How does selling on eBay work?

How does selling on eBay work?

• I know what eBay is; but I'm in dire need to sell some 'junk' on there, and I don't know how this give/take thing functions. How do I receive the payments if I were the seller? Paypal? How do I send my item to the buyer? Snail-mail? Every detail please. Would be a lot of help. Thanks.

• Answer:

  "Every detail" isn't even possible in this small space. Some things should just be common sense. You aren't going to be sending any physical packages though email now are you? A few things that are important to know: There is no such thing as "no refunds" in the real world. Many buyers will rip you off if they get the chance. Many new buyers are just like you and have no idea what they are doing yet. Expect people to bid, win, and not pay. Some will use excuses like "my cat did it", "I bid by accident", and "Send it to me first and then I'll pay for it." You must use some form of tracking that is available online. If you don't then you can't prove they got the package. If they claim they didn't they will win any dispute and get their money back. Never ship anything to Nigeria. Nigerian scammers are rampant on eBay. They love to hit electronics and high dollar items. Never fall for fake emails. Some scammers will send you an email that looks like it's from eBay/PayPal. Always check your account directly without going through any links in an email. If an item arrives broken and you didn't use insurance then the money comes out of your pocket. Insurance is to protect the seller, not the buyer. You must fully describe EVERYTHING wrong with an item you are selling. Even a tiny scratch. Buyers don't like surprises. Have a cat or a dog? Do you smoke? Some people are allergic and can tell when they open the package. Add a disclaimer to your listing if you have pets or smoke. As a new seller PayPal will put a hold on your payments. This can last up to 21 days or until the buyer leaves feedback. These are just a few of the things you need to know. There is so much more that will never fit here.