Selling on eBay isn't very hard, it just takes a little time to learn, and patience. It is a good way to get rid of things you no longer want, because chances are, someone out in cyberspace would love to buy it from you. It's a learning process, the more you sell, the easier it is. After awhile, it is so easy, you can practically submit ads with your eyes closed (well, almost.) Here's the basics in a nutshell.
Set up an account
It is free to set up an account on eBay. Just follow the prompts where it says "seller" or "sign up for a seller's account" and eBay will walk you though it. You will have to put a debit card or credit card on file, to pay for your ads. You aren't charged until you have incurred ad charges. Most ads aren't that expensive, even with a photo attached. You are charged a nominal fee for the ad, so start with a basic one until you are used to how it works, with one photo. Fancier ads will cost more money. eBay will charge you for the ad, then after the sale, they take a percentage of the sale (generally a very reasonable amount unless you sell the item for a lot of money.) Check eBay for the percentage rate, as I don't know what it currently is. It will come off of the credit or debit card that you registered in a monthly bill, that is how I set my account up for quick and easy billing.
Scan your photo into your computer
Take digital photos of your item and scan or load them into your computer. Or, have a friend do it for you. Try to take a photo that is in decent lighting and that is in focus. You want a photo that best represents this item to someone who has never seen it. If there' are flaws, be up front about them, so it doesn't surprise the buyer later. Most customers will pass up an ad with a blurry or dark photo. If the photo is on the dark side, put it on Photoshop or other image-correcting software and edit it to be a bit lighter, for example. Save it to file, so you know where it is, and insert it in your ad when the time comes. When you set up the ad, eBay will prompt you to search your computer for that photograph.
Write the copy for your ad
Give an accurate, concise description of your product. Don't get overly wordy because those that do may lose sales. Customers get bored easy and want to read things fast. So, it pays to get to the point as quickly as possible, while being descriptive. State if the item is new or used; its size (if applicable), and state whether or not you accept returns. Cover yourself legally by sticking to facts on everything you write, otherwise the customer can say it was misrepresented. Don't give them anything to complain about. State your price, and start off on the low side to get the ball rolling. Type in the "search" area to see what your competitors are selling their similar items for and price accordingly. Shipping needs to be competitive, too.
Sign up for Paypal to increase the amount of buyers
Anyone can accept credit cards via Paypal by opening a free, basic account. You don't have to have it in order to sell, but you'll get more buyers if you do. If you end up doing a lot of sales, you may have to upgrade your Paypal account to a paying one, but start off with a basic one. Paypal will let you know if you are approaching the selling limit with an email. They will ask for an account number and credit card or debit card information, to verify the account.
Accepting other forms of payment
If you accept checks, make sure they clear completely before sending the item. The same goes with money orders and bank checks. It is better to be safe than sorry. There are too many scammers out there to trust anyone anymore, when it comes to banking. If a customer has a negative rating history on eBay, you can refuse the sale, just state it in your ad, to be safe (warns the bad guys to stay away.) eBay has more information on this in its "selling" section help area. Not everyone is a scammer, most people I sold to were very nice and paid quickly. Don't be bullied by the very small percentage of buyers who want you to do things their way at any cost (and threaten with negative feedback.) That is called "feedback extortion" so if that happens, just report it to eBay immediately. Stick by your terms, stated in the ad. Don't let the customer tell you what to do, or make up the rules. Be firm and friendly.
Sending items
Be vigilant about packing your items well, and make sure they are clean. The package must be well-labeled, so there is no mistaking where it is going, so print legibly, to avoid any confusion. If you want to insure the package, that's up to you. I used to give the customer the option of insurance, and if he wanted it, I charged him for it (no markup.) Check FedEx, UPS and USPS (United States Postal Service) to see has the best rates for the item you are sending. I used the USPS most of the time, and sent things the slowest way. If the customer wants the package rushed, he needs to pay the rush costs.
That's the basics. Don't get frustrated because it's just a matter of getting used to the way it works. When you are more comfortable, you can do more things like set up an "about me" page (great place to advertise your business, if you have one.) Read the help areas on selling, and email eBay if you have questions. That is how I learned. And soon, with a little patience, all that junk you no longer want will be out of your garage. eBay selling, it's a good thing.
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