When you start selling electronics on eBay, one of the biggest questions is:
“How much do I actually need to test this?”
The answer is simple:
Test what you can and be honest about the rest.
Why Testing Matters
Testing protects you from:
- Returns
- Negative feedback
- Confused buyers
But more importantly:
It sets expectations.
eBay Is Built for Used and Partially Working Items
I would argue eBay is the place for:
- Used items
- Older electronics
- Partially working devices
New items are more of an Amazon thing.
Not always — but generally.
That’s why testing matters here more than anywhere else.
This Is Basic — But the Basics Matter
This is a beginner guide, and yes — it’s simple.
But these are the things that matter most:
- Power – Does it turn on and stay on without shutting off?
- Charging – Does it recognize a charger and actually charge?
- Battery – Does it hold any charge or only work plugged in?
- Buttons – Do the main buttons respond properly when pressed?
- Screen – Any cracks, dead pixels, or display issues?
- Ports – Are the charging and headphone ports loose or damaged?
You don’t need to go deeper than that most of the time.
My Approach: Be Conservative With Condition
This is important.
I am very liberal with listing items as “For Parts / Not Working.”
Even if:
- It turns on
- Mostly works
- Just has a bad battery
If it’s not fully working for me:
I will usually list it as for parts.
Why This Matters (eBay Condition Rules)
By eBay’s definition:
“Used” means fully operational and functions as intended.
A lot of sellers ignore this.
They list items as “Used” when:
- Something doesn’t work
- Features are broken
That can come back to hurt you.
– Buyers can open returns
– And they’ll often win
Safer Strategy
You have two options:
Option 1:
Be extremely clear about every flaw
Option 2 (what I often do):
Just list it as “For Parts / Not Working”
For Parts Items Still Sell (Very Well)
A lot of people don’t realize this.
There are:
- Repair shops
- Refurbishing businesses
- Bulk buyers
Buying these items every day.
They:
- Fix them
- Clean them
- Resell them for a premium
Real Example (Why This Works)
I actually just had this happen recently.
I sold an item listed as “For Parts / Not Working.”
I clearly described what didn’t work and what I didn’t test.
The buyer left positive feedback saying:
“Great deal and price. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get anything working, but that’s my fault, not the seller.”
That’s exactly what you want.
The expectation was set correctly.
Even though the item didn’t work for them:
- No complaint
- No return
- Positive feedback
Should You Fix Items Yourself?
You can.
But ask yourself:
- Is it worth your time?
- Do you actually want to learn repairs?
Because:
Time is money.
My Philosophy
I don’t try to squeeze every dollar out of every item.
Instead:
I’d rather list it faster and move on.
- Test it
- Decide quickly
- List it
You’re Not Running a Repair Shop
Unless you want to be.
But when starting out:
Do the basics and keep moving.
Large companies:
- Have systems
- Have tools
- Have teams
They do this better and faster.
Final Thought
If you’re trying to figure out what sells on eBay, a lot of it comes down to electronics.
But testing doesn’t need to be complicated.
Test what you can. Be honest about what you can’t.
That’s enough.