How fast do you list?

For me, it depends on the item.

If I have a bunch of similar items in the same category that are easy to photograph, I can easily list over 100 in a few hours. Just get the photos done, get the first listing done, hit sell similar item, and make a few changes to the descriptions and photo and move onto the next.

It gets more complex when I need to repair/restore/clean an item, test it, take detailed photos, have detailed information about the item in the listing (dimensions, other details), and need to do research on it. I’ve had items that from start to finish take 3-4 hours to get from a dirty/broken piece of electronic junk to a pristine working item – however, the profit margin is higher.

At the end of the day, you have to take into account how long it will take to do everything to get an item listed. For me, if I can get a bunch of the same or similar items that I make $10 each on that take 10 minutes or less to list, it is much better than an item I have to spend half the day on to make $100.

I also try and save similar items up from scavenging to list them all at once. It is much easier to list a bunch of items in the same category, with similar descriptions quickly. When I go scavenging, I come back and sort out my items into bins to help keep organized for when I have time to put in for a listing day.

Because you’re new, I think you guys will naturally just list faster with experience. We all stated slow in the beginning. You’ll learn how to become more efficient as you list more.

If you’re willing to share your process, it’s easier to give feedback when we understand your mechanics. Who’s taking photos? Who’s listing? Do you do similar items? Do you photo and list one item at a time?

I’ll let the others reply with techniques, but I will reply with a hardware and software suggestion that will make things at least easier if not faster.

Dual monitors are worth every penny. Great to research on one, or work with your photos on one, while listing on the other monitor,

The other great time server is software that allows to you store chunks of text and then it automatically pastes the text wherever your cursor is – when you click a hotkey. For example, put your cursor in the return policy area while listing and click WIN-R and your policy will be pasted in. You can “pre-can” all kinds of things – from replies to email, to policy, to things you often type into the description field. I use QuicktextPaste (for PC) – it’s a great time saver. Similar software for Apple too.

The third is using listing templates as well as description templates. These two separate things are often over looked, but can save you a lot of time.

I’ve been selling lightly since 1999 and heavy the last 18 months and still list slowly – because I sell so many things that need a lot of research. For the stuff I know about I list them real fast.

The faster we go the more error prone we are – ugh.

I would offer that due to the fact that listings can be created and stored as drafts (more than 30 at a time), that you and your husband both create listings. Once the listings are finished, the rest goes very fast because you are just left with measurements and pictures. Identify who will photograph what. Each one of you will then take your perspective pics, edit them if needed, and then upload them into the drafts. This may help avoid having any wait time. Try to have variety in what you each work on to avoid boredom and/or burn out from only working on one kind of item.

For Veronica and I, we list independently. Veronica does collectibles (and jeans when she is getting short on items to list), and I do all clothing.

For my clothing, I am at 4 items per hour on the low end, 6-7 on the high end. This is prep, photo, and listing. I do things in batch, where I will get 80-100 items prepped, then I will photo and draft the listing for around 10 items, then photo edit, then price and submit the listings. I average 20-35 items per day when I am full time. Days like now where I’m working the contract gig, I am doing 10 items in the morning before I come in to the office.

For Veronica, she will photo about 4-5 items at a time, then list, then repeat. She will do anywhere from 8 per day for items that need a lot of cleaning or research, and up to 16 per day when she is set up.

Our goal is to hit at least 100 items per week when we are full time, and with our new processes, we are looking to improve to 125 soon.

For me, templates are huge. So I already have most of the item specifics and Item Description done, I just have to add color, size, measurement, etc. Having SixBit helps as well, as I am now beginning to look at my past sales since we implemented in July for my pricing on many items, so that helps things go quick.

You can look us up at Vero’s Vault (store name) or verosatt (ebay ID).

Agree. 90% of my shirts I know the price, more research on sweaters since they get more unique, and I look up each sport coat and suit as I go. Too many variables to factor in each time.

We have spent time doing your process (and Jay and Ryanne) where I would take photos and Veronica would list. If we did that now, I’m sure we could do 30+ items per day at this point. We have become much more efficient at the process.

With all that said, I usually like to measure how many listings we do per week and per month. That has a better factor for how “life” happens in the process, and it allows for a full cycle of work (adding in the sourcing and shipping). Plus, if you have a day where you are just not in the groove, you can try to pick up the slack later.

That is one of the best things I love about this forum. Sharing our weeks and months, both in sales and in how much listing we do. It helps hold us accountable for the work that we do each week. Plus you can see how different people list, their average ROI on each sale, the speed of their process, etc. None of us are the same, but we can all learn from each other.