How did I become a smart shopper? It all began with Ebay.

When I got back to school in summer 2008 I realized I had waaayyyyy too much junk in my studio. More specifically, I had too many clothes – clothes I had worn so often the very sight of them made me want to hurl, clothes I never wore, and clothes I don’t know why I even ended up buying.

So I decided to sell everything on Ebay. And I ended making several thousand dollars from that my fall 2008 semester.

Some I sold for more than I paid for, some I sold for less than I paid for, and some I sold for less than I paid for but whose value had depreciated so much the item was practically worthless to me. Yes, I made quite a bit of sweet coin.

I remembering listing at least 7-8 items online every Sunday night. The next Sunday, 80-90% of my products would sell and I’d lug two heavy shopping bags filled with packages to the ILR Post Office.

I don’t really sell online anymore because after getting rid of all that junk, I’ve grown very careful about what clothing I buy now. After I realized how much spending I did on items I didn’t need or weren’t even that great in the first place, I’ve gotten a lot better at saying no. Everything I own now is an “investment” piece.

Below are some tips you can use to sell successfully on Ebay. Although they apply directly to clothing, these guidelines are relevant for any item.

1) Always have a nice picture of the item. Use a stock image online or take a photo yourself. If you’re doing the latter, make sure the photo looks nice.

Adjust the lighting, take it from different angles and choose the best one to upload later, iron the item if it’s a piece of clothing so it doesn’t look wrinkled, and DON’T lay the item on the ground. I often click away if I see a picture of a dress lying on the floor while the photographer took it from above.

2) Have a detailed description of the item. Talk about when you bought it, how often you wore it, if there are any marks, what color it really is, sizing measurements (invest in a measuring stick), etc.

3) Make sure your price is right. Check out what similar items are selling for. And don’t make your shipping too high. It should cover your cost, but expensive shipping will turn some people off.

4) Always answer questions promptly. Excellent customer service is key! No matter how much I may like an item online, if I ask a question and don’t get an answer, I won’t buy it.

5) Sell brand-name items. I’ve noticed that any J.Crew, Anthropologie, etc item I list nearly always sells. I’ve also noticed that it’s a bit hard to sell unknown brand names on Ebay despite how nice they may be.

6) Sell items on Sunday night. Most people are home at this time and will have time to bid and buy.

7) Ship items out in a timely manner. I always try to get purchased items out by the next day. People appreciate getting what they want quickly.

Happy ebay-ing!