Zero to your first eBay sale — account, titles, pricing from real data, and shipping done right.
⏱ ~30 min🎯 1 live listing💳 Real-data pricing
⚡ The 30-second version
Set up a Business account + Basic Store, write policies once.
Title formula: Brand → Model → Size/Color → Feature → Condition.
Never guess price — pull sold comps, list at 95% of the median with Best Offer on.
Ship via Pirate Ship with tracking, inside your handling time.
1Account setup (~30 min, once)
1
Create the seller account
Register at ebay.com/help/selling as a Business account — a nonprofit ReStore qualifies, and it unlocks bulk tools. Use the store email + tax ID if asked.
2
Choose a store subscription
Skip the free tier. The Basic Store gives 1,000 free listings/month (vs 250) — ~$21.95/mo annual. Ask which billing cycle first.
3
Set up payments
eBay pays directly to a linked bank account — no PayPal. Link it under Seller Hub → Payments. Funds land in 1–2 days.
4
Write business policies once
Save one shipping (1–2 day handling), one return (30-day), one payment policy. They auto-apply to every listing.
💡
Why this order mattersPolicies must exist before your first listing, or eBay makes you fill out shipping & returns manually every time. Ten minutes now saves hours.
✓ Done when
Business account created & verified
Basic Store active
Bank account linked
Shipping / return / payment policies saved
2Photograph it
Photos sell the item before a word is read — just consistent light, a clean white background, and the same 8 shots.
📷
Full walkthrough is in Module 2Module 2 covers the station, the 8-shot sequence, and per-item tips. The rule to carry here: always show the flaw — it protects you from returns.
3Titles & listings
eBay's search reads your title literally. The right structure gets found; the wrong one buries you on page 4.
Brand + Model + Size/Color + Feature + Condition
DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver Kit w/ Battery & Charger — Used, Tested Working
1
Use all 80 title characters
Stack the parts in formula order — as many as genuinely describe the item.
2
Fill every item specific
Brand, size, color, material, model. Every blank field is a filter a buyer used that you won't show up under.
Never guess. eBay tells you what similar items actually sold for.
1
Pull sold comps with Terapeak
Seller Hub → Research → Terapeak. Search brand + model, filter to Sold, last 90 days. Ignore unsold listings — that's wishful pricing.
2
Take the median, not the top
The highest price is usually an outlier. The median reflects what a typical buyer actually paid.
List Price = Median Sold Comp × 0.95
List 5% under with Best Offer ON — more clicks, and offers recover the difference.
⏱️
The real floor isn't fees — it's timeDonated items clear the ~13% fee easily. The real question: worth 10–15 min of staff time? Skip listing anything with a comp under $12–15 — floor it or bundle it.
DeWalt drill kit
Median $95 → list $90 + Best Offer · re-price −10% at 14 days
Vintage Pyrex set
Median $45 → list $43 + Best Offer · re-price −10% at 14 days
🔁
Set a 14-day re-price reminderNot sold in two weeks isn't wrong forever — it's wrong right now. Drop 10% and relist.
✓ Done when
Terapeak comp search run
Worth-it check done (comp above $12–15)
Listed at 95% of median, Best Offer on
5Shipping without losing money
Where new sellers lose money — guessing box size or skipping discounts. One setup session fixes both.
1
Get the two tools
A scale ($25–45) and a thermal printer like a Rollo ($80–130, no ink). Both pay for themselves in month one.
2
Print through Pirate Ship
pirateship.com — USPS Commercial Pricing, up to 89% off, no markup. Weigh first; wrong weight = surprise charges.
3
Match packaging to category
Books → padded mailer. Clothing → poly mailer. Fragile → box with cushioning, item never shifting.
4
Get free USPS supplies
Priority boxes/mailers are free at usps.com/store. Reuse clean incoming boxes too — cover old labels.
5
Pack so nothing moves
No shift when you shake the box. Fragile: wrap individually, 2" cushion all sides, double-box when value justifies.
6
Watch dimensional weight
Charged the greater of actual or DIM = (L×W×H)÷139. Big light items cost more — enter dimensions in Pirate Ship.
7
Ship within your handling time
Hit the 1–2 days you set, every time. Late shipping tanks your rating and your search placement.
📦
Always buy trackingIncluded on Pirate Ship labels — never ship without it. Tracking is your only proof of delivery in a dispute.
✓ Done when
Scale & printer set up
Pirate Ship linked to payment
Packaging for 3+ categories
Free USPS supplies ordered
DIM weight tested in Pirate Ship
6The weekly rhythm
A course you finish once doesn't build a business — a five-day rhythm, repeated weekly, does.
Mon
Intake & set aside sellable + treasure-hunter items
Tue
Photograph everything (8-shot sequence)
Wed
Research comps, price, publish listings
Thu
Pack & ship what sold
Fri
Re-price: −10% on 14+ day no-sales
📊
Track just three numbersItems listed, items sold, total revenue. That's the whole dashboard to start.
🛡️
Protect the rhythm firstGet comfortable with the five-day cycle before adding Amazon or Facebook. A reliable eBay habit beats a half-running multi-channel mess.
✓ Done when
One full Mon–Fri cycle done
At least 1 item live on eBay
Listed / sold / revenue tracked somewhere simple
🔒
Coming next — the Treasure Hunter Field Guide (Module 6)Many stores leave $500–$3,000/month on the floor. Module 6 shows how to spot it before it's floor-priced.