Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to go onto the internet over the Christmas period in an attempt to dispose of their unwanted presents. Gifts from aunties and uncles that simply don’t cut it will be auctioned off quicker than you can say gift receipt, but online parcel delivery specialist Parcel2Go is warning first-time sellers not to be too hasty.

Last year, eBay estimated that 550,000 people would go onto the internet either on Christmas Day or Boxing Day to sell their unwanted gifts online. New technology such as iPads, laptops and smartphones mean it is easier to get onto eBay than ever before, and the opportunity to get cash for unwanted gifts is likely to appeal to a large number of people this year.

Parcel2Go is urging those people who haven’t sold items over the internet before to take their time if they want the process to go smoothly and prevent their Christmas Day celebrations turning into a Boxing Day hangover. The company’s marketing director, Richard Mercer, said while the process of listing goods might be very straight forward, there are a few things sellers should remember.

“Making your goods appeal to as wide an audience as possible is very important and can make a significant difference to the amount of interest your auction attracts,” he said. “For example, failing to make sure that you offer a range of delivery options such as international shipping through leading courier companies can put off potential buyers.

“It’s also vital to ensure that any items you send off are well wrapped and will not become damaged in transit. The last thing a buyer wants is to unwrap their purchase and find that it is broken. This can cause all sorts of problems and so it is much better to do everything possible, such as using quality packaging and a leading UK courier, to avoid such a situation.”

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