mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
@carolaben wrote:
On a survey, I said clarification is needed. I wonder if I am wasting my time after reading a few of these posts.
When reading through a thread, you need to weigh out what people are saying. Some comes from a lack of understanding on the policy or how it works, others assume things they don't know for sure and then others are so angry with Ebay for whatever reason they have, no matter what Ebay does, it can't be right.
So while threads are a great place to come and get information, you need to do your own research and make sure you aren't running with bad info.
What questions do you have specifically?
@carolaben wrote:
I am a small seller in comparison to others. I find the shipping costs don't allow me to make money. eBay suggests all the time to offer free shipping. I have tried it both ways. I think this suggestion is excellent.
Shipping is what shipping is. You aren't the only one that pays those rates, we all do. I'm not sure what you mean by "shipping costs don't allow me to make money"? Would you explain that a little more. The price of your product should be priced to allow you to make a profit. If it isn't, you need to look how you have structured that. The price of shipping if stated separately, should be just that the price of your actual shipping charges plus a reasonable handling fee that will allow you to recover the fees and packaging materials. Or you can roll those costs into the price of your product.
If you go with Free Shipping, the all those costs need to be rolled into the price of your product plus allowing yourself some profit. Otherwise, find a different product to sell as it isn't worth your time.
@carolaben wrote:
I am fairly new. My understanding is I need a 5 star rating. Some claim they rated me, but it does not show up. I have contacted them, but I surely don't want to pester anyone. I am honest, fair and value integrity above all. I would like to think that eBay has the same values.
I assume you are talking about your Communication DSR [detailed seller rating]. It isn't showing up yet because it take a minimum of 10 buyer's ratings for it to start to show. So some of your buyers clearly didn't rate you in Communication.
This is NOT a problem and I strongly caution you from trying to make it your buyer's problem by contacting them in any way. First once a buyer leaves FB [feedback] they can't go back and adjust the DSRs. Just be patient. It will happen.
NEVER write your buyers and ask for FB or DSRs. NEVER! This can backfire on you so easily. While you may feel your emails are polite and well written, it is all in the eyes of the beholder. You can't anticipate how every person with interpret your words.
The only FB that is important to a seller is good FB. So do your job, be kind to your buyers and the FB will come, just be professional and patient. While FB is important and the DSRs are somewhat important, the most important thing is your Dashboard numbers. You should visit your Dashboard and study it. Click on the links or more info you have in each area. Study and learn. These are the numbers that are most important to your account health.
@carolaben wrote:
Thank you so much for reaching out. If I purchase an item for $14.95 and add a profit of $20. and then multiply using 13% for fees (eBay & Paypal), and then add in calculated shipping, then the item becomes unaffordable. Coming from the Twin Cities, I use Los Angeles as a guide as to the cost. I would like to know what I should add on to the purchase price as a profit for me. I haven't lost any money, but breaking even doesn't do it. By the time I take photos and do a description (and some can be complicated), I have put in a lot of time. I have watched the eBay videos, but to no avail. Any suggestions would be more than appreciated. Thank you.
Wow, you are expecting a profit margin of 75% [14.95 divided by 20]. While certainly it is doable on certain things, as a rule of thumb, not so much. You also need to know that while an item may cost you 14.95, that is NOT the cost in which to base your profit on. There are other costs.
Product Cost, Listing fee, FVF [final value fee], PP Fees [PayPal], Packaging Material [if you don't put it into your separate shipping charge], Shipping [if you are offering free shipping], overhead costs, etc.
I'm not sure what you mean by using "LA as a guide"? Your "guide" should be your complete actual costs plus a profit margin that the product will handle. You need to research what the market will bear. It may bear a 10% profit margin or it may bear 100+ %. You need to do the research.
Ebay has a calculator to illustrate the fees for you. I'll give you a link to that.
http://www.fees.ebay.com/feeweb/feecalculator
I build one for myself in Excel that takes into account all the other costs beyond just the Ebay and PP fees. I fill in what the product cost me and my worksheet calculates the sell price for me. If it appears to low or too high I adjust my profit margin appropriately. So some things I make more money on that others as you will find you will as well.
What will also help you in this little business is multiple or duplicate purchases. What I mean by that is if you find a nice purse you want to sell and if you have the opportunity to buy several of them, do so. This saves you a bunch of time in creating one off listings. You create one listing, with a multiple quantity. I know you won't always be able to do that, but when you can, it saves a bunch of time.
Or if you run them as an auction and IF you get multiple bids, once the listing closes, you can offer the next highest bidder a Second Chance Offer to purchase one because you have others to sell.
The TRS discounts are not posted to your invoice in real time. They will show up on or before it is time for your next invoice release so that you can take advantage of them before it is time to pay the bill.
