What should I know when selling phone cases on eBay?

[anbingshop]

Hi eBay community

I'm planning to start selling phone cases on eBay Australia this year. My plan is to import them from China and starts selling domestically within Australia. 

For selling phone cases, I'm wondering if you guys can share your experiences, and methods for:

1. Shipping the phone cases to customers. What options you are using that is safe, reliable, cheap and effective?

2. Set pricing for them?

3. Helpful and important information/tips that can be applied to me as a new seller?

Thank you very much for your help!

[imastawka]

What should I know when selling phone cases on eBay?

I wouldn't

There are currently 1,214,577 results for phone cases

You're buying from China and can't possibly compete with their prices and postage

[anbingshop]

Thanks for your input. Was wondering about selling phone cases here

Appreciated for your advice that the market is very hard to compete now. Therefore, what is optimal for a new small seller?

I'm interested and appreciated in any responses, insights and advices that could be helpful for me. Thanks a lot!

[imastawka]

No-one is likely to give away their secrets on what sells best.

You will have to do a lot of research and find that 'niche' market like everyone else.

Sorry, but it's hard work selling on ebay.

[anbingshop]

Appreciated, thanks for your reply

[daydreams_12]

If you really want to sell on Ebay, try first to sell some things from around the house.  You must have things no longer needed or wanted.   As stawka said it is hard work.  You need to do all your own research and see if you think it is worth it. 

As for phone cases - recently got one for grandson from China $4 and free postage.  Would be hard to compete with that

[katistrophik]

It is a tough gig, especially competing with Chinese sellers, read through here to get a feel for it all

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/selling/selling-guides-tips/selling?id=4081

and good luck

[love_of_cars]

When someone tells me they wanna sell online I always tell them NOT PHONE CASES!

The internet and actual shops are flooded with them.

The only way you'll have any chance is to find a way to make your own custom and easily desired ones which people would really want over the thousands of others already out there.  You can charge a premium for this also.  But factoring in the cost of manufacturing special cases and possible licencing fees for use of pop culture references, there's probably no point.

[danieh_6]

As a person who sells phone accessories and electronics, the market is too saturated you'd have to sell at a loss for at least 2-3months to get your listings even up in the algorithm. Furthermore phone cases has too many choices. That's all I'll say.

Regardless you do you.

[digital*ghost]

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@anbingshop wrote:

Appreciated for your advice that the market is very hard to compete now. Therefore, what is optimal for a new small seller?

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For a new, small seller - special interest, preferably in an area where you can bring unique skills and / or knowledge. 

IMO It does not matter what category you sell in, if it is unique or hard(er) to find, there is a better chance of finding a market for it. Phone cases probably isn't the best, but just to provide an example of what I mean, if no one else is selling phone cases with, I dunno.... purple ninja cats on it, it might sell better than a generic pink and sparkly one that every seller has a version of. 

Just don't sell anything that uses someone else's IP unless you can prove it's licensed (i.e. don't import Disney or Harry Potter merch from China, it's not licensed, and puts you at risk of having your account restricted / closed).