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

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

Stingy Feedback givers and Vero problems

Dear eBay Queen;

Here’s the scenario; a buyer from overseas won/purchased 4 items from me. He paid promptly and I gave him prompt service. After a couple of weeks, he still hasn't left me feedback. I want to know my item arrived ok and met the buyer's expectations before I leave feedback.A month later, this person purchased 5 more items. I promptly shipped the second set of items to him. I presumed he was happy with the first purchase, so I left him feedback for the first 4 items he purchased. I’m bit nervous, about these transactions. I’m sure the second set of items should have arrived by now, but still no feedback from this buyer. I checked his feedback record and see that he hasn't left feedback for other sellers either.Right now - I don't feel like giving this person any more positive feedback. He has indicated he wants to buy more of the same items from me when they become available. Frankly, I am a bit soured on doing more business with him. Are some folks just plain miserly with feedback, or what? How would you handle this?

Stingy with Feedback


Dear Stingy;

Don’t take his lack of feedback personal. Most buyers don’t understand how important feedback is to sellers. I believe your overseas buyer is of the same mind; since you've already reviewed his feedback left for others. His lack of attention to feedback shows his inexperience or perhaps he just doesn't care about leaving feedback.

If you concerned about how this buyer feels about your product and services, I would email him and ask if he is happy with the items you've sent him. When he responds to your email you'll know for sure how he feels. I really think he’s already told you how he feels by continuing to purchase from you.

Keep in mind that feedback is optional, no one is required to leave it. The fact that this buyer is continuing to buy from you should be all the feedback you need. When it comes to eBay, a buyer buying things from me, is more important than them leaving feedback. I sell stuff on eBay because I want to earn money, not gain feedback.


Dear eBay Queen;

I recently had a listing pulled because of a trademark violation by the Richemont Group who owns the luxury watch and jewelry brand, Cartier. My item was a pair of vintage boots by the shoe brand Roland Cartier. I wrote them explaining the mistake they made, and they say that even though the brands are not related, it still infringes on the jewelry brand, Cartier. The Richemont group also told me that Roland Cartier shoes are allowed only to be sold in the UK and Ireland. I have not been able to confirm this on the web. However, many other sellers from out of that territory are selling the same brand of shoes/products.

If I were to re-list the item, but pull the brand name, (because honestly, it is relatively unimportant to me in terms of selling the item,) could I still get in trouble with the Richemont Group, or get an account suspension?

Rachel


Dear Rachel;

Vero! I think that word should be considered profane. I did a preliminary search of eBay, and did not find any active listings for Roland Cartier. I did see some on the UK site, so that just might back up what you were told about where they can be sold.

At this point I would appeal to eBay by filing a Copyright Counter Notice. http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/programs-vero-ov.html I believe Cartier is abusing the system by pulling your items, because the Richemont Group clearly does not make your boots. I would probably not list the items again without the approval of eBay. Your eBay id could be suspended if you violate this policy again by listing these boots.

I know this is very frustrating. I wish there was something I could do to help you out.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 280206732307 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the eBay homepage). After selling for this price, I’m not sure I could bring myself to use these Fire King Salt & Pepper shakers SOLD $650.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280206732307

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