Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

HansderHund · Sep 17, 2012

I've just gotten caught up on 100+ posts from this thread and I have to say thank you to all of the sellers that have contributed here. I've learned a ton and it's really great to hear of everyone's experiences. I've said before that I'm a small-timer on ebay and do it mostly to fund my own habits, but I think I'd like to step up my game. I have realized that I need to take a much closer look at my own sales to maximize my views and get the most out of my items.

We're looking for a new apartment or (hopefully) a house. My wife even suggested that we dedicate a second bedroom to storage of our own clothes and an office/photography area for eBay stuff. Here are a few things that I feel I need to make sure I'm increasing sales/sale prices:

- Get a mannequin: completed sales utilizing a mannequin are consistently higher than hanging/folded clothes
- List regularly and for 10 days: I need to check if eBay.de charges fees for this. There are fee differences between ebay.com and ebay.de and ebay.de has been going through a number of changes in the last few months. Last time I listed we went from having 12 free photos to having 1 or two free photos. All others were .15
- Somehow reduce shipping costs or build them into the listing. I have had trouble walking the line between getting a decent price for something and breaking even. The Austrian/German market is incredibly sensitive and only certain items by certain brands bring in guaranteed minimum prices. Austria is a small country and about 75% of my sales go to Germany. Shipping is expensive from Germany ----> Austria and from Austria ----> Germany. The Germans have no idea what it costs, only what they THINK it should cost. Therefore, I get emails on about half of the shipments to Germany asking if I can send it cheaper, without insurance, slower, etc.

I'm not sure how to get around these, but for the most part I enjoy selling and it provides some income to cover things like tailoring costs.

TheNeedMachine · Sep 17, 2012

capnwes said:
1. Yes, I got mine for like 10 bucks on ebay...its a digiweigh. I took in my packages for a bit after I got it to verify the weights.
2. It is not free, but much cheaper than in the Post Office...19 cents for Parcel
3. Yes first class has free DC now too.
4. Brianpore is the king of the freebies so I will let him answer that one. Otherwise check the USPS website for supplies, you can see all the freebies and even have them delivered for free.

Dont forget, with even just one priority package, you can schedule your packages to be picked up right at your door for free. Even if you have 35 packages and only one is priority...they will take them all.

Nice - excellent info - this is exactly what I wanted to hear - thank you.

ruben said:
You can do first class through ebay shipping and paypal but not through USPS.com.
For what it's worth I've found that adding first class shipping for shirts and stuff seems to increase the number of bids and the max bid. It's kinda funny to see a guy drop $50 on a shirt then choose first class to save $3 but whatever.
Do buy a scale.
I like using tissue, but see no real point in bubble wrap, or bubble mailers for most clothing items.
USPS doesn;t offer and mailers for free below the priority level. As a couple people here who've traded with me might know, I used Fedex Tyvex mailer for my USPS first class shipping. They give them away for free, and they're blank on the inside so you can just turn them inside out to use. Fedex also has some really nice gray plastic mailing envelopes available, but they're hard to come by for free.
Too good, made my night, you should get a screencap.

More good info - thank you as well. I used to offer two shipping options - free (parcel) and paid (priority), and as long as you specified the free one first when listing it, it shows up as "free shipping" when buyers see it. Did bring views it seemed, but in actuality I don't think there is anything about eBay that can ever be quantified or measured outside of eBay's own internal number-crunching WOPR's.

VLSI said:
Echoing the above mostly, but definitely get a scale. I got a 75lb scale on amazon for like $20. Although setting a 50+lb box on a 6"x6" scale is a little ridiculous

Printing your own postage will save you tons of time and money. As far as packaging, everything I send goes out in poly mailer bags. The per bag price works out to ~12.5 cents. I use these, they work great. Brian has a whole write up on the proper way to ship things, and it's extraordinarily helpful. In addition, I saw talk about buying a thermal label printer since it doesn't require ink. I haven't made that jump yet, but may shortly.
To my own problems. My dad bought a pair of true religion jeans on shopgoodwill (I wish he would stay off that site, he overpays for tons of **** then lists it in hopes of making his money back

). Anyhow, turns out they were fake. He emailed the store and they are refusing to take them back. They were sold as real at real prices, not thrift prices. What are the appropriate actions and how should we proceed? He used a checking card so I'm not sure that he gets the same protections afforded by a true credit card

Thanks guys.

Heh - OK I'll get a scale! I keep eyeballing them like Appreciation at Office Max but hell if I'm gonna pay $40 for one. You'd think Office Max would have the lowest prices on office supplies - you know - that being their forte and all. Strange then that their prices are higher than, say, Target / WalMart etc for almost everything.
I get compliments on my wrapping & packing so no issues there...just need to shave some cents - will check out the poly mailers - grazie.

shopgoodwill.com....let me just say - Eff them! I used to buy a lot thru there, then was dormant for a while. Got back on a few days ago, bid on a shirt, then decided to do the "estimated postage"...over $12 to ship a plain old cotton shirt - $9.08 plus $3 handling - from Florida to Georgia (which is, as we know, the next state over). Are they nuts?!

As far as your dad's issue, a checking card / debit card is [usually] backed by a bank and will afford the same protections as a credit card [unless he's got a Rush or Kardashian card or something]. Dispute the charges. A few of the stores represented on shopgoodwill say they take returns in all cases, others case-by-case, but most say no returns ever no way no how. Website terms & conditions mean naught, when you dispute thru the issuing bank.

VLSI · Sep 17, 2012

ATLnoob said:
You'd think Office Max would have the lowest prices on office supplies - you know - that being their forte and all. Strange then that their prices are higher than, say, Target / WalMart etc for almost everything.

Yup, their prices, along with OD and Staples, are consistently the highest when I need office supplies. Screw that.

shopgoodwill.com....let me just say - Eff them! I used to buy a lot thru there, then was dormant for a while. Got back on a few days ago, bid on a shirt, then decided to do the "estimated postage"...over $12 to ship a plain old cotton shirt - $9.08 plus $3 handling - from Florida to Georgia (which is, as we know, the next state over). Are they nuts?!

As far as your dad's issue, a checking card / debit card is [usually] backed by a bank and will afford the same protections as a credit card [unless he's got a Rush or Kardashian card or something]. Dispute the charges. A few of the stores represented on shopgoodwill say they take returns in all cases, others case-by-case, but most say no returns ever no way no how. Website terms & conditions mean naught, when you dispute thru the issuing bank.

The shipping/handling charges are indeed crazy. I avoid that site, not a ton of flippability unless you have more patience than I. He's had a few good purchases, but for the most part garbage that I wouldn't have even bought at thrift store prices. It's super frustrating because he refuses to ask me for help when buying the item, but needs help later listing it. Only so many times I can listen to "I won't do it again, I just need to get my money back on this" :fu:

HansderHund · Sep 17, 2012

VLSI said:
To my own problems. My dad bought a pair of true religion jeans on shopgoodwill (I wish he would stay off that site, he overpays for tons of **** then lists it in hopes of making his money back ). Anyhow, turns out they were fake. He emailed the store and they are refusing to take them back. They were sold as real at real prices, not thrift prices. What are the appropriate actions and how should we proceed? He used a checking card so I'm not sure that he gets the same protections afforded by a true credit card Thanks guys.

That's a bad deal. I've commented before that I've seen clearly fake items in thrifts that they had incredibly high prices. One item, a Burberry tie holder, was fake and expensive. It was gone a few days later, so I feel bad if someone bought it. I'm all for charities maximizing their profits but not if they're unsure of what they're selling. One thrift actually consults me occasionally and puts things back on the floor (and out of the case) if I don't think it's legit.

I'm not sure what kind of recourse your dad has, unfortunately. At the least it's a learning experience as most of us at one point or another have brought something home that was fake. I hope he can get his money back and not get stuck with a fake pair of jeans.

barrelntrigger · Sep 17, 2012

capnwes said:
Forgot to mention, when asked for the reason by ebay, his case point was "The seller lied and sold me a vintage suit, but what I received was an old suit". Ebay/Paypal have to be laughing at this one.

What a moronic answer.

ruben said:
You can do first class through ebay shipping and paypal but not through USPS.com.
For what it's worth I've found that adding first class shipping for shirts and stuff seems to increase the number of bids and the max bid. It's kinda funny to see a guy drop $50 on a shirt then choose first class to save $3 but whatever.
Do buy a scale.
I like using tissue, but see no real point in bubble wrap, or bubble mailers for most clothing items.
USPS doesn;t offer and mailers for free below the priority level. As a couple people here who've traded with me might know, I used Fedex Tyvex mailer for my USPS first class shipping. They give them away for free, and they're blank on the inside so you can just turn them inside out to use. Fedex also has some really nice gray plastic mailing envelopes available, but they're hard to come by for free.
Too good, made my night, you should get a screencap.

+1

The last thing you need is when the post office return your package for under paid postage.

+1 for poly mails.

I usually fold my items nicely and bag them in a plastic bag or bags. I tape my bags shut just in case the flat rate envelopes tear. If the item is bulky and or the flat rate envelopes are stretched to its limit, I reinforce them with heavy duty packing tape. To save ink, I set my printing quality to "lowest without ******* up" mode. Always use Ebay and Paypal's printing labels and pay postage to save $. There you go! Happy selling and shipping!

capnwes · Sep 18, 2012

ATLnoob said:
Nice - excellent info - this is exactly what I wanted to hear - thank you.

More good info - thank you as well. I used to offer two shipping options - free (parcel) and paid (priority), and as long as you specified the free one first when listing it, it shows up as "free shipping" when buyers see it. Did bring views it seemed, but in actuality I don't think there is anything about eBay that can ever be quantified or measured outside of eBay's own internal number-crunching WOPR's.

Heh - OK I'll get a scale! I keep eyeballing them like Appreciation at Office Max but hell if I'm gonna pay $40 for one. You'd think Office Max would have the lowest prices on office supplies - you know - that being their forte and all. Strange then that their prices are higher than, say, Target / WalMart etc for almost everything.
I get compliments on my wrapping & packing so no issues there...just need to shave some cents - will check out the poly mailers - grazie.

I try to support other ebay users when I can, while finding the best deals online.
Here are a few of the sellers I deal with on a regular basis for my supplies, they are top notch with speed and quality products

Boxes - (I hate the flimsy Priority boxes, but that just me) This guy has all sizes imaginable. If you don't see the size you need, shoot him a message and he will create a listing that will work for you. From very small to very large, his boxes typically cost about 25-30% of the Office Max price. Cheaper still than even U-line. He's a drop shipper, so they come from different warehouses around the country and arrive quickly.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/topmailers

Bubble Wrap - Quick shipping, any quantity or bubble size you need.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/esupplystore
I use this one of his, great deal, especially if you have ever bought it off the store shelves.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300779892178

Tape - I usually buy 36 rolls once a year. I don't skimp on the quality, after all, this it what holds those $300 shoes in the box. I use this product but not necessarily this listing. Usually I try to wait till I have some ebay bucks to blow on it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Case-of-36-...915?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ca4cea63

Shipping Labels - This guy has all sorts of labels for printing your own shipping labels.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/sunshinelighting
I use these specifically
1000 Self Adhesive Shipping Blank Labels 8.5x5.5 Paypal

ruben · Sep 18, 2012

Why do you guys use boxes for everything when most shirts and pants fit into envelopes?
Seems like you're just adding weight fo no good reason.

Speaking as a buyer, it's kinda annoying me when I buy a shirt or something on ebay and get charged $12-15 for shipping in a box when an envelope would be just as god and less than half the price.

GMMcL · Sep 18, 2012

ruben said:
Why do you guys use boxes for everything when most shirts and pants fit into envelopes?
Seems like you're just adding weight fo no good reason.
Speaking as a buyer, it's kinda annoying me when I buy a shirt or something on ebay and get charged $12-15 for shipping in a box when an envelope would be just as god and less than half the price.

I rarely do. I use boxes for suits or SC's, which don't fit into envelopes. For shirts and ties, I fit as many as I can into poly envelopes, then bump up to flat rate envelopes, then up to regional rate A. CONUS, of course; Int'l is diff't.

capnwes · Sep 18, 2012

ruben said:
Why do you guys use boxes for everything when most shirts and pants fit into envelopes?
Seems like you're just adding weight fo no good reason.
Speaking as a buyer, it's kinda annoying me when I buy a shirt or something on ebay and get charged $12-15 for shipping in a box when an envelope would be just as god and less than half the price.

I used to use the envelopes, until I received an envelope with a snag in it and a tear in the pants inside. I ship for free, but the average cost of the US shipping ($8) is added to the starting price.

Brianpore · Sep 18, 2012

GMMcL said:
Quote: Not sure who here uses boxes for everything.....

+10 on GMMcl. Anything under 13 ounce (shirts, ties, etc) all go in a poly bag. Over 13 ounces you get into flat rate envelopes and then boxes. Sometimes a Regional Rate A box is the same price as a Flat Rate Envelope so I use the box as it's nicer.

grendel · Sep 18, 2012

Brianpore said:
Not sure who here uses boxes for everything.....

+10 on GMMcl. Anything under 13 ounce (shirts, ties, etc) all go in a poly bag. Over 13 ounces you get into flat rate envelopes and then boxes. Sometimes a Regional Rate A box is the same price as a Flat Rate Envelope so I use the box as it's nicer.

I find that flat rate is almost always more expensive than regular Priority unless it's a really heavy item or going out to California (and sometimes then too).

How many here do the nice wrapping, etc? I usually just fold things as nicely as I can (hey, I'm a guy) and put them in the box.

capnwes · Sep 18, 2012

Brianpore said:
Not sure who here uses boxes for everything.....

Me...

Brianpore · Sep 18, 2012

capnwes said:
Quote: Even dress shirts

grendel said:

Quote: Not sure how you're shipping. Once you are over 1lb (1lb 1oz) the priority mail and regional rate A cross country are the same price. Over 2 lbs regional rate is cheaper for box A (95% how I ship stuff over 1 lb). I guess there is a sweet spot between 13oz and 16oz where priority is cheaper then regional rate, but not sure if I have anything that falls into that black hole weight wise.

I fold and then wrap everything (in items not to be named

) then they go inside a poly bag, envelope, or box.

Click to expand...

gyasih · Sep 18, 2012

^^I just got caught with this one. Flat rate would have been around $11, I ended up paying $15.

capnwes · Sep 18, 2012

Brianpore said:
Even dress shirts

Yep...had an item arrive to me damaged, torn right through the mylar envelope. That won't happen with one of my boxed shipments. Side note....I rarely deal with shirts (since I despise ironing).

Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

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