Choosing what to sell is half the job. A good first product makes everything easier: people understand it quickly, ask simple questions and accept the parcel happily. A difficult product can make you feel like online selling "doesn't work", when really you just started with the wrong item.
Here are the kinds of products a beginner should avoid, at least for the first few weeks.
1. Very cheap items
A Rs 400 item sounds easy to sell. But delivery usually costs the customer around Rs 450, so the total is more than double the item price. Many people will think twice, and your profit on such a small price is tiny.
Choose instead: items that sell for roughly Rs 1,000–3,000. In real Sri Lankan online shops, 9 in 10 items sold were in this range. See the price sweet spot.
2. Very expensive items
On the other side, a Rs 12,000 product needs a lot of trust. Since 90–100% of orders in real shops were cash on delivery, the customer must have that cash ready on the day. Expensive items also bring more questions and longer decisions.
Choose instead: start in the middle range. Once you have regular customers who know you, higher-priced items become easier.
3. Products that depend on exact sizes
Clothes, shoes and anything that must fit exactly lead to doubt. "Will it fit?" is a hard question to answer over WhatsApp. In real shops, 8% of returns were customers changing their mind and 2% were "not as expected". Size problems feed both.
Choose instead: products where size is simple, like kitchen tools, storage, home items or car accessories.
4. Products you can't explain
If you can't explain what it does in one sentence, your customer won't understand it either. Complicated gadgets with many settings bring many questions, and confused buyers often refuse at the door.
Choose instead: products that solve one clear problem. "This keeps your fridge organised" is easy to understand.
5. Anything sold with big claims
Avoid any product that only sells if you promise something dramatic: "lose 10 kg in a week", "cures pain", "100% guaranteed results". These claims are misleading, they disappoint customers and they damage your name.
Choose instead: products where an honest description is enough. Say what it is, what it does and what it costs.
6. Anything using another brand's name or logo
Never sell or advertise a product as a famous brand when it isn't, and never use other brands' names or logos in your posts. It misleads customers and can get you into trouble.
Choose instead: describe the product by what it does and how it looks. MyKade's photos and captions are made for this.
7. Fragile or awkward items, at first
Glass sets, large or oddly shaped items can be more stressful to explain and to receive. You can sell them later, once you have experience.
Choose instead: compact, sturdy products that are easy to show in a photo.
8. Products you don't believe in
If you would never buy it yourself, it is hard to sell it honestly. Customers can feel it.
Choose instead: something you, your family or your friends would actually use. Everyday products that get used up are a great choice, because people buy them again. See products people buy again.
Why this matters for your level
Returns don't just cost you a sale. MyKade gives every seller 3 free returns. After that, sellers on Amber or Red level pay a Rs 150 return fee per return, and many returns can suspend an account. Choosing easy, honest products from the start helps you stay on Green, where the terms are best. Read how seller levels work.
A simple test
Before you share a product, ask:
Can I explain it in one sentence? Is the full price with delivery fair? Would I buy it? Can I answer three likely questions?
If any answer is no, look for another product.
Start with an easy win
A good first product builds your confidence and your level. Pick something simple, useful and fairly priced. Download the MyKade app and choose your first easy product.