I started selling my prints on Ebay nearly 2 years ago, and it has been my only source of income since then. Last year, I sold close to 200 8x10 AZO contact prints, and this year I have almost topped that number in just the first few months! When I first started selling, I was listing prints for $49.99, just like many others were doing at the time. I found this price to be WAY to low, so now I'm starting prints at $75.00, however...that is still very low and I will be raising my prices very soon.
There is somewhat a group of photographers that sell their prints on Ebay, and we all try to keep our prices about the same, and when one person raises their prices...everyone else does also. By doing this, it is slowing bring up the market value of photographic prints on Ebay. It also keeps things very consistent, because if one person comes on and starts listing prints for 20 dollars, that not only makes their work look bad, but it also hurts the whole community of photographers who are trying to make a living at selling prints on Ebay.
One of the most important things with selling prints on Ebay is consistency and quality of craftsmanship. If you have these two things nailed, I find most new buyers of my work always come back and purchase more at a later date. You need to build of a list of collectors, museums, and fellow photographers who frequently purchase your work, because they are your most important buyers.
Secondly, its VERY important to ALWAYS have new work being put up on Ebay. You cannot just keep listing the same few images, over and over again because people will become numb to seeing them and you will get zero sales. Always be producing new work! If you list a print more then two times and it does not sell, stop listing it.
When you first start selling your prints on Ebay, you will probably sell zero prints. Don't be surprised if this happens, because most people dont know who you are or don't want to take a risk at buying your work. There is alot of pure garbage on Ebay, and its hard to pick out whats quality and whats not. After a few people start buying your print your sales will gradually start picking up. It has taken me nearly two years, but I can finally list prints now and have about 90-95% of all prints sell, any many will even get bid above my normal print price.
One thing you must NEVER do on Ebay is lower your prices. I cannot express how important this is to the success of selling your prints. Many photographers will be starting prints at 50 dollars, raise their prices up to 75 and nothing sell, so they lower them back down. You need to understand that YOU as the artist are setting the market value for your prints, and by jumping your prices up and down, you show your collectors you are not consistent and your work is not worth buying. Many collectors are buying prints for investment purposes only, so doing this can really hurt your sales. For example, your selling your prints for 75 dollars and a collector purchases a print (with hopes it will go up in value over time), well you see your prints are not selling as good so you lower your price down to 50. That collector just LOST money and your print just became less valuable to your buyer. I sell all my work in pricing tiers, and as the edition sells out, the price is slowly raised. There are many prints that people purchased for first tier pricing of $175.00, but they are now priced in the second and third tier pricing of 400-600! If people see your are consistent with your pricing, and your work is only going UP in value, they will continue to purchase prints even at the higher pricing tiers.
There are many other sites out there to sell your work, but personally...I feel that Ebay is a great market, and your prints don't sell as often on those other sites. Alot of recognized photography collectors actually buy prints on Ebay, and its a good thing for you as a photographer to be getting your work into peoples collections who also have many Westons, Adams, ect prints.
Well, there is alot more to it then this...but if you plan to start selling on Ebay, but be consistent, produce the finest print possible, always be producing new work, and dont sell yourself too cheep.
If you have more questions, feel free to contact me.
Ryan McIntosh
www.RyanMcIntosh.net