boating
Be sure to read the rest of the eBay series: part 1, Picking What to Sell, part 2, Finding Inventory, and part 3, How to Drive More Business to Your Listings.

Shipping is a huge factor in your eBay business. It can suck up your profits if you price shipping too low, and it can drive potential customers away if the shipping prices are too high. How can you handle shipping costs while still maximizing eBay profits? Here are my tips.

Reuse and Recycle

Since I do a lot of buying online and receive several free books or products from companies, I save and reuse as many packages as I can. This tip alone has saved me about $50-100 a year. I also will save and reuse tissue paper from presents to wrap clothing in before placing it in a packing bag.

Some people have shipped items jammed in old cereal boxes or cracker boxes. To me, that is taking the recycling part a bit far, and I always attempt to make my packages look nice, not like leftover trash. Bubblers are easy to reuse because you can cut a little bit off the top and place a new label over the old label so remember to save those whenever you get them.
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engagement
It’s no surprise that a lot of engagements happen over the holidays – 33%, according to most surveys. In the immediate flurry of euphoria, phone calls, engagement photos, and parties, it’s okay to forget practical things for a few days. When you finally come off Cloud 9 though, check these five items off your pre-wedding to-do list first.

1. Get Your Ring Insured and Re-sized
That dazzling ring isn’t just a sign of your fiancé’s enduring love – it’s an asset. First, get the ring resized if it’s a little loose so you’ll be less likely to lose it. Secondly, get insurance. According to theknot.com, the average ring costs $5,598 (wow, just wow). Even if yours only cost a 10th of that, it’s still worth adding it to either your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance. You’ll need to verify its worth by having it officially appraised. Count on most agencies charging $1-$2 for every $100 the ring is worth.
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working on computer
This is part three of a four-part series. Read part one, Pick What to Sell, and part two, Where to Get Inventory.

Have you ever listed something for sale on eBay, just to have it end at a horribly low price? Or worse, your listing gets not watchers or buyers? Here are just a few tips to increase your listing exposure and drive more potential buyers to your listings. More views, watchers, and bids, means a better chance at making more money.

Know the Search Engine

Sellers were able to manipulate the search engine with the right keywords or titles in the early days of eBay. Other sellers would create multiples of the same listings with different titles and keywords, and they would dominate the search results. eBay upgraded their search engine optimization software, and it is now much smarter. So don’t rely on those shifty pieces of advice, unless you want eBay to flag your account.
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make a wishMany of us make resolutions every new year. Typically about getting a new job, eating healthier, or spending more time with family. They are focused around bettering every aspects of our lives and one that is particularly important is our finances.

The new year is a perfect time to reassess our financial situation and set new goals. However, we tend to think very broadly when we think about what we want to achieve financially in the course of a year. For instance, we want to save more money or spend less. While those are great resolutions to have, they aren’t very specific. If you’re looking to better your finances this year, take a look at these 5 money resolutions that can really have a positive impact:
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make money
Don’t forget to read the first part of the series, Making Even More Money on eBay – Part 1: Picking What to Sell.

Once you decide on your niche, it is time to build up inventory. Sometimes inventory takes a lot of time to track down and find. Be sure to calculate how many hours you spend looking for and buying inventory, to ensure you are not working too many hours for a measly profit. Here are the best places to get your inventory:
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taking moneyMany people turn to eBay to make money, but it can be frustrating when you list several items, only to have none of them sell a week later. You already know the basics of selling on eBay, but how do you make the most money possible?

This four-part series will take you past the basics of eBay selling into the more not so known secrets to making a living off of eBay sales. Here is the line up for the series:

  • Picking What to Sell (This Article)
  • Where to Get Inventory
  • How to Drive More Business to Your Listings
  • How to Inexpensively and Effectively Handle Shipping

Let’s start with the first part of the series – picking what to sell. Most people might start off on eBay just selling old junk they have lying around. That is a great start, but if you want to take your eBay earnings to the next level, you should consider picking a niche or two of things to sell.
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