Thinking of selling stuff via the Internet? Here are some options.

THIS IS THE WAY: Chan giving advice to a newcomer at an eBay roadshow.

Have you ever looked at some of the things lying around your home and thought that it may be worth something?

Many of us have old records, magazines, electronics and even souvenirs that we think somebody out there may want to buy.

So, we tell our friends, spread the word and hope to get a buyer to call.

In extreme cases, we set up a table at a flea market to maximise exposure but it is certainly a tedious, tiring and time consuming endeavour.

As more and more people are now turning to the Web to sell, online selling is gaining credibility in Malaysia and the stigmas of old are slowly dying off.

Here we take a look at some of most popular websites and the proper methods for selling things via the Internet.

Going once... Going twice...

The most recognisable website for online buying and selling is, of course, eBay.

The online auction site has been available in Malaysia since 2004 and has been gaining in popularity over the years.

The site allows users to bid for items within a certain time frame. Once the stipulated bidding time has run out, the last (and therefore highest) bidder will be obliged to buy the item and the owner will have to sell it to the bidder.

Registration is free and eBay Malaysia does not charge insertion fees or final value fees.

However, the site will charge you if you were to add an extra picture or subtitles for the item you are selling.

It is important to have multiple views of any item, particularly for expensive products where it is best to have high-resolution pictures from different angles to increase the chances of finding an interested buyer.

eBay owns PayPal and it is one of the more popular ways to pay for items bought on its site.

PayPal allows the buyer to transfer money from his credit card or bank account (note: In Malaysia only credit cards are allowed) to a PayPal account and then send payment to the seller’s PayPal account without exchanging sensitive financial information.

In Malaysia, however, once the money has been transferred to the sellers PayPal account, the money cannot be withdrawn from a bank and can only be credited into your credit card account.

Other payment methods include bank transfers and cash on delivery.

Advanced users hoping to start a side business online may want to consider signing up for an eBay store.

This allows users who meet the requirements to create their own customisable eBay page and even gives them the option of selling fixed price items.

Setting up a store will incur an extra monthly fee and only users with a fixed number of ratings and verifications will be eligible to rent one.

Another auction site that is popular amongst the local audience is Lelong.com.my.

The site is fashioned much like eBay and even has a similar user rating system.

Established locally, it is a lot more Malaysia-centric as there are options to pay specifically via Maybank2u and shows which state in Malaysia the item is in. Lelong is also pushing its virtual stores to people who meet its rating requirements.

You pay a small yearly sum for your own page and store logo as well as an inventory mechanism provided by the site.

Again, this is for advanced users looking to take online selling to the next level.

Lelong also does not charge fees on items sold on its site.

You are only charged if you wish to add more than one picture.

The best way to get around paying too much for extra pictures on eBay and Lelong is to take several photos and merge them into one picture as effectively as possible.

Fixed prices

Auctions are a great way to sell things as you sometimes get more than you expect.

However, it is possible that you get far less than what you wanted or nobody bids at all because the starting price is too high.

There are websites which allow you to sell things at a fixed price to any interested party.

For those willing to bargain, negotiations are also a possibility. The difference here is that you have the prerogative to sell to whomever you please, not necessarily to the highest bidder who may not have hiked the price to a satisfactory level.

Arguably the most popular fixed price website is Lowyat.net. This website deals primarily with electronics such as computers and computer parts, MP3 players, speakers, and essentially anything that requires some form of electric energy to operate.

The site is free to sign up and it is probably the most straight to the point for selling stuff.

It is forum based so you can ask questions immediately and a private messaging system for more detailed inquiries.

The site offers trade at no cost at all as there are no charges for extra pictures, (although the quantity is limited) or a final value fee.

Reputation as well as amount of items sold will be taken into account in assessing a user’s reliability.

A relative newcomer to the realm of online trade is Digi Telecommunication’s mySimplifieds.com.

Launched in February, it hopes to offer Malaysians yet another venue to buy and sell their items.

Advertised as a classifieds website, this site allows users to advertise a wide range of products and even extends to property.

Many houses, apartments and rooms are up for sale or rent on Digi’s site within months of its launch.

Currently, registration and usage is completely free and it remains to be seen whether that is subject to change.

The site offers some interesting services such as a built-in Facebook feature designed to notify your friends about your posting.

Also, links to YouTube will be allowed for further product or property demonstration via video.

Experience counts

Finance student Naveen Veriah, 21, who has been buying and selling things online periodically over the last few years, says he usually sells electronic items online.

“Although the resale value is relatively low there is a high demand for used electronic items,” said Veriah.

“I use Lowyat.net because its forum-based and I believe that it allows the buyer to interact with the seller more easily. Lowyat.net also gives you a personal messaging system so you can negotiate in private.

“Also, I can use Maybank2u which is the most convenient way to transfer money if you ask me. Not everyone has the luxury of a credit card and some sites make owning one almost mandatory.”

There are many people who have taken online selling to the next level. One such person is 29-year-old web designer Kent Ong who now sells jewellery on eBay.

BIG ON SELLING: Ong preparing one of his items for shipping. He hopes to become a PowerSeller on eBay.

Ong started, like many before him, by selling items that were near worthless to him.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it is so easy to turn unwanted items into cash on eBay,” said Ong.

“Now my partner and I sell jewellery that we obtain from Malaysia and elsewhere and on average we make around RM5,000 a month.”

Ong and his partner are vying for eBay’s PowerSeller status. PowerSellers enjoy a closer trading relationship with eBay, including specialised tools and help with marketing and distribution.

In order to be eligible, sellers must have a monthly revenue of USD$1,000 (RM3,600) for three consecutive months and have at least 98% positive feedback from buyers.

“We can reach millions of customers through eBay and we believe that this could one day be our primary source of income,” Ong said.

Former architecture student Chris Chan, 31, now makes her living through eBay selling toys and other memorabilia.

She made it a point to learn as much as she could about selling on eBay through online guides and tutorials.

“eBay is my primary source of income. On top of being a PowerSeller, I am also an eBay education specialist,” said Chan.

“I share my knowledge and experience with new sellers who must make an effort to educate themselves about every step of the selling process.”

“Every step from where, when and how you get your goods to when they arrive in the hands of the buyer is important if you want to succeed as an eBay seller.”

Chan earns an average of US$1,000 to US$2,000 (RM3,6000 to RM7,200) per month selling around 100 to 200 items every week.