One thing you can do, Stilly, is set a reserve price on what you are selling. If the bidding doesn't go that high, you don't lose a red cent, you just try and sell it again later. If it never sells for as much as you consider acceptable, well, then at least you have not taken a loss on the sale, and you're still got the item.

I would tend to stay away from selling inexpensive items that are also heavy...it doesn't sound like a very practical notion when you work in the shipping charges.

The items I buy and sell are not very heavy, accordingly the shipping charges are not so bad.

No way I would try to sell and ship a used electric typewriter like someone mentioned! The shipping charge would be astronomical.