eBay listing mistakes that are costing you sales

We manage 10 UK eBay stores, and when we take over a new one the same problems come up again and again. None of them are about the product, they’re about how the listing is set up. Fix these and eBay search starts working for you.

1. Titles that don’t match what buyers type

Use all 80 characters. Lead with brand, product type and model or part number, the exact words buyers search. Skip filler like “L@@K” or “Wow”.

2. Missing item specifics

eBay’s filters run on item specifics. If “Brand”, “Compatible Model” or “MPN” is blank, your item disappears the moment a buyer ticks a filter. Fill in every specific that applies.

3. Poor photos

Use clear, well-lit photos on a plain background, with the first photo showing the whole product. Add close-ups of labels, part numbers and any wear.

4. Thin or messy descriptions

Buyers want to know: will it fit, what condition is it in, and what happens if it doesn’t work? Answer those clearly. Keep descriptions mobile-friendly, most eBay buyers shop on their phone.

5. Pricing without checking competitors

Check sold listings, not just live ones. Price fairly against what’s actually selling, and factor in postage, free postage often wins the click.

6. Ignoring promoted listings

A small promoted listings rate on your best sellers can lift visibility a lot. Start low, watch the numbers weekly, and adjust.

7. Not checking performance

Look at impressions, click-through and conversion each week. Listings with lots of views but no sales usually have a price, photo or description problem.

These are the fixes behind the stores where we’ve doubled sales. If you’d rather hand it over, see our eBay store management.

Want us to check yours?

Get a free audit. We’ll send a clear PDF within 2 working days showing what’s working and what to fix, no obligation, no hard sell.