How would you rank this sales process guide? Is there any way it can be improved?

[danielhaven]

eBay Seller Process

1. Take pictures of the item

• At all sides
• Any blemishes or flaws
• Any identifiers (e.g., serial codes)

2. Get the appropriate box and cushioning (e.g., bubblewrap) for the item and note down the following:

• Total weight of the box with the item and cushioning in it
• Dimensions of the package (length, height, weight)

3. DO NOT seal the box yet

4. Write down the listing for the item as accurately as possible

• Input the pictures received from step 1 into the gallery
• Enter the measurements you received from step 2 into the shipping details section

5. Decide on how situations such as auctions/buy now, shipping payment, returns, etc., will be handled, and when comfortable with the listing, publish it

• Note: The shipping label cost will be influenced by the dimensions/weight of the package (gathered from step 2) and the distance from the source to the destination

6. Once you have a buyer, wait for the payment

7. When received, purchase the shipping label (you can do this off eBay) and print it out along with the shipping manifest (which you put inside the box; you can customize it to have a “thank you” message)

8. Take the package to the shipping handler of your choice to have it sealed and sent to transit

9. Get your shipping tracking number to monitor the delivery, and be prepared to answer any questions your customer might have if they contact you

10. Once the item has been delivered, set a wait limit (e.g., 3 days) until you can consider the sale closed

[a_c_green]

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@danielhaven wrote:

7. When received, purchase the shipping label (you can do this off eBay) and print it out along with the shipping manifest (which you put inside the box; you can customize it to have a “thank you” message)

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There's no need to go off eBay for that. Purchasing the shipping label on eBay will get you the on-line discounted postage price, as well as automatically uploading the tracking number to the sale. You can use the buyer's pending funds to pay for the label; you don't have to pay for it out of pocket.

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@danielhaven wrote:

8. Take the package to the shipping handler of your choice to have it sealed and sent to transit

9. Get your shipping tracking number to monitor the delivery, and be prepared to answer any questions your customer might have if they contact you

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You can seal your own package; you've already done everything else, and with the pre-printed label you can drop it off at the post office (or request a pickup) without necessarily having to wait in line. Also, your shipping tracking number will already have been uploaded since you bought your label on-line.

[danielhaven]

(you can do this off eBay)

That was a spelling mistake. I meant to write "off of" but probably would've been better to just write "on".

[kensgiftshop]

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@danielhaven wrote:

10. Once the item has been delivered, set a wait limit (e.g., 3 days) until you can consider the sale closed

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If the buyer pays through Pay Pal or a credit card, they have 6 months to open a case.

[soh.maryl]

1. What inspired you to write this "guide"?

2. Assume you have another ID, as it seems somewhat presumptuous for an 0 FB seller to offer a guide.  

[monroe67]

"7. When received, purchase the shipping label (you can do this off eBay) and print it out along with the shipping manifest (which you put inside the box; you can customize it to have a “thank you” message)

8. Take the package to the shipping handler of your choice to have it sealed and sent to transit"

Glad to see you haven't been scared away!  

Ditto a_c_green for my response.

First: Item 6 cannot be repeated too often.  Never, ever, ever send an item to its buyer before eBay tells you the buyer's payment has been processed and it the time is right to send the purchase to him/her. 

Item7.  IF you have accurately entered the package's weight and measurements, you will probably be able to purchase postage through/from and print the label from your own home printer -- which, of course, assumes you do have a printer at home.  (Many people do not, even some eBay sellers.)  Buying and printing your postage through eBay automatically assigns a tracking number.  

That tracking number, again by the way, is a tracking number from your "shipping handler", such as the US Postal Service (USPS).   

I use peel-and-stick Avery Labels 8126, which prints two labels per 8 1/2" x 11" page.  Each label, therefore, is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  OR I might use store-brand labels if they're cheaper.   

BTW, the few cents cost of each of these labels can or should be added in to your item price.   And the cost of your supplies, such as envelopes, boxes, and labels will likely be tax deductible.  

As for Item 8, having the "shipping handler" (like USPS or FedEx) seal your package ???   Balderdash.  Not this time of year, nor any time of year, to be honest.  The employees at those locations already have enough to do.  Pack and seal the box and put the shipping label on it, and take it to your post office or FedEx storefront (as appropriate) and leave it with the staff there.  

The things you have sold (two items for the sport of fencing) would need to be put into good-sized boxes.  
But not all items sold on eBay require boxes.  My selling ID will (finally !!) have a sale today -- a sewing pattern from the 1970s.  I can fit that into a bubble-padded envelope and put it in my own mailbox at home, with a note for the carrier that I have outgoing mail.  I have observed that items picked up by my local carrier have their tracking numbers scanned right away. 

And don't lose hope.  

[mam98031]

I'm not sure why you are writing this list, but it would probably help if it was in order.

Between 1 and 2 there are important steps you are missing in designing / creating your listing.

4.  Why do you need to write it down?  And where are you writing it down at?  If you do step 2 and you ship within Ebay, the info you entered will appear in the label creation program.  No need to enter it again.

5.  Now that is a tricky one.  It appears you are assuming that there is only one way any of that can go.  There is a variety of variables involved in those things.  When considering what your personal policies are going to be, make sure they work with the Rules of Ebay as you can't just do what you want.

6.  You don't have to wait for payment if you use IPR [immediate payment required] on fixed price listings.  Or you can wait for the payment.  If the buyer doesn't pay in 96 hours from the purchase, you can file a cancellation for non payment.

8.  Some carriers will come to you or if you stuff fits in your mailbox and you are shipping USPS, you can just ship from home.

9.  If you print your label within the Ebay system, the tracking number automatically uploads.  If you purchase you shipping outside of Ebay, make sure you enter the tracking number and carrier on your sales record for the item ASAP in Ebay.

You should always be willing to answer questions from buyers on other things too, not just your shipping.

10.  Not sure the importance of this at all.  What is your thinking behind this?  In Ebay buyers have up to 30 days after the item was received to file a claim.  If they want to go directly to the funding source they used for the payment of the transaction, they may have up to 180 days to file a claim.

You are missing plenty of steps in your process, but since I don't understand why you are doing this it is hard to peg what you actually need.

[pburn]

Based on other posters' critiques of "this sales process guide," I'd probably rate it pretty low. The effort, however, is applauded.

[danielhaven]

This guide was based on my studies of the site's help and forums. I posted it here because I wanted valuable feedback to improve myself as a seller.

This is not an "I'm better than all of you; look at how smart I am" post. I'm well aware that I'm inexperienced, and the purpose of this posting is to get advice from more experienced sellers.

[mam98031]

You are asking us to put in a lot of work as you missed many important things.  Without knowing the purpose of this list, it is hard to make such a commitment, especially at this time of year.

[dhbookds]

Don't know how far you want to take this........how many processes...........

but sellers need a storage system for listed items.........numbered boxes/closets, etc......helps if you begin with one when you first start listing........We keep a notebook and also use the SKU box on the listing form and enter the storage place on both........never depend that ebay won't wipe out the SKU on the listing or that you won't lose the notebook......

[coolections]

Most everything you said is pretty much how it should work. If you purchase your labels from the selling page the tracking is automatic. The best advice you gave is already have the box with packaging material, so you know the size and weight before getting the ship to address.