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Blog / Marketing tips / How to Sell Print-on-Demand on eBay [2024]

Marketing tips

How to Sell Print-on-Demand on eBay [2024]

How to Sell Print-on-Demand on eBay [2024]
Karlina Rozkalne

By Karlina Rozkalne

10 min read

Almost 30 years ago, the first item sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer. 

Fast-forward to 2024, and it’s one of the biggest online marketplaces, with roughly 132M active shoppers buying everything from electronics to jewelry.

Today, we’ll review everything you need to know about selling print-on-demand products on eBay. 

After reading this step-by-step guide, you’ll know:

  • If eBay’s the right fit for your business 

  • How to set up your eBay store and get sales

  • Important details about payments, fees, taxes

Now, let’s dive into the eBay print-on-demand world.

Is eBay right for your print-on-demand business? A short answer.

To know if eBay is the way to go for your online business, several key elements must align with your goals. One of eBay’s biggest advantages is its massive reach. With 132M active customers, it has established itself as a trusted global marketplace. This huge customer base, along with eBay’s buyer protection policies, gives customers confidence when purchasing from unfamiliar sellers. 

The platform is also friendly to eBay sellers: it’s easy to set up and start selling, making it accessible for both new and experienced sellers. Enhanced listing features, though available for an extra fee, can increase visibility and earn you more sales. Sellers also benefit from eBay’s protection policies, which help mitigate negative feedback for issues beyond their control.

However, as with any ecommerce marketplace, eBay has its drawbacks. eBay’s fees can accumulate quickly, including listing and final value fees, sales tax, and other eBay charges. Sellers also face pressure to offer free shipping because customers often expect it. Lastly, customization is limited to eBay’s templates, which can be restrictive for some sellers. 

Ultimately, you must weigh the advantages and downsides to decide whether eBay is the marketplace for you.

Valuable read: A Beginner’s Guide to eBay Dropshipping

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a business owner holding a jacket he's selling online
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Create and sell custom products online
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How to sell print-on-demand on eBay: 7 steps

When you sign up for eBay, select the Business account and fill out the details.

ebay's sign up page

Source: eBay

To set up your account, select your business type:

ebay's sign up form - business types

Source: eBay

Then, fill out your Personal details: Personal details part of ebay's signup process

Source: eBay

After that, choose how you’ll receive your payouts: types of payouts on eBay

Source: eBay

Finally, review all information and confirm.

When using the print-on-demand model, your reputation depends on the dropshipping service you use. After all, they’re in charge of production and product quality. So choose wisely.

Look for a POD provider that offers:

  • Competitive pricing

  • A wide range of customizable products

  • High-quality printing 

Before committing, test multiple providers by ordering samples, checking their customer support, and evaluating shipping times. Reliable POD companies should have a strong track record and dependable production, and they should offer branding options to help your products stand out. 

With over a decade as the industry leader, Printful is one of the most trusted POD companies on the market. It’s known for its extensive product catalog and high-quality services. It offers a wide range of customization techniques, including direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, all-over printing, direct-to-film (DTF) printing, classic embroidery, and unlimited color embroidery. Printful's homepage

Source: Printful

Printful also has a direct integration with eBay, which means connecting your store, adding products, and managing orders is effortless. Printful's integration with eBay

Source: Printful

Here’s a short video explaining the process:

preview play-button
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business owner holding a jacket he's selling on eBay
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Create and sell custom products on eBay
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After you’ve selected your POD partner, it’s time to choose products for your eBay store. 

Start by figuring out which items align with your target audience and brand identity. For example, if you’re starting a clothing brand for fitness enthusiasts, go with high-quality products like All-Over Print Leggings, Cropped Sweatshirt, or other sportswear items.

Valuable read: 20 Trending Products to Sell Online This Year

Always order samples to ensure quality. With Printful, all registered users get a monthly sample order (with up to 3 items per order) with a 20% discount.

preview play-button

For instance, if you’re selling custom t-shirts, check the softness of the fabric, durability, and how well your design holds up after washing. This helps you avoid issues with customer satisfaction later on.

Rather than overwhelming your store with too many options, begin with a focused product range. This makes it easier to manage and gather feedback.

Pick the initial products you’ll test. Order samples, see what you think of them yourself, and ask for feedback from the people around you. Use this feedback to refine your selection, improving or replacing items. After that, you’ll also get feedback from your customers. That’s the feedback that matters most.

Here’s how you can encourage feedback:

  1. Post-purchase emails: Send follow-up emails a few days after delivery, asking for feedback or a review. Make it simple by providing a direct link to the review section.

  2. Offer incentives: Reward customers for their feedback with discounts, store credits, or free shipping on their next purchase. This motivates them to leave a review.

  3. Social media engagement: Encourage customers to share their experiences on social media by tagging your brand or using a specific hashtag. You can feature their posts on your store’s social media accounts.

As you expand, consider seasonal trends or niche items that align with your audience’s interests (e.g., offering eco-friendly custom hoodies if sustainability matters). With Printful, you can browse the product catalog by various categories like sportswear, back-to-school, fast delivery, and more.

 Printful's Product Catalog

Source: Printful

 Gradually diversify your range based on data and customer feedback to grow sustainably without overwhelming your business or customers.

There are many ways to go about designing products. With Printful, you get access to the Design Maker. It’s completely free and has a ton of free design resources:

  • 712 fonts

  • 20400+ clipart (300+ clipart collections)

  • 3100+ quick designs (ready-made designs)

  • 550+ background graphics + 175 colors

preview play-button

Valuable read: 11 Things You Didn’t Know Printful’s Design Maker Could Do

Now, you may also choose tools like Canva or Photoshop, depending on how tech-savvy you are.

Canva is a free, beginner-friendly online image editing tool. It doesn’t require technical knowledge and is easy and intuitive to use with its drag-and-drop editor. One of the best parts of Canva is the countless templates and elements you can choose from to get you started with designing. Canvas homepage after signup

Source: Canva

Photoshop is one of the most popular options for image editing. It requires some previous knowledge, and there’s quite a steep learning curve if you’re unfamiliar with it. So, we don’t recommend it if this is your first time trying it out.  Photoshop's homepage

Source: Photoshop

When creating designs, consider your target audience and how your products appeal to them. Start by researching what your potential customers like—colors, styles, and trends that resonate with them. You can do this by looking at your competitors, identifying what they lack, and filling in the gaps in your niche. 

Make sure your designs reflect your brand identity so customers can easily recognize and connect with your brand. For a first-time business owner, it’s important to test different ideas and gather feedback to see what works best.

Now, regardless of where you create your designs, you must ensure they’re print-friendly. In other words, optimize the print files for printing by following your POD provider’s guidelines.  Ignoring these guidelines risks poor-quality products and negative customer feedback.

For example, platforms like Printful offer detailed product-specific requirements to ensure your designs meet print quality standards. To find guidelines for a specific product, go to the product catalog and click File guidelines. Where to find file guidelines on Printful's Catalog

Source: Printful

From there, you’ll see product-specific disclaimers, must-follow guidelines, and tips for best results. Print file guidelines

Source: Printful

Once your products are customized, it’s time to add them to your store.

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business owner holding a custom jacket he's selling online
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Now that your designs are ready, it’s time to add products to your store. Here’s what to keep in mind when creating eBay listings:

  • Product titles: Create clear, keyword-rich titles that accurately describe the product. To enhance search visibility, you must include specific keywords.

  • Descriptions: Write detailed product descriptions that highlight the product’s key features, benefits, and unique aspects. You should also include information about the materials, sizing, and customization options (if applicable).

  • Pricing: Set competitive prices by researching similar products on eBay. To ensure you turn a profit, factor in production costs, shipping fees, and eBay’s fees.

  • Photos: Add high-quality photos that show the product from various angles. Follow eBay’s photo guidelines, such as using a white background and including multiple images to give buyers a clear view of the product.

  • Shipping details: Set up shipping options, including shipping methods, costs, and delivery times.

  • Category and item specifics: To increase the chances of the product being found in eBay’s search results, select the appropriate category and fill in item specifics.

  • Policies: Include return and exchange policies, as well as clear terms of service to build trust with potential buyers.

As you’re working on your listings, you must also consider that you’re competing for the shopper’s attention with other sellers. So, you must optimize your listings.

6. Optimize your listings for eBay’s search results

eBay, like any other marketplace, has its own search engine that you must understand in order to have your listing noticed. eBay marketplace

Source: eBay

Here’s how to optimize for eBay’s search engine:

  • Keyword research: Identify and use relevant keywords that potential buyers might use when searching for products. You can use tools like eBay’s search suggestions, keyword research tools, or competitor analysis to find high-traffic keywords.

  • Title optimization: Strategically used keywords in the product title play a significant role in the success of your listings. This means incorporating popular search terms while avoiding keyword stuffing.

  • Item specifics and categories: You must fully utilize eBay’s item specifics fields. Fill out all product specifications accurately to improve search placement.

  • SEO-friendly descriptions: Your product descriptions have to inform and also include relevant keywords naturally. A well-written, keyword-optimized description can boost search rankings within eBay and even in external search engines like Google.

  • Promotions and listing upgrades: Using eBay’s promotional tools, such as promoted listings, markdown sales, or the “Best Offer” feature, can enhance your product visibility. 

  • Regularly updating listings: This can include tweaking titles, updating keywords, and refining descriptions based on performance data.

And now, only 1 step left!

To launch and market your eBay store effectively, focus on maximizing free resources and strategies to build visibility and engagement.

  1. Create brand identity visuals: Use free tools like Canva to create a professional logo and banner that reflect your brand identity. Organize your products into clear categories to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. Canvas homepage

    Source: Canva

  2. Fine-tune your store details: Ensure your eBay store looks professional by updating your About section with a compelling story about your brand. This personal touch helps build a connection with your audience. The Woof Soul About us section on eBay

    The Woof Soul on eBay. Source: eBay

  3. Use your network: Reach out to friends, family, and your social network to spread the word about your store. Ask them to share your store link on their social media platforms to extend your reach for free.

  4. Run a launch giveaway: Host a small giveaway on your social media pages or within your network to generate buzz. Encourage participants to follow your store and share the giveaway with others to increase your visibility.

  5. Optimize for mobile: Many buyers shop via mobile, so make sure your eBay business is mobile-friendly by making your descriptions easy to read.

Is selling print-on-demand on eBay profitable?

Yes, selling print-on-demand on eBay can be profitable if done correctly. You must consider factors like choosing high-demand products, setting competitive product prices, and minimizing selling costs. Additionally, choosing a trustworthy print-on-demand provider and strategically marketing your products will also affect your profitability on eBay.

Final thoughts

With the right approach, eBay selling can become a full-time business with minimal upfront costs. Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking of all the steps—focus on the one right in front of you.

If you have any questions or want more guidance on selling on eBay, consult Printful’s Blog, which has a whole section dedicated to selling on eBay. eBay section on Printful's Blog

Source: Printful

Valuable read: 17 Critical Print-on-Demand Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Frequently asked questions

Some users receive an account suspension after creating a new eBay account and pushing Printful products. That’s because eBay is unable to verify the new account’s business or registration information.


Here are the steps to get the suspension lifted. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact our customer support

You’re charged only after your customer places an order. Once your customer places an order, we charge you for the fulfillment, shipping, and applicable taxes and start working on fulfilling your order.


See our Payment and pricing guide or watch a video on How Printful processes payments.

According to eBay guidelines, these are the components of a perfect listing: 

  • Effectively written title—use relevant keywords, organize them in a way that’s easy to read, and avoid using acronyms and writing in all caps.
  • Accurate and detailed item specifics—provide as many of them as possible (e.g., size, color, style).
  • High-quality photos—benefits of great photos include increased sales, reduced questions, and more. Check out eBay-recommended photo tips if you need inspiration.  
  • Clear descriptions—to get your listings to rank, you must include keywords in the descriptions. Use tools like Keyword generator, Keyword tool dominator, Keyword Tool, and others to find what people are looking for.
  • Competitive price—use the eBay research tool to see what similar items sold for in the past three months. 

No, there are no monthly or startup fees. You only pay when your customer places an order.

Yes. To get into the nitty-gritty, visit eBay’s tax guide, read our Beginner’s Guide to Sales Tax, or watch our What you need to know about Sales Tax video.

PayPal doesn’t process payments on eBay anymore, so you can’t use your PayPal account to receive payments. Your payouts will be deposited in the account you provided when setting up your eBay account.

 

If you want the receive your payouts to a different account, go to Payments > Payout settings > Manage. A new window will open and you’ll be able to add other payment options.

 

Here’s eBay’s Payments and earnings page if you want to learn more.

Yes, you’re allowed to sell print-on-demand on eBay with Printful or any other print-on-demand provider.

Here are the best products and product categories to sell on eBay:

 

Here’s a short step-by-step guide to Printful integration with eBay:

 

1. Create your Printful account

2. Create your eBay account

3. Set your payout system

4. Connect eBay with Printful

5. Add and sync your products

Absolutely! Prints are among the best-selling products on eBay.

author

By Karlina Rozkalne on Sep 26, 2024

Karlina Rozkalne

SEO Content Writer

Karlina is an SEO Content Writer specialist at Printful. As a firm believer in attitude over aptitude, Karlina gives her 100% whenever she works on something new. Karlina spends her free time reading, traveling, and doing yoga.

Karlina is an SEO Content Writer specialist at Printful. As a firm believer in attitude over aptitude, Karlina gives her 100% whenever she works on something new. Karlina spends her free time reading, traveling, and doing yoga.