You do not have to fill a room with inventory to find out whether you enjoy selling on eBay. Start with one item you already own and understand. Learn how to describe it, price it, pack it, and get it to the buyer.
RTL’s recommendation: prepare for the shipping before you publish the listing. Your first sale will be easier to handle when you already know which box to use and how you will get the label.
This guide is for beginners shipping ordinary items within the United States. The examples and suggested order are RTL’s advice; official eBay and USPS references are listed at the end.
Choose a first item you can handle confidently
Look for something you can identify, inspect, and pack without much guesswork. A shirt with a readable brand and size label, or a complete board game you have checked piece by piece, could be a practice item. Neither is a guaranteed seller.
For your first attempt, RTL suggests setting aside fragile pieces, expensive collectibles, and electronics you cannot properly test. An item that needs special shipping rules is also a poor place to learn the basics.
Ask yourself: Can I explain exactly what the buyer is getting? Can I show the condition honestly? Can I pack it securely? Check that eBay allows the item before listing. [1]
Check what similar items have sold for
Search for the same brand, model, size, and condition, then look at sold results. Current asking prices tell you what sellers want; completed sales provide evidence of what buyers have paid. eBay explains how to research past listings in its pricing guidance. [2]
Example: A sealed game is not a close comparison for your opened game with missing pieces. A bundle of three shirts is not the same as one shirt. Compare the item price plus shipping, and note any differences before choosing a price.
If you cannot find a useful comparison, choose an easier first item or spend more time researching. You do not need to force a price guess just to get a listing posted.
Gather the basics—some purchases can wait
| What you need access to | A practical starting point |
|---|---|
| A way to take pictures | Your phone camera, good light, and an uncluttered background |
| A shipping scale | One that can accurately weigh your packed item; borrowing a suitable scale is fine |
| Measuring tape or a ruler | Measure the outside length, width, and height of the package |
| Suitable packaging | A sturdy box or mailer, with cushioning appropriate for the item |
| Packing tape | Secure the package with shipping tape rather than gift-wrap tape |
| A way to get a label | A regular printer, a label printer, or an eligible QR-code printing option |
| A way to hand over the parcel | Plan a carrier drop-off or an eligible scheduled USPS pickup |
You do not need to buy a thermal label printer for your first sale. Eligible eBay labels offer QR-code printing at participating locations. Check availability before relying on that option. [3]
RTL suggests waiting on bulk packaging orders, photography equipment, and inventory purchases until you know what you will regularly sell.
Work out packaging and shipping before listing
Put the item in the packaging you intend to use, including cushioning. Weigh the whole package and measure the outside dimensions. Write those numbers down. When the item sells, check them again if you change the packaging.
USPS advises using packaging strong enough for the contents. If reusing a sound box, remove or cover old shipping labels and markings. Carrier-branded packaging may require a particular service; do not assume every free box works with the cheapest postage. [4]
RTL’s suggestion: Keep your first packed item somewhere safe and label it for your own reference. You should be able to find it promptly when an order arrives.
Set up your account and make the listing
Follow eBay’s seller registration steps. eBay may need to verify your identity and payout information before you can complete setup. A paid eBay Store subscription is not a prerequisite for beginning to sell. [1]
Create the listing using details you can verify. For a used shirt, for example, photograph the front, back, labels, and any wear. Describe a stain directly instead of hoping the buyer notices it in a picture. This is RTL’s suggested approach to reducing uncertainty for the buyer.
Check these before publishing:
- The title, category, size, condition, and photos all describe the same item.
- You have chosen a price and reviewed any listing fees shown.
- The shipping service, package details, and shipping charge are appropriate.
- Your handling time gives you enough time to pack and hand over the order.
- You understand the return settings you selected.
eBay’s getting-started guidance walks through listing and selling. Use the official steps if your screen differs from an example you have seen elsewhere. [1]
Remember that the sale price is not your take-home amount
Allow for eBay fees, postage, packaging, and the cost of the item. Fees vary by category, account details, and optional features. Review eBay’s current fee page and the amounts shown in your listing rather than assuming one percentage applies to everything. [5]
Illustrative example: Suppose a buyer pays $20 for the item plus $6 shipping. You have collected $26 before tax. If postage costs $7 and packaging costs $1, that leaves $18 before eBay fees and any cost you assign to the item. The $6 shipping charge was not extra profit.
After the sale, check the order inside eBay
Open the order in eBay and confirm that the buyer has paid and the order is ready to ship. Do not rely only on an email or a buyer’s screenshot.
Payment confirmation is different from money reaching your bank. eBay may hold a new seller’s funds even after the buyer has paid. Follow the order’s shipping instructions and deadline rather than waiting for a bank payout. [6][7]
No printer? Use an eligible USPS QR-code label
For a supported USPS service, you can buy the label through eBay and have it printed at a participating post office. Postage costs money; USPS Label Broker printing is free. Check that your location supports Label Broker before going. [3][8]
- Open the sold order in the eBay app and find its shipping-label options. eBay’s help page also explains how to manage shipping and save QR codes in the app. [3]
- Enter the packed weight and dimensions, check the address, and choose a USPS service offering a QR code.
- Select the QR-code label format, review the postage cost, and buy the label. Save the code on your phone or use the copy eBay emails you. [3]
- Take your sealed package and that code to a participating USPS counter. The clerk can print and attach the label. [8]
- Ask the clerk to accept the parcel and give you an acceptance receipt. Keep it with your order records.
Printing the label and accepting the package are separate steps. A QR-code scan that prints a label is not, by itself, confirmation that USPS has taken possession of the parcel. RTL recommends a staffed-counter handoff for your first shipment so you can ask questions and leave with a receipt.
This example is for USPS. A UPS or FedEx label needs the appropriate carrier’s supported drop-off location, not a USPS counter. If your chosen service does not offer a QR code, use a supported printing method instead. [3]
Cannot get to the post office? Check free USPS pickup
USPS offers free Package Pickup for eligible prepaid packages, including USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail, during your carrier’s regular mail delivery. Check availability for your address and schedule a pickup at USPS Schedule a Pickup. Choose the free regular-delivery option; Pickup On Demand is a separate paid service. [9]
Have the package sealed with its prepaid shipping label already attached. The QR-code option above is for printing a label at a participating location. Do not leave an unlabeled package and expect the pickup carrier to print your QR-code label. [9]
Follow the pickup instructions for where to leave the package. RTL suggests choosing a pickup date that fits your eBay handling deadline, saving the confirmation, and checking tracking afterward. A scheduled request is not proof that the package was collected; if a pickup is missed, arrange another handoff promptly.
Check tracking and learn from the first sale
eBay labels automatically add tracking to the order. If you buy postage elsewhere, make sure you add the correct carrier and tracking information yourself. [3]
RTL suggests checking the order after drop-off and keeping the receipt until the sale is fully resolved. Note anything you want to improve next time: a better box, clearer photos, or a shipping estimate that was too low.
Your first goal is to complete an order carefully and understand the process. You can decide how much to expand after you know how the work fits your time.
Want help getting your first listing ready?
Bring your questions to a one-hour eBay Your Way call. We can work through choosing an item, researching a price, planning your photos, or preparing for shipping.
You choose what we work on together—no judgment. No existing store or listings are required. Bring an item you are considering and the questions you want answered; we will focus on the steps that matter most to you.
See details and schedule your eBay Your Way call.
eBay and USPS References
Official guidance checked September 14, 2026. RTL’s examples and recommendations are identified above. Reseller Traffic Lab is independent of eBay and USPS.