What You Can't Sell on eBay Prohibited The following items may not be listed on eBay:

Alcohol Animals and wildlife products Catalog and url sales Counterfeit currency and stamps Counterfeit items Credit cards Drugs and drug paraphernalia Embargoed goods and items made in prohibited countries Firearms Fireworks Government IDs and licenses Human parts and remains Links to other web sites (except as outlined in eBay's policies) Lock-picking devices Lottery tickets Mailing lists and personal information Plants and seeds Postage meters Prescription drugs and devices Recalled items Satellite and cable TV descramblers Stocks and other securities Stolen property Surveillance equipment Tobacco Travel (except as outlined in eBay's policies)

Questionable These items may be listed under certain conditions. Do further research before listing items of this nature to be sure yours is allowed. To learn more, click on "Security Center" at bottom of any eBay page, then click on "Market Place Rules and Policies." Questionable items include:

Artifacts Autographed items Batteries Catalytic converters and test pipes Compilation and information media Contracts and travel-related tickets Electronics equipment Event tickets Food Freon and other refrigerants Hazardous materials Imported and emission-noncompliant vehicles International trading in any category that violates current laws Materials targeted to mature (adult) audiences Medical devices Offensive material Pesticides Police-related items Pre-sale listings (items that are not in control or possession of seller at time of listing) Slot machines Used air bags Used clothing Warranties Weapons and knives Wine

Potentially Infringing These items may be in violation of certain copyrights, trademarks or other rights. eBay prohibits some of these items, regardless of any particular item's legality, because they almost always violate copyright and trademark laws. As with questionable items, do your homework before posting your item. Potentially infringing items are:

Academic software Beta software Bootleg recordings Downloadable media Use of a person's likeness, name or signature Games software Items for which you disclaim knowledge of or responsibility for authenticity or legality Items or listings that misuse another product's brand name Items that may violate a contract you have with another party Mod chips Movie prints OEM software Promotional items Recordable media Replica and counterfeit items Software or hardware that would enable a user to circumvent copy-protection features on video games, software programs, CDs, CD-ROMs or DVDs Tickets (travel) Unauthorized copies

Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay.

Finally, you should examine auction page's counter--that is, if seller has included one--to determine how many people actually have viewed listing. If number is high, then you know this particular seller has done his or her homework and placed item where it likely will generate most traffic and interest.

If auction has received multiple bids or current bid price exceeds minimum asking price by a wide margin, then you've got a good idea where to pitch your own sales tent and how to proceed with your own listing.

Dredging up Past Now, let's say you've peered into every conceivable category but still couldn't locate anything remotely similar to your item. Think you're done? Not by a long shot. One of nice things about eBay's search tool is that in addition to accessing "live" auctions, it also can bring up a list of auctions that ended recently.

In fact, you only need to go to main eBay search page and click on "Completed Items" link. Then type in keyword in search field, and away you go. Within seconds, you'll have at your disposal a list of keyword-enabled auctions that ended within past three weeks.

And what can you do with that information? Well, for starters, you can conduct some free market research--review closing price for each individual auction and see whether auction actually attracted any bidders.

Secondly, you can search for additional completed auctions for other unrelated items that you might have considered listing at one time or another but decided against it. By calling up closed auctions, you quickly can determine whether your decision was sound or perhaps hasty; and best of all, it didn't cost you a dime to find out results.

Where, What, How As an online seller, there are several distinct advantages that come with regularly perusing eBay. Unlike e-commerce sites, outside sellers can see what's hot in marketplace and whether things are trending up or down. Remember, there's lots of useful information tucked away within highly trafficked eBay--all you need to know is where to look, what to look for, and how to look for it.

Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay.