I Tried eBay And This Is What Happened

As the title suggests, I’ve been selling 3D printed items on eBay for the past three months, and I want to share some insights into the selling process. While it’s not the easiest way to make money, it can be quite profitable if you’re willing to manage customer interactions. Let’s explore what I do and whether eBay might be a good platform for you to consider selling on.

Starting my eBay business

As you might know, my goal for the Noah Kagan challenge was to start a 3D printing business. I decided to use my 3D printer to create self-defense tools and chose eBay as my selling platform because it was free and I assumed my target audience would be there. Initially, my products sold quickly, which indicated they were in high demand. However, eBay soon began removing my listings, likely due to their regulations on selling self-defense items.

After realizing this, I shifted to other products that comply with their policies. While the new items haven’t sold as frequently, I still receive occasional purchases.

This has been the most frustrating aspect of starting my eBay business. I took the time to review eBay’s rules and learned that you’re not allowed to sell items that cover your knuckles or are illegal in certain states.

What other stuff did I learn on eBay?

I learned quite a bit about selling on eBay along the way. First, it’s important to understand the fees. For the items I was selling, the fees averaged around $0.40 per sale. There are also insertion fees, but I get 250 free listings per month, which is helpful.

Shipping can be tricky too. You can either charge for shipping or offer it for free. Personally, I offer free shipping for items priced over $15, and for lower-priced items, I charge around $4 to $5 for shipping.

The most important lesson I learned was about pricing. Setting the right price takes careful thought and research. When I first started, I looked at similar items being sold on eBay and priced mine within the same range.

Would I start an eBay store again?

Yes, I would recommend it. Starting an eBay store is a great way to launch your business. It also gives you valuable experience in working with customers and understanding their wants and needs. If you want your business to succeed, investing time in learning what your customers are looking for is essential.

The only drawback to eBay is that you need to have a clear idea of what items you plan to sell; otherwise, your listings may go unnoticed by potential buyers.

What’s the next step?

I’m glad you asked! I’m already adding more items to my eBay store, and so far, I’ve found another product that’s selling well.

I’ve thought about expanding to Etsy and starting a store there, but I know their rules are likely stricter than eBay’s. However, if you’d like to see me give Etsy a try, feel free to let me know in the comments!