Ebay Sellers - Cash in on Exchange Rates

It is all too easy to think the US is where everything happens on eBay but a dollar in New York is still only a dollar in Texas. Ebay Inc just recently announced a huge 52% year on year increase in net profits with the conversion from strong currencies to the US Dollar a very big factor contributing to this result. So let's explore some ways you can cash in on current exchange rates by aiming your eBay listings at the Brits. The three key questions to ask are:

What do UK eBayers want to buy?

How much will it cost me to ship items?

Can I locate the goods they will buy from the US at the right price?

The immediate benefit of the UK compared to many other eBay savvy countries is the shared language. No dodgy online translations to rely on! Remember UK buyers rarely buy electrical items from the US due to differences in the power voltage but here's a few hints to help you find suitable products:

A pair of new Levi Jeans in London high street stores can cost in the region of $140 so you can imagine many Brits keep scanning the clothes sections of eBay. A few people have already caught on to this price difference but see what Levi Jeans sell for on the main eBay site here. Now look at the eBay UK listings. Is there a chance to profit?

Let's think a bit deeper. Thousands upon thousands of American tourists have been visiting the UK for generations and almost all sent postcards home to the US. UK postcard collectors pay top dollar for good condition cards of their home towns or villages. Being foreign to Americans, they can be found cheap in the US and they are easy to ship overseas.

Stamps are still a huge collectible in the UK and, again, good British or British Empire stamps are much sought after. Best of all they are easy to ship. New computing books can often cost twice the US cover price in the UK but check the shipping costs as these can be expensive or slow to deliver.

Space and time prohibit me from going thru all the eBay categories but hopefully I've inspired you to at least research your own ideas. Use some common sense, allow the time to do some research, and I promise the practical and profitable items are there to be found.

Remember to list items on eBay as being available to international buyers in the UK. Although non-Paypal or credit card transactions can be delayed by a few days by the distance, many sellers recognise that trading with the UK is just as reliable as dealing with a buyer in the US.

This opportunity wont be around forever, but while the British Pound is buying two Dollars, you can bet the Brits will be shopping.

The author is a moderator at Pheebay Forums.