5 eBay Selling Tips for Newbies I’m directing this article to those who are just starting their eBay Selling Venture. Whether you’re selling books, DVDs, CDs, collectibles or clothing, all things (with the exception of eBooks and services) need to be mailed. And it’s the postage, handling fees and mailing that seems to cause a great deal of angst among new sellers. You’ve heard the advice – don’t overcharge for shipping. That is very good advice, indeed, as nothing turns off potential buyers like sellers who gouge you on the shipping costs. It’s also a practice that can rack up bad feedback. However, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate here and suggest that you don’t go overboard and give so much of a break on shipping that you’re chipping away at your profits. It’s good to remember the “hidden costs” of shipping: bubble wrap to secure your breakables, tape, shipping envelopes, boxes, etc. Then there’s the gas you put in your car to take all those trips to the post office. You might think I’m being cheap, but, if you added up all your eBay expenses for the year (as some did for their recent taxes) you might be shocked to see how all the packing materials and gas for your car added up and took a little chunk out of your eBay profits. And, believe me, they do add up. Some people are even more surprised to find they underestimated the weight of their packages, causing their profits to shrink even further. How can you be fair to both you and your buyers? 1. Buy a scale. It may sound simple, but purchasing a scale can save you a bundle in shipping. If you’re just eyeballing the weight of the package, you can often times guess too low, and be in for quite a shock when you go to the post office and see the package is going to cost twice what you thought to ship. 2. Know the dimensions of your packaging before listing the item. Some packages cost more to ship because of their dimensions. Knowing the weight alone isn’t enough. 3. Offer the buyer a variety of shipping methods. Some prefer speedy delivery with Express mailing, while some prefer to save money with parcel post even though the wait is longer. It’s always a good idea when using parcel post or other slower ground shipping to alert the buyer by email that it can take anywhere from 8 to 10 days. 4. Save yourself money whenever possible by using boxes that have been used. Most stores are more than happy to let you rummage through their old boxes and take some home with you. But, do remember to choose boxes that are presentable, secure and strong enough for your items. And, if you have breakables, don’t skimp on the bubble wrap. 5. Give yourself a small handling fee that will cover your expenses. Some sellers add on an additional $1 or $2 to the shipping fees for their handling fees (depending on the cost of the item and how much packaging you have to use). I really advocate doing this because your expenses will add up if you do a
lot of selling on eBay. Be sure to be upfront with your buyers that you have a small handling fee so they can’t complain about it later. Being fair to both yourself and your buyer will keep you both happy, and keep more of your profit in your pocket.
Ebay Seller Opportunity Tip - Dont Miss The Boat Choices have to be made in life if you want to change the way you live and if others are doing this the Ebay way - then why not you. Without doubt we all want the same things out of life and that being our health and money. Becoming an Ebay seller can give many folks the lifestyle they so much crave. Ebay offers an opportunity to earn extra cash when it suits you. Unfortunately people shy away from the sheer thought of running their own business which is sad really. Hundreds of people are missing the boat by not looking into the Ebay opportunity that can change their whole way of life. Becoming an Ebay seller is an option to be considered if you are seriously thinking on turning your life around. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain on top of the satisfaction of being your own boss. If you have decided this is the route you are going to take to earn extra cash by becoming an Ebay seller then you have made a positive move in securing your future. Remember to catch up on the basics on how to start selling by following the advice supplied by this most competitive market in the world. Once up and running always treat your Ebay business as a business and conduct matters like a professional. Professionals in their Ebay empires are experts because they have had a lot more practice. So there is plenty of time to get to that stage. Never cut corners and operate on the cheap you are out to gain custom not lose it. Financial gains should be reinvested back into your business. This is how an Ebay seller will run his/her successful business. When it comes down to promotional activities and advertising of your product/service you are sure of sales if done tastefully. Your product has to be described in the best descriptive way. Give your prospective customer a run down on every little detail on what you are selling this will make a huge impact on getting those sales. Be friendly in your approach when dealing with potential buyers as you are looking for repeat orders. Try to simplify all correspondence like payment methods or even offer to help them if they are new and not sure of how things are done after winning an auction. Your customer will feel comfortable and begin to trust you as a worthy Ebay seller with your offer of assistance. Because of how you handled and
conducted the sale along with your friendly approach just may have secured your self a regular customer. Firstly start building up a reputable reputation - this will have your feedback scaling to enormous heights. People make judgement on the feedback scoring system of the Ebay Seller when buying. No matter how good your product and fabulous glossy photos appear - if feedback is poor say through lack of communication etc, then say goodbye to sales. Remember by becoming an Ebay Seller there are rules and regulations that you have to adhere to. The rules are there for the safety of the buyer and seller. It is a good chance you may not like or agree with a number of them - but remember it is in every ones best interest why these rules have been implemented. One of the nice things apart from meeting friends from all over the globe on Ebay is instead of being part of Ebay you now own a share with your very own business empire. Want More Help On How To Get The Most Out Of eBay’s Fortune?! Go Here Today!