People have sold merchandise on eBay and made a fortune. You can do that too but you need to know what to sell if you want to make any amount of money at all let alone enough to retire early.

The field is wide open when it comes to the types of merchandise you can sell on eBay. Most people started with what they had around the house. If the items you have are of good quality and not what stores fashionable like to call irregulars then you are on your way to finding a market for them on eBay.

Keep reading for more tips (or grab your Make Money on eBay Guide to cut your learning curve. 

Finding Merchandise

Start where you live. There are bound to be some items in your home that can fetch a good price on eBay. On the website, under the heading of Seller Resources is a link to eBay's Idea House. This tool takes the guesswork out of choosing items around your home to sell. Chick on a room in the house and find some helpful ideas.

What kinds of items would you include in a yard sale? Those same items may get you even more money if you sold them on eBay. Visit local yard sales and find some good items for a relatively small investment. Load up on the good stuff and then turn around and auction it off.

Choosing an Item

While eBay allows you to sell a bevy of products, it is the product that warrants some attention. You can sell lamps, but if the lamp you possess comes with a plaid lampshade, you should probably leave it in the attic. You can't give even away those types of items.

Your goal is to get the highest possible price for your products in an auction. Check out the bidding on similar items. Certain products like gaming systems sell well all year round. Sales are better when new games or new versions of gaming systems become available.

Selling large items can be tricky. On one hand, they do sell for more but then you have to ship it to the buyer. Anything that contains glass, like a curio cabinet, needs to be packed well to avoid damage. The cost of shipping alone can lower your profit margin. To avoid shipping on such items, sell these items with the stipulation that the winning bidder has to pick it up from you.

What you Can't Sell on EBay

There is a list of prohibited items on eBay's website. Selling anything on that list is in poor taste and can get you booted off the site for good. Peruse the list but steer clear.

Pornography
Used clothing
Items with a recall notice on them
Credit cards
Scalped tickets
Beer, wine and spirits (the liquid kind)
Guns and other weapons
Edibles
Body parts

There are other items so check the full list on the site. It is located under Seller Resources.

Choose your items wisely. While it may be saleable the cost involved in showcasing and shipping can be too much.