We have given you a ton of information on this site about selling and reselling on sites such as Amazon and eBay. Getting into online arbitrage is a great way to make you a profit. However, it’s not as easy as it first appears and mistakes can be made. We have listed a few of them here, so if you want to start selling like a pro, take heed of them and follow our advice.
Inflated shipping costs
You want to include shipping costs when you’re selling, especially overseas, as you don’t want to make a loss. However, the buyer isn’t stupid, and they will know when you are trying to rip them off by inflating your costs. Sites such as Amazon will help you calculate prices, so you need to make use of the online calculator to give the buyer a fair deal. Otherwise, the buyer will take their business elsewhere, and you will struggle to sell.
Getting into debt
Other sites will help you manage your debt, such as debtconsolidation.co, so we aren’t the place to give you advice. However, remember you are trying to make a profit. Don’t sell something at a lower price than what you bought it for. Remember to be sensible in your buying choices, too. You don’t want to run up a huge credit card bill buying something that isn’t likely to sell very well. It’s all about consumer demand, regardless of your personal tastes. There is also the temptation to sell your product at a lower price, to undercut other sellers. This is fine, provided you aren’t running yourself into a loss as a result.
Using bad pictures
Whether you’re selling something at a flat rate or putting something up for auction online, you need to have a picture to go along with the product. Otherwise, how will the buyer know what they are buying? However, sticking up a picture and expecting the item to sell is also impractical. There may be loads of other sellers listing the same item, so you want to stand out from them. There is a really useful video on Youtube.com that will give you some great advice on taking high-quality pictures of your item. You should also emblazon your listing with a graphic image with big, bold words, such as ‘money back guarantee,’ or use a quote from one of your previous buyers to highlight your trustworthiness.
Ignoring customers
You aren’t going to get a five-star seller rating if you don’t communicate with your customers. You may be selling a must-buy item, but you still need to engage with the people buying from you. If they have a question about the product, don’t give them a short, curt reply. Answer promptly, and with respect. Perhaps point them to a tutorial video or give them any advice you are qualified to answer. And of course, if they need to return the item to you, show politeness. Returns policies are there for a reason, whether set by yourself or the site you are using. Yes, some customers are a pain in the ass, and they should have done their research, but good word of mouth is essential when selling, and you don’t want nasty feedback under your name.
Bottom line
They were some of the key mistakes sellers make. However, there are others, such as misspelling keywords, having limited payment options, and not describing your product correctly. Getting a handle on these common mistakes will give you the advantage over other sellers when trying to sell your products. Good luck!

