How do I sell things online?

Most unsold listings fail on photographs and price. Both are fixable in ten minutes. The other half of selling is avoiding the specific scams aimed at sellers, which differ from the ones aimed at buyers.

What you'll need

• A phone camera
• Packaging materials (optional)
• Scales for postage (optional)

Step by step

1. Check completed sales, not current listings, to set a price.What people ask is irrelevant; what things sold for is the market. Most platforms let you filter to sold items.
2. Photograph in daylight against a plain background.Near a window, not under a ceiling light. Six to eight photos from different angles, including any damage.
3. Photograph the flaws deliberately.It builds trust, prevents disputes, and filters out buyers who would have complained. Hiding damage guarantees a return.
4. Write a title with the words people search.Brand, model, size, colour, condition. 'Lovely item' is not searchable; 'Bosch PSB 750 hammer drill' is.
5. Describe measurements, condition and what is included.Most questions are the same few. Answering them in the listing removes friction and speeds up the sale.
6. Only ship after payment has cleared into your account.Screenshots of payments are trivially faked. Check your own balance, not their evidence.
7. Use tracked postage and keep the receipt.'It never arrived' is the standard seller scam, and tracking is the only defence. Keep proof of postage always.
8. Watch for the overpayment and courier scams.A buyer who overpays and asks for the difference back, or who insists on their own courier collecting, is running a known scam. Decline both.

Tips

• List at a time when people are browsing — evenings and Sunday afternoons consistently get more views on most platforms.
• Bundle low-value items. Selling five things for £15 is far more efficient than five listings at £3.
• Factor in fees and postage before setting a price. A 'profit' of £4 that costs £6 to post is a loss.

Common mistakes

• Posting before payment has actually cleared — Payment screenshots and pending-payment emails are easily faked. Check your own account balance.
• Hiding damage in the photos — It results in a return, a dispute and often a refund. Disclosed flaws sell; concealed ones come back.
• Sending without tracking — Without proof of delivery you cannot defend a not-received claim, and you will lose it.

Questions people ask