIP: If you have an eBay store subscription, don’t forget to use your quarterly coupon to order free shipping supplies. I currently have a basic store subscription which includes $25 per quarter. It’s not a lot, especially considering the cost of eBay supplies, but every dollar counts in our business🤑

ADVERTISE & ADJUST

Simply put, people can’t buy your products if they can’t find your products. That’s why marketing your shop is so important. 

Social Media Engagement

This is the time to post more often on social media, being sure to leverage engagement tools such as Instagram Stories/Reels, YouTube Shorts or Pinterest Idea Pins.

PRO-TIP: One of the best, yet underutilized platforms, is Pinterest where 97% of searches are NON-branded. It functions more like a search engine because the majority of users are in “search and discover” mode. Use this to your advantage to show off the unique designs or features of your products with an Idea Pin that introduces your products and brand.

Email and Sales

Send regular newsletters if you have an email list. Actively post helpful tips (not spammy sales notes) on relevant Facebook groups.

Create “holiday sales” or “flash sales” to create excitement – and value – for your customers. [Grab FREE sales sign templates for Poshmark or Instagram!]

Search Engine Optimization

One of the most important marketing tactics that many eCommerce sellers overlook is optimizing listings.

Revisit existing listings to confirm you have correct inventory levels on hand, pricing is current and other details.

And don’t forget to optimize titles and descriptions for SEO (search engine optimization)! This goes for new and existing products. 

Make These Adjustments

Adjust your prices to accommodate the temporary holiday shipping increases by the US Postal Service if you offer free or discounted shipping. Protect your profits!

If you don’t already do this, then outsource tasks! Seriously. Hire help for listings, shipping, prepping, SEO, copy writing, photographing … anything you don’t want to do or are not good at doing.

Fiverr is my personal fave for quick online tasks. They even have freelancers who focus solely on sharing your Poshmark closet. You can also try Upwork or hire a VA (which I also did on Fiverr).

ORGANIZE

This is a less-than-sexy part of business, but fine-tuning your processes can make or break your profits.

Ensure your inventory is easy to find, pack and ship. Ditto for shipping and packing supplies. You cannot afford to waste time looking for goods that have already been sold.

Consider pre-packing inventory, especially large or unusually shaped products. The last thing you need is to waste time running to a store last-minute hoping to find the perfect size box (assuming they are any in stock).

FINAL THOUGHTS

The holiday season, which is typically the last three months of the year, is an incredibly important time for eCommerce businesses. The 4th Quarter includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday and many other holidays.

These days, many of these shopping “days” have extended into weeklong events. Plus, the Q4 shopping surge can last throughout the following January.

So follow the tips I shared to know how resellers prepare for the holidays. This way, you can capitalize on this potentially profitable timespan.

The post How New Resellers Can Prepare for Holiday Shopping Surge | 2022 appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

Then this article is for you! A lot of resellers love selling books on eBay because it’s one of the most popular e-commerce platforms for selling books, with nearly 160 million active users.

Plus, it’s relatively easy to use, and you can create book listings pretty quickly.

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While selling books on Amazon and eBay and other marketplaces is a great way to make money working from home, this guide will focus on how to sell books on eBay specifically.

If you’re brand new, learn more about reselling 101 for beginners.

You might be surprised at how many book lovers prefer real used books to eBooks, especially collectors of special editions. And you can sell some of those editions as well as other rare titles for higher prices.

Let’s dive into learning how to sell books on eBay.

Blog posts may contain affiliate links, and as an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases that create no additional costs to you.

A Step By Step Guide on How to Sell Books on eBay 

Books are one of the best things to buy and resell, because they are generally inexpensive (or free!) to purchase. Plus, you can ship them with USPS Media Mail, which is pretty cheap regardless of size and weight. But you can make even more money with the perfect strategy.

1. Create Your eBay Account

The first thing you need to do to sell books on eBay is to create an eBay account if you don’t already have one. You do not have to purchase a monthly store subscription to sell on eBay. But you will need to specify your return policy. 

To Allow Returns or Not?

One area that many resellers disagree on is setting up their return policy. Many new eBay sellers want to set up a no-return policy, while other sellers think this means many shoppers may not want to take the chance of buying your book on eBay.

I say you have to decide what works best for your business. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. For my part, I currently have my store, which is a Basic Monthly Subscription, set to no returns. Though, I generally allow returns as long as it’s for a legit reason.

But just to be clear, a no-return policy doesn’t mean that buyers can’t return at all. It just means that they technically can’t return the book if they don’t like it. The buyer can return the book for a legitimate reason, like it doesn’t match the description or it’s not in the condition you described.

To Offer Free Shipping or Not?

The same goes with shipping. Many buyers like to purchase items with “free” shipping. As we know, it’s never free; the cost is just passed along to the seller. So choosing this shipping option is fine as long as you add your shipping costs to your final selling price.

You’ll also need to set up your payment information, too.

Check out this article on how to sell on eBay for great general advice.

2. Install the eBay App on Your Phone

One thing that makes it easier to sell books on eBay is downloading the eBay app on your phone. I love using the eBay app because I can check listings on the go and even respond to buyer questions when I don’t have my laptop.

NOTE: There are some functions you can only do through the website and not on the app.

You can get the app on Android or iPhone. I really like to use it for adding pictures to my listings. I take pictures with my phone and then upload them to eBay easily. Some sellers prefer to batch upload their images on the laptop, so it just depends on what works for you.

The app is just one of the reasons I think it’s great to sell used books on eBay.

3. Do an eBay Search for the Book You Want to Sell

The next step to selling a book on eBay is to search eBay for the book you want to sell. The search feature on eBay makes it so easy to find your book by either scanning the book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number) or typing in the title. You can also scan a photo of the cover and that may pull up the info as well.

Doing a quick search helps tell you if the book is worth spending your time creating an eBay listing.

To scan the ISBN, look for the camera icon on the right side of the search bar at the top of the eBay page. Clicking on that will allow you to give eBay access to your camera.

This opens up your camera and on the screen you’ll see the message, “Point Your Camera at a Barcode.” Then, scan the barcode on the book (it’s usually on the back but could be located elsewhere). 

If the book is posted, the first listings that pop up will be current listings. Take note of how many are for sale, and you can check out the price other sellers are seeking. This gives you a good indication of competition – the fewer items available, the less competition. 

Then scroll down until you see the sort and filter feature. Click on “Filter” and select completed items to look at listings for books like yours that have already sold. Based on your preferred profit margin, this will tell you whether or not a book is worth your time selling.

4. Create Your Book Listing

Now it’s time to create your listing for the book you want to sell. You want to make sure to take high-quality images of your book, as professional-looking pictures will help sell your book. If the book has any damage, you want to include photos of that as well.

Determine the sales price for the book by looking at your previous research. If you perform a basic search on eBay and filter it to look at sold listings only, you’ll see the range of prices your book has been selling for. You can also scan in the ISBN as previously mentioned to find your book’s information.

You can enter all of the book’s details yourself or select “Sell One Like This,” which creates a copy of a listing where all you need to do is confirm the book’s information and condition. 

BEWARE: When you use “sell one like this” you are relying on another seller’s description and details. So, it’s IMPERATIVE that you double-check if those details apply to the item you are selling. You want to avoid an INAD return (Item Not As Described).

It’s important to be as detailed as possible with the description, no matter which way you choose to create listings for your books. Often I add more keywords to the title to help people find my listing easier.

You will also have two choices for listing types – Auction or Buy it Now. You generally get the most money with the buy-it-now listings. Rare ones can sometimes do better in auction, but I lean on buy-it-now and allow shoppers to make offers.

The best way to ship books is Media Mail. Media mail is one of the least expensive ways to ship books.

To use Media Mail, you still need to weigh and measure your package and enter that information into the shipping area of the listing. You would just select the Media Mail option. So, if you plan on selling books or other products online, I strongly recommend investing in a small, low-cost scale like this one, which is what I use personally.

As far as photos, I always add my own instead of just using the stock images. Using your own photos increases transparency, especially if you show any flaws to the book. It also can help avoid INAD (item not as described) returns.

When finished, review your listing to make sure all the information is correct, and then select “List Your Item.”

Listing Fees

My article on reselling on eBay that I mentioned earlier goes into more detail on all of the selling fees to list items on eBay, but I did want to mention some.

You will have a final value fee to pay. The final value fee is the money eBay keeps from the final sale. eBay determines this fee based on the final sales price, including handling charges, shipping and the item’s price.

There also may be insertion fees. The nice thing is that some sellers never have to pay insertion fees because eBay gives 250 free listings each month. After you reach your limit, eBay will start charging insertion fees on items whether they sell or not and based on the categories they are listed in.

PRO TIP: For some resellers, including me, it’s easier to create and edit your listing on a laptop or computer as you can type faster and select required specifics, shipping, etc., more easily. Save the listing draft on your laptop, then open the listing up on your phone to add your pictures.

5. Make Sure You Communicate with Buyers

You may get questions from potential buyers on eBay, so make sure you respond to their messages. Also, eBay will notify you when someone purchases your book or sends you an offer. CHECK YOUR MESSAGES REGULARLY.

By answering buyers’ questions and communicating with them, you are building trust, which is critical for reselling on any platform. 

Not to mention, you don’t want to miss a sale because you read messages after an offer from a buyer expired. This happened to me one time, and the sickness of losing a sale is something I never want to feel again.

6. Package Securely and Ship Quickly Once You’re Paid

Once you make a sale, and confirm the buyer has paid, it’s time to ship the book to your customer. You want to do this as quickly as possible, but definitely within the handling time you’ve set for your account. Delaying shipping can affect your feedback.

The nice thing is that eBay lets you set your own processing time for each item that you sell.

You want to make sure that your handling time is clearly communicated in your listing. And if your shipping and handling time is two business days, then try to ship it within one. Always Under promise, and Over deliver. Besides, scams are one of the most significant concerns that online buyers have, so shipping quickly will quell their fears.

Shipping is easy on eBay; once your item has been paid for, eBay sends you an email with a link to purchase and print a shipping label. Or you can go to your eBay notifications or to your Seller Hub to do the same thing. 

You just put the book in a padded envelope or box and give it to your mail carrier or drop it off at the post office.

To get started with packing, I suggest you keep packaging materials on hand so you can ship orders quickly once an item is sold. If you plan on making reselling an actual business, this is especially important.

You can order FREE USPS shipping supplies online or grab some at your local post office. Depending on the book’s size and make up, you could wrap in sturdy shipping paper, bubble wrap or dish sleeves and place in a bubble mailer aka padded envelope. Or you may want to wrap securely and ship in a small box. The condition and value of the book should help determine this.

But if you want to get repeat business from each customer, shipping is one of the most important parts of the process that can make or break a sale. I suggest shipping to ensure safety and no damage, even if there are existing flaws.

Ship the book quickly and make sure it matches the expectations of your buyer, and you’ll likely get great feedback and repeat sales.

Selling Books on Amazon vs. eBay

As I already mentioned, two of the best places to sell books are Amazon and eBay. I’m not going to go in-depth into Amazon here, as that is a whole other topic. But I do want to point out some of the differences.

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Amazon started as an online bookstore like Barnes & Noble, so many people like selling books on Amazon because books remain popular on the platform. And people like selling used books on eBay because it’s known as the platform to get good deals.

One of the most significant differences between selling books on Amazon and eBay is there are a lot more policies and rules to follow on Amazon, while eBay is more flexible.

You control the images, price and listings, and you can sell products in various conditions on eBay. And if you don’t mind shipping your own books, the seller fees are generally reasonable on eBay.

Since eBay allows you to customize each listing, it’s quicker to list books on Amazon than on eBay, but over time, you’ll get quicker at listing and selling on eBay. 

One of the biggest differences is that with Amazon you have the option to ship sold books yourself OR have Amazon take care of it with Amazon FBA. 

With the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) option, all you need to do is ship your books to one of their warehouses, and they will take care of shipping after each sale – for certain fees, including storage.

As a seller, you really have many options for flipping products to make more. You can even create an Amazon or eBay store to sell products from.

BONUS: What to do if your Amazon package is stolen

Quick Tips for Selling Books on eBay

Here are some quick tips to make the most money from each sale you make.

1. Where to Find Books and Other Items to Sell on eBay

You have many options when it comes to finding books to sell on eBay. Thrift stores, yard and garage sales, estate sales, auctions, library sales, Craigslist, and online book stores/sellers are some of the best places.

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The key to flipping books for profit is selling used books that you get at a really low price and sell for a higher amount. This process requires researching the prices you can sell used books at and picking books that you can get more money for.

A solid research process makes it easier to find books to sell that will make you the most money. Check out reseller Raiken Profit, who has tons of YouTube videos about selling books online.

PRO-TIP: Raiken Profit and other sellers have some great tips and training if you REALLY want to go hard on selling. The keys are speed, handheld scanners (beyond scanning through Amazon’s seller app) and specific research websites. Just search for “How to sell books on Amazon” on YouTube.

2. Great Customer Service is Essential

Awesome customer service brings back repeat buyers who may give you good feedback, which is critical to your long-term success on eBay.

One option is to add a thank you note or business card to each item sold. In addition to expressing gratitude, you can remind them to follow you on eBay. Many customers (not all; some consider it environmentally wasteful) may love a thoughtful note.

3. Avoid Books from Popular Selling Authors

In general, you won’t make money selling books by popular authors like Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, etc., as they are readily available everywhere. The obvious exception is rare or hard-to-find titles that are in high demand.

4. Look for Book Trends on eBay

You can look for book-selling trends on eBay to know which books to sell and how to price them. I said it earlier, but research is important to buying and selling books on eBay.

REMEMBER: eBay’s Terapeak Product Research is now free to all sellers. (Terapeak Sourcing Insights still requires a store subscription.)

5. Grade your Books Correctly

eBay has a grading system for items that range from “acceptable” to “like new.” As a seller, you need to be honest about the condition of each book you sell. This builds trust in your business and helps to avoid returns.

6. Make Sure Your Prices Include the Cost of Running a Business

Not adding the cost of running a business to your prices is a common mistake new resellers make. Whether they are selling services, flipping items, or selling digital or physical products, remembering to include business costs is important.

You need to factor in your time, seller fees, the book purchase price, and shipping and handling costs.

Not sure whether you should negotiate your prices? Check out a few product pricing tips.

FAQs

Are books worth selling on eBay?

Yes, if you sell the right books. Books that are mass-produced and available everywhere are not very profitable. But rare books and special or collectors’ editions sell well. A book doesn’t have to be old to be rare; it can just be for a specific audience or have fewer copies available.

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Some examples are textbooks, graphic novels, sci-fi and cookbooks.

Which website is best for selling books?

It depends on your specific needs as an online seller, but Amazon and eBay are two of the most popular places to sell books.

It really depends on your needs and preferences. One of the biggest deciding factors between the two platforms is whether or not you mind shipping books yourself or want someone to do that for you.

What kind of books sell well?

There are several types of books that sell well on platforms like eBay. They include:

• Textbooks
• First editions
• Certain cookbooks
• Collectors’ or special editions
• Leather-bound books
• Bibles
• Past issues of magazines
• Rare, unique or niche books

Final Thoughts on Selling Books on eBay

As you can see, selling books online can be very profitable as long as you have a strategy. You want to do thorough research to see what books are selling best on eBay as well as the going price. Doing this ensures that you list books that you can make a profit on.

If you follow these tips, you can make good money reselling books on eBay to supplement your income or create a full-time business. 

Do you sell books on eBay or Amazon? What other tips would you suggest?

The post Selling Books on eBay: A Beginner’s Guide to Make More Money appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

I love reselling on sites like Poshmark, Mercari and, of course, eBay. They are excellent secondary marketplaces to sell (and buy😉) pre-owned clothing and other products. Being a reseller is pretty easy once you get used to it – though it does take effort. For eBay, you just need to learn the rules, especially what you can’t sell, and tips to be successful with your eBay business.

This blog post is all about eBay for beginners who want to sell clothing and other items. You’ll learn the basics of how to sell on eBay and some helpful tips to become a successful eBay seller.

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and create no additional costs for you.

What is eBay?

If you don’t know what eBay is, it’s an online marketplace best known for its auction-style and consumer-to-consumer sales. In addition to individuals, many businesses open

an eBay store and use the platform as a primary or additional sales channel.

The platform opened in 1995 and has evolved into the huge marketplace that it is today. There are more than 19million sellers and more than 159 active users.

People from all over the world make money or purchases on eBay, and nearly anyone can open an eBay personal account – for individual sellers – or a business account – which allows you to sell large quantities – for free to start selling.

The model is quite simple. You find products like gently used clothes, accessories, household products, etc., at a good price and then resell them for more money on eBay. There are also lots of people who sell brand new, never used items. Just double-check eBay’s VeRo list to confirm brands that you are not allowed to sell.

Why Should I Sell on eBay?

If you’re wondering if you should sell on eBay, my answer is almost always yes! It’s easy to set up a personal or business account, and you get access to millions of customers. HEADS-UP: To be completely honest, listing items can be a huge pain in the butt compared to listing on Poshmark or Mercari. eBay has a growing list of required item specifics that can be a major time-suck. But that is offset by the large volume of potential customers. 

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You can sign up for an eBay account, list an item, and sell it all in one day. With eBay, you can sell new or used products as long as you do your research to see what sells on the platform. And to confirm what you cannot sell.

It’s generally cheap to start as you can find things you don’t use around the house that you want to get rid of and make money. Your eBay business can be a part-time side hustle or even a full-time job.

Selling on eBay is a flexible job that allows you to work from home and set any schedule you want. The flexibility is a draw for many sellers, including me!

Is It Worth It to Sell on eBay?

It really depends on what you’re selling on eBay. eBay is a great choice if you have new or pre-owned products to sell like collectibles, trading cards, electronics, games, toys and, yes, closting. It is worth noting that if you plan to start a business reselling clothes, you’ll want to consider a variety of platforms including Poshmark, Depop, Grailed and others.

It’s all about doing the research to see what sells, how often and at what price point – all of which can change depending on seasons or shoppers’ moods.

Selling on eBay: The Basics

Here are the basics of how to sell on eBay.

1. Create An Account

First, you want to create an eBay account – either personal or business. New sellers can get started quickly and easily, and I recommend the personal account (you can change later, if you choose).

When you set up an account for your business on eBay, you need to create a user ID. If you already have an online business, you may want to make that your username.

This account and user ID is what you’ll use to make purchases as well.

2. Set Up Your Automatic Payment Method

Next, you want to set up your automatic payment method for your eBay account. You can connect a credit card or checking account.

This account is the one that eBay will deduct your insertion, final value and subscription fees (if you decide to get one), and other charges for selling on eBay.

NOTE: eBay requirements are subject to change, so always double-check the current rules to confirm the latest.

3. Product Research + How to Find Items to Sell on eBay

The research piece is one of the most important parts of selling on eBay. If you don’t list popular, profitable products on the platform, then you’re wasting your time.

Thrifting (check out “examples of a reseller” and “common reselling strategies” for more on thrifting) and retail arbitrage are some of the best ways for eBay sellers to make money. In fact, they are some of the best ways to sell products on many e-commerce sites.

The key is finding things that customers want to buy.

The easiest way to see what items are in demand on eBay is to look at the data it provides. There are two methods to know.

A: You need to determine the sell-through rate of an item. This is essentially the number of listings sold compared to the number of active listings for that item on eBay, stated as a percentage.

A higher sell-through rate illustrates that there is demand for the product. All resellers have their own opinions about the ideal sell-through rate, especially for specific niches. In general, I aim for at least 60-70% but some need at least 50 percent. 

To do this, search for your item on the eBay and take note of the number of active listings. Then, filter the search results by using the “Show Only” option to show only sold or completed listings.

Then take the sold number of listings and divide that by the active listings. This gives you the percentage.

A higher sell-through rate illustrates that there is demand for the product. All resellers have their own opinions about the ideal sell-through rate, especially for specific niches. In general, I aim for at least 60-70% but some need at least 50 percent. 

B: Another research tool is Terapeak, eBay’s exclusive market analysis tool. Just search on an item you want to sell to get data on previous sales, demand and pricing. “Product Research” is now free to ALL sellers with access to Seller Hub. Terapeak “Sourcing Insights” offers sales data on every eBay category and other information and is free to sellers with an eBay Store Subscription.

The Most Popular Products on eBay 

The most popular products sold on eBay include some of the following. But keep in mind shoppers may change with seasons or economic factors:

• Garden and Patio – Outdoor furniture sets, canopies and awnings, panel fences, garden lighting, and BBQ tools and accessories.
• Home and Garden – Vacuum cleaners, light bulbs, small appliances, lawn mowers, power tools, air tools, outdoor heating, eating and cooking products, etc.
• Pet Supplies – Beds, grooming items, poultry products, and training and obedience items.
• Automotive – Air and fuel delivery, interior car parts and accessories, exterior parts and accessories, lighting and bulbs, motorcycle parts, alternators, starters, wiring, and ECUs.
• Clothing and Accessories – Women’s and Men’s clothing, accessories, and shoes, women’s handbags and bags.
• Collectibles – Decorative collectibles, collectible matchboxes, lighters, other smoking items, military equipment, and World War II items.
• Watches and Jewelry – Watches, watch parts, accessories, tools, guides, antique and vintage jewelry, fashion necklaces, bracelets, chards, pendants, and more.

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Here are a few more ideas for some of the top-selling eBay items.

Where Can I Find Popular Items to Sell on eBay if I’m Stuck?

If you’re completely stuck on finding items eBay buyers will purchase, here are some tips.

Know What Products are Trending

First, always be aware of trends. Some things are timeless, while other items are only popular for brief periods of time, then no one is willing to pay for them.

But if you stay on top of new and emerging trends, you can take advantage of these items and make a lot of money as they are rising in popularity.

This is where magazines, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Podcasts and other sources are helpful.

Everyday Common Products Generally Sell Well

While you can make a lot of money on trendy stuff, everyday items can be in demand. Try selling household necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, and conditioner, etc. if this is the type of reselling you’re interested in.

Always Think Seasonally

Seasonality is significant in reselling for many categories like clothing, accessories, outdoor furniture and equipment, crafts, etc.

On average, you make less money selling coats or snow boots in the summer or swimsuits in the winter. 

And the last quarter of the year is primie holiday season. So it’s historically one of the best times to make the most money for many businesses because people are buying gifts.

KEEP IN MIND: Just like time zones, the seasons may be different from you in another part of the world. And Christmas/holiday items can sell year-round #XmasinJuly.

Just be aware of the seasons when sourcing items you plan to sell. You often need to list things in advance to make sure customers can find them, especially if you do any marketing on Pinterest. and you can make eBay sales.

4. Where to Find Items to Sell on eBay

You’ll find plenty of ways to source great products you can sell on eBay. It just depends on your business model. A few ways are:

• Buy things in bulk for a low price; think pallets, outlets, clearance sales, etc.
• Local thrift shop
• Neighborhood garage sale
• Auctions, in-person or online (*this is one of my absolute favorites!)
• Online stores, other e-commerce marketplaces. You can even buy individual items on sale at retail stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Store, etc.) 

DON’T FORGET: Look out for vintage items. Older, retro or vintage items can be great products to list on eBay, depending on what they are. Often the more unique and collectible an item is, the more money you can make.

Thrift stores, garage sales and church sales are some of the best places to find hidden vintage treasures that customers love. Check out the “How Do Resellers Get Their Products?“ section for some ideas on where to source.

5. Items You Can NOT Sell on eBay

There is a very extensive list of products you may not sell on eBay. Read it and learn it, otherwise you risk being suspended or banned.

There is also a very exhaustive list of brands you may not sell or mention in your listings. This VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) list allows brands to keep sellers from infringing on their intellectual property rights. A very well-known example is that you are not allowed to say something has “Velcro.” Instead, it’s suggested that you say “hook-and-loop closure.” Seriously.

Selling on eBay: How to Create a Listing

1. Identify Your Item and Use Keywords

Once you have done some research and selected your products, it’s time to create your first listing!

When you sell an item on eBay, it’s important to show up in search results, so you want to make sure you use keywords in your title and product description so you can show up in the search engine algorithm.

There are a couple of ways you can list something on the platform – the advanced listing form and eBay’s quick listing tool. The quick listing tool is great for new eBay sellers because it guides you through the process, while the advanced listing form has additional features.

To get started with the quick listing tool, just enter the ISBN, UPC code or keywords that describe your product. To identify your products using the advanced tool, type the keywords for your item, then tap “Get Started.”

If you don’t know the keywords, you can find your product using the “Browse Categories” feature.

TITLE TEMPLATE: Brand + Item + Size + Other Descriptive Keywords

2. Fixed Price vs. Auction Listings

Now it’s time to choose the type of listing. eBay gives you two options – auctions and buy-it-now listings.

Some items do better with auctions, while buy-it-now works well for many others. It really depends on the product.

With auctions, you set a time limit, and the highest bid wins once the auction is over. You’ll find this type of selling works well with rare, vintage and collectible items. But even then, many sellers select buy-it-now and allow shoppers to send a best-offer.

Auctions are also great for products that you aren’t worried about profitability on and/or you want to sell fast. However, you provide a starting price, and you can create a minimum amount that you’ll accept.

The “Buy It Now,” or fixed price listings are for items you want to make the most money on as you set the fixed price. These types of listings are best when you want to accept a specific price.

And you can allow shoppers to send you offers, which I do on all of my listings. You can set a minimum price you’re willing to consider and you can always counter or decline an offer.

3. How to Set Your Listing Duration

Once you decide on a selling format, it’s time to set the duration of your listings. 

Things to consider:

• Auction listings can last from one to 10 days.
• Whether you want to set a duration or just leave them as “Good Until Cancelled.”
• When potential buyers will be purchasing online – with auctions, more people bid when your auctions close. If you list something at 4 AM, it will end at 4 AM, and there won’t be as many people online.

     4. Pricing Items on eBay

Now it’s time to price your listing. You can set a fixed price or you can create an auction. You will get different options either way.

You can also allow “Best Offer.” This option allows people to make offers that are lower than your list price.

Pricing on eBay is VERY important. Setting a competitive price affects your visibility in the search results, and it can’t be so high that buyers are scared off.

Many people just guess or estimate and throw a price up, but you must be strategic and do your research. Check “sold” comps to see how much others have paid for the same item recently. And also consider how many of that item are available; supply vs demand.

But make sure you look at the price of unsold listings too, because they can give you vital data as well. And many sellers use this info to set a price just lower than the current lowest price in hopes of getting the sale. This “race to the bottom” strategy is a bit controversial among sellers, but do what’s best for your business.

     5. Set Up Your Shipping Options

The nice, and sometimes overwhelming, thing about eBay is they give you several shipping options. And eBay also offers discounts to sellers when they purchase shipping labels through eBay. 

You may offer multiple shipping types to a buyer, such as USPS (First-class, Parcel, Priority Mail, Flat-Rate, etc), FedEx and UPS. And you can choose different shipping options for every item. 

Having a scale so that you can weigh the exact amount for shipping is critical! Not only can incorrectly charging for shipping eat into profits, but your packages could be returned to you or worse, sent the buyer with a requirement that they pay additional fees.😟

It’s important to know that the shipping cost can affect whether an item sells or not. Many people don’t factor in these costs when they offer free shipping. If you don’t add this cost to your price, then shipping can eat into your profits. 

Should you Offer Free Shipping?

Free shipping is a very attractive incentive to buyers and they may pay more for a product if it ships free. But it’s up to you whether to offer it or not.

I generally don’t offer free shipping. Approximately 10% of all of my listings have free shipping, and it’s usually lightweight items that may cost a few bucks to ship. But I do allow people to send offers to get a discount. 

Many resellers will encourage you to make your shipping and return policies as buyer-friendly as possible. They say you should aim to offer free returns and free fast shipping. I say it’s a personal/business decision you need to make for yourself.

KEEP IN MIND: Buyers can sort items they are searching for by many factors including free shipping, free returns, accepts offers and many more.

eBay Guaranteed Delivery

eBay’s Guaranteed Delivery specifications are guidelines that promise customers that they will receive their purchases by a specific date.

There are several requirements for your listing to qualify for Guaranteed Delivery:

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• The listing needs to include a named shipping service on eBay’s list of approved carriers.
• The product must be a fixed-price listing.
• You must include the postal code for your item in the listing.
• Resellers offering same-day delivery should set a reasonable cut-off point.

International: GSP or Not?

You can also choose to offer international shipping. You can go through GPS (Global Shipping Program), which is much easier for sellers, but more expensive for buyers. You just ship the item to a shipping center in the U.S. and then eBay ships it to the customer’s international destination. There are no additional forms or fees for you to worry about.

Or you can use International Shipping, which is a bit more complex for sellers, yet cheaper – and more attractive – for buyers. 

I personally use GPS, because it opens up my items to more shoppers while keeping things easier for me. 

     6. Return Policy

I mentioned a return policy a little bit above. The nice thing about eBay versus other platforms is that you can set your own return policy as a seller.

eBay’s Money Back Guarantee protects buyers when they receive an item that doesn’t match the description (INAD – item not as described) or is damaged.

You don’t have to offer returns, but this could affect your conversions as people may not want to take a chance on your listing. Many eBay sellers say that in our current “Amazon Age”, returns are required to succeed.

Offering 30-day or 60-day returns to buyers can increase your conversion rate and help you sell more items. And you don’t always have to pay for the return.

eBay offers several refund policies sellers can choose from:

• None
• 30-day buyer paid-returns
• 30-day free returns
• 60-day buyer-paid returns
• 60-day free returns

Some categories let you offer 14-day returns:

• Medical and Mobility
• Camera Lenses
• Camera Drones
• Jewelry
• Digital Cameras
• Collectibles and Art

     7.  eBay Listing Fees

As a seller you get a certain number of free listings. eBay gives each seller 250 insertion-free listings per month. For some people, that might be all they need.

After you use your 250 free listings you will pay insertion fees. Here is what to keep in mind with these insertion fees:

• They are non-refundable even if your item doesn’t sell
• These fees are only charged once per listing even for listings that include multiple items.
• They are charged per category and per listing. If you list an item in more than one category, you will pay for each category.
• These fees are charged for the original listing every time you relist your product.
• They are charged per listing if you create duplicate listings for identical items in auction-style formats.

There are also final value fees. A final value fee is charged once your product sells and is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the sale. Sales tax, shipping services, handling charges, and the price of the item are included in the final value fee.

There are also some basic fees that differ per category. You can learn more about all eBay seller fees here.

Things to Do After You List an Item on eBay

Once you’ve listed an item on eBay, your job isn’t over yet. There are some things you still need to do.

Managing Your Listings

Once your listing goes live on the website, you’ll get an email saying that it’s active. After this, you’ll be managing your listing which could mean engaging with potential customers, answering questions or responding to offers.

DON’T FORGET: Make sure to check your account or email daily! You don’t want to miss questions, offers or sales. I did this once and thankfully was able to reconnect with the shopper. But I learned my lesson that day.

Of course, once you make a sale, you’ll be shipping your buyer’s purchase.

How to Promote Your Listings and eBay Store

You’ll also want to promote your store or items listed. You can actually do this right on eBay with ads. You can set up a promoted listing under the “Sell It Faster” option.

It’s much easier than some other platforms. There are no daily budgets, keywords, etc. to track. The rate for your ad is a certain percentage of the final sale price, and you are only charged if the item sells.

You can also promote your store (if you have one) or just your listings on your personal website, social media accounts (Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok are all great) and email newsletter if you have one.

What to Do After You Sell an Item on eBay

How to Ship Items on eBay

Once an item sells on eBay, the buyer receives a confirmation email and has several days to actually pay for it unless you require immediate payment. Like many things with eBay, this is a controversial policy that they say will go away but never does.

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Before you ship an item, make sure the buyer has paid for it. You’ll get confirmation in your account and via email. Then make sure you create a great customer experience by ensuring that you:

• Use the shipping service specified in your listing
• Confirm the product is in the promised condition
• Pack the item with care
• Save time by creating your postage label right on eBay

Then leave feedback for the buyers and if you run into any issues, make sure you communicate with the buyer.

Do everything right, and the customer will likely leave you positive feedback.

KEEP IN MIND: “Feedback” is another contested area on eBay. Sellers are not allowed to leave any negative feedback for a buyer, no matter what happens. Seriously. 

And some buyers use feedback as hostage by incorrectly claiming INADs (Item Not As Described) or by requesting refunds. Just beware! 

Tips for Selling on eBay

Here are some tips for selling your items on eBay.

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Turn on International Shipping

It’s easy to turn on international shipping, especially GSP. So take advantage of this expanded marketplace as more people will have access to your items.

Look for Deals Online

If you do your research, you can find great places to source your items. There’s a website called brickseek.com that allows you to see online deals on products. If you search by zip code, you can find local deals.

Consider Signing Up for an eBay Store Subscription

As you grow your reselling business, consider signing up for an eBay store. They have five main subscriptions with different benefits:

• Starter
• Basic
• Premium
• Anchor
• Enterprise

You get many benefits, like access to additional tools you can use to manage your business, discounted seller fees, FREE SHIPPING SUPPLIES every quarter and more. Learn more about eBay stores here.

Join Reseller Groups

New eBay sellers can benefit from the various reselling communities that share tips and support each other. 

Just search for “reselling, ” “reseller” or something similar on Facebook Groups, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Google.

A few of my faves (but not all) are:

• Pure Hustle Podcast
• Nurse Flipper
• Thrift A Life
• Ms Taffy
• Flippin Hippos
• Nikki Kirk
• Prison 2 Profits
• Raiken Profitcs
• Ginger Marvin
• Mountain Man Treasure
• Rbagnik (lots of good Poshmark tips)
• Commonwealth Picker

Use Product Research Tools to Save Time

eBay has an exclusive market analysis tool called Terapeak . The “Product Research” is now free to all sellers with access to Seller Hub. Terapeak “Sourcing Insights” offers sales data on every eBay category and other information and is free to all sellers with an eBay Store Subscription.

REMINDER: You do NOT need a store subscription to start selling on eBay. And I recommend you sell some items before you decide to purchase a subscription, just to make sure that it’s worth the monthly cost for your business.

This tool uses the most recent eBay data on pricing, supply and demand to help you identify trends. And, you will also know what products to market, what price to sell them at and when to list them.

Tools like this make the research part of selling easier.

FAQs

Do I need PayPal to sell on eBay?

No. eBay has a “Managed Payments System.” This connects to your credit card or bank account and is the preferred method of payment for sellers to pay their fees.

Do I need a bank account to sell on eBay?

You don’t need to connect a bank account to list products on eBay. However, if you want to receive payments from eBay you need to connect a bank account.

Is it free to list on eBay?

Each seller gets 250 free listings each month; after that, you must pay an insertion fee. So, many sellers using eBay as a side hustle won’t pay to list things. But professional sellers will pay more.

How long does it take to get paid on eBay?

Once a buyer’s purchase is confirmed and paid for, eBay initiates your payment, which is made to your checking account or debit card. It typically takes one to three business days for your bank to receive the funds.

Final Thoughts on How to Sell On eBay

Selling on eBay can be very profitable if you know what items to list, when to sell them and how much to charge. You must pay attention to trends and seasons, so that you list items people want to buy.

Plus, you need to find places to source good products at a great price.

You’ll find eBay has plenty of resources to help you get started. Learn the platform and guidelines, and you can earn great money selling on eBay.

You may also be interested in these other posts on reselling:

Online Reselling for Beginners

Firm On Price Meaning? What It Is and What New Resellers Need to Know

What Is A Reseller? The Ultimate Guide To Reselling 101 For Beginners

The post How to Sell on eBay for Beginners: A Guide to Make More Money | 2022 appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

It does happen, especially around the holidays and times like Amazon Prime Day when thieves know people are ordering more things online. And today, people buy things online all the time, including resellers (What is a reseller?)

And there are definitely some great products on Amazon that you could use daily in your reselling business (check out some great tools and products for resellers).

So what do you do if your Amazon package is stolen, and how can you prevent it? This post answers these questions and more, and I’m giving you some helpful tips on preventing package theft year-round.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission if you make a qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

What Do I Do If My Amazon Package Is Stolen

Porch pirates can make a lot of money selling stolen items, and that is why they steal packages in the first place. They know that many people will be receiving packages around Amazon Prime Day (get a free 30-day trial!).

And despite changing work habits due to the pandemic, many people work during the day when packages are delivered. So your Amazon delivery can sit out all day until you get home.

Turn On Delivery Notifications

The nice thing about Amazon these days is that once someone delivers your package, Amazon will notify you. And sometimes the deliverer marks down or even takes a photo of where they left it.

So, if you get home and have a missing package, you can check Amazon to confirm if it was delivered. Then, start the process of finding it.

Before you contact the seller or Amazon, there are a few things to do to make sure your package was delivered and then taken.

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1. Sign Up for Amazon Notifications to Track Your Package

The first step is to set up notifications that help you track your package if you haven’t yet. Amazon customer service can tell you what to do.

2. Check the Amazon App or Website to Check the Status of Your Package

Sometimes Amazon does run behind, or things can delay deliveries. So, next, you need to log in to your account and check to see if Amazon says your package was delivered. If the information is available, check to see where it was placed.

3. Check with Neighbors to See if They Saw It Delivered or Any Suspicious Activity

Next, check with your neighbors to see if they saw your package delivered or if they noticed any suspicious activity. A neighbor you’re close with could have brought your package to their home so it wouldn’t get stolen.

They may even have a security camera, such as the Blink Security Doorbell (shown below), that shows your package being delivered and/or someone walking to your porch (or door, patio, garage, etc.) and taking it.

It’s also possible that your Amazon package was delivered to the wrong house. While this isn’t an ideal situation, you may be able to track it down by talking to your neighbors.

4. Contact the USPS or Delivery Carrier

Often the shipping carrier is the U.S. Post Office, so you can call them to see where they left the box. This isn’t always helpful due to the volume of packages the post office processes. But you can at least tell Amazon or the third-party seller you tried.

If you get notifications and can see a picture of where it was left, and it wasn’t your house, let the shipping service know. You’ll need the tracking number for your package, so have that information ready.

How Do I Report a Stolen Package to Amazon

If you’ve tried all the things above, it’s time to contact Amazon or the seller about your missing or stolen package. Who you contact depends on if you purchased your item from a third-party seller or if Amazon fulfilled it.

Don’t be surprised if, when you call, Amazon tells you to wait 48 hours because several things could delay or interrupt the delivery of your package. The package might be damaged or opened, or the mail carrier could have been interrupted while delivering your Amazon packages, and you may receive them late.

If you have a picture that proves it wasn’t delivered to your house, they may talk to you earlier. 

Once you and Amazon are certain that the package was lost or stolen, what happens?

Does Amazon Give Refunds for Stolen Packages?

Once you can prove the things you ordered weren’t delivered to the correct shipping address, stolen or missing, Amazon usually issues a refund or ships a replacement out. The couple times this has happened to me, Amazon issued a refund or shipped out a replacement very quickly.

The A to Z guarantee is essentially purchase protection. It states that Amazon will cover purchases up to $2,500 even for items sold or fulfilled by third-party sellers or retailers.

What About Expensive Items?

If the item was a more expensive or large purchase, Amazon might require a copy of a police report to file a claim for stolen packages. Filing a claim is fairly easy, and Amazon may not require a police report at all. But it’s still a good idea to let the authorities know if it was a high-dollar item.

While there isn’t much that law enforcement can do, they can write a police report. If you or a neighbor has video of the theft, they have a little more to go on. Plus, many times, this type of theft isn’t limited to one incident, so it could be a good warning for your neighbors. Also, there may be a rash of theft after package delivery in your neighborhood, so this could lead to increased patrols.

Tips to Prevent Package Theft

There are several things you can do to help deter package theft.

1. Install a Security or Doorbell Camera

Installing a security system or doorbell camera allows you to record any suspicious activity on your porch. This security equipment is very helpful and easy to install on your front door.

These cameras will record anyone delivering packages and prove if they were lost or stolen.

Surveillance equipment like Blink Security Doorbell (shown below) or Ring Doorbell sends you notifications in real-time to see when someone steps on your porch and also allows you to view live video feeds.

You can even have two-way communication with whoever delivers your package. You can give the mail carrier directions on where to set it or even open your door remotely so they can set the package inside if you also have smart locks.

And of course, you may scare away porch pirates by talking to them even when you aren’t home.

While cameras are no guarantee to prevent theft, they may help catch thieves and prevent additional crimes.

2. Partner with a Neighbor to Watch and Protect Deliveries

Partner with a close neighbor to look out for deliveries when the other person isn’t home. You can even take each other’s packages inside, so they aren’t sitting on your porch or at your door all day. My neighbors and I do this, especially if we know we’ll be away for more than a day. A quick text or face-to-face and we know to look out for each other. This can help you prevent stolen packages altogether. 

3. Pick up Packages at an Amazon Locker or Whole Foods

More and more areas now have Amazon Hub lockers or other secure pickup spots such as Whole Foods grocery stores. This can be a great alternative to shipping to your home, especially if you know you won’t be there or if your area is a target for porch pirates.

4. Have Packages Delivered to Work

If you’re worried about getting a package stolen at home and you’re a frequent Amazon customer, you can even have orders delivered to your work. Just double-check if your company allows it.

Final Thoughts on Amazon Package Stolen

Amazon Prime Day has become a major online shopping event for many. Plus, as any reseller knows, shopping online is becoming more and more common. This means if you’re one of these shoppers, dealing with porch pirates could be a problem you continuously deal with. 

Now that you have some ideas for securing your deliveries and avoiding theft, you can protect your future orders from Amazon or other retailers.

If your Amazon package is stolen or lost, be sure to file a claim with Amazon to get a replacement or refund.

Whether you partner with a neighbor, install cameras or choose alternate delivery locations, you have a few solutions to protect any delivery you’re expecting.

The post Amazon Package Stolen: How to Protect Yourself + What To Do If Your Package Is Taken appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

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As a new seller, there’s a lot of helpful information out there on starting a Poshmark closet. But, there are some things no one tells you, and you have to figure them out on your own.

For instance, you may see a sign (the lead image for a listing) in other Poshers’ closets that’s a fun way to welcome poshers, announce a sale or celebrate a holiday. And you’d like to add one to your own closet. But is it too much work?

Nope, it’s not difficult at all, especially if you use templates and easy tools. Plus, I think it’s totally worth the effort as these Poshmark signs can help set you apart from other sellers and make your closet more memorable.

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and create no additional costs for you.

This post will cover:

• What these signs are
• Where you can buy them
• The basics of making your own Poshmark closet signs

What are Poshmark Sale Signs?

Poshmark closet signs are customized images that you can add to your listings. You can be very creative with them and add striking images with text, or just create text-only visuals against a colorful or simple backgrounds.

Each sign acts as a cover for a listing. You can have just one graphic image, or you can add several to the listing. 

• Most sellers use signs to advertise sales and discounts
• Some use them as fun “welcome” or “thank you” messages
• Some signs try to engender trust of the seller, such as highlighting quick shipping, 5-star reviews or Posh Ambassador status
• Some signs celebrate holidays or other special occasions (learn how to put your closet on vacation)
• You also see these graphic designs by sellers who participate in “follow games” and “share events”
• Some sellers use them to organize their closet into sections like “Shoes,” “New Arrivals” and “Accessories”
• These square-sized images can also be used for your Instagram feeds  

SAVE TIME WITH PRE-MADE SIGNS!

Really! Get 12 FREE GRAPHICS that are already designed for you and ready to download.

You get:

⭐️️Ready-to-use signs

⭐️️Save time and money

⭐️Promote sales/discounts

⭐️Celebrate holidays

⭐️Customize colors/fonts

⭐️Immediate Access!

It’s super simple to access your eye-catching signs for FREE on Canva. Plus, you can use the same graphics for your Instagram posts…Double win!

Why You Should Make Signs for Your Poshmark Closet

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Much like the cover of a book or those striking pins you see on Pinterest, these Poshmark closet signs can attract more attention to your closet. The more people that visit your closet, the more shares and follows you get, and ultimately the more potential sales you can make (should you use the “firm on price” sales strategy?).

To Posh your closet the right way, you want to create an eye-catching image for each item you sell. This can be as simple as taking a clear photo with good lighting or something more stylized and elaborate. This theory applies to sale signs as having the right image will slow people’s scroll on Posh and on your social media feeds.

Signs can provide a teaser that entices people to visit your Poshmark closet. And they could keep people on your page longer.

Poshmark closet signs can even help you organize your store. As I mentioned earlier, you can use them to make sections in your store featuring categories like:

• Women
• Men
• Kids
• Dresses
• Pets
• Tops
• Shoes
• Bags
• By Size
• By Price
• Clothing, etc.

On one hand, if you have a category for each collection of items you sell, it makes it easier to navigate your closet.

However, another school of thought is that this more formal organization does not allow shoppers to discover other things in your closet that they weren’t necessarily looking for at first. You’ll need to decide which strategy works best for your business.

Using signs also lets people know that you are a serious seller and that you consider it an actual business when you brand your images.

Where You Can Find Pre-Made Poshmark Closet Signs

So, what if you don’t want to make your own images? Are there places to purchase pre-made Poshmark closet signs? Yes, if you don’t want to make your own Poshmark closet signs, Etsy is one of the best places to find pre-made images.

And all you have to do is download them and save them to your computer.

You also can use sites like Fiverr and Upwork to pay freelancers to create them for you.

How to Make Poshmark Closet Signs Yourself

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Now you may be worried that creating your own graphics may be too hard. Don’t worry; these covers are not that difficult to make. And you don’t have to be a professional graphic artist. After you make a sign or two, it will get easier as you get used to the process, and before long, you will be a pro.

It’s easy to make your own pictures for Poshmark closet signs in apps like Canva or PicMonkey. You can also create text-based graphics in apps like Word Swag. And you can create your own in programs like PowerPoint.

Do you want to get started on Poshmark? Sign up with code THRIFTYIQ and get $10 toward your first purchase!

Apps You Can Use to Make Signs

Canva

I’ve used several and my personal favorite is Canva. Not only is the free version of Canva pretty robust, but you can also find tons of free templates. The best size to use is the 1080 x 1080 Instagram square.

I use both the desktop version and the app. Both are fairly simple to navigate, but the app’s editing features are a tad more difficult to access.

And again, all you need to do is create a free account. And don’t worry if you’re design challenged; you don’t have to be a graphic designer to use the tool.

Steps for Creating Poshmark signs in Canva

Here are the steps to make Poshmark closet signs and some helpful design tips.

1. The easiest way is to start with a template for a square Instagram post. You can also start from scratch by selecting the “Create a Sign” button at the top right of the web page; Add your dimensions in inches or pixels (1080 x 1080 px for Instagram posts) and then select Create a Design, and you’re in the editor.

2. Edit the template by changing the font and colors at the menu on the top. If you’re starting from scratch, you can click on fonts in the left panel and then choose the one you want.
3. Canva also has some great visual elements including decent free stock photos you can simply drag onto your design from the menu in the left rail. Or you can drag/drop your own photo into Canva. Check out “Elements” in the left rail menu for a variety of shapes and designs to customize your sign.
4. Make the text pop on the image, so that it grabs people’s attention. But try not to stuff the images with too much text or too many pictures. You don’t want it to look cluttered.
5. Add your logo, closet name or URL to really showcase your brand and help avoid other sellers swiping your design without permission.
6. Name your file and then save to your phone or download it to your computer. Then you simply use it to create a listing in your Poshmark closet (it doesn’t matter what info you add to the required fields).

PicMonkey

PicMonkey is another favorite app for creating any design for your business. It’s easy to use and a favorite graphic design tool for many who sell on secondary marketplaces.

But it doesn’t have a free version, so you have to pay to use it. It’s a great multi-purpose tool for all your design needs, including social media, your website and email newsletter.

Pic Collage

Pic Collage is an editing tool that you can use to make an image for each listing. It’s different from PicMonkey and Canva because it has nice script designs for your text.

You can either choose text-only or add images too. Pic Collage also has some nice stickers and backgrounds you can use.

Over

Over is a favorite design editor for many people, so it’s a great option for creating Poshmark closet signs. This editing tool is easy to use and much like Canva in the way it operates.

This editing tool is great even if you have no experience. It allows you to make designs with techniques like blending, masking and creating layers.

Typorama

The nice thing about Typorama is that it has nice default templates you can use. Choose the background you want, like either a plain colored one or a stock photo.

Then you add text, and Typorama has many great options and styles.

One nice thing you can do with this editor is layer text over text which you can also do in Canva and PicMonkey. It’s a great way to give your graphics depth and make them stand out on Poshmark.

Now you have several tools you can use to design your own unique Poshmark closet signs. You can see if you sell more items once you add the signs to your store.

Final Thoughts on Poshmark Sale Signs

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Now you know how to easily design eye-catching Poshmark closet signs for your shop.

Poshmark closet signs are a quick, inexpensive way to advertise, market inventory and share deals. 

They also can be a great visual way to organize your store and make it stand out from other Poshers. Signs also let people know that you are a serious seller, and that you consider it an actual business when you brand your images.

Whether you buy pre-made Poshmark closet signs or make your own, you can use them with our branding, which helps draw attention to your closet and hopefully more follows, shares and ultimately, more sales.

MORE TIPS TO SELL ON POSHMARK:

How to Change Your Name on Poshmark

How to Cancel An Order On Poshmark

What is Poshmark Vacation Mode?

Priority Mailers for Poshmark

The post Poshmark Sale Signs: How To Create Unique Graphics For Posh, eBay And More appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

The short answer is No. BUT sometimes Poshmark offers discounted and even free shipping for buyers.

If you’re new to selling on Poshmark (or want to start), maybe you want to better understand shipping? You may even have an item that weighs more than the flat rate shipping covers, and you need to upgrade your shipping label.

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Or have you found the perfect top on Poshmark as a buyer, but went to checkout and was shocked at how much the shipping cost raises the price?

Whether you’re a seller or buyer, Poshmark shipping makes you question things.

Like, why do you need to upgrade shipping labels as a seller, and why is Poshmark shipping so expensive for buyers? Can you get free shipping on Poshmark?

Like other reselling platforms including Mercari and eBay, there are ways to save money on everything you buy on Poshmark.

In this article, I will answer all of these questions and give you some tips for dealing with Poshmark shipping as a buyer or a seller.

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and create no additional costs for you.

How Does Shipping Work with Poshmark?

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Here’s the big question people want to know the answer to, “Does Poshmark pay for shipping?” The answer is No; Poshmark does not typically pay for shipping, although they do offer shipping discounts occasionally. The buyer typically pays a flat-rate for shipping up to a 5 lbs. If the package weighs more, then the seller must upgrade the shipping label and cover the additional cost.

PRO-TIP: If you know what you’re selling weighs more than 5 lbs, then include the cost of extra shipping into the price of the item(s) to avoid reducing your profit margins.

Once you make a sale and the item is paid for, Poshmark emails you a pre-paid standard shipping label for USPS Priority Mail. You must use this shipping label so that Poshmark can track the package.

If the package is stolen or lost, you get all your money back, so you aren’t out anything. It’s a guarantee for both the buyer and the seller.

Determining the correct total weight of your package is essential. If it weighs too much and you don’t upgrade your label, the U.S. Postal Service won’t ship the package since it exceeds the weight on the shipping label.

PRO-TIP: I highly recommend that any reseller, especially newbies, purchase a scale (This is the scale I bought and still use).

Who Determines Shipping Cost on Poshmark?

Poshmark shipping is a flat-rate fee of $7.67 for expedited shipping with the postal service on all orders. They go by USPS Priority Mail flat rate shipping rates.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship With Poshmark?

As long as the weight doesn’t exceed 5 pounds, the shipping fee for Poshmark is a flat rate of $7.67 for 1-3 day Priority Shipping. This is paid by the buyer. For packages over 5 lbs, the seller needs to upgrade the shipping label and over the cost. The one exception is Closet Clear Out days, which are usually Friday and Sunday. This is a special discount day, when sellers can drop an item’s public price by at least 10% (final price MUST be at least $10), and Poshmark will automatically offer the buyer a discounted shipping rate of $5.95. The difference of $1.72 is covered by Poshmark and not the seller.

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Here is the pricing chart for the upgraded shipping label:

Shipping costs for buyers and sellers are pretty fair considering the increased USPS Post Office rates. It’s actually a good deal for anything weighing over a pound, as typical shipping fees can cost more depending on where you are sending something.

You can cut down on shipping costs as a Poshmark seller by getting free shipping boxes and envelopes on the USPS website or at your local post office. I recommend shipping all your items in free supplies when possible to increase your profit margin.

You can keep various-sized boxes on hand so that you can ship sales quickly. That way, you will always have the right-sized box for your needs.

Why is Poshmark Shipping So Expensive?

Poshmark shipping may seem expensive to some people because the first-class mail rate for items that weigh less than a pound, especially 8oz or less, is much lower on other marketplaces like eBay and Mercari.

The shipping fee of $7.67 is great if you’re mailing multiple things or a heavier item. But if all you’re shipping is a small piece of jewelry, then it is more expensive as Poshmark only uses priority mail labels for shipping.

Here are some of the other reasons shipping orders on Poshmark is pricier, in some ways:

• Poshmark provides customer service, so this cost is added in.
• They track the packages and help handle customer complaints.
• Poshmark remits the taxes on your behalf.
• Overweight shipments cost even more.

Of course, no one wants to pay for shipping if they don’t need to, so there are some tricks to get discounted shipping on Poshmark.

NOTE: Shipping rates change, so this is the current amount for flat rate shipping at the time I’m writing this post.

How Do I Reduce the Cost of Shipping on Poshmark?

The best way to get a reduced shipping rate is to use some of Poshmark’s features to have the customer pay, Poshmark pay, and/or the seller pay for part of the cost of shipping. These features are the best way to get shipping discounts.

Did you know that buyers can negotiate with sellers to pay for all or part of the shipping on items? So, keep that in mind as a Poshmark customer (which many resellers are!) and as a buyer thinking of selling tactics (discover one way to nail your sales strategy).

Buyer Pays Poshmark Shipping

This is the standard shipping practice on the platform. Unless a Poshmark seller pays part of the shipping or unless it’s Closet Clear Out, then this is the default shipping setting.

Buyers can filter search results to offers with free shipping or discounted shipping. Keep in mind that many sellers won’t offer a discount for shipping. If they do, it may be a small discount, while some sellers offer free shipping on orders over $100.

Here’s an example breakdown if a seller pays for shipping:

Item Sales Price: $90

Poshmark Fee (20%): -$18

Shipping Cost: -$7.67

Total Profit: =$64.33 vs. $72

That’s a 12% loss without adding in the cost of purchasing the item or time spent sourcing, cleaning, steaming, photographing, packing and shipping.

So, while sellers have the option of providing reduced or free shipping on Poshmark, many may choose not to because it eats away at sales profits. The smaller the profit margin, the less likely a reseller will offer you discounted shipping.

Seller Pays Poshmark Shipping

While some sellers won’t give a shipping discount, they have the option to give buyers a discount or offer free shipping. Here are the options sellers have when listing items:

• $5.95 Shipping: The seller pays $1.72, and the buyer pays $5.95
• $4.99 Shipping: The seller pays $2.68, and the customer pays $4.99
• Free Shipping: The seller pays the full $7.67
• No Discounted Shipping: The buyer pays the full $7.67

Buyers can also get the same price for shipping if they bundle items. When you bundle items, the seller may reduce shipping as a nice perk. 

It also helps sellers save on supplies when they can ship multiple items in one box.

Poshmark Pays Discounted Shipping

Poshmark doesn’t generally pay the shipping costs; buyers do. And sometimes sellers do. However, there are two exceptions. 

The first is when Poshmark has flash sales on shipping costs. It’s pretty random and not on a regular schedule. But they will announce beforehand the exact time they will offer free shipping for a set timeframe. And lots of sellers will promote it in their closets or on social media.

Do you want to get started on Poshmark? Sign up with code THRIFTYIQ and get $10 toward your first purchase!

The other key exception is Closet Clear Out days, which are usually Friday and Sunday, plus some bonus holidays. This is one of my absolute favorite features to drive sales on Poshmark!

This is a special discount day, when sellers can drop an item’s public price by at least 10% (final price MUST be at least $10) and Poshmark will automatically offer the buyer a discounted shipping rate of $5.95. This usually lasts for 6 hours after the price drop. The difference of $1.72 is covered by Poshmark and not the seller.

Making Offers

Sellers can also provide a discount on shipping fees when they list items and when sending offers to potential buyers. They can use the “Make Offer to Likers” feature to send offers to people that have liked an item. 

I think the “Make Offer to Likers” feature is a great way to reward repeat customers or convince “likers” to become “buyers.”

NOTE: As a buyer, you can negotiate an item or bundle’s price through the “Make an Offer” feature. But it does not allow you to request discounted shipping. This is why Closet Clear Out is so great; it’s one of the only times a buyer can ask a seller for a shipping discount, but Poshmark pays for it. Win-win!

How Do I Avoid Shipping Charges on Poshmark or Get Free Shipping?

As you can see, there are several ways to get a discount or free shipping on Poshmark as a customer.

• Shop during Closet Clear Out days (usually Friday/Sunday); you may have to ask seller for price drop, which is what triggers the shipping discount
• Negotiate with the seller
• Look specifically for listings that offer free or discounted shipping
• Accept offers sent to you that include free or discounted Poshmark shipping
• Look for Poshmark promotions and deals at certain times of the year

Final Thoughts on Does Poshmark Pay for Shipping

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Selling on Poshmark is a great way to make money and buying on the platform lets you score good deals and rare finds (which a lot of resellers do as well!). But shipping can be a pain.

Depending on sales prices, buyers can negotiate with sellers on the cost to ship items or even get free or reduced shipping in certain instances. It really just depends on the seller and their profit margin.

Regardless, as a customer, you can always get a deal on Poshmark on every purchase you make as compared to retail prices. Bundle to get items in fewer packages, and that could also save money.

As a seller, providing free or reduced shipping affects your profits, but it can be worth it to move inventory or reward buyers who frequent your closet.

And don’t forget to take advantage of Closet Clear Out, when Poshmark covers discounted shipping every week.

The post Does Poshmark Pay for Shipping? Plus, Why It’s So High appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.

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In this guide, I will share everything you need to know about starting a reseller business. You’ll learn the answer to “what is a reseller?” and what an online reselling shop is. I’ll also let you know the benefits and some pitfalls of running an online reselling business.

Selling on places like eBay, Poshmark and Mercari has given me freedom like no traditional job could, and I’d love to share my experience with you. Are you ready to learn more? Let’s get started!

Blog posts may contain affiliate links and creates no additional cost for you.

What is a Reseller?

A reseller is a person or business who buys products from a manufacturer or supplier and then sells them to customers, usually at a higher price.

To start a reselling business, you’ll need to find products you can sell. After you decide on the types of products you sell, you can look for suppliers (including thrift, retail and your own home!) or other marketplaces to buy them at a good price.

Once you figure out what to sell and where to get the products from, you’re on your way to starting a reselling business.

Buy low, sell high – it’s a simple business model that almost anyone can do.

What Does a Reseller Do?

Basically, a reseller buys products from suppliers or manufacturers (or raids your own closets) and sells them to customers at a higher price.

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To be successful as a reseller, you’ll need to find reliable inventory from suppliers who offer good prices on the products your buyers want. This can be as simple as shopping at your favorite thrift store or garage sale for inventory. 

When I started, I chose items from my closet and I bought a mix of items (clothes, shoes, dresses, office supplies, home decor, etc.) at a local Goodwill just so I could test things out and learn what actually sells.

You’ll also need to create a system for marketing and selling your products so that you can reach your target market.

The nice thing is, in some cases, you don’t have to keep a lot of inventory on hand or pay much to market your product, especially if you start a dropshipping business. And you can start reselling clothing and accessories on platforms like Poshmark and eBay with very little money invested up front.

Online resellers are similar to retail stores, except they don’t have brick-and-mortar locations. They simply sell to customers online instead of in-store.

What Type of Business is a Reseller?

A reseller business model is a type of eCommerce where you typically sell products online, usually through a platform like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Poshmark, Etsy, Mercari, your own website or many other platforms.

There are many reselling opportunities out there, like selling sneakers, fashion, vintage items, jewelry, home decor, comic books or other collectibles. Or you could even start a consignment store or vintage boutique.

What Are Examples of a Reseller?

RETAIL ARBITRAGE: One example of a reseller is an Amazon FBA seller. Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) is a program where you can sell products on Amazon, and they will store, ship, and provide customer service for your products. Many of these sellers utilize retail arbitrage to secure inventory to sell (Reseller Nikki Kirk has some great tips on this strategy). 

NOTE: Some sellers (like me) also sell as Amazon FBM (fulfilled by merchant), which means the seller handles storage and shipping.

WHOLESALE: Another example is a seller who buys products from wholesalers, manufacturers or authorized dealers and then sells them on eBay at a higher price. This type of seller typically buys in bulk or larger quantities.

THRIFTING/GARAGE SALES: Some sellers who buy and sell clothing, accessories and other products on places like Mercari or Poshmark, frequently shop at thrift stores, garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, consignment shops and the like. You can also source online at auctions or even on your selling platforms. You typically buy individual or a small number of items but can sometimes work out deals for larger quantities depending on the situation (reseller MsTaffy often shops at Goodwill clearance centers aka The Bins). 

DROPSHIPPING: Dropshipping is another type of reselling business, and the best thing about it is that you can use platforms like Amazon or Shopify to sell products without keeping any inventory in stock. 

A dropshipping business uses a unique method of order fulfillment in which you buy inventory as needed from a third-party manufacturer or wholesaler, who typically ships it directly to the buyer. The dropshipper or reseller acts as the middleman coordinating between the buyer and the manufacturer.

How Does a Reseller Make Money?

Resellers make money by buying products at a certain price and then reselling them at a higher price (consider when you should list items as “price is firm“). Most resellers sell products online, but some open physical brick-and-mortar shops.

It’s a fine balance to make a profit as a reseller. You must consider the cost of the item AS WELL AS any fees you pay to sell that item. 

You also must regularly research the current value of items, which change depending on seasons and buyer opinions. As such, many say the profit is in the purchase, because the lower the cost of the item, the higher the potential profit even when you must lower prices to incentivize sales.

How Much Do Online Resellers Make?

This is a difficult question to answer as resellers can make different amounts depending on the products they sell, how much they sell, how much they work, their profit margins and other factors. 

Just look at any reselling influencer that shares their income and you will see ranges from a few bucks a month to hundreds a month to 6-figure annual incomes and even higher (The Nurse Flipper makes a full-time income by reselling). 

Some resellers make a full-time income while others only supplement their income with their online reselling business. But really the sky is the limit with the income you can make with a reseller business. And once you get the hang of it, you start making more money.

As long as you have products that paying customers want, the reseller business model is a smart one. It’s a great type of business to make money reselling online.

How Do Resellers Get Their Products?

There are a few ways resellers can get their products. They could source them from wholesalers, manufacturers, other retailers, or even online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.

Another option is to source products locally at garage sales, thrift shops, or even on clearance at stores like Dollar Tree, Target or Wal-Mart. Once you find a product, you can research it online and see if it’s selling for more than you paid for it. If it’s enough to cover ALL of your expenses AND leave you profit, then you’ve found yourself a winning product to resell.

Running a successful reseller business means you have to research what to charge for products and services.

If you don’t know how much customers will pay for something, then you could price items too high, and they won’t sell. Or, if you’re reselling things too low, you won’t make enough profit to make it worth the work involved.

What is the Difference Between Wholesale and Retail?

The difference between wholesale and retail is that wholesale is the sale of goods or services in larger quantities at lower prices. While retail is the sale of these same goods or services in small quantities directly to consumers.

Many resellers like to use wholesalers to source inventory or other places where they can buy things at low costs so they can increase profitability. Finding products during good sales helps you increase your profit margin so you can earn more.

Where Do Resellers Sell Their Products?

Resellers can offer products online at many places, including:

• Amazon
• eBay
• Poshmark
• Mercari
• Facebook Marketplace
• Etsy
• Shopify
• eBid
• Tradesy
• Bonanza
• Curtsy
• OfferUp
• GOAT
• thredUP
• Kidizen
• Depop
• Instagram
• Grailed
• The Real Real
• StockX

And many more.

Is it Legal to Resell Products?

YES: In general, it is legal to resell products that you have lawfully acquired. You are allowed to resell products you bought at a store, and there are entire online communities dedicated to reselling on the secondary market, like Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark.

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NO: There are exceptions, however, such as copyrighted material, trade secrets, guns (though you can sometimes sell gun parts on certain platforms), counterfeit or imitation designer goods, foods and drugs. But detailed exclusions depend on the marketplace.

MORE LIMITATIONS: Also, some brand names may have limitations when reselling their products online and may explicitly say that reselling is not allowed. Meanwhile, some brands may allow reselling, but they may not allow you to use their promotional materials or copyrighted photos in your listings.

EVEN MORE LIMITATIONS: eBay has a specific VeRO (verified rights owner) list to see its brand limitations. A great example is the brand VELCRO. You can’t use that trademark as a description in your listing unless you are referring to the genuine fastener. Many manufacturers have rules about using their trademarks as descriptions as well as selling certain brands.

I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH: You must abide by the rules of the marketplaces where you sell! They are all different, and if you do not follow the rules, your store can be suspended or shut down completely (find out why eBay permanently suspended this prominent reseller).

Do You Need a Business License to Resell?

Generally speaking, you do not need a business license to resell items online. But each state and city is different, so check with your local municipality to be certain.

You also don’t necessarily need an LLC or something similar to resell. But you may choose to create one for liability protection or other reasons. 

Either way, you are generally allowed to deduct business expenses, but check with a tax professional and your local guidelines to confirm specifics.

Separately, most states offer what is called a resale certificate or a seller’s permit. This is a special document you can apply for that allows certain resellers to make purchases without paying taxes to avoid paying taxes twice. 

However, if you’re just starting out, it’s probably not worth getting a business license unless you have to. There can be a significant cost or time to get any state or local license, and you want to first confirm you actually plan to continue reselling.

What are the Benefits of Being a Reseller?

Selling products as a reseller has many benefits!

Flexibility

Starting a reselling store is a flexible business you can do from home. It allows you to pick from a wide range of products and manufacturers, and you don’t need a huge inventory to start. Many people start with items in their own closets and attics.

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Dropshipping businesses require even less space for product inventory.

Best of all, you determine your own schedule! This allows you to choose when, how often and how long to work on any given day. That means more freedom for you to do what you choose.

You Can Expand Fast

The profitability and flexibility of reselling make it easy to scale your business and grow quickly, if you choose. If you use smart online marketing tactics and build strong relationships with suppliers, you can grow even faster.

Reselling Businesses Don’t Require Much Money to Start

You can start a resale business with very little to no monetary investment. You can start by selling things around your house and even get items from friends and family who want to get rid of items. Then you can reinvest the money you make into buying more inventory. You’ll also need some shipping supplies (check below for some tips on what to spend). 

Pro-tip: I recommend buying a good scale to manage shipping costs (find more details below under “what tools you need”).

How Do I Become an Online Reseller?

The process of starting a resale business is simple.

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Do you want to get started on Poshmark? Sign up with code THRIFTYIQ and get $10 toward your first purchase!

1. Decide the type of resale business you want to start (selling clothes, vintage goods, books, comics, etc.).
2. Choose the platforms you want to sell on and create accounts 
   1. Pro-tip: I recommend starting with one or two marketplaces max so that you can get comfortable with the process. 
   2. When you’re ready, try a cross-listing tool like List Perfectly to help you quickly share listings to multiple platforms.
3. Review all the selling rules on these platforms.
4. Find items to sell, including from your own house; do some research on the specific items by checking similar items that have recently sold on those marketplaces (i.e. check the comps)
5. Prep the items if needed, including cleaning, pressing, taking measurements, etc., and then take clear photos in good lighting.
6. Whenever someone asks a question, reply. And if they make a purchase, package the item neatly and professionally and follow the shipping rules (check out this guide on Poshmark shipping).
7. Try to invest profits into more inventory or resources to improve your efficiency.

Common Reselling Strategies

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The less you pay for items to sell, the more you will make reselling them. Here are a few helpful strategies you can use:

Thrifting 

Thrifting is going to thrift shops, garage sales, flea markets or other places that sell pre-owned products. These can be great sources of highly sought-after vintage fashion, games, tools, electronics and more.

Retail Arbitrage 

Retail arbitrage is taking advantage of discounts or sales at a retailer like Wal-Mart, Target or the Dollar Tree and then reselling them for a profit.

Online Arbitrage 

Online arbitrage is similar to retail arbitrage, except you buy from a store online like eBay, Walmart, etc. The online arbitrage process is one of the most popular ways to resell, and you can sometimes find other resellers looking to get rid of their inventory (Reseller Steve Raiken has lots of video tips (Reseller Steve Raiken breaks down his Top 3 Strategies to Grow).

Wholesale 

This strategy involves obtaining products from a wholesaler and then reselling them. It’s often less expensive per item to buy in bulk, but may require a larger upfront expense.

What Tools Do You Need to Get Started?

Beyond the items you are going to sell, I mentioned a scale to help you manage shipping costs. 

There are huge differences among costs to ship 4 oz, 8 oz, and 16 oz, and this can be a dealbreaker for a customer – or a profit buster if you offer free shipping. You can purchase a good scale for as low as $25. This is the first one I ever bought and it still works great.

You’ll also need shipping supplies, which you can get free at the post office if you are shipping Priority Mail. For First Class (typically less than 1 pound), you can get supplies at warehouses and other places that throw away their boxes. You can also recycle boxes from deliveries you or your family gets or buy ultra low-cost supplies at discount stores or on eBay or Amazon.

Pitfalls and Other Things to Consider

If being a reseller sounds perfect to you, then there are some things to consider and avoid.

Sales Slumps

Sometimes sales slow down, which is sometimes called as a sales slump. One of the most talked about stalls among resellers is the summer slow-down, and often, it’s beyond your control which can be frustrating. Meanwhile, sales may be better at certain times of the year, like Q4 (October-December). And certain items sell better at specific times of the year as well.

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Seasonality

Sales slumps lead me to seasonality. Q4 (October-December) is typically a major money-making season for most retail, including resellers. And holidays like Memorial Day and the 4th of July can mean fewer sales because more families are doing outside activities instead of shopping. At the same time, notable dates such as Halloween, start of summer and Black Friday

Trends

If you’re selling clothing and accessories like I do, trends play a huge part in sales. Fashion trends change all the time, and it’s the same with other items too (check out this Pinterest board for some popular items to sell). This directly affects the price you could potentially earn.

So, pay attention to what’s popular and try to jump on trends as soon as possible so you can take advantage of them. If you sell the right things at the right time, you can make excellent profits.

Economic and Societal Issues

Changing habits and issues like inflation can have a significant impact on shopping in-person or online. The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example when people did the vast majority of their shopping online. This created a huge business opportunity for resellers.

Just a couple years later, as restaurants, stores and entertainment venues reopened fully, more people wanted to break free of their homes. As such, online sales declined, creating a major slump for many online resellers.

Similarly, during inflation the prices of nearly everything rise – gas, groceries, housing, etc. As a result, many people don’t have additional funds to shop for non-essentials as much (get the best reselling tips from Pinterest).

Final Thoughts on What is a Reseller

Now you know the ins and outs of becoming a reseller and starting a reselling business. It’s fairly simple to start with very little upfront costs, and the process isn’t too complicated. But it does require work, especially if you plan to sell secondary clothing and shoes.

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The sky is the limit with the amount of money you can make as long as you identify profitable inventory and make adjustments as you go. Don’t forget to follow each platform’s rules. And pay attention to photos, marketing, shipping, customer service and other areas that can impact sales.

I’d love to hear about you! Are you a new reseller? Thinking about taking the dive? Is there anything else you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments! 

The post What Is A Reseller? The Ultimate Guide To Reselling 101 For Beginners appeared first on Welcome to thriftyIQ.