eBay product listing creation

Creating a listing step by step

1. 01

   Prepare

   Item details, identifiers, measurements and condition noted.

   Output: Item record

2. 02

   Match

   Search the catalogue by identifier; use only an exact match.

   Output: Matched or new listing

3. 03

   Describe

   Category, specifics, condition and description completed.

   Output: Complete details

4. 04

   Show

   Photos added: main photo first, then all angles and flaws.

   Output: Photo set

5. 05

   Price and post

   Price from comparable sold items; postage policy chosen.

   Output: Ready listing

6. 06

   Check

   Preview as a buyer before publishing.

   Output: Live listing

Catalogue matches

eBay UK says you can enter the UPC, ISBN, part number or product name of your item to use details and stock photos from its catalogue, and that when you select an item from the catalogue you should be sure it's an exact match. If there is no exact match, you don't have to use it. A near match, such as a different model year or colour, brings wrong details into your listing, so check every field the catalogue fills in. Note on your item record whether the catalogue was used.

What to have ready

Category and item specifics

Choose the category that best describes the item, since it decides which item specifics are asked for. eBay UK says you'll be prompted to add required information such as size, colour, brand and style, and recommends adding product identifiers too. Fill specifics from the item itself and your records. If a specific is unknown, leave it rather than guessing.

Photos

eBay UK says at least one picture is required and up to 24 can be added, with the first, the main photo, shown in search results. It recommends that the main photo show the whole item face-on, images of about 1600 x 1600 pixels and no badges, logos or watermarks. For used items, eBay UK says you can't use a catalogue or stock photo, so take your own photos of the actual item.

Example: a catalogue match that was not exact

Price and postage

Price from recently sold comparable items in similar condition, and choose a postage policy that fits the item's size and weight. If you use business policies, the postage and returns terms come from the policy you select, so check you have chosen the right one.

A final check

Before publishing, preview the listing as a buyer would on a phone: does the title say what the item is, does the main photo show it clearly, are the specifics right, does the description answer obvious questions, and is the total cost reasonable? Correct anything that looks wrong before publishing rather than after the first question arrives.

Writing the description

eBay UK suggests including the item's brand name, style and model numbers along with any unique qualities. Add what the specifics cannot hold: how the item was tested, exactly what is included, measurements in context and any limits, such as an item that needs a part replaced. Keep paragraphs short for phone reading. If the item is used, repeat the main flaws in the description as well as showing them in photos.