Thanks to the outrageous success of online auction sites, namely eBay, pretty much everyone now knows that online auctions are great way for normal, everyday folks to make money from home.

But how do you go about selling via online auctions?  Here are five ways to use auctions sites to generate income.

1. Sell stuff you no longer want.  You don’t have to run a full-fledged auction business in order to make money online.  Selling stuff you no longer want is much easier via online auctions than it is to have a garage sale or a yard sale.  And it’s better than donating that stuff to charity, because you get money for it up front, rather than some obscure tax deduction.
2. Sell stuff for friends and family.  Selling on commission is another way to make money via online auctions.  If a friend or family member has something potentially valuable that they don’t want anymore, you manage the auction, and in return get to keep some of the money.  Be sure to work the amount — whether a percentage or a flat fee — out with your friend or relative ahead of time, however!
3. Buy overstock and bulk lots to resell online.  Another good way to make money online is to buy overstock and bulk lots, divvy them up, and auction the stuff off individually.  Oftentimes these bulk lots contain brand-name stuff, which can fetch a pretty price at auction.  Sometimes the brands themselves sell off the bulk lots for resale, either because they are returns, irregular items, or because they promote the branding of products (i.e. the brand-name T-shirts many kids wear, with the manufacturer’s name and logo emblazoned across the front or back, essentially turning the kid into a walking billboard!).
4. Run a secondhand or specialty business via auction sites.  Many small businesses that sell via auction sites are secondhand or specialty stores — for instance, vintage/antique bookstores, antique stores, vintage clothing boutiques, and collectibles shops.  These items can actually be difficult for collectors to find in their immediate areas, and so there is quite a market for them online.  By frequently local thrift stores, garage and yard sales, and estate sales, you can find valuable items and then resell them on auction sites such as eBay.
5. Sell stuff you make.  Craft stores are quite popular on auction sites as well.  For instance, you might see knitted/crocheted products such as hats and scarves, beaded jewelry and lanyards, tooled leather, and other types of crafts.  If you are good at making something and there is a demand for it, auction sites can be a great vehicle for selling your crafts.

Selling online can provide supplemental income — or even a full-time income for some folks — but above all, it should be fun for you, the seller.  Good luck and happy selling!

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