Tips for Ebay Selling

I hope that this doesn't get buried in my craft posts.  I think many more people would be interested in this topic.  I have had an ebay store for 2 1/2 years and sold using auctions before that.  I will post about ebay from time to time but I just want to highlight a few things here.

A regular seller should work hard to get top rated seller status as it gives you a 20% discount on seller fees.  Recently ebay started charging fees on the shipping!  This was very bad news for those who sell fairly heavy but inexpensive items. They are pushing "free" shipping.  Of course you then have to roll the price you want plus shipping into the item price.  You then don't have the same incentive for people to save with combined shipping. Also if they pay for items separately you end up paying more in fees. There are break points where the fees go down.  Also paypal charges 30 cents per payment plus 2.9%.  I have been giving free shipping on some items and then subtracting that amount I rolled in for shipping,  for the international shipping price.
For example say my item costs $5 to ship in the US. The item is $20 so I list it as $25 with free shipping. International shipping costs $13.25 for the same item.  So I may list shipping for $8.25.

The month before Christmas ebay has announced they will give an extra 20% discount on fees if you offer 1 day shipping service and a longer return time.  I think it was 14 days or more.

Almost half of my sales are international.  There are some problems.  You can't put delivery confirmation on priority envelopes outside the US.   Sometimes a buyer is asking you where their package is after just two weeks.  Things can be hung up in customs and you have no control over it.  If the buyer puts in an "item not received" claim paypal will take the money for their items out of your account and put it on hold.  Several times when this happened to me,  the buyer left me hanging and didn't notify me that they finally got their package.  Paypal did return my money both times.  The only time I actually lost money was when I sent an echeck buy to a US buyer before it had cleared.  She wouldn't respond to my emails or return the item after her echeck "bounced".

I have loved getting to know international buyers.  They are often thrilled to buy items not available where they live.  There can be a few cranky people,  like everywhere,  but they are a tiny minority.

To sell on ebay on a regular basis I recommend a store.  Also buy a good postal sale so you can print off shipping labels on your home printer,  at a discount.  You can even ask online for a postal carrier pick up . It sames gas money and time. Delivery confirmation is included for just 19 cents.

Paypal doesn't allow you to print labels using first class international.  They won't cover you as a seller with first class international either.   However it is very limiting.  I discovered almost through accident that I could print 1st class international on the ebay side.  It's odd that they are linked but not completely.  If you print labels using the ebay side you'll need to go to paypal to mark it shipped.  You wouldn't HAVE to but it helps keep track of things.

I don't recommend using the "community forums" for information.  You get some incorrect information and some rather "know it all" types looking to point out some error you made.  You can call paypal or ebay right up and ask questions but ebay will sometimes keep putting you on hold and then evidently go to other callers!  I once spent an hour getting a 5 minute question answered.  With the robotic help you get some pat answers that may not fit.  I recommend using the answer center.  If you use the community forums look through a number of responses and try to figure out the correct answers.

I recommend fixed prices!  More later.