What To Sell On eBay For Profit Now (2021)
The age-old saying goes, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’; in this blog, we’ll tell you what we think the best things to sell on eBay for profit are. Perhaps you have homemade things to sell on eBay that could become your side hustle.
This post has 13 fantastic recommendations on the top-selling items on eBay UK 2021. Along with other top tips on marketing items online. There are many more ideas of best things to sell easily that could make you money!
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn this site a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything we recommend, we have used ourselves and hope you find the recommendations helpful.
What are the most profitable items to sell on eBay?
The most profitable items on eBay that you can sell are easy to find and purchase cheaply, allowing you a more significant profit margin.
The best places to buy things to sell on eBay include:
- in charity shops
- at car boot sales
- at auctions
- in vintage shops
- on Facebook marketplace
- around your house, you won’t have to spend any money!
What things sell best on eBay?
Here are the best things to sell on eBay to make money:
#1 Video games
Games are expensive when bought new which means buyers turn to eBay to search for cheaper alternatives. In addition, games are often lightweight so can be easily packaged and shipped.
If you can fit in an envelope within the large-letter size guidelines, you avoid the Post Office’s parcel sending fees making your listings more appealing to buyers.
#2 Computer accessories
This could be anything from keyboards to USB sticks, printer ink cartridges, speakers and Wifi routers. Accessories are often not too heavy and, therefore, won’t cost a fortune in postage and are self-explanatory to use.
#3 Personalised items
Some of the best selling handmade items on eBay are personalised. A good example is a personalised phone case. Anything can be personalised!
Sending items with a handwritten personalised note adds a personal touch and can result in positive reviews – ideal for building your seller profile!
Skillshare is an online learning platform where you could learn how to create personalised items to sell. They offer a 30-day free trial. So if you’re interested, why not check it out via our link!
#4 Remote controls
Sometimes our TV remote control decides to go live a life of its own and disappears. Remote controls can be found in charity shops; look for sound systems controllers and programmable remotes.
#5 Rubbish
Believe it or not, items you would throw in the bin or recycling could make you money. Think cardboard loo rolls, plastic milk bottle tops, beer bottle caps, corks and metal pull rings.
Consider rubbish as the best cheap things to sell on eBay!
#6 Books
Old textbooks and novels could make you some money. Check out our helpful tips on selling second-hand books.
#7 Collectables
People collect all matter of items – Pokémon cards and vintage packaged children’s toys, Lego, stamps and comic books. We advise you to review the prohibited and restricted guidelines before selling collectables.
Collectables are possible the best second hand things to sell on eBay as they are often well looked after and loved, and collectors will usually pay more for an item they want than what we might think is realistic.
#8 Walkie Talkies
Random! But walkie talkies will sell on eBay if they work. These can be great fun for kids or have other uses, such as, chatting away with a friend whilst fishing on other sides of the river.
#9 Old cameras
Old film cameras create beautiful nostalgic photos and are becoming increasingly more popular. They will sell for more if they work; however, broken cameras may still sell.
#10 Clothing
If you have an eye for spotting new or good quality clothing in a charity shop, selling second-hand brand name clothing can build a side income.
Be sure to accurately list the item, including sizing to reduce the chances of a refund, and take high-quality pictures to attract buyers.
#11 Old phones and smartphones
The easiest way to get some money back when you buy a new phone is to sell your old one.
But, here’s a word of caution, eBay scammers are known to target smartphone sellers and other electronic sellers. They purchase the item and remove all the valuable parts of the electronic item before returning it to you and receiving a full refund under eBay’s policies. As a result, you will lose out on the money and have a stripped and unsaleable phone.
#12 Vintage magazines, postcards and posters
Buyers looking for authentic inspiration or items to use in a project will trawl through eBay to find what they need. The best vintage things to sell on eBay tend to be more obscure and niche items.
#13 Sports equipment
During the pandemic, home gym equipment became popular and quickly sold out. Since then, not everyone has returned to their gym having found it enjoyable and less time consuming to work out from home. Cardio equipment and weights are still in demand to improve home gyms.
Check out our post on how to work out on a budget.
What products are in high demand, and what sells quickly on eBay?
A great place to start when looking at what items to sell on eBay is to check out their ‘tops sellers and offers this week’ found on its homepage.
Do your research into categories and see what items have the most bids and the general prices. Consider the season too; approaching winter, you’ll see higher demand for items related to Christmas, e.g. Christmas gift bags, whereas, in summer, the demand for weatherproof pillows that can be used in an outdoor area will increase.
What should I not sell on eBay?
You can find out here what the policies are for certain prohibited and restricted items.
Any pornographic material is not permitted, whilst sex toys and accessories may be listed. However, these must be listed under the correct category and have specific guidelines.
You are also not permitted to sell pets or most live animals. eBay does this to support its commitment to animal welfare and protect species.
To sell alcohol on eBay, you must be an approved seller and include all required information in their listing descriptions. Whilst the sale of drugs and drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited as it violates many national and international laws.
Lockpicking or locksmithing items are not allowed. There are some exceptions to locksmithing equipment, but overall, eBay does its best to prevent the sale of items that could encourage or support illegal activity.
In conclusion, be sure to check out the list of prohibited and restricted items to ensure you follow the guidelines and help maintain the community’s safety. If you do not, you may find your eBay account suspended.
How much does eBay charge if item doesn’t sell?
You can find the fees for private sellers on eBay here. Private sellers can list up to 1,000 items for free per month, after which they will be charged 35p for each new listing.
Once you sell an item, eBay charges you 10% of the final transaction value, including taxes and postage. The final transaction fee is capped at £250 for a single item.
If your item doesn’t sell, you won’t pay a final value fee.
Selling on Amazon vs eBay
There are different factors to consider when deciding where to sell. The decision on whether to use eBay vs Amazon can result in different profit yields, or you could do both!
The first factor to consider is consumer trust. This includes return policies and brand loyalty. Amazon takes the lead in providing support post-purchase, giving buyers the security they need and the option to return and receive a refund easily.
Secondly, Amazon gives you an option to fulfil your orders, taking a significant portion of your workload off you. In comparison, you have to pack and ship items yourself when selling via eBay.
We have mentioned eBays seller fees above; here are Amazon’s fees for you to compare.
Finally, when it comes to selling your items internationally, eBay makes this easier for you. When trading on Amazon, you need a separate account to sell internationally, which means reviews are not combined, making it more challenging to build a trusted brand image. In contrast, it requires minimal effort to sell internationally on eBay. Using eBay’s Global Shipping Program, you won’t need to handle customs or imports, and the service is free to use.
Can you make a living selling on eBay?
Flipping items and selling on eBay can make you a living and help you pay the bills if you sell the correct items. Do your research and know what best things to sell on eBay to make money UK are. Have an idea of what sells well and for how much.
The money you make could be used to invest in a low-cost stock portfolio or saved to buy your first house!
Remember to factor in postage costs and other expenses such as storage and advertisement. Another thing to note is that the number of sellers on eBay has increased over the past year. As a result, this has led to more competition.
At Value4Money, we cannot guarantee that the items suggested will do well and sell. A range of factors can influence the outcome, including market conditions, demands, costs involved, individual research and customer handling. We recommend you scout through eBay, build a picture of what is out there and what works best.
Do you have a success story when it comes to selling on eBay? Comment below!
