Selling through online marketplaces
The main benefits of selling through online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon and advice on how to get started selling.
An online marketplace is a website or app where you can sell goods in return for a fee or commission. You are responsible for listing your products and sending them to the buyer following their purchase. The marketplace provider will manage the processing of your transactions. It will also take a percentage of sales on any item sold on its platform.
Two of the biggest online marketplaces are Amazon and eBay which offer opportunities for small businesses to trade online. There are also a number of marketplaces that can offer opportunities for niche traders, including Etsy and Folksy.
This guide highlights the pros and cons of using online marketplaces and explains how to start selling on platforms/marketplaces.
Watch the video below of Chris Dawson, TameBay, explaining the challenges and opportunities of selling on eBay and Amazon during an Invest Northern Ireland selling online webinar.
Advantages and disadvantages of using online marketplaces
The benefits and challenges of using online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay to sell your products over the internet.
Online marketplaces allow you to sell goods without setting up your own online store. Selling through online marketplaces provides a flexible business opportunity with relatively low start-up costs. eBay and Amazon are examples of well established marketplaces.
Advantages of online marketplaces for your business
The potential advantages to be gained by joining an online marketplace will vary between industries and businesses, and indeed between buyers and sellers. Some of the potential benefits include:
- it provides an additional channel to market and sell your products
- the platform offers reduced marketing costs compared to other sales channels
- it allows new opportunities for overseas sales - there has been online marketplace growth in the categories of homeware, pets, fashion and sporting goods
- they are popular with customers and offer a convenient way to compare prices and products from a single source
- being part of an established online marketplace provides a level of trust between you and the buyer
- impartial reviews of your products and service may give new customers the confidence to buy
- they offer opportunities to establish new trading partnerships with traders and suppliers, either within your supply chain or across supply chains
- they provide greater transparency - availability, prices and stock levels are accessible in an open environment
- it is possible to operate a round-the-clock - time constraints and problems with varying international trading hours are removed
Disadvantages of online marketplaces for your business
There are a number of potential drawbacks that may need to be considered when selling on marketplaces including:
- Marketplaces can charge commission on every sale and fees can vary from site to site. Before selling your products on a marketplace, make sure you understand the marketplace's pricing structure. See , and .
- The online stores may impose restrictive terms and conditions in terms of how you can communicate with customers.
- There may be marketplace limitations as to how your business can brand its online presence.
Getting started on eBay
The basics of get started selling products on eBay including creating an account and listing and the different fees and rules.
eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces. Many retailers use eBay to sell items. Although initially created as an auction site, eBay now allows vendors to sell items at fixed prices (Buy It Now).
eBay is a marketplace for a wide variety of goods, and it can be used to reach buyers in the UK or worldwide. As a business seller on eBay, your fees are based on what you sell, how you set up your listings and whether you subscribe to a shop.
eBay shop subscriptions
eBay offers separate shop subscriptions to make selling easier and more cost efficient for your business, including:
- no shop - no monthly subscription fee, pay per listing
- basic shop - pay a monthly fee that includes a certain number of free listings
- featured shop - pay a higher monthly fee that includes more free listings
- anchor shop - pay a higher monthly fee that includes unlimited listings
You will usually be charged an insertion fee for each listing and also pay a final value fee when your item sells, based on the total transaction value including postage per item. PayPal will also take a percentage of the sale which will vary but will be approximately 3% of the gross sale value. Find out more about
Example of fees charged
Fees vary according to the value and type of item being sold, and also the category it is listed in, but as an example, if you've listed an item in the Music category for 拢20 (this has a 9.9% + 30p final value fee), the total fee, if the item sells, will be 拢2.28 (or 11.4% of the sales price).
Research your item and the rules for selling
Before you start selling, you should do some research into the products you are selling - setting a starting price, selecting a listing format and choosing a category. This will help you create a good listing and get the best price for your item. You should compare your item with active and completed listings on eBay. Listing research tools such as Terapeak can help you to understand your market.
Create your listing
When you're ready to sell an item, eBay can help you create your listing with recommendations based on research of similar listings. The recommendations are designed to help you sell your items faster and at better prices.
Click Sell at the top of most eBay pages to start creating your listing. Depending on your item category and which listing form you use, you'll have a variety of listing options:
- if you're selling an item associated with a product that's in the eBay catalogue, you can add product details from their catalogues to your listing
- you can create an auction-style or a fixed price listing
- listing upgrades such as highlighting, font, and picture enhancements make your item stand out
Create a seller account
To become a seller, you need to:
- confirm your identity and bank account details for payouts and business details
- specify an automatic payment method for paying your seller fees and reimbursements
- make sure your feedback profile is public
Manage your listing
Once you've got your listing up and running, you can check it to see how it is performing. You do this from the Selling section of . This is available when you sign into your eBay account. You can also set the:
- communication preferences to let eBay know how and when you want to receive alerts or notifications
- seller preferences about picture hosting, receiving payments, postage and returns
- member-to-member communication preferences to say how buyers can connect with you
- general preferences for searches, My eBay preferences, and more
Make sure you answer any questions you receive about your listing. This will help you to sell your item by establishing a good rapport with potential buyers. When buyers give you positive feedback, you become a stronger seller on eBay. It's also possible to .
Set up your Q&A
You may have to answer questions from your buyers before, during, and after a sale. It's important that you respond quickly and thoroughly. This keeps the buyer interested in your listing, saves you time, and you are more likely to get positive feedback when the transaction is complete. Your Q&A can be made up of answers generated automatically from your listing, answers you create yourself, and stock answers about eBay policies. Up until the end of the listing, you also have the option of whether buyers can contact you directly.
Selling effectively on eBay
How to successfully sell your products on eBay including getting your items found by potential customers and how to increase your schemes.
Before you start selling on eBay, make sure you have done some research, especially about setting a starting price, listing format, and category. This will help you create a good listing and get the best price for your item.
To start selling, click the Sell button at the top of most eBay pages. eBay will help guide you through the process of listing your item step-by-step, including helping you find the best category. Selecting the right category is important as it helps buyers find your listing. Before you sell on eBay you must:
- be a registered member
- become a seller
- verify your bank account for payouts
My eBay
lets you track your buying and selling activity, send and receive secure emails, and update your account information.
There are four main sections in My eBay including:
- buy - tracks items you're bidding on, made offers on or didn't win.
- lists - contains all your lists, including items you're watching, your wish list, saved seller list, saved search list, and any custom lists you've created.
- purchase history - contains all the items you've bought in the last three years.
- sell - tracks items you're selling or have previously listed for sale.
It is very important that you quickly respond to any questions or emails you receive. You can also use My eBay to check what's selling well and what's not.
How to get your items found
Best Match is the default method by which eBay shows listings on search result pages. The objective of Best Match is to show the most relevant, best value items from sellers that will create the best experience for the buyer. There are a number of things you can do to increase the visibility of your items including:
- Offer different postage options - offering certain postage options helps ensure your items appear more prominently in search listings. You could offer at least a 48-hour postage service, at least a one day dispatch or a 24-hr postage option (you can charge more for this).
- Build your reputation - your reputation also determines how prominently you appear in search listings. Your reputation can affect the fees you pay with eBay giving top sellers better rates. It will take a while to establish a good reputation so be patient.
- Item titles - these are vital for Best Match search. You get 80 characters so make it comprehensive and truthful.
- Item specifics - these are important for search. They help people find your items.
- Photos - you can have up to 12 photos per listing for free on eBay. Photos should be well lit with a focus on the product. You need to ensure you adhere to eBay picture standards - at least one image per listing, one side at least 500 pixels.
- Promote your items through sponsored listings. This is a great way to get further up the search list, but comes at a price, you will have to pay extra for this service.
Completing transactions
You should ensure to send the sold goods promptly. eBay allows you to notify buyers their item has been shipped and add a tracking number. This is best practice and encourages positive feedback. You should also ensure you package the goods well - it is important to the customer that their goods arrive safely.
Dealing with problems
Most eBay sellers will at some point have to deal with some problems from their buyers. From time to time you may need to process refunds and returns. You will want to aim for 100% customer satisfaction. In the instances that someone is not happy and wishes to return or exchange an item, you should ensure the process is resolved professionally and as quickly as possible.
Returns
If you are a business seller on eBay who accepts returns, you are required to give the customer a minimum of 14 days to return the item. Many sellers offer returns above and beyond this. You should make it clear in your returns policy whether you or the customer pays for the postage if an item is being returned. If a buyer believes the item's description was misleading, you are liable for paying the return postage. This process is automated.
Resolving disputes
If there is a dispute about an item that you have sold, you should try and resolve the problem directly with the buyer. If the problem cannot be resolved it may have to go through the . Buyers claiming they have not received their item or the item they received was not accurately described will use the resolution process as their main method for settling the transaction. As a seller you have eight days from the day a buyer opens a case to resolve the issue.
Increasing your eBay sales
Once you are an established eBay seller there are numerous tools available to help you increase your sales. These tools include:
- Selling Manager - this is an online tool designed for medium-volume sellers to help manage and track listings on eBay.
- Selling Manager Pro - this tool is useful for high-volume sellers, to help you create listings, manage post-sale activities and manage your inventory. This service costs 拢4.99 per month.
eBay shops
With eBay shops you get a fixed number of inclusive listings at no extra cost, the ability to organise your inventory as well as a place to display all your listings in a personalised shop window with a unique website address.
There are three separate eBay shops to choose from including:
- basic shop
- featured shop
- anchor shop
Completing the sale with your buyer
To receive positive buyer feedback, you need to ensure you complete the sale professionally. There are numerous ways to do this including:
- keep good communication with your buyer
- be sure you receive payment before you post your item
- pack it well - use bubble wrap or newspaper to protect the item from transit damage
- leave the buyer feedback
Getting started on Amazon Marketplace
The basics of how to start selling products on the Amazon Marketplace including the steps you need to take.
The Amazon marketplace allows you to sell new, used, collectable and refurbished items to Amazon's large customer base. Third party sellers make up approximately 40% of total sales alongside Amazon's own stock.
Before actually selling your items it is important to consider a number of factors.
Decide what you want to sell
There are more than 20 product categories open to all sellers. Each category may have certain rules and conditions that apply.
Choose a selling plan
Amazon has two selling plans - - giving you the flexibility to sell a single item or many items.
Professional plan
The Professional plan is if you sell more than 35 items per month. It's ideal if you're selling regularly online. Pricing for the professional plan includes the following fees:
- A monthly subscription fee - as a professional seller, you pay 拢25 per month.
- Referral fees - sellers pay a referral fee on each item sold. This fee depends on the category the item belongs to and it will be charged on the total sum paid for the item by the buyer, including all applicable taxes and customs fees.
- Fulfilment fees - this fee depends on whether you plan to ship your products yourself, our use Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) to handle your logistics and offer Prime shipping for your products. You set your own shipping rates except for books, music, video, and DVD products.
- Other fees - You may have to pay other fees such as long-term storage fees or pay for optional programmes like advertising or premium account services.
Individual plan
The individual plan is if you sell fewer than 35 items per month. The plan gives you maximum flexibility to sell when and if you want without any commitment to a monthly fee. This pricing plan consists of the following fees that are charged per item and when the product is bought:
- Per-item fees - sellers pay 75 pence per item sold.
- Referral fees - sellers pay a referral fee on each item sold. This fee depends on the category the item belongs to and it will be charged on the total sum paid for the item by the buyer, including all applicable taxes and customs fees.
- Fulfilment fees - this fee depends on whether you plan to ship your products yourself, our use Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) to handle your logistics and offer Prime shipping for your products. You use Amazon鈥檚 set shipping rates for all products. You have to ship orders at the set rate even if the shipping credit is less than the total shipping costs.
- Other fees - You may have to pay other fees such as long-term storage fees or pay for optional programmes like advertising or premium account services.
Complete your profile
You will need to prepare a seller's profile. A good seller's profile will have:
- a logo - approximately 120 pixels wide
- an 'about' section used to describe the seller
- a shipping information section, including information about carriers and shipping times
- a return and refund section
- a privacy policy
Register and start listing
To register on Amazon you need to create your account on . This is Amazon's web interface where you will also manage your selling account.
Selling on Amazon Marketplace
How to sell on Amazon Marketplace, including uploading listings and the Buy Box.
Amazon Marketplace allows retailers to sell to Amazon's huge customer base. You can list items alongside Amazon's own stock.
How selling on Amazon works
Selling products on Amazon involves a few basic steps including:
- You upload your listings - you can add your offers to the Amazon catalogue using feeds, spreadsheets, and other tools.
- Customers can see your products on amazon.com - there are features available to help customers make quick and easy purchases.
- You ship products to customers - Amazon notifies you when customers place an order. You can let Amazon do the shipping for you - or handle shipping yourself.
- Amazon transfers payments to you - Amazon deposits payment into your bank account at regular intervals and notifies you that your payment has been sent.
Winning the Buy Box
The Buy Box is the box on a product page where a customer starts the purchase process by adding an item or items to their shopping basket.
A key feature of the Amazon platform is that several sellers can sell the same product. If multiple sellers offer the same product in new condition, they may be eligible to compete for the Buy Box for that product.
Selling through niche online marketplaces
How to sell goods on specialist online marketplaces such as Etsy, Folksy, Not On The High Street and Gumtree.
Aside from the bigger online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, there are niche marketplace options for selling your products.
Etsy
Etsy is a marketplace for craft and creative businesses. Etsy provides a marketplace for crafters, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods (at least 20 years old), and both handmade and non-handmade crafting supplies. There are no membership fees with Etsy. It costs 16p to list an item for four months, or until it sells. Once you sell your item, Etsy collects a 3.5% fee on the sale price. There is also a 4% plus 20 pence payment processing fee.
Folksy
Folksy was created with the aim of showcasing the work of UK designers and makers. On Folksy you can sell handmade and craft supplies but not vintage items. Folksy currently only 91香蕉黄色视频s sellers who are living and working in the UK.
When selling on Folksy, it costs 15 pence for each item listed (excluding VAT) and each listing lasts for 120 days. You also have the option of signing up for the Folksy Plus account where you have unlimited free listings. When a sale is made, Folksy charges a 6% commission.
To get paid for an item, you need a PayPal account. Once you've sold an item you will be emailed automatically by Folksy to confirm an order has been placed. This will tell you the buyer's details and the details of the item they have ordered. You should also receive an email from PayPal to state that the item has been paid for.
Other online marketplaces
There are hundreds of other online marketplaces, auction sites and classified listing sites, each with different attributes and audiences. It's important to choose one that's best for your business, and you'll need to consider the type of goods that sell on the site, whether it is appropriate for your audience and the costs involved.
Some to consider include:
- Not On The High Street .com - online marketplace for unique gift products
- Gumtree - free listings
- Craigslist - free listings
- Preloved - free listings
- Depop - listings app
- Vinted - free listings
There are a many others that specialise in specific products such as cars, clothing and electronics.