Free Shipping & Crazy buyers all can be found on eBay

Dear eBay Queen;

I have some new shoes (without the box), some new with tags t-shirts, as well as some vintage 1980’s Barbies. I think these items can either be packed tightly into a flat rate box or maybe folded nicely and shipped in a heavy plastic shipping bag. I am considering using free shipping on these items. What is the best way to figure out ahead of time how much to allow in my starting price on eBay?

What would be the cheapest way to ship these items? How do you figure out that fine line between using a Priority Mail box versus an envelope? How much is flat rate shipping?

If I am shipping a t-shirt, would it be appropriate to just slip the shirt into a Priority flat-rate envelope? I had wondered about putting a t-shirt into a shipping bag or envelope; do you think it would get there ok? Or does it need a box?


G Hull; Lawrence, KS

Dear G:

When figuring what to start your item at you will need to add the cost of shipping, eBay fees and PayPal fees to the price of your item. You can ship light weight items (such as t-shirts if they are 13 ounces or less) in a first class shipping bag or manila envelope. I know many sellers who ship clothing in a variety of things besides a box. All of the methods you mentioned would be acceptable.

USPS has all of their pricing listed on their website. This will make it easy for you to figure your shipping costs. http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm Priority Mail flat envelopes are $4.80 and Priority Mail flat rate box is $9.80.

eBay is really pushing for free shipping, but as your parents always told you “nothing in life is free”. Make sure you add in all of your costs before you set your price for your eBay listing. Good Luck, and let me know how your free shipping experiment goes.

Dear eBay Queen;

I have a really strange problem. I sold a Red Wing Crock to someone that only lived in the next town over. She paid me with PayPal but asked if she could pick the item up. I agreed, and the woman came over to my home. She stood here and talked to me for a long time. She was very nice and friendly and she never once said anything negative about the crock. Then she went home and filed a PayPal not as described claim and left me a negative feedback. She never said that there was a problem and did not ever contact me.

What should I do?

Barbara; Gardner, KS


Dear Barbara:

This is unbelievable! Have you responded to the PayPal Claim? If not you need to do that right away. Make sure you say in your response that the customer picked the item up at your home and inspected it there. From there you have several choices:

1. Authorize a return, where the buyer will return the item to you. Will the buyer ship it back or return it to your door?
2. Escalate the claim. By doing this, PayPal will decide what will happen. They could have the buyer return it, or tell the buyer to keep it since they looked it over in person. It’s very important that if you choose to escalate the claim, to make clear the buyer came and picked up the item.
3. Continue to communicate with the buyer. Do this if you believe the two of you can work this out between yourselves.

Sometimes people do things and there is no explanation for why they do them. If this were my buyer and transaction I would respond to PayPal, and to the negative feedback she left. My feedback response would say; “Buyer picked up item, was happy with it when she left, no contact just left negative.”


Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 310085850577 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Christopher Columbus’ birthday is going to be here soon. I wonder if he would have liked a figural match safe of his own head? SOLD $450.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item310085850577

E-commerce how to move your items all over the net, not just eBay

Dear eBay Queen;

I own an e-commerce platform store that has several thousand products. I am trying to figure out, either a fully automated way, or the least time consuming way, to list these products in an eBay store. I know there must be a way to do this automatically. This is currently being done by several people on eBay already. I am currently attempting to reverse engineer how they are integrating their inventory directly into eBay. These sellers have identical inventory on both their websites and their eBay stores. I know that they can’t be manually creating 5000+ listings. I am having trouble figuring out where to start.

I am assuming that they are doing this one of two ways. First, they could be using some type of existing service that converts these website items, pictures and descriptions, strips out the shopping cart code and other proprietary ecommerce platform information and leaves a “clean” listing that can be uploaded to eBay through some type of auto listing software such as Turbo Lister. One of the reasons I believe this to be done by a service as opposed to a manual process, is that the stores and listings I have seen a few of these sellers create are extremely professional and organized. The second way they could be doing this is by taking the inventory spreadsheets from the drop ship company and somehow integrating the pictures, which are separate but identified by SKU numbers, and somehow uploading or integrating this data into some program. This method would be more advantageous for me as I have several drop shippers available to me with very large inventories and they have their whole inventory in spreadsheet formats much like the ecommerce platform does.

So basically I am looking for the most efficient way to instantly populate an eBay store with an existing inventory. I have not been a PowerSeller on eBay for a few years now and could be missing something obvious here. What is the most efficient way to instantly populate an eBay store with an existing inventory? What is the most efficient, automated way to transfer product data (pictures, descriptions) from a spreadsheet of inventory and/or existing ecommerce platform website, create listings of these products, and upload those items into an eBay store? Do you have any suggestions as to how I automate this process? Should I be looking for a service that will do this for me?

Steve

Dear Steve;

In this current economy you have a great problem to have. Unlike most eBay sellers, you have taken on the Internet alone without the help of eBay. Most Internet Retailers have mastered eBay and are very afraid to take on the World Wide Web.

There are quite a few business’ taking advantage multi-channel selling. They seem to have complete copies of their inventory on their web store on eBay. I believe they are doing this will the help of one of the many companies that have integrated ecommerce, eBay and other online selling venues. An option you might want to look into is using Channel Advisor http://www.channeladvisor.com/ Kyozu http://www.kyozu.com/ or Infopia http://www.infopia.com/ . These companies will help immerse your business (for a fee) into the world of ecommerce.

I did a bit of research, and I think I understand what you need. Here are a few options that might help you create a presence on eBay.

1. eBay File Exchange http://pages.ebay.com/File_Exchange/ With file exchange you can upload your inventory via an Excel Spreadsheet.
2. OS Commerce has several open source options that will allow you to load your shopping cart onto eBay. To find a compatible program by Googling your shopping cart name and eBay to see if there is a compatible module that will load your items on eBay.
3. Blackthorne Pro might be an option for you as it works on an Access Database. http://pages.ebay.com/blackthorne/pro.html

I hope one or some of these suggestions will get this problem ironed out and you find a good fit for your business.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 190251789261 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the eBay homepage). Looking for a Life Size Lego sculpture of your favorite Basketball Star? You know where to find it! Jason Kidd Life Size Lego Statue SOLD $1000.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP.dll?ViewItems&item=190251789261

eBay Listings Removed? Why would they do this?

Dear eBay Queen;

I woke up to a WHOLE bunch of my store listings removed. They’ve got to be kidding me! The shipping is pretty much what it would cost me plus $1. I don’t understand how I am circumventing fees! Here is there reasoning.

We appreciate that you chose eBay to list your eBay Stores listing(s). However, we have removed your listing because it breached our Circumvention of eBay Fees policy. We notified members who placed bids on the item that the listing has been canceled.

Why did we remove your listing? Your listing(s) contains the following information:

Looking for something you don't see? Just ask! We will be happy to add it to our stock whenever possible

You may not manipulate eBay's system in order to avoid paying certain eBay fees. This includes practices such as adding previously unspecified fees after the end of the auction, or charging excessive postage and packaging in order to recoup your listing and Final Value Fees.

Could you please explain to me how I am circumventing eBay fees?

Sabrina; Rantoul, KS


Dear Sabrina;

I don’t believe eBay removed the listings because of your shipping and handling charges. They removed it because of this statement: “Looking for something you don’t see? Just ask! We will be happy to add it to our stock whenever possible.”

I believe if you changed your wording, it would be ok. I’m not sure what you sell, but I don’t think the line “Looking for something you don’t see?” is going to make people email you. I would suggest making your statement more specific to what you are selling. If you sell men’s dress shirts, you could say something like “Looking for this dress shirt in a different size? Just ask! I would be happy to put one on a buy it now for you. This tells the buyer and eBay you have more of these items and you will be adding it to your eBay store or to a fixed price listing.

I don’t think your wording was really circumventing fees, and whoever turned it in or pulled it was really reaching to say you were trying to sell things off eBay. I have had a very similar thing happen to me a couple of years ago at Christmas time. I had over 200 listings pulled because I said something similar to what you said. The key is to say you will add it to your eBay store inventory or put it on a Buy it Now.



Dear eBay Queen;


Do you know anyone dropped from eBay because of low DSRs (Detail Seller Rating) scores? I will be. I cannot get my shipping high star high enough! I only ship once a week (officially), though I really do ship a couple times a week. Some people do not read that I only ship on THURSDAYs following payment. Because of this my shipping DSR is low.

Losing eBay during the holidays will stink as that's usually the money I use for gifts, but I have too much else going on in my life to ship the same day. Do you have any advice for me?

George; Olathe, KS

Dear George:

I am sorry to hear this. eBay is instituting this requirement that every seller’s DSR’s need to be above 4.3. Is your shipping DSR’s going to fall below the 30 day 4.3 number? If so, you will not be kicked off eBay for that, only restricted to listing a few items (think of it as being grounded eBay style).

I am wondering if we can’t do something to make your shipping star go up? If I had this problem, I would be using PayPal to make shipping labels (which is free), and have the post office pick up my packages at home or work daily. This way I could ship out as the packages come in.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 110277697269 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Know a farmer who shaves? Check out this Occupational Shaving mug Farmer Sold $275.00. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110277697269

Seller trys to change the eBay agreement

Dear eBay Queen;

I’ve been looking high and low for an antique bedroom set like my grandma used to have. I finally found what I was looking for on eBay. I made an offer to buy the bedroom set last week. The seller accepted. The auction terms were pretty clear in the eBay ad. It stated I must notify the seller within 24hrs to make arrangements for shipping or pick up, and a $500 deposit was due within 3 days. I called the seller to discuss arrangements. The seller asked me for my personal information, so he could send a purchase agreement for me to sign, and asked for a $500 deposit via PayPal. I told the seller that I would get this to them as soon as I was able.

I received the purchase agreement via fax, and there were several NEW terms on this agreement; one of which I was supposed to send him 500.00 within 24hours of our first contact, instead of the 3 days I was given in the auction. The other term that was different from the auction is that I am suppose to wire the money within 48 hours of initial contact, not the 5 calendar days that the auction states. After reading the new agreement, if I sign it, then I am legally bound by the new terms of the purchase agreement.

On the fourth calendar day, the seller called me and stated if he does not receive the purchase agreement signed and faxed to him the next day and the deposit by this Monday,he would come after me breach of contract and liquidated damages. When he stated this I considered that a threat, and no longer want to do business with him.This past Sunday I sent the seller an email stating that the offer to buy is void because he changed the terms of the auction. I contacted eBay Live Help and they told me I needed to work out things with the seller. If that did not work, I was to contact Trust & Safety. I told eBay that I do not want to complete the sale and would like to file a complaint against the seller for changing the conditions of the sale. In the meantime, the seller replied to me via email on Monday that I did not follow thru on terms of the auction and further communication will come from their attorneys. Today I got an email from eBay for an unpaid item dispute.

I have a couple questions for you: Do I have a legal obligation to the auction based on what just happened? How long does it take for Trust & Safety to respond? Does Trust and Safety usually side with the seller?I look forward to hearing from you,Ed

Dear Ed;

What a nightmare for you! This seller has lost their mind! As I am sure you know, bidding on an eBay transaction is a legal binding contract. http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/bidding-ov.html . However, the seller changing the terms of that sale after the fact is wrong.

I’m not sure why this seller would say he is going to take legal action against you for not completing the transaction. That would only seem to aggravate this problem and tie up the bedroom furniture so that he would not be able to sell it. I would say he is mostly likely just threatening you. This seller has really put himself out on a limb by wanting you to sign a purchase agreement and by threatening you. I don’t even know why you would need a purchase agreement on bedroom furniture!

You have done the right thing by reporting him to Trust & Safety. It will probably take a few days for T&S to respond back to you. During this time make sure you respond to the Unpaid Item Dispute. List the problems you are having, and why you are uncomfortable about completing this sale.

I am really sorry this happened to you. Remember that not all eBay sellers are like this guy.


Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 260233479833 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the eBay homepage). I’m not sure why this is so collectible. Maybe it’s because it’s Von Dutch, or maybe someone collects flying eyeballs. Von Dutch The Flying Eyeball Sign. SOLD $15,000.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP.dll?ViewItems&item=2602333479833

eBay Buyer demands Feedback or else

Dear eBay Queen;

I’ve been reading your column for quite a while now. I know you’ve covered several feedback issues, but I don’t remember you covering anything like this. I buy 5-10 things a week on eBay, and it seems like sellers are more desperate than ever to get feedback! Each seller is a bit different, but they all expect me to leave feedback first. I am tired of these types of sellers and their attitudes. I have decided to send all sellers that ask me to leave feedback for them first the following letter:

Dear Seller,

Thank you for you email and letting me know the status of my order. I understand and acknowledge you would like for me to leave you positive feedback. My question to you is WHY should I when you, as yet, have not done so for me? After all, I fulfilled my end of the bargain when I paid you in full via PayPal. When you leave positive feedback for me, (as you should since my obligation to you has been met by paying you,) and when I receive a quality product (as described in your eBay ad,) then I will consider giving you a positive feedback. If you don’t want to meet my demands, there will be no hope in ever seeing feedback from me.

Do you think my wording is too strong? My good friend sells stuff on eBay and he thinks I should just let it go and give a seller feedback first. I am anxious to hear your opinion.

John G

Dear John;

As a buyer I completely understand your frustration with sellers not leaving timely feedback. When I am a buyer, I’ve always left feedback first, and even then it takes some sellers a long time to leave feedback for me. While I think your letter completely reflects the opinions of many buyers in the world of eBay, I don’t think it will get you the response you are hoping for from sellers.

As a seller myself, if I received your email, I would be a bit afraid to leave you ANY feedback as it sends up some red flags. Your comment on how you would “consider” giving positive feedback makes it seem as though you might be hard to please. From a sellers perspective your email has the potential to get more people riled up, than be sympathetic to your feedback plight. I’m going to side with your friend on this one, let it go.


Dear eBay Queen;

eBay is doing it again and it's not fair. I sell in the digital delivery category. I was totally unaware of the fact that eBay has banned all digital delivery items. I haven't been busted yet, but I guess I am going to have to stop selling my e-book. This is totally unfair. The e-book I am selling is a simple how-to booklet in PDF format. I wrote it myself and under copyright laws I have the right to sell it. How can I get around this rule? I keep telling myself I need to start a website to host my e-books. I am looking for something that would be an automatic steady trickle of income that really requires no interaction from me. I guess this new rule will give me the final push to do it.

Gerry

Dear Gerry;

eBay put the new digital download rules into effect at the end of March. This was a high fraud category for eBay, and adding these new rules was not to prevent you as a seller from making money, but to keep the site safer. The rules say that you can only sell digital downloads in the Classified Ad’s Section of eBay. I know lots of seller that are still selling their e-books but are now offering them on CD. This means you will have to burn the CD and mail the item, but it still will allow you to sell your successful how-to book. For more information on this rule check out: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/selling-digital-items.html

Having multiple venues in which to sell your items is always a good idea. I really encourage you to play within the rules of eBay’s digital download category and start your own website. You could even write an e-book on how you started your website.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 310040576619 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the eBay homepage). Have you ever wondered what a painting of a Hamster would sell for? Check out Hamster The Bone Thief Original Art Painting SOLD $102.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP.dll?ViewItems&item=31000576619

PowerSellers? What are they good for?

Dear eBay Queen;

On Tuesday; April 22nd , eBay had a 10 cent listing sale for PowerSellers. This really ticks me off. This kind of PowerSeller only sale is like a slap in the face to the little guy! It also came across as demeaning to us non-PowerSellers, surely that is not what was intended, but it happened nevertheless.

I am not a PowerSeller. This is primarily because I sell about 700-800 dollars worth of books per month on eBay, but the bulk of my income comes from Amazon. Amazon does not classify its sellers as PowerSellers or Non-PowerSellers and does not comes across with the snobbery that eBay does.

I feel like eBay has taken a number of steps in the past several months to further alienate its sellers. That is not just my opinion, but also thought by Auction Bytes and other online newsletters. This latest decision to let only PowerSellers post auctions today for 10 cents is just another step toward alienating small sellers like me. Is there something that can be done about this? What are your feelings about the PowerSeller program?
NOL

Dear NOL;

I’m sorry you feel slighted by eBay. I know that it seems like PowerSellers are part of an exclusive club, and you are excluded from it. It can be very frustrating. Ask yourself this question; Do you want or need to become a PowerSeller? If your answer is yes, you are really not far from making Bronze PowerSeller status. The minimum requirement is $1000.00 or 100 items sold per month. If you are selling $700-800 per month now, with just a little extra effort you can be part of the PowerSeller program. To learn more about the program go here: http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/welcome.html

It is just recently eBay has put some teeth into being a PowerSeller. In the past, there were no real benefits to attaining top seller status. Now, eBay is making the requirements to become a PowerSeller harder and by doing that they are adding benefits to being a PowerSeller. Those benefits are:

Toll Free Phone Support
Fee Discounts
Increased Visibility in Best Match Searches
PowerSeller Unpaid Item Protection Program
Expanded Seller Protection
PowerSeller Community Help
Health Insurance Solutions
Powerful Giving Program
Special offers in the ReSeller Marketplace

I really thought the PowerSeller program from several years ago was pointless, and really didn’t have any benefit except to say, “I’m a PowerSeller”. This new program really shows why these people are PowerSellers. http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/powerseller/criteria.html


Dear eBay Queen;

I've been buying and selling on eBay since 1999, but have only been running a full-time eBay store since Nov 2006. I go through spurts where buyers are fine, and then all of a sudden I get a handful ofcomplete nut jobs. I have found more and more buyers are expecting me to ship their item out within 24 hours of them paying. Sometimes this is not even possible for me to do. I go to school full-time and I am taking care of an aunt that is disabled.

How can I keep my Detailed Seller Ratings high, alleviate any negative feedback, and continue shipping the way I always have?

Kayla R.


Dear Kayla:

Congratulations on your eBay success since 2006. That is quite an accomplishment. It says a lot about you and your commitment to making it work on eBay.

I’m sorry that I don’t have a fool proof answer to help you with your problem. There are many sellers (myself included) in the same boat with you. My only answer is to educate your buyer. Make sure your eBay ad, About Me page, and eBay store gives information on your shipping time. When your buyer pays you, could send them an email letting them know you received their payment and let them know the date in which their item will be shipped out.


Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 150236660494 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). How many times have you thought, “I want my own Pub.” Here’s your chance Inflatable Portable Pub Asking price: $25,000. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150236660494

How to take Great eBay Photos & how much should I pay myself?

Dear eBay Queen;

I am renting a two story house and have severe arthritis in my knees. The best place for me to take photos is in the upstairs bathroom. The bathroom counters are large, and the light fixtures mixed with the daylight, makes my lighting perfect! My problem is I end up carrying my eBay items upstairs to photograph and list, and then downstairs to store and ship. When my knees are really hurting, I just store the stuff up there. The upstairs is my children’s domain, and they get a little annoyed with me and my eBay stuff in their bathroom. Do you have a solution for this?

Laura in Phoenix

Dear Laura;

Many other eBayers, myself included, have had a hard time finding the photography sweet spot in their house. When I first started selling on eBay, I photographed everything in my kitchen. I had the best lighting, and sunlight came through those windows through-out the day. I would set up my ironing board up against my pantry cabinet, tape white fabric on the pantry and let it drape over my ironing board. My photos always came out clear, and no one ever knew what kind of studio I had.

You could also purchase a photo cube. These are portable and most fold up quickly and can be stored in an area that is smaller than a lap top. Currently eBay has photo cubes ranging in price from 11.99 to 100.00. When buying a photo cube set up on eBay you need to make sure your purchase includes the lighting. If you are unsure about how a photo cube will work for you, you could always make your own for very little money. http://reviews.ebay.com/DIY-Ebay-photo-studio_W0QQugidZ10000000004241893 eBay user osuna_ruben has created a step by step (with photos) guide on how to make your own photo cube with only 6 household items.

If none of the suggestions work for you, I would have my kids lug the eBay items up and down the stairs for me. My first thought when you contacted me with your dilemma was “what about those kids”? You have some cheap labor right there at your finger tips! I have five children, and sometimes they complain about helping with eBay stuff. Most of the time they love helping out, and I’ve learned they enjoy feeling like they are a part of something.

Dear eBay Queen;

I am trying to make a go at eBay as a full time business. I'm curious about how I should give myself a salary. I need to figure the best way to pay myself and the best method for giving a percentage to an organization that I regularly support, (not through eBay's Giving Works, but independently). Also, how much do you keep for buying new product? I’m sure everyone does it differently, but I’d like to get a few ideas.

Jenna; Gardner, KS

Dear Jenna;

I know some people pay themselves a weekly or monthly salary, and others treat each of their sales like it was a consignment sale by taking a percentage of each transaction. If your eBay sales are not consistent week to week it would be hard to pay yourself on a low sales week. If you chose to pay yourself a percent of each eBay sale, then you would not need to worry about a slow week. You could also build into your paycheck the percent you give your charity.

When it comes to buying product, everyone has a different amount they spend weekly or monthly on items to sell on eBay. I have friends that allow $200.00 a week to go to estate and garage sales, and another that spends 5000.00 a month when he buys product from a wholesaler. Keep track of your spending, over a couple of months in a notebook. That should give you a good idea on how much money you will need to spend every week/month on acquiring new product.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 190204777046 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the eBay homepage). I knew people collected old padlocks, but I never knew they would sell for this much. Wells Fargo and CO. Padlock SOLD $3000.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP.dll?ViewItems&item=190204777046