eBay How-To Guides

The Best Camera for eBay Sellers (hint: it’s not your phone)

When my wife and I first started on eBay we took all of our pictures on an iPhone 4. I had a point and shoot camera and Kirstie actually had a DSLR but it just seemed easier to have everything in one place so we could upload them onto the app. Even though we upgraded our phones as time went on we kept needing to lie to ourselves that our pictures were cutting the mustard. We tried different backgrounds, lots of lighting situations, and different editing apps but eventually had to take the issue seriously: phones are inadequate for eBay pictures if it’s anything but a side hustle. The best camera for eBay and Poshmark sellers is not a phone. Phones can take excellent pictures, it is true, but the lack the full range of options that even a basic point and shoot camera has which makes it great for product photography. As an eBay …

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How To Remove Permanent Marker From (just about) Anything!

As the dad of a 3 year old and 18-month-old I’ve spent a fair share of my time stain treating and cleaning up crazy messes. One of the most common issues I’ve had to deal with is how to remove permanent marker from a variety of surfaces. Now, you might wonder why my kids have access to sharpies. Rest assured, they don’t. But somehow, they always get them anyway. If you’re a parent, you understand. So, whether you’re a parent (like me) trying to remove sharpie from the wall and the dog or an eBay reseller (also like me) trying to remove sharpie from shoes, clothes, and other thrift goods, we’ve got the method and the power! Now, I know there are a bazillion methods out there for removing permanent marker. However, these are the things that, in my experience, have the greatest chance of removing the stain without damaging the material. After all, there’s …

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How to Polish, Clean, and Restore Leather Boots for Resale

COPY THE METHOD WE USED TO BUY THESE BOOTS FOR $2.25, CLEAN THEM, AND FLIP THEM FOR $59.95… HOW TO CLEAN LEATHER BOOTS FOR RESALE If you follow our blog you’ll know that we have a penchant for buying boots off eBay, polishing them up a bit, and flipping them for a huge profit!  The leather boots shown above are the literal same pair of boots.  Not just the same model, but the picture on the left shows the listing from which I purchased the boots for $2.25.  With 20 mins of elbow grease and better picturing I turned around and sold them for $59.95 + shipping!  In this post we’ll show you how to clean your leather boots and get top dollar for them! Will this met work for my boots?Well, that depends on the leather. This tutorial is meant for smooth leathers.  If the leather on your shoes/boots has a fuzzy feel to …

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How to Wash Plush Stuffed Animals to Resell on eBay

We’ve all had the experience, we find a valuable plush animal…only to turn it over and find that it’s been puked on.  Or sucked on, snotted on, pooped on, we’ve seen it all.  So what to do?  Put it back and not reap the profits?  Never!  If you’re an eBay seller, you must know that there is a way to improve the value of everything.  In this case, it’s removing the encrusted grime.Washing stuffed animals can be a tricky business. Regular washer?  Regular soap?  Can it be dried?   So where to start… **Before undertaking this endeavor be aware that washing will make an animal clean….but not new.  Washing too often can wear on the edges and shape of the animal.  But if you’re not scared: onward! ​DO NOT WASH YOUR ANIMALS IN THE WASHING MACHINE IF: They have a music  or voice box sewn inside.  Water and electronics don’t mix…. They are very old or fragile …

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How To Ship eBay Orders From Home

For the first 6 months we sold on eBay we would pack up all of our orders, write what item was inside on the top of the box, and trek to the post office.  I have many pictures of my wife at the post office at 1:00 in the morning, standing at the shipping kiosk, and looking like a very angry little eBay elf.  One day, we were sitting in the hospital waiting room for the birth on our nephew, I was killing time on my phone and saw an offhand comment about a thermal printer.  I did some research and found that I could print from home anytime and it was actually cheaper than going to the post office!  I could even schedule pickups!  I might never have to leave my house again!  So if you’re serious about eBay (or any other home business) it’s time you start to ship your eBay orders from …

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How to Remove Pilling From Sweaters and Fleece Jackets

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve put back sweaters and jackets because they have more pills than Brittany Spears.  Fleece jackets such as The North Face and Patagonia brands which are great for reselling are particularly prone to pills.  Not only do they pill, they tend to gather pet hair, lint, etc. which manages to worm it’s way into the fibers.  I’ve spent countless hours trying to pick each pill off with my hands, tweezers, and even duct tape.  None were very effective and, more importantly, they took a ton of time.  If you’re trying to clean pills of a sweater or jacket then this tutorial is for you!  Before you start, be warned: this method removes the top layer of material.  If you’re too vigorous or do it too often, you will wear the fabric thin.  This method is best for polyester and cashmere but can also work on wool or …

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How To Clean Velcro (and remove that stubborn lint)

We’ve all been through it, our velcro doesn’t seem very sticky any more and we look down to find that it’s clogged with lint, hair, strings, and who knows what else!  Whether you’re looking to resell the article of clothing or simply clean it up for your own use, cleaning velcro is incredibly easy.  Follow along if you want to know how to clean lint out of velcro and make it look like new again! WHAT YOU NEED: A t-pin.  That’s it.  Really.  In fact, you don’t even need that!  Any pointy object can work Let’s get started… Grab that nasty old velcro and your push pin.  Slide the pin in between the grooves and simply pull the lint up and out.  After the pin slides free, grab what you can with your fingers and simply pull it out. Keep going…. And just like that, you’re done!  Look at that beautiful finished product!  If it …

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How to Reshape Leather Boots in 10 Minutes

If you sell shoes on eBay, cleaning your shoes is on of the most important things you can do to boost their value.  In as little as 10 minutes we improved to look and feel of these boots enough to justify twice the asking price!  After you get your boots/shoes cleaned, check out our eBay Blog to see how to take pictures that sell! 1. Wipe off boots with a damp rag.     Hopefully the boots are clean enough that they’ll just need a once over with a rag.  Be sure to get all the contaminants and        dust off as any remnants will disrupt the next step. 2. Apply Mink Oil to leather     Mink Oil softens and moisturizers leather.  This well help both with color and with the suppleness when you reshape the            boots.  Be sure to wipe off the excess and give them a minute or two to …

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How to Clean the Soles of Women’s Dress Shoes (In 5 Minutes or Less)

Our first daughter has never slept well.  It has been a constant battle ever since she was born to get her to sleep for more than a two hour stretch during the night.  Now that she’s almost 3, she takes melatonin every night and things are slightly better.  However, last week she found one of her chewable pills that somehow had been dropped and decided to eat it…at 4:00 in the afternoon.  We normally have about 15 minutes after she takes it to get her into bed before she turns into a uncontrollable little puddle.  We didn’t really want to have that on our hands for the 4 hours until bedtime…so we headed to McDonalds!  We figured that getting some ice cream and spending some time in the play place would be a good distraction.   It sort of worked, but when it come time to leave, Hazel didn’t want to come out.  So I kicked …

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How to Search For a Seller on eBay – 4 Easy Ways

We’ve all been there, you find an awesome seller on eBay, spend some time looking through their store and then…lose them forever.  This has been a source of frustration for me many time as I’ve found and lost other sellers that I want to buy from, follow, or even just stalk their sales!  Luckily, eBay makes it very simple both to find sellers through search and to keep tabs on them through either following them or saving a search with their name. So if you are stuck, let’s answer “How do I search for a seller on eBay?!” How to Search for a Seller on eBay Finding a seller and their listings on eBay depends on whether you know their username.  If you don’t know it, things get a bit harder but it may still be possible. If you have forgotten their username, try the following: If you “watched” any of the sellers items you …

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