eBay sellers - please share your tips for success

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eBay sellers - please share your tips for success

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Started 5 months ago by Ella
Latest reply from Mimi
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Ella
Member

As I mentioned on the thread for planning our Monthly Goals in 2012, I would like to resume selling on eBay in order to declutter the many valuable items that I don't want any more - plus I could really use the money! :)

In early 2010 when I needed to prepare for downsizing to a smaller apartment,
I became a super whiz at selling on eBay and quickly gained Top Seller status.
I enjoyed selling, had great success, and had hardly any negative experiences. So I'm looking forward to doing it again. But meanwhile, I haven't been selling at all since I moved 18 months ago, and my aging brain hasn't retained all the how-to's.
I lost my top status and now I need to start all over from scratch. Knowing eBay, I'm sure plenty of things have changed in the past 18 months, and I'll need to thoroughly review the policies, etc. all over again.

So for my first baby step, I wanted to ask those of you who are currently selling on eBay if you would share your tips for success as well as any suggestions for me as
I prepare to start over? Thanks!

Posted 5 months ago #
arthelemis
Member

Currently, the best thing about eBay (at least, eBay Canada), is that there is no insertion fee your first 50 listing per month, whichever is your starting or reserve price. It really jumpstarted my eBay selling, because I was kind of reluctant about selling higher priced items and then paying the insertion fee, even if I didn't sold it.

-EDIT- They also add a fee for shipping price (grrr). I recently sold a book for 0.99$, shipping was about 10$, and all the fees combined were 0.99$. I use to start my listing at 0.99$ and get what I could from there, but now I start my listing way higher because I don't want to loose money. That kinda reduced my eBay ''inventory'' because some things I would have love to sell (mostly old car repair manuals) wouldn't not sell for very much than 1$, but somehow, since they are out-of-print, the person with this particular car looking for the repair manual would have been thrilled. I know I have been when I found a 0.50$ manual for my (ex) car.

Posted 5 months ago #
herisff
Member

What has mostly changed are their rates - up, of course. Now there is a final value fee on shipping, so you will see a FVF for the item, and another FVF for shipping. If shipping is free, then no FVF of course. When that first occurred, I was eBaying more high-end items, and could absorb the cost of the shipping (I set my desired price, then enough extra to cover the cost of shipping that item USPS Priority). Now that I'm down to the lower cost items, I am charging the shipping cost to the buyer and getting hit by the FVF.

On the one hand, it's nice to see the items go. On the other, sometimes you have to decide if your net is worth the whole hassle of eBaying.

And in the past couple of weeks I've had 2 auctions go to the unpaid item warning. It's probably the whole overspending Christmas thing, but then why buy my item??!! Finally got paid for one, still waiting on another (sigh). What makes me chuckle is that I'm now a power seller, but am about to cut way back on my eBaying. I only ever had about 4 auctions a week, so I still can't figure out how I ever became a power seller. Ah well. Good luck with your eBaying!

Posted 5 months ago #
Sky
Member

My friend has just recently started selling on ebay so her feedback is only 2. Because of that, paypal is holding her money ($350.00) until the buyer gets the item and is satisfied. I think ebay needs to protect the seller better than that. If it weren't for sellers, there would be no ebay.

This and the charge for postage makes me not want to sell on ebay any more.

Posted 5 months ago #
herisff
Member

Sky - once eBay knows that your friend can be relied upon to send the item when paid, then PayPal won't hold her money. Unfortunately, there are some untrustworthy sellers out there. That's why feeback is king on eBay.

Ella - forgot to say, be sure to take clear pictures. Clear, crisp pictures are worth the time. If you have the space, set up a photo shoot area (mine's just a folding table) with a clear background (my plain off-white wall).

Be sure to check your emails at least daily - when you get a question on an item, respond as quickly as you can and be clear as possible. Ambiguity and confusion will cause people to just ignore your item.

And prompt shipping is always appreciated by the buyer. Good luck.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

Oof, I didn't know about the fee for shipping. Guess I should have seen it coming.

herisff: You're right about the importance of crisp photos. My photos have always been stunning. :) In fact, time and again I've seen my items sell for top prices when other sellers had the same items go unsold - their photos weren't anywhere near as good as mine. I used to work as a photo stylist, so that certainly helps.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

What is your personal policy on accepting returns?

Posted 5 months ago #
herisff
Member

Ella - I don't accept returns. I was eBaying my Mom's unwanted Hummels, Lenox and Hallmark ornaments and such, and never wanted to see them again. I did have one item that was found to be broken upon arrival, and I simply returned her money (I wasn't too surprised that it arrived broken, I should have greatly increased the internal support from what the manufacturer provided). While I may not get as many bidders, I figure the bidders I get truly want the items. What items didn't sell, I donate to charity and I/my Mom get the tax write off.

If I were eBaying as a business, I would accept returns - the buyer would have to pay for the return shipping and they would get the refund only if the item was in pre-sell condition.

Posted 5 months ago #
Northmoon
Member

This might be a stupid question, but how do you figure out the postage cost? Do you find a package for the item and take it to the post office or shipping company before listing it? I assume you have to know for the buyer to pay for shipping in advance. Thanks for the info!

Posted 5 months ago #
herisff
Member

Northmoon - I have a digital food scale and used that. All of my items were under 10 lbs so my scale could handle everything I sold. I got boxes from work (a hospital). I then use eBay's shipping calculator.

When you post an item you put in the weight (item/shipping materials/box) and box dimensions. If you specify that shipping is by buyer's location, eBay will ask for the buyer's zip code and it then estimates how much shipping will cost them. You can even specify 2 or more types of shipping (eg Priority, Parcel Post, UPS, FedEx, etc) and it will calculate it all for them. On sale, eBay gives them your choices for shipping and then they select and pay through PayPal. It's pretty nifty. I always used USPS (Priority or Parcel Post).

If you're not eBaying, USPS, UPS etc all have something similar, but you have to go to each site.

And no question is stupid!

Posted 5 months ago #
Northmoon
Member

That's absolutely nifty! The internet is a wonderful place. Thanks for the info Herisff.

I've been able to donate less expensive items fairly easily but the unwanted 'valuable' items are hard for me to let go of. Even though my money is already spent on them, I have some sort of idea it's too good to donate. Plus in Canada we don't automatically get a tax receipt for donations of goods.

Now perhaps I'll get organized and give ebay a try.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

herisff: Thanks for your thoughts about returns. I needed the reassurance. :)
I've never accepted returns, and it hasn't been a problem so far. I know eBay strongly advises sellers to accept returns, although you don't have to do it. Ages ago (late 1990s?) when I first considered becoming a seller, I took an eBay University course on selling. The instructor admitted that even though eBay wants us to accept returns, he never does. As far as he's concerned, the whole reason he's selling on eBay is to get RID of stuff, so he sure doesn't want to see it coming back again!

Posted 5 months ago #
Another Deb
Member

PayPal allows you to print postage from your home printer and tape it onto the box. It's all linked at the eBay site, very easy. Today I was able to bypass a long line at the post office and just drop my shipments into the package drop slot. I also use a digital food scale that has a large flat surface. For bulkier things I use the digital bathroom scale, calibrating it with a known mass such as a 5 pound bag of flour, etc.

I try to use the flat-rate boxes and assemble lots of things that will all fit into a specific size. If you don't have a scale, there are self-serve postage machines in the post office, and they will let you weigh the package for the delivery zone You aren't stuck buying postage until you want it, however.

Although it is sort of fun to sell things this way, I am not finding it fast, convenient or especially profitable. The only reason I started was to sell some vintage items when my parents downsized. I want to shop on e-bay instead of sell!

Posted 5 months ago #
Nina
Member

I sell on our local ebay which is probably a bit different but what I find makes a big difference is good pictures so I try to take them in daylight and from several different angles. Measurements also help to let you know exactly how big something is.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

Sometimes I include a ruler in my photos of small items. I've seen some sellers include a coke can (vulgar) or an apple (nice) to give viewers a sense of scale. If you add close-up details to show any flaws in your item, it's good to include a cleanly sharpened pencil in the photo pointing at the flaw, both for clarity and for scale.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

I'm reading the eBay sellers guide and WOW - I just discovered that titles are now allowed to be up to 80 characters long. That's a HUGE change since last year, when they were only 55 characters. That's a major plus! Fabulous.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ella
Member

arthelemis: Now that I've reviewed the seller's guide, I learned that eBay USA also has the same deal of free auction listings for the first 50 items per month. Nice!

So I have a question...
When I was a seller last year, I frequently used Buy It Now because it was really cheap and easy then. But now the fees have shifted and using Buy It Now isn't such a good deal any more.

However, auction-style listings can also include a BIN option for free. I've never tried that combo. Have you?

Posted 5 months ago #
Mimi
Member

i´d also like to point out the importance of good picures. i started with "professional-style" (white background) pictures and now changed the look, i try to get some nice looking background, e.g. i put the item on the table in front of nice looking background (kitchen items on the kitchen table with uncluttered and clean kitchen in the background, decorative items on the dining table in front of the living room furniture....)
i read this advice somewhere on the internet and they explained that bidders trust the quality of the items if the background promises quality, cleanliness etc.

and i take 5-7 pictures (some close ups included) and embedd them via trixum, so i don´t have to pay for extra pictures.

for stuff that i don´t want to sell for less than XY euros i choose a "buy it now" option plus the option for the "bidders" to suggest a lower price. it lowers the chance to sell an item but it increases the price- often dramatically ;-) if i know i want to sell it for at least 70 euro, i choose 90 or 99 euros at "buy it now" option and to my surprise i often sell for this suggested prize ;-) "buy it now" increases pressure- if there is someone else who clicks on the button, the stuff is sold. if i don´t sell and item, i just list it again, don´t give up, most times it sells for the prize you would like to have.

aha, and accept international bidders, it´s crazy where my ex-stuff was shipped to. an example for good deals: did you know we have to pay about 80 euros for a pair of levi´s 501-jeans in germany? people love the used style and you will possibly get 30/40$ for a pair of used jeans that is about 30$ (new!) in the US...

Posted 5 months ago #
arthelemis
Member

@ Ella : The other day I made a batch of listing with a buy-it-now price because there was a promotion for free BIN. However, since I combined the two (auction + BIN, instead of BIN alone), they charged me the fees for the regular BIN. I tried it today, and the fee is not there anymore (Auction + BIN = no fees).

IMO, there is an upside and a downside with using both on the same listing. Upside is, you have a chance to get all the money you want, and quicker than with an auction. Downside is, if you have something with a huge demand for, an auction alone with a reserve price can probably bring more money than what you expected. I have premium tickets for a sold-out show that I need to sell and last time I checked the completed listing, they go out for more than double what I paid for. I thought about putting a BIN price, but I'm just gonna put the reserve price, and hope for the best.

And I second Mimi on international bidders. More than half of what I sold was outside North America (I don't consider USA as ''international''). I'm only missing Antartica in the list of continents where I haven't shipped something.

Posted 5 months ago #
Another Deb
Member

arthelemis, A friend of mine was in Antarctica for a teacher project several years ago and needed to order something, which she did through e-bay. Would you believe, tap dancing shoes?!

Posted 5 months ago #

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