Sell unwanted DVDs, books and more online

Now Amazon will guide you through the account setup. You will be asked to rate the item’s condition and give a quick summary (to add details such as whether packaging is in good condition, or if it has never been opened – ­ if you are selling an unwanted present, for example). Be honest about any defect, however small. You also need to set a price – ­ both sites will tell you the current highest and lowest price on offer.

When using Play, you need to include the postage and packing fee in the total price; Amazon charges buyers a set postage fee depending on the item, and takes an administration fee before passing the balance on to you (more on how that works shortly). You’ll also need to say where you are prepared to post items to ­ – whether just the UK, to an EU member state or worldwide.

At one stage, you’ll be asked to give a contact telephone number for an automatic verification message. This is an anti-fraud measure and you can’t proceed without completing it. A mobile number is fine, but if you’re using a dial-up internet connection and want to give your home number, you’ll have to disconnect from the web first (instructions are given on the web page that asks for the number). The web page will then display a four-digit code number and when your phone rings, you will be asked to enter this on your phone’s keypad.

Payment, fees and delivery
You are obliged to use the payment systems that are provided by Amazon and Play (Amazon Payments and Playfunds). When someone buys one of your items, their credit or debit card is charged and the funds are then transferred to your Amazon Payments or Playfunds account.

Both sites charge a fee for this service: Amazon takes 86p plus 17.25 per cent of the total cost paid by the buyer. Amazon automatically credits your bank account with any funds in your Amazon Money account every 14 days, although you can instigate a manual transfer. Funds take up to 10 working days to be transf erred.

Play charges 50p and 10 per cent of the item cost but if you decide to transfer the money from Playfunds to your bank account, a further five per cent will be charged. However, if you use the money in your Playfunds account to buy other items from Play, this charge is not made. As for Vat, Play states that you are responsible for paying this should the Vat man ever come calling.

Once payment from the buyer has been cleared, both sites will send you an email with the buyer’s postal address. You should dispatch it as soon as possible and we advise you to obtain a proof-of-posting slip from the Post Office in case the item goes missing. In this case, you have to refund the buyer and make a claim against the Post Office yourself.

Avoiding disputes
Both sites offer a money-back guarantee to buyers in case of dispute. Neither site (like Ebay) is involved in the sale directly, so buyers will be given your email address if a problem arises in order to resolve it.

If the situation can’t be resolved, the buyer can apply for a refund from the sites ­ and this will be charged back to you. To avoid this, ensure the description of your item is as accurate as possible.

If there is cosmetic damage (such as torn pages, tea stains or anything you wouldn’t expect to see on a brand new version of the item), list it in your description.

If a buyer does raise a question, answer it as best you can and treat them as you would expect to be treated by a retailer.

Buyers can leave feedback, as they can on Ebay, so a little civility goes a long way.

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