Where'd all my profits go?

[pigeonpicker]

I sold a graphic t shirt for $20 plus shipping.

By the time I buy the cheapest pen and envelope at Walgreens for $7. Drop it off at the post office with first class for $6. I'm left with a $5 profit. 

[1tuna]

what does walgreens have to do with this equation?

@pigeonpicker 

[lakefor94]

Definitely doing it wrong. 

[aeparts1]

Many retailers would be overjoyed to make that large of a percentage profit.

If the sales staff where I used to work could have returned that percentage of profit the owner would have had the staff pick them up on their shoulders & parade them around the office.

If you are not happy with your profit you have no one to blame but yourself. Simply raise your price, or cut your costs. You are in control of both.

[soh.maryl]

The cost of the "cheapest pen and envelope at Walgreen's" is not part of your final value fee.

And, I'm sure you know this, as an experienced eBay seller, but smart sellers do the math to figure out how much they need to list an item for before they list that item.  

[wastingtime101]

You've been selling here a while so I'm not going to explain the fee/expenses breakdown - I'm sure you already know how that works and are just venting.

Office supplies are not cheap at Walgreens, but they're also not something you need to buy on the regular. Don't lose the pen you bought and if you do, maybe your bank that gives them out free? Since you won't have to buy a pen next time that'll help.

Do you have a current address where you can receive packages? If you do and you plan to stock/ship  a lot of t-shirts, then order a bulk pack of 100 polymailers. You can get them pretty cheap. If not, look for a dollar store - might find envelopes cheaper there than at Walgreens.

I'd also suggest reviewing the return address saved on your account. Since you've moved around you should make sure it's up to date in the event of any returns:

https://accountsettings.ebay.com/uas/addresses

[pigeonpicker]

Walgreens is a rip off.

[katzrul15]

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@pigeonpicker wrote:

I sold a graphic t shirt for $20 plus shipping.

By the time I buy the cheapest pen and envelope at Walgreens for $7. Drop it off at the post office with first class for $6. I'm left with a $5 profit. 

---

I would have borrowed a pen AT the post office window - they will help you with the label.  Also, invest in 1 box of tyvek envelopes - they do not tear and bought in a larger quantity are not all that expensive - you can roll the T-shirt to place in the envelope.  

I am certain you have now discovered that T-shirts (especially larger sized ones) can be expensive to ship?

Add some $$ to your handling fee and try to offset some of your fees/shipping costs.

Wishing you continued success.  Is the $5 net before or AFTER your product costs?

[pigeonpicker]

I know. I'm homeless right now 

My sleezy Vegas trailer park died and kicked everybody out. 

[pigeonpicker]

I sell items for as much as I can get. 

[pigeonpicker]

Have zero experience shipping 1 item while homeless. 

[evelyb30]

We source shipping materials where we can get them at a deal/on sale and keep them on hand.  Shipping labels can be sent as a code to your phone if you don't have a printer and then printed at the post office.  Their labels, their ink.  Ebay shipping discount instead of counter rates.  (short form, this improves profit margins.)

Experienced sellers also know what profit margins they're willing to make on an item and don't sell anything with less percentage.  If you're selling $20 shirts with free shipping, you have to sell and awful lot  of them and be able to list them quickly and easily before it's worth the effort.  

[pigeonpicker]

Pens are not allowed in the night shelter.

Security will throw them in the trash.

People would write on the restroom stalls. 

[pigeonpicker]

Rip off Walgreens was the closest place in walking distance 

[lakefor94]

Forgot you were in Las Vegas.

Best of luck to you going forward.