Follow these step-by-step instructions and, hopefully, you'll be on your way to selling your first item on eBay!
Before starting, be sure you have your photo(s) ready to place in your ad.
You must also have a Seller's Account. If you have not already, click here to sign up.
Click the "Sell" box from the top of any eBay page.
Sign in with your UserID and eBay password.
Page 1 - Sell Your Item: Select Category:
Option One:
Enter the Category # in the "Main category #" box.
Page 2 - Sell Your Item: Describe Your Item:
You may also select to use the Subtitle feature for an additional charge. The subtitle is searchable by item description only, not searchable by Title.
Fill in the 'Item description' block. You have two options, 'Standard' or 'Enter your own HTML'
The Standard option gives you the use of eBay's free HTML editor.
Note: You will not be able to enter any Javascript in the description block of the HTML editor, so do not use it if you plan to include any Javascript (this includes PayPal scripts).
The HTML editor allows you to choose from 3 drop down menus:
You can also select Bold, Italic or Underline or a combination of all 3 by clicking the "B", "I" or "U" buttons.
Select the justification in the next 3 blocks:
The next two blocks are for creating lists:
The final two blocks are for indenting:
To use the HTML editor, click inside the editing window. Any selections you make from the menu will be implemented at the point where you cursor is flashing. For example, if you want to type a title with x-large print in blue with a bold Times font:
Here is an example of how the HTML editor looks:
When finished, you can click the 'Preview your description' to see the final results. If you want to change anything, just highlight the area you want to change by clicking and dragging through it. Then select the changes from the editing menu.
Note: Javascript code is not supported by this html text editor. You will have to use the original form to include Javascript code in your description.
If you want to use the HTML editor to create your listing, then go back to the original form to add your PayPal logos or other Javascript:
It will look similar to this:
Type in your Item Description in the block provided.
HTML Tip: Enter <p> to start a new paragraph.
If you have uploaded your images to an outside host and wish to include them in your description block, use the HTML tag:
If you used HTML and want to see how your description is formatted, click the "Preview your description" link.
Note: If you are a first-time seller, you may be asked to download a small ActiveX file on the next page.
Then click "Continue"
Page 3 - Sell Your Item: Enter Pictures & Item Details
This block is required if you own an eBay Store. The default setting is 'Other'
Pricing and Duration:
There are links to the right of these fields that explain each if you have questions.
These are all required fields. You cannot proceed until they are filled in.
Add Pictures:
If you are using an outside web hosting site to store your auction images, click on the "Your own Web hosting" tab to the right of the "eBay Picture Services" tab. Enter your image URL in the block provided.
If you do not want to use the block provided, which places your image at the bottom of the page and a 200x150 pixel preview image at the top left corner of your listing, and only want to place your images within the description block, then check the box underneath the Picture URL block, "The description already contains a picture URL for my item.". This will add the green camera icon to the left of your auction item in the search listings and will indicate to potential bidders that you have images in your auction.
If you want to use eBay Picture Services,ePS, click on the "eBay Picture Services" tab to the left of the "Your own Web hosting" tab.
Click on the "First Picture - Free" box to select a picture from your PC to upload to ePS.
You can add up to 5 more photos, each costing an additional 15¢.
Picture Options:
Choose one of the 4 options (only the Standard option is free):
Listing Designer:
These are eBay's auction templates. If you choose to use them, click on the theme and layout of your choice.
Increase your item's visibility:
If you tick the 'Remember my selections in the section below' block, eBay will always default to the settings from the last time you listed.
If you want your item included in the Gallery, (displays a thumbnail of your picture in listings and search results)
There is also a Gallery Featured option for $19.95 which also showcases your item in the Featured section of the Gallery.
Listing Upgrades:
See explanations and examples to the right of these options
Free Page Counter:
Click on a radio button to select your choice.
Click the "Continue" button.
There will be a slight delay while your pictures are being sent to eBay if you chose eBay's Picture Service.
Page 4 - Sell Your Item: Enter Payment & Shipping
Seller - accepted payment methods:
Shipping Costs:
To use eBay's Shipping Calculator:
Select either 'Flat shipping rates' or 'Calculated shipping rates' from the 'Shipping costs' block as shown in the image below:
For 'Calculated shipping rates':
When you use 'Calculated shipping rates', a shipping calculator will appear in the in the 'Shipping and payment Details' area of your listing.
When buyers enter their zip code, the shipping calculator automatically determines the shipping rate based on the information you specified for the listing. Any packaging and handling fees will be included in the shipping charge, but will not be shown to the buyers.
For auction listings, insurance rates only appear when the listing closes since rates are based on the final item price.
When the buyer pays, shipping rates will be calculated automatically based on the shipping address. The rates are calculated during the payment process for all your payment methods including PayPal.
Payment Instructions & return policy:
Give clear instructions to assist buyers with payment, shipping, and returns.
Ship-to locations:
Click the "Continue" button.
Page 5 - Sell Your Item: Review & Submit Listing:
Once your auction is reviewed and correct, click the "Submit Listing" button.
Congratulations! Your auction has been submitted. It will show up immediately if you click on the link provided or if you look at your "my eBay" selling page. It can take up to several hours for your auctions to appear in the search indexes, so be patient.
They must be saved with either a .jpg or .gif file extension.
The optimal size for eBay ads is 50k or less and no larger than 500 pixels on the longest side.
Ensure your file names have no spaces or special characters in them.
When you get to the "Sell Your Item: Choose a Selling Format" page,
Ensure the "Sell item at online Auction " button is selected,
Then click "Continue".
Select your category with the Category buttons.
Click in the boxes starting with Box 1 until you have found the appropriate category.
When the last box returns "Main category selected. Continue below.", click the "Continue button" at the bottom of the page.
Option Two:
Select your category from the Category list at this link:
Category # list
You may also elect to have eBay help you find a Category by typing in keywords in the
"Enter item keywords to find a category" block and clicking the 'Find' button. This will open a list of possible Categories in a pop-up window, so ensure you are not running a pop-up blocker if you wish to use this function.
If you with to list in 2 categories, enter your 2nd category # in the "Second category #" box.
Browse the categories and click a category in each box until the last box turns gray if you don't know the Category #
Optional feature fees will apply.
Then click "Continue"
Note: No HTML, asterisks, or quotes. 55 characters maximum.
Font type
Font size
Font color
Left justified
Centered
Right justified
Numbered lists
Bulleted lists
Deindent
Indent
Click on Times, x-large, Blue, bold, centered
Then type your title
Then hit the Enter key
Now to switch to regular text for your item description:
Click on medium size text, deselect bold and select left justified.
Now you are ready to type your description.
If you want to set your shipping terms in a bulleted list and have them appear apart from your description:
Hit the Enter key after your item description
Choose a different color font if desired to set the terms apart
Click on the 'Enter your own HTML' tab just above the text block
This will generate your HTML code
Enter plain text or add simple HTML tags to change font size, create paragraphs or bulleted lists, add images, and more.
Pictures and themes may be added to your listing on the next page.
If you enter plain text only, your description will not be formatted.
If you use the "Enter" key to cause line breaks (or new paragraphs),
you will be ignored and your text will appear as one long unbroken block of text.
<img src=http://YourPictureURL>
This file will help you add pictures on eBay using eBay's iPIX service.
Ensure your Pop-up blocker is not disabling eBay's Picture uploading Pop-up window.
Starting price:
Buy It Now price:
Quantity:
Duration:
Start time: Start listing when submitted (Free)
Schedule start time:
Enter the date and time from the drop-down menus.
You can schedule an auction for up to 3 weeks in advance.
A 10¢ fee applies for scheduled listings
Item Location:
City, State:
Region:
Country:
Find your image located on your PC and double click on its icon to place it in the picture box. Your picture should now be displayed in the box.
Standard
Supersize Pictures
Slide Show
Picture Pack
This will cost an additional 10¢ in listing fees.
If you don't want to pay the additional 10¢ fee, choose 'None' for a Theme and 'Standard' for a Layout.
you must select the 25¢ Gallery button in the "Gallery Options" section.
Bold
Highlight
Featured Plus
Home Page Featured
Gift Services
If you have a Pop-up Blocker, ensure that eBay's Picture Service pop-up window has not been blocked.
Choose payment methods you'll accept from buyers.
Select the buttons that apply to your TOS.
To have shipping rates calculated automatically for your buyers based on the package weight, size, shipping service and their address, fill in the information in the 'Calculated shipping rates' block.
This information will be displayed in your listing and in the email to your buyer when your item sells.
500 character limit. Note:special characters like quotes count as 5 characters each.
Select all locations you will ship to.
If you select "Will ship worldwide" your item(s) will be visible to users who search internationally.
NOTE: If your description or your pictures do not appear as expected, you may Edit your description or Edit your pictures to fix any problems.
Click an 'Edit page' link to make changes if necessary.
When you do, you'll be directed to a page when you can make your desired changes.
Troubleshooting
1. Please verify that your security settings for ActiveX are correct under Tools, Internet Options, on the Security tab. Click on the Custom Level button. It will need to be set like this:
2. Delete your cookies, temp files and clear your cache:
Right click on "Start" select "Explorer", select "Windows", then "Cookies". When you see them all listed in the right hand window, go to "Edit" then "Select All" then to "File" then to "Delete". Do the same with Temp Files and Internet Temp Files. Then empty your cache and reboot. Then go to eBay's Sell Page and try again.
3. If you are using a Pop-Up stopper like POW, be sure that you don't have it disabling ePS pop-ups.
One More Option
You can still add images to your auction by using a free image hosting service:
Click here for a list of several free/pay image hosts.
Select one of the sites above and follow their simple, easy-to-understand directions to upload your images to their site.
Once you have your images uploaded to a hosting site, all you have to do is add your image URL in the box at the very bottom of the Pictures window. Be sure you do not have the http:// typed in twice if you are copying and pasting your URL.
If you forgot to add an image to an auction that is already running, or if eBay hiccuped and didn't include your image in your auction, all you have to do is click on the "Revise" link on your auction page and add your image URL to the page.
If you want to add more than one image to your auction, simply type your image URL into the description area of the Sell page in exactly the location you want your images to appear, i.e., if you want your images to appear after the title of your auction, type the title in the description area and then add the image URLs after the title. You can then write your descriptive text after your images.
The proper code for adding your image URLs to the description area is:
<img src=http://your image url here.jpg>
If your auction already has bids, you can still add images to the bottom of the page by adding to the item description. Just click here, type in your Auction # and add your image URL(s) to the description area with this code:
<img src=http:// your image url here.jpg>
Bonus Section
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