11 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay

I was part of an eBay Roundtable discussion recently with six other experts and we all agreed that the number one question most new (and even old) eBay sellers ask is:

"Where do I find things to sell on eBay??"

To help answer that question I have compiled 11 ways that anyone can use to find products to sell on eBay. This is by no means a definitive list and depending on your situation, some of the ways may not apply to you. However, if you're a beginner and don't know where to start, this list should help you get on track.

1. Look Around The House:

We all have items lying around the house that we no longer use or need. Have you grown or shrunk in size? If so, you have clothes you can no longer wear and can sell. Did you get a gift for Christmas or your birthday that you will never use? If so, slap
it on eBay (just don't let the person who gave you the gift find
out). Do your kids have toys they no longer play with? Just
looking around your house and garage should give you plenty of
things to get your eBay ball rolling.

2. Garage Sales and Flea Markets:

When it comes to eBay, remember this old adage: One man's junk is
another man's treasure. Now this is not to say that you should
sell junk on eBay. You should only sell products in good
condition. The point is you can find items in good condition at
garage sales and flea markets that you can pick up cheap and
resell for a profit. Remember, nobody wants to buy your old
Beanie Babies that no longer have eyes and noses, but they may
buy "gently used" items if they're in good shape and offered at a
good price.

3. Talk To Your Friends and Relatives:

After you've gone through your own in-house inventory, contact
your friends and relatives and tell them you have started an eBay
business and will sell their items for a piece of the sales
price. Chances are they have as much excess stuff lying around
their house as you did. Offer to list the items for them and if
they sell, take half the profits. You will probably have to pay
the eBay fees out of your pocket up front, but you can then
deduct the eBay fees from the sales price before slicing up the
pie.

4. Consignment Sales:

Consignment sales are a great way to find a wide range of
products to sell on eBay. Consignment selling means that you
offer to sell an item that belongs to a company. In exchange for
your trouble you get a percentage of the sales price. You can
charge up to 50% plus fees for smaller items like clothing,
lamps, jewelry, etc. and around 15% for larger items like cars,
boats, and bulldozers (yes, I said bulldozers).

Contact every business in town and offer to list their excess
goods on eBay for a piece of the action. Most businesses have
returned items, liquidated products, used equipment, etc. that
they would love to get rid of, but don't have the time to do so.
Many will see you as their hero if you can help them get rid of
this merchandise and you'll make a pretty profit for your
efforts. For business customers you should have them pay the eBay
fees on the front end, not you.

5. Thrift Stores:

Thrift stores are an excellent place to look for things to sell
online. Stores maintained by the Salvation Army and non-profit
organizations are best. Many church thrift stores price their
goods at almost retail level, so you may not find too many
bargains there.

Much of the merchandise you will find at thrift stores has been
donated by middle to upper income families, so many times you can
find high quality merchandise in excellent condition. And don't
be afraid to make them an offer, especially if you are buying in
bulk. Nobody pays sticker price at thrift stores.

6. Mini Storage Unit Sales:

Mini storage companies are everywhere and most of them are filled
with stuff that people no longer want, but have no other place to
store. Did you know that if someone who is renting a mini
storage unit fails to pay the rent the owner can confiscate their
stuff and sell it? This is bad news for the renter, but great
news for you. Call every mini storage company in your area and
ask that they notify you if they ever have items to sell. Many
will put you on a notification list for their upcoming sales.
Some may even say, "Sure, come on over!"

7. Local Auctions And Estate Sales:

I'm a live auction nut. I'm not talking about the hooty snooty
art auctions. I'm talking about the good old fashioned auctions
with hard benches and hot dogs and cheap, good stuff. I love
going to auctions and digging through boxes and bidding on
things. My problem is I don't know when to quit buying. It's just
so dang much fun holding up that little paddle and winning a
sale, even if it's something you don't really need.

Check your area for auctions and sales you can attend. Just make
sure you don't pay more for something than you should. Your goal
is to buy low and sell high. Don't get so caught up in the
bidding that you pay more than a product is worth (voice of
experience here).

8. Closeout Stores:

You can find some great bargains at the big warehouse closeout
stores. Look for liquidated items or items you can buy in bulk.
And don't be afraid to make them an offer. I never pay sticker
price at closeout stores and neither should you. Call the manager
over and ask him what he'll take for the entire box of something
you're interested in. You may be surprised to find him more than
willing to deal.

9. eBay And Other Online Auctions:

Did you know that you can find great deals on products you can
buy and resell on eBay and other online auctions? If a seller
does a lousy job on his ad chances are he will get very few bids
and you can snap up the item at a deal, then create a great ad
and sell it for a profit.

You can also find wholesale bulk lots on eBay that you can buy
and piece out for sale one at a time. This requires the cash to
buy the inventory and a place to store it, but this is the best
way to get the lowest price on most wholesale goods.

You should also visit the other online auction like Yahoo and
Ubid.com to look for bargains. These sites do not have the
traffic and customer base that eBay has, which means auctions
there get fewer visitors and lower bids. Do a Google search for
"online auctions" to hunt for treasure there.

10. Wholesalers and Dropshippers:

Once your eBay business is rolling you can move it up a notch by
establishing relationships with wholesalers and dropshippers who
can provide you with merchandise to sell. You will get the lowest
price by buying in bulk from wholesalers, but that is a level you
should build up to. Don't buy a truckload of liquidated products
until you are sure you can sell them.

11. Contact The Manufacturer:

If you find a product that you think would be a good seller just
pick up the phone can call the company that manufactures. Tell
them you are interested in the product and were wondering if they
had a distributor in your area. If they do, contact the
distributor and inquire about buying the product wholesale. If
the company does not have a distributor in your area simply say,
"How do I go about becoming your distributor."

There may be costs involved that makes if prohibitive for you to
become a distributor, but you never know until you try. Again,
research the market thoroughly to make sure there are customers
who will buy the product and if you do have to invest money to
get started, only invest the minimum allowed and consult an
attorney if there are legal forms you're asked to sign.