Dear eBay Queen
I really need some help. I am a stay at home mom with two children under 5. I've sold items off and on with eBay for a couple of years. eBay has paid for all of the vacations our family has taken and helped out with Christmas! My husband recently found out his hours would be cut back at his job. We really depend on his money to make ends meet. I would like to sell some items on eBay to make up the difference of his hours being cut back. Do you have ideas how to keep my children occupied while I work?
Worried Mom
Dear Mom;
As the mother of 5 children, four of which are under 11; I completely understand the need to occupy my children while I work. I have found working in a room where they can be contained helps a lot. I used to work in my basement, but I have found working in the family room an easier place for my younger children to be.
With my children that are under 5, I make sure I have all the things they need to make them happy before I start working. I have a snack, drink and their favorite toys on a blanket near me. I have found having special toys they are only allowed to play with while I work, are most effective at keeping them busy for the longest time. I am also not above using a DVD or a child's favorite TV show as a way to keep them quiet. On some days at my home, the only time I am able to work is nap time, or in the evening when my husband is home.
If none of these things work for you, maybe a relative or neighbor could exchange babysitting time with you. I know that some organizations offer a mother's day out program. Sometimes when I can't seem to keep them quiet or contained I've been known to take them and my laptop to a fast food restaurant with a play place. Many fast food chains are offering free WiFi. It's a nice treat for them, and an hour or two for you to work not in peace, but with a sense that your children are safe and occupied.
Dear eBay Queen;
I am new with eBay and I just want to know some things about getting started. How did you get started with eBay? Any suggestions on how I can get my first sale?
Zemba
Dear Zemba;
I started on eBay about 10 years ago. The first item I purchased was a Ty Peace Beanie Baby Bear. I am really embarrassed to say what I paid for it back then, but let's just say it was over the 8.00 retail price these bears were going for in the stores. The first item I sold was a Masterpiece Edition GI Joe that I purchased at Walden bookstore. It had been marked down from $80.00 to $15.00. I bought 4 of the action figures, and sold them all for over their retail price!
I have learned eBay through trial and error. When I started selling in 1998 there were not as many options available for learning how to sell on eBay. Now days you can find classes, books, seminars and even webinars to learn more about eBay. Most libraries offer free classes or you could learn from an eBay Trained Education Specialist. Most education specialist will charge for their time. Be careful when choosing a class or seminar. There have been companies out there that think it is more important to sell THEIR product to the students, than it is for them to learn to be successful sellers.
To get your first sale, have a great item you already own, take great photos and do a bit of research to see what it will sell for.
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 320149205229 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). Do you know any crafty people? Do you love one of a kind hand made items? eBay is a great place to show off your talents! Check out this Primitive Folk Art Halloween Witch Doll SOLD $235.83. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130141225705
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
What did you watch last week?
People ask me what I watch on eBay... so here's what I was watching last week:
This is a beautiful Cole Haan Village Classic Copper Tote Handbag. People who know me well, know I have a small obsession with Cole Haan. I really wanted this purse.. But just couldn't bring myself to spending $195.95 So now you know what to get me for that special holiday.
This was a super cute Custom Boutique Fall Top/Jean Set made w/Oilily Fabrics. Why didn't I buy this? Well for one it didn't go up to my daughters size (8) and it sold for $588.99! The seller is staceysstuffclothing... she makes such cute stuff!
eBay and a Few Shipping Problems
Dear eBay Queen;
After 3 years of selling on eBay, I finally have 2 problems that I am not sure how to solve. I can not believe they happened within a week of each other, and they both involve the post office. My first problem started out when I mailed a package to Louisiana over 3 weeks ago! The buyer has emailed a lot over the last three weeks. She has the delivery confirmation number, and it just shows “in-transit”. Yesterday the buyer emailed me and said she received the package, but she had to pay $8.95 for extra postage and she wants me to refund that money back to her or she will give me a negative.
I called my post office and her post office in Louisiana. I did not understand how she had postage due, when my post office put the postage on the box to begin with! After talking to both post offices I learned the buyer had moved from Louisiana to Alabama in July, and did not change her address with eBay or PayPal. The $8.95 she was charged was because the package was originally shipped Parcel Post, and it was the shipping fee to forward it to her new address. Do you think I should refund her $8.95? Am I obligated to do so?
My second problem is similar. I received a package back that I shipped off over a week ago. The label has “moved, left no forwarding address”. I immediately checked my PayPal payment and the invoice information from eBay. The address is the same as the one I shipped it to! I e-mailed the buyer, asked her if she moved, and told her the box was shipped back. She apologized, and gave me her new address. She did not offer to pay to ship the item back to her. What should I do? Should I charge her the shipping cost to re-send? Or should I just eat the cost of the shipping? It was only four dollars and some change.
JPK; Ottawa
Dear JPK;
In both cases you certainly did everything right. Your Louisiana/Alabama buyer may not fully understand what happened. I would email her, and let her know you feel really bad she had to pay the extra shipping money to receive her item. Tell her what you told me and all of the investigation you did to figure out what happened. I would explain to her she was charged the 8.95 because she chose parcel post shipping (there would not have been a fee to forward with Priority mail), and she did not update her address with eBay or PayPal. I would not refund her money, and she certainly went against eBay rules by threatening feedback. Her “you pay or I’ll give you a negative”, warrants you reporting her to eBay. That being said, if you are feeling kind and do not want to confront her, you could refund the money and not have any of the hassle.
When it comes to your second buyer, I would email her back and let her know the post office will not send it to her new address without charging you again to ship it. Offer to send her a new shipping invoice through PayPal. If the buyer is unhappy about paying the extra shipping, you should not feel obligated to do so. If she does not want to pay to have it shipped back and you do not want to pay ship it. I would refund her money.
All of us at some point and time will have a buyer who forgets to change their mailing address. I have been known to eat the shipping fees if the sale was a good one.
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 130141225705 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). I have this memory of going to my Grandmother’s house and seeing an old amber candy dish full of candy. Maybe it wasn’t just like this one, but maybe it was. Fenton Amber Hobnail covered candy dish SOLD $13,154.00. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130141225705
After 3 years of selling on eBay, I finally have 2 problems that I am not sure how to solve. I can not believe they happened within a week of each other, and they both involve the post office. My first problem started out when I mailed a package to Louisiana over 3 weeks ago! The buyer has emailed a lot over the last three weeks. She has the delivery confirmation number, and it just shows “in-transit”. Yesterday the buyer emailed me and said she received the package, but she had to pay $8.95 for extra postage and she wants me to refund that money back to her or she will give me a negative.
I called my post office and her post office in Louisiana. I did not understand how she had postage due, when my post office put the postage on the box to begin with! After talking to both post offices I learned the buyer had moved from Louisiana to Alabama in July, and did not change her address with eBay or PayPal. The $8.95 she was charged was because the package was originally shipped Parcel Post, and it was the shipping fee to forward it to her new address. Do you think I should refund her $8.95? Am I obligated to do so?
My second problem is similar. I received a package back that I shipped off over a week ago. The label has “moved, left no forwarding address”. I immediately checked my PayPal payment and the invoice information from eBay. The address is the same as the one I shipped it to! I e-mailed the buyer, asked her if she moved, and told her the box was shipped back. She apologized, and gave me her new address. She did not offer to pay to ship the item back to her. What should I do? Should I charge her the shipping cost to re-send? Or should I just eat the cost of the shipping? It was only four dollars and some change.
JPK; Ottawa
Dear JPK;
In both cases you certainly did everything right. Your Louisiana/Alabama buyer may not fully understand what happened. I would email her, and let her know you feel really bad she had to pay the extra shipping money to receive her item. Tell her what you told me and all of the investigation you did to figure out what happened. I would explain to her she was charged the 8.95 because she chose parcel post shipping (there would not have been a fee to forward with Priority mail), and she did not update her address with eBay or PayPal. I would not refund her money, and she certainly went against eBay rules by threatening feedback. Her “you pay or I’ll give you a negative”, warrants you reporting her to eBay. That being said, if you are feeling kind and do not want to confront her, you could refund the money and not have any of the hassle.
When it comes to your second buyer, I would email her back and let her know the post office will not send it to her new address without charging you again to ship it. Offer to send her a new shipping invoice through PayPal. If the buyer is unhappy about paying the extra shipping, you should not feel obligated to do so. If she does not want to pay to have it shipped back and you do not want to pay ship it. I would refund her money.
All of us at some point and time will have a buyer who forgets to change their mailing address. I have been known to eat the shipping fees if the sale was a good one.
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 130141225705 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). I have this memory of going to my Grandmother’s house and seeing an old amber candy dish full of candy. Maybe it wasn’t just like this one, but maybe it was. Fenton Amber Hobnail covered candy dish SOLD $13,154.00. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130141225705
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