Become an eBay trading assistant

If others lack the knowledge or are too busy to sell their own stuff on eBay, why not do it for them. For a fee of course!

Often, the most challenging questions facing anyone who wants to launch a business as an eBay seller are ‘What should I sell?’ and, ‘How can I raise the money to buy wholesale inventory?’

Both of those questions are answered for those sellers who choose to become eBay Trading Assistants. Trading Assistants act as brokers, selling merchandise for others and keeping a percentage of the profits. The profit potential can be great, especially when you are selling high-value items.

Though there are millions of registered users on eBay, many people still don’t know how to sell goods themselves. Almost everyone has a stash of junk (aka treasure!) in their garage or closet that they would like to sell. A Trading Assistant fills a need in the marketplace, allowing you to make a profit while helping others get rid of their unwanted items.

As a Trading Assistant, you will list the item for sale, handle all buyer questions, collect payment and postage fees from the buyer and post the item. You may also need to do some initial research on your customers’ items to determine their value. The nest way to do this is to search the closed listings to find out what similar items have sold for and then list your auctions accordingly.

The beauty of being an eBay Trading Assistant is that it requires very little upfront investment. The client’s supply the inventory, so there's minimal financial risk for you. With just some business cards and a place to store merchandise, someone of modest means can build a lucrative career. The other major benefit of being a Trading Assistant is the flexibility - you control how you run your business, such as the types of items you accept, the fees your charge your clients, and the hours you keep.

Getting Started
You will need to decide what types of products you are willing to sell and to set a minimum value on merchandise you accept. Don't put everything offered to you up for sale. Be selective and learn to gently say no. Only sell things that are going to be in demand. Since you aren't going to be making all the profits, you need to make it worth your while. Most Trading Assistants research products first and only sell items that are certain to fetch a bid of at least $50.

Trading Assistant’s earn a percentage of the final auction price, so the more inventory a Trading Assistant handles, the more money they make. Most assistants set their fees between 20%-35% of the ending auction price. You should create a simple contract that your customers sign to indicate that they agree to your services and fees. You can check out the competition in your area to determine what services other Trading Assistants are offering and how they are structuring their fees. Browse eBay's directory by post code click here.

You will also need to decide how to obtain the items from your seller. You could offer a pick-up service, visit customers’ homes and complete a contract there. Or you can list a drop-off service, where customers bring their items to you. Many Trading Assistants operate from their garage so buyers don't have to enter their homes.

Promote Your Business on eBay
eBay offers a directory of Trading Assistants that consumers can use to locate services in their geographic area. To get listed in the official Trading Assistant program, eBay requires that you have a feedback rating of at least 100, have sold an average of 4 items per month (during the previous 3 months), and have positive feedback rating of 97% or higher.

A listing in the official eBay Trading Assistant Directory is free and it will market your business on a global level. You can also drive additional marketing efforts by downloading flyer templates, press kits and program logos. You can also take advantage of the variety of training and education opportunities, including the TA Education & Training hub and TA Workshops click here.

Other Ways to Promote Your Business
Here are some ideas for getting the word out about your service:

Create flyers and ask nearby businesses to display them for you.
Place classified ads in your local newspapers.
Place classified ads on websites.
Contact local small business owners and directly promote your services to them. They may want to offload their slow-moving inventory and your service could provide the perfect solution.
Visit garage sales and distribute business cards to promote your services to sellers.
Post flyers on public notice boards.
Ask your child’s school or child care centre to mention your service in their newsletter.

Operating Your Business
Many clients won’t be familiar with the specifics of how eBay works, so be sure to explain the process and set realistic expectations with your customers for the final values of sales. Some people may expect their items to be worth far more than they can get on eBay, and you don’t want to upset a client by selling an item for less than expected. Most importantly, be confident and professional to assure people that you know what you're doing, and that you have a solid base of knowledge about eBay.
The Trading Assistant program is making it easier than ever to start an eBay business from home. It is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a relatively easy, flexible home business. Once you launch your business, repeat customers and word of mouth should help your business grow. Your only regret could be that you didn't start sooner!

For more information on getting started as an eBay Trading Assistant, visit the eBay here.

About Cecilia Biemann

Cecilia Biemann is an Arts Graduate, Freelance Writer, eBay PowerSeller and an Education Specialist Trained by eBay. She presents regular eBay group training courses on The Basics of Selling on eBay in Brisbane and also provides personalised one-on-one in-home/business training sessions. Visit her website click here.

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