How to sell on eBay Australia: a beginner's guide

1. Set up your account and payouts

Sign up, add a short profile line saying roughly what you sell and how quickly you post, and connect your bank account for payouts before you list so nothing is held up later.

Australian sellers get a set number of free listings each month, then a small insertion fee. Selling fees are taken from the sale, so check the current rates before you set a price.

2. Choose items that actually sell

eBay rewards anything a buyer would search for by name: a brand, a model number, a part, a size. Plain unbranded homeware sells better locally on Marketplace or Gumtree.

• Brand or model visible somewhere — it is the biggest driver of price.
• Working order, clean, and complete with any cables or accessories.
• Small and sturdy enough to post; heavy or fragile items suit local pick-up.
• Seasonal timing helps: heaters and coats from May, camping and fans from October.

3. Photograph it properly

Photos do most of the selling. Use daylight near a window, a plain background, and shoot straight on rather than at an angle.

• Eight to twelve photos — eBay allows plenty and buyers look at all of them.
• Front, back, both sides, brand label, model or serial plate.
• A close-up of every flaw, clearly described. Honesty prevents disputes.
• For clothing, add the size and care labels and a measured flat-lay.

4. Price it in Australian dollars

Search eBay Australia for the same item, tick "sold items", and look at what things actually went for here rather than converting a US or UK price. Australian resale prices differ, and postage across the country is dearer.

Fixed price is safer for most items. Auctions only make sense when the item is genuinely scarce and several people want it.

5. Write a title and description that gets found

Put the words a buyer would type into the title: brand, model, item, colour, size. "Makita 18V cordless drill DHP484 skin only" beats "good drill".

In the description, state condition, measurements in centimetres, weight, what is included and any fault. Factual and specific means fewer questions and fewer returns.

6. Postage and getting paid

Weigh and measure the packed parcel before you list, then quote Australia Post or a courier rate by zone — interstate postage is what most new sellers underestimate. Offering local pick-up alongside postage widens your buyer pool for bulky items.

Funds are paid into your bank account after the sale, less eBay's fees. Post inside the handling time you promised; late postage is the main cause of bad feedback.

7. If nothing sells

Relist with a better first photo, widen the title wording, add the model number, and drop the price in small steps rather than one big cut. Sending offers to watchers often shifts a stale listing.

A note on tax

Selling your own second-hand possessions is normally just clearing out, not running a business. If you start buying to resell, or selling becomes regular and organised, the ATO may treat it as income and you may need an ABN. Check the ATO's guidance or speak to an accountant — this guide is general information, not tax advice.

Common questions

Is it free to list on eBay Australia?

You get a monthly allowance of free listings, then a small insertion fee, and a selling fee comes out of each sale. Check current rates before pricing.

Should I offer free postage?

Only if you have built it into the price. Australian interstate postage is expensive, so weigh the parcel first.

eBay or Facebook Marketplace?

eBay for anything searched by brand or model and small enough to post; Marketplace or Gumtree for bulky, local, collect-only items.

Why is my item not selling?

Usually the first photo, the title wording or the price. Change one at a time so you can see what worked.

Try it on one of your own items

Photograph a single item and KindSort suggests a rough price range, the best place to sell it and a title and description you can paste straight in. No account needed for one item.