Does Using Your Cell Phone Help You with Your eBay Business?

[getitright1234]

Does Using Your Cell Phone Help You with Your eBay Business?

I recently had an eBay poster attempt to mock me for using my cell phone to conduct some of my eBay business.  I know I have seen other Sellers who proudly use their cell phone as a tool to aid them.  Below is a list of what I do with my cell phone.    Do you do the same and please share if you have more to add.  

1.  Prompt response to buyers’ messages when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

2. Prompt response to buyers offers when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

3. The prompt creation of shipping labels, label that can be emailed to a copier center for print, and only pay 5-ten cents per page for labels, rather than using and paying the high price of ink and/or a printer.  

4.  Immediate Research items while in stores, auctions, estate sales, garage sales to determine should I buy for resale. 

5.  The immediate creation of a listings, all while having breakfast, lunch or dinner when away from your desktop/laptop.

6.  Taking pictures to download to my desktop/laptop.  

So, if you got a Cell phone and you are not using it to do any of the things listed above:  to run or enhance the running your online business, then you are not keeping up with the times.    The efficiency aspect is a WIN WIN! 

[baantiques]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

Does Using Your Cell Phone Help You with Your eBay Business?

I recently had an eBay poster attempt to mock me for using my cell phone to conduct some of my eBay business.  I know I have seen other Sellers who proudly use their cell phone as a tool to aid them.  Below is a list of what I do with my cell phone.    Do you do the same and please share if you have more to add.  

1.  Prompt response to buyers’ messages when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

2. Prompt response to buyers offers when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

3. The prompt creation of shipping labels, label that can be emailed to a copier center for print, and only pay 5-ten cents per page for labels, rather than using and paying the high price of ink and/or a printer.  

4.  Immediate Research items while in stores, auctions, estate sales, garage sales to determine should I buy for resale. 

5.  The immediate creation of a listings, all while having breakfast, lunch or dinner when away from your desktop/laptop.

6.  Taking pictures to download to my desktop/laptop.  

So, if you got a Cell phone and you are not using it to do any of the things listed above:  to run or enhance the running your online business, then you are not keeping up with the times.    The efficiency aspect is a WIN WIN! 

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I could not run this business without it.

It allows me to do almost everything I can do at home while I'm NOT at home.

The biggest help is in listing.  I can enter stuff into my Shopify store, take pictures, and move it all over to Ebay.  I recently bought an iPad for this purpose because the little screen was straining my eyes too much.

[getitright1234]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

My exact statement:   "So, if you got a Cell phone and you are not using it to do any of the things listed above:  to run or enhance the running your online business, then you are not keeping up with the times.    The efficiency aspect is a WIN WIN! "

Anyone who has a cell phone who is not using it to do any of the things I previous listed, they simply are not keeping up with the times.   It is fact, cell phones can aid you in operating your eBay business, or any business.  

Here a thought for you:  

While watching a video:

lets say,  I saw a man/woman who was in distraught because someone called them:  fat.  They were beside themselves with resentment and utter disbelief that someone would call them fat.    The crying person's body composition was 5"3 and 300lbs.   That same man/woman, thereafter had a doctor's office visit and their doctor said: Hey, you need to lose weight, you are obese.   But, still with doubt, the man/woman sought a second opinion,  they went to a weight specialist, the weight specialist doctor told them:  Hey, you need to lose weight, you are obese.   The man/women patient went home and looked up the word obese:   

o·bese

adjective

1. grossly fat or overweight.

   "a hugely obese young man"

   synonyms: fat, overweight, corpulent, morbidly obese, gross, stout, fleshy, outsize, massive, heavy, plump, portly, chubby, rotund, roly-poly, paunchy, pot-bellied, beer-bellied, big, large, ample, well upholstered, well padded, broad in the beam, bulky, bloated, flabby, Falstaffian; More

   Then and only then did the man/women accept the fact, yes:  I am fat, but I prefer the word obese.  

   The "then you are not keeping up with the times."   is  synonymous with:  not staying current or not changing as conditions change.  What is your preference, because the facts remain the same.  

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I certainly hope you realize that is YOUR subjective opinion. 

Perhaps a person, like me, who is dyslexic, finds it 'troublesome' to not have everything in front of them while they work, but still has a current and successful business.  Perhaps someone with vision problems has trouble seeing a smaller screen - however, they can write a script for a currently popular, high grossing movie on a typewriter. 

Please explain to me just how that is not keeping up with the times.

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Keeping up with the time by definition means:  "to change your ideas, opinions, or way of living or working to make them modern."   Cell phone are being used to aid in the running of today's business, they are modern technology.  

Just a FYI,

ALL  peoples' personal opinions are subjective opinions, now,  if this boils your blood, that is scary.....and that is just my subjective opinion. I have an opinion and you have one, but their is no need to become upset especially when I have no authority to force you to use a cell phone to aid with your business. 

[gracieallen01]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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Keeping up with the time by definition means:  "to change your ideas, opinions, or way of living or working to make them modern."   Cell phone are being used to aid in the running of today's business, they are modern technology.  

Just a FYI,

ALL  peoples' personal opinions are subjective opinions, now,  if this boils your blood, that is scary.....and that is just my subjective opinion. I have an opinion and you have one, but their is no need to become upset especially when I have no authority to force you to use a cell phone to aid with your business. 

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Oh, thank goodness!  I was worried there for a minute.  I'm so glad it just means to join the 'modern tech era', and has nothing to do with necessarily making things better!

[getitright1234]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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Keeping up with the time by definition means:  "to change your ideas, opinions, or way of living or working to make them modern."   Cell phone are being used to aid in the running of today's business, they are modern technology.  

Just a FYI,

ALL  peoples' personal opinions are subjective opinions, now,  if this boils your blood, that is scary.....and that is just my subjective opinion. I have an opinion and you have one, but their is no need to become upset especially when I have no authority to force you to use a cell phone to aid with your business. 

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Oh, thank goodness!  I was worried there for a minute.  I'm so glad it just means to join the 'modern tech era', and has nothing to do with necessarily making things better!

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Yeah, buggies to cars did not make things better.

Outdoors to indoor plumbing did not make things better.

No computers to having laptop desktops computers did not make things better.

Open window to air conditioner did not make things better. 

and landline phones to cell phone did not make things better.

.........................................All my subjective opinions!

If you see no benefit of using a Cell phone to aid you in your eBay online business, I respect that is your opinion. I am just glad, I do not have to live with your opinion. 

[bigdeals.etc]

[bigdeals.etc]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

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Also there's another hidden function that many with cell phones don't know about. You can make phone calls with it. 

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Oh yeah, I've heard something about that!  Not only phone calls, but people can listen in without even having to get a court order, either.  I think I'll stay with a landline. 

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You're not alone. Hardly anyone uses their cell phones for phone calls anymore. Many times I call a friend and they don't answer but end up immediately texting me afterwards. So a five minute convo ends up taking up 30 minutes by texting.

[getitright1234]

It getting harder to make a dollar and even harder to keep a dollar.   People are doing multiple things at once in an attempt to make a dollar and/or keep a dollar.  

[wastingtime101]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

If a description is too minimal, buyers may pass it by.   Many buyers loathe, see pictures.  A good description cuts down on questions so you won't need to answer quickly.  A good description may increase sales as the buyer has all the info to make an immediate purchase.

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Have you ever tried using the app to list and was your experience that you were limited to writing nothing more than "see pictures"? There are many problems with the app, but I've never heard of that one. I'd like more information about your experience - maybe I can help you figure out where things went wrong.

I have written plenty of detailed descriptions using the app. I choose not to publish listings using the app because of other problems and limitations with the listing form, but adding detailed descriptions has never been an issue.

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This was just an observation based on some listings I have seen that were posted using phones.  Very minimal descriptions.  It's not hard to conclude that the phone discouraged putting enough detail in the listing.  If you choose to include sufficient detail and manage to do that, more power to you.  It's just that for some reason, many don't.  Of course it just may be they don't care to put more than minimal effort into the listing, and the phone has nothing to do with it.  

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So you never tried to list using the app? Because the app doesn't discourage sellers from entering details in a listing. Entering item specifics and descriptions is pretty streamlined in the app.

I disagree with your conclusion not only because I've used the app listing form, but because I've seen the same "see pics" type of listings created by desktop users and have for decades now. Some sellers choose to not write a description but the app has nothing to do with it.

[gracieallen01]

Sorry, I can't respond anymore - I would be getting off-topic. 

[gracieallen01]

Yeah, I just got back from lunch and the 4-some in the next booth had 2 smartphones (the guys) and 2 'smartwatches'  (the gals).  Unfortunately, on top of that, it is the birthday of one of the guys.  All were in use the whole time I was there and nobody made a 'call'.  It wasn't a quiet or relaxing lunch.  Think I'll go take a Pepcid.  

[dtexley3]

@getitright1234 wrote:

Does Using Your Cell Phone Help You with Your eBay Business?

I recently had an eBay poster attempt to mock me for using my cell phone to conduct some of my eBay business.  I know I have seen other Sellers who proudly use their cell phone as a tool to aid them.  Below is a list of what I do with my cell phone.    Do you do the same and please share if you have more to add.  

1.  Prompt response to buyers’ messages when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

2. Prompt response to buyers offers when you the Seller are out and about, away from your desktop/laptop.

3. The prompt creation of shipping labels, label that can be emailed to a copier center for print, and only pay 5-ten cents per page for labels, rather than using and paying the high price of ink and/or a printer.  

4.  Immediate Research items while in stores, auctions, estate sales, garage sales to determine should I buy for resale. 

5.  The immediate creation of a listings, all while having breakfast, lunch or dinner when away from your desktop/laptop.

6.  Taking pictures to download to my desktop/laptop.  

So, if you got a Cell phone and you are not using it to do any of the things listed above:  to run or enhance the running your online business, then you are not keeping up with the times.    The efficiency aspect is a WIN WIN! 

So after reading through this entire thread I hesitate to respond, but here goes:

1.  Not always prompt, but I do use it for more timely responses, eBay does not consume my life by my choice.  So, for the most part I agree.  

2. I never, ever respond to offers via the app.  The app does not properly display all the details of the offer, the item and shipping.  I either wait until I'm at a desktop or I pull it up via browser on my tablet.  Only have to get shafted once or twice to learn that lesson.

3. Nope, we don't have a handy copy center and I already have a printer for other uses.  It costs me less in Ink that it would in fuel and time.  Plus I ship a lot of FedEx and eBays, FedEx label process is BROKEN.

4. Yup, yup, yup, but remembering that the app has search bugs, so care must be taken.

5. Heck no.  The apps have too many default settings that I don't want on my listings.  I demand as much control as I'm allowed, the app is limited.  Also all the apps currently reset any handling charge to $0 when you create or edit a listing.  Been that way for MONTHS.  No I will not chance my listing to a bug ridden app.

6. Sometimes, but like on the the previous posters, my camera does a better job. And I can save off the pictures for reuse if I purchase the same item again.   AND, the app removes my handling charge every time if I use it to add pictures to a draft.

So, yes I do use my cell to augment my eBay business, but I recognize where it falls short and use a desktop for greater success.

[loveyourimagination49]

I’m an occasional seller and buyer.
I use my iPhone to research, list, take pictures (bad lighting in house) respond to offers and messages. Print labels (send to wireless printer) and type to the community all from my cell. My laptop is junk and don’t have a desktop.

[atikovi]

A cell phone is for making and receiving calls. I couldn’t imagine creating an Ebay listing or responding to emails on a 5 inch screen and no mouse. I can tell instantly when a listing picture was taken with a phone. And if somebody can’t wait a few hours until I get home for a reply to a message, too bad. Also, how do phone people have 5 or 10 tabs open at one time and copy and paste between them? The reason so many buyers open cases is because they don’t or can’t see all the listing details on a phone. I’m into new tech fairly early, like getting a computer in ’85 and a cellphone around ’95, but not much for combining the two.

[loveyourimagination49]

Mine screen is 5.5 I can see it just fine. I can zoom in if I choose. I can have as many tabs opened as a computer. I can c/p the same.
A lot of people on the boards say people with smartphones don’t read. I can read just fine. It’s not the phone, it’s the buyer.
There are people from 10-90 that have phones. It’s up to the individual.
My job requires a smartphone, so I have to have one.

[kh-gary]

Hello everyone,

This thread is getting a bit heated.  Please remember that it’s fine to disagree with others, but discussion should always remain courteous and respectful as required by the Rules of Engagement.

Thank you for your cooperation.