Selling Issues And Tips

[whotoldya]

One of our members asked for us to create this category.

[whotoldya]

Do you have one of those scales in your kitchen?

You may be able to figure it out there if you do.

Very important is to really protect the item inside the package. USPS is very rough on stufff.

[rainingrayon]

I have a scale and do measure. USPS is the cheapest route, correct? Mainly if it's just 1 item, like a light weight top.

I  sold my 2nd top for $8 and free ship. I really thought it would go higher than that. I learned to start my bids higher because this was a $37. nwt top and i pd. almost $2. in shipping and the nebay fees so I lost out. Ah well.. it's a learning experience.

But I'm still boo hooing since we need the money so bad. But I'll survive!!!

[agnessrainn]

Congrats on the sale ... wish it had turned out better for you though ... maybe you should rethink the free shipping.  Let the buyer pay for the shipping.

Kate

[rainingrayon]

Kate- I read where "free shipping' attracts buyers so that's why I went that way and due to my items being so light weigh it's not much for me to pay or for the buyer.

I see some sacred thread items have $5.95 shipping fee when the real cost is below $3.. Then I'm over charging. But you may be right. Perhaps I could charge a flat rate of $2. to $3.

I've got so much to learn and I am so greatful for this group   

[agnessrainn]

I use free shipping only on items that can go first class for 6 oz or so ... otherwise, I let the buyer pay for postage.

Kate

[rainingrayon]

 Kate

Good rule to follow. I may just copy you!!!!

[rainingrayon]

How do you ship anything over 4oz.? Is USPS 1st class not a safe bet? I will ship mostly clothing, shoes, etc...

[agnessrainn]

You can ship USPS first class up to 13 oz ... after that it is priority or parcel post. 

Kate

[Anonymous]

I tried the free shipping and it made absolutely no difference in my sales. But that was for motorcycle parts and pretty much none of my competition offered free shipping at the time. I also add handling. I used to charge $5 handling but since I don't have to buy any packing material, I dropped it down to $3 for US. I still charge $10 for international.

The best thing to do is to see what your competition is doing.

I only ship priority mail because tracking and insurance is included for free. And the boxes and envelopes are free too. If somebody wants me to ship 1st class, I tell them there's no insurance unless they want to pay extra. Same with the tracking.

[whotoldya]

We buy those padded shipping bags from a place in Calfornia.

www.papermart.com

Ya gotta buy them by the case to get them. But wow are they cheap.

We send everyting via US Mail. Stamps.com for doing the labels. Works real good. it transfers the tracking number right to ebay for ya too.

My wife only needs to hand them packages to the mail carrier when she arrives. We no longer leave them outside cause we heard there was mail being stolen around town.

The mail picks us up every day except Saturday. My wife takes them to the post office Sat. The USPS is fabulous for our items. We always used them all these years.

We were in our own worldwide mail order business for 60 years. So we got a lot of experience. They are rough on things so ya gotta make sure ya package stuff real well.

We use pieces of scrap fabric and other free stuff to stuff around items in the mail pack.

Gotta stop writing in lotta pain again,

DWB

[agnessrainn]

I use recycled material for packaging as well ... my husband is a truck driver and knows lots of people he delivers steel too so he just asks for boxes and peanuts. 

Kate

[rainingrayon]

I checked out stamps.com but itsn't it like a $15.00 charge a month? Or is there something I don't know? It would be ideal especially for people who don't get out much, (like me) 🙂

[agnessrainn]

I have always used either Paypal or Ebay to process my outgoing packages ... I don't think the discount is that much but it does help offset the cost of paper and ink a little.

Kate

[rainingrayon]

Is it worth paying extra for a tracking number?

[agnessrainn]

I charge a .19 handling fee to cover the cost of tracking on parcel post ... priority and first class come automatic with package price.

Kate