An experienced eBay seller says he can make as much as £1,000 a month selling unwanted items on the site.
James McHutchison, 31, said this time of year was a good opportunity to have a clear-out of belongings and make some extra cash by selling them on. His big wins include a French watch that he sold for £470.
Speaking to the Mirror, James said: "Everybody ends up accumulating a lot of unnecessary stuff over Christmas, so I think January is the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and sort out what you really need.”
He has also sold clothes, a Nintendo Switch, watches, books - and even a bathroom extractor fan.
He added: “I found some things in my garage that I hadn’t touched for over three years, along with more recent purchases that I just don’t use. I have to admit that I’m a bit of a hoarder, but I never realised just how much stuff I had laying around that could make me a bit of money and also be useful to others.”
James' biggest sales include two high-end watches that he did not wear. He managed to sell them for £470 and £464.40 after listing them on the site. He said that the two items which gave him the most "unexpected profit" were a Swiss watch rubber strap, sold for £83, and a model of a Bentley Car, which he got £72 for.
Two other profitable items were his Nintendo Switch, which James managed to sell for £120, and a Car Dash Cam, which went for £110. James said he was a "strong believer" that any unused item is worth selling, even if you’re sceptical of its value.
He added: “Times are tough at the moment, so whether you’re making £1 or £100, every little helps and can help you on your way to paying your bills or going on your dream holiday. Plus, you never know just how much an object may end up making. For me, selling on eBay is a no-brainer. It’s a win-win situation, as you can make a bit of extra cash and also free up some space around your house. ”
James encouraged others to give it a go, particularly if they had unusual items.
He added: "Unique and quirky items are often what I end up selling for the most, so don’t be put off listing them. Most recently I’ve sold items like watch straps and watch brochures, which were so niche that I was unsure if they’d even sell. In fact, my Swiss Watch Rubber strap sold for £83, which was a lot more than I’d anticipated."
James advises browsing the site for similar items to gauge how much to price a listing.
He said: “I sell a lot of different things, and valuing them can be a daunting task, especially if they are more obscure. I always browse eBay to see what similar items are selling for, but if I’m still stuck I use eBay’s pricing recommendation tool.
"It saves a lot of time and gives you a recommended price range, depending on different factors. You then have the option to decide the most reasonable final price for it.”
On top of this, the 31-year-old said sellers should give thought to when they list items, as it can make a huge difference to the sale.
He added: "I tend to list my items on Sunday evenings when I think people are more likely to be online shopping.”
Some of the items James has sold on eBay:
- Keyring - 97p
- Watch bracelet - £2.20
- Swiss watch brochure - £2.20
- Swiss watch guide - £5.50
- Swiss watch book - £7.50
- Bathroom extractor fan - £12
- Model Bentley Car - £72
- Swiss watch rubber strap - £83
- Car dash cam - £110
- Nintendo Switch - £120
- Swiss watch - £464.40
French watch - £470
