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In the past few years, online auctions have really become a popular way for people around the world to buy and sell goods. Now I am not just talking about coins, figurines, or other collectibles. In fact, collectibles only ranked sixth in 2004 for all items sold on Ebay with a total value of $2.2 billion dollars worth of sales. But, perhaps surprising to some you just as it was to me, automobiles actually ranked first in sales on Ebay last year with over $11 billion generated through the online auctions hosted by the company.

Yes, the Ebay business machine just keeps growing every year and now you finally want to learn how to sell some of the things lying around your home to make some of that money that seems to be changing hands like gold through all the auction selling. Well my friend, it is about time because online auctions are a simple and convenient way to make real money from home and have fun in the process!

How Basic Online Auctions Operate

The Ebay business machine has grown and evolved over the years so that there are now several different methods to post and sell merchandise. The most basic ebay auctions operate very similarly to a real auction.

The seller first must register and then write a description of the product being sold. Although some copy writing is helpful, a little practice and some homework are all you need to have a basic idea of how to describe your product. Then, you set a price that you want the bidding to start at and designate a time limit as to how long you intend to allow people to bid on your posted merchandise. Then, when time runs out, you must sell your product to the highest bidder. Doesn't really seem that hard to make money on Ebay, does it?

Online Auctions with Reserve Price

There is certainly no one out here that wants their Ebay business venture to end in failure which is precisely why some people opt for the "Reserve Price" option. This "reserve price" is the minimum amount of money that you will take for whatever it is you are trying to sell via the online auctions.

No one can actually see the reserve price except for you so you still get the main benefit of online auctions which is to get people to bid against one another for your product while driving the price upwards. But, for ebay auctions having this reserve price set, the product will not go to the highest bidder unless they have a bid that is equal to or higher than your minimum price. This is a particularly good option for higher end or specialty products to protect you from low-ball bidding and losing a bunch of money.

Online Auctions Using "Buy It Now" Option

Now if you are impatient, need to sell something immediately, or are offering something that might sell better with a fixed price, you can choose the "buy it now" option when posting your merchandise. This allows buyers to purchase your product immediately for a fixed price without going through the trouble of monitoring the bids and waiting for the time limit to expire.

For those of you thinking that online auctions are a mere fad, guess again. With access to a global marketplace and more people than ever using the Internet to buy the things they want and need, online auctions are only going to increase in popularity in the coming years. Auction selling is the best and fairest way to get the best price for anything being sold. Plus, if you play your cards right and are savvy enough, you might just be able to quit that day job and start making money from home selling things you love to people that want your goods!

About the author:

Jason James website 'The Auction Resource Network' reveals his inside secrets and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 a month on eBay.

Claim your FREE 'Top 10 eBay Selling Secrets' eBook: www.auctionresourcen etwork.com