topic Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question in Community Chat

E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

wismiss — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:21:22 GMT

I just wasn't sure where to post this, so I hope some of you e-bay sellers can give me some advice.

Do any of you have your own postal scales for shipping your sold items? If you do, how does this work? Do you weigh the packed item and then list the shipping on your listing, or do you include it in the price and then say "free shipping"?

If you have your own machine, does it print out the postage and you merely affix it to the envelope or do you take each item to the post office? If your scale prints out the postage, how does this work?

If you do have a postal scale, what brand do you have and approximately how much would one cost? In addition, what features should I look for before buying?

I have about 100 pieces of jewelry that I am soon going to be listing, and would really appreciate any advice/help you could give me.

Thank you so much.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

chickenbutt — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:27:27 GMT

I don't anymore, but I almost always listed the shipping separately. I never padded the amount unless there was extensive packing required. Be sure to include the amount for insurance if they are high-valued items. Don't offer the choice, because the next thing you know somebody opts out of paying for insurance and there is some kind of loss. Guess who ends up on the hook anyway? The seller. They lean heavily toward the buyer now and you cannot even leave neg feedback for a buyer anymore if they rip you off. That was the catalyst for me to stop selling because more and more 'buyers' were ripping people off.

Of course I do have scales. I have a bench scale for heavier stuff and little scales for the lighter stuff, as well as gram scales for weighing gold or gems, etc.

You don't need anything that is called a 'postal scale'. Just a scale. If you sell light stuff you just need a small scale of any type that weighs ounces and pounds up to whatever weight that applies.

If you are using USPS, just get an account online and you can print out the postage for your packages when they are ready to go.

Good luck with selling your jewelry. I used to sell a ton of jewelry but it just got to the point that you couldn't get a decent price on fine jewelry anymore and the fees ate it up. So I finally sold a couple bundles of gold to USGB and was done with it. I ended up with a lot more money than I'd ever have from listing and selling through ebay.

If you're selling costume, you will probably do better on ebay though.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

moonstone dunes — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:41:06 GMT

I had a lot of questions too. I still don't completely get the shipping thing, because of the difference in zones. I sold a coat and offered free shipping, used ebay's online shipping calculator and use box dimensions and weighed the coat in the box on a regular scale. At the post office they calculated the zone and rounded up; the shipping was under $10. I priced the coat too low too. I didn't realize when I offered free shipping to limit it only to the contiguous 48. Very close call with a bidder from HI.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

Deb1010again — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:42:35 GMT

I'll answer your shipping question (whether to list out separately or include as one price) from a marketing perspective. In this day and age, I think it's easiest for the customer to just list one price with "free shipping". They're going to do the math to add it up for themselves as one price, so save them the step.

"Free Shipping" is seen as a benefit and value added. Keep that in mind.

ETA: I just read Moonstone's post above. If you offer "free shipping", you want to specify it's for the contiguous United States, extra for Alaska, HI and international.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

Sushismom — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:59:06 GMT

There's really no need to exclude Alaska or Hawaii. A small Priority Flat Rate box is $5.95 no matter where in the U.S. it's going.

As for insurance, you cannot charge a buyer separately for insurance. That's no longer allowed. And, in reality, insurance is for the seller and not the buyer. And if you print your label via eBay/PayPal, Priority will include $50 insurance automatically.

Many buyers seem to like the free shipping option. Remember, too, that if you offer free shipping you're given a 5-star rating for shipping costs. Just make sure to include both the shipping charge and a little extra for the fees in your total cost.

There's a Selling board over at eBay. Many experienced sellers post there. But be aware that most use a posting ID so the number of feedback shown is often misleading.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

mousiegirl — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:01:50 GMT

If a buyer requests insurance, then a seller can apply it. If the mailing is expedited, insurance is included up to $50.00. I always ask if insurance is included and , if not, I request it, too many crooks in the post service.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

Sushismom — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 00:06:08 GMT

On 11/13/2014 mousiegirl said:
If a buyer requests insurance, then a seller can apply it. If the mailing is expedited, insurance is included up to $50.00. I always ask if insurance is included and , if not, I request it, too many crooks in the post service.

As a buyer, though, insurance isn't necessary. It's the seller's responsibility to make sure a buyer gets their item. If the package is lost, the buyer can file an INR. If it's damaged, the buyer can file a SNAD. The only time a buyer may be out is if the tracking shows the package as being delivered to the correct zip. And even then insurance will most likely not pay because of the delivery confirmation.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

wismiss — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:06:56 GMT

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all sharing all your knowledge and experience. I am busy cleaning the jewelry and putting on new backs, etc., then take the pictures, and then I will post them on e-bay.

Chickenbutt, my jewelry offerings will be costume jewelry. I decided I just needed to start downsizing and that includes my jewelry. I've already gone through my fine jewelry and like you, sold it for the gold. I did that a couple of years ago, but I wish I had held on to it a little longer---the price of gold went up after I sold mine. Oh, well, that's the way it goes. I buy something and the next week it goes on sale. I sell something, then the next week the price goes up. Has that ever happened to you?

Again, thank you everyone for helping out a new e-bay seller.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

mousiegirl — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:16:21 GMT

On 11/13/2014 Sushismom said:
On 11/13/2014 mousiegirl said:
If a buyer requests insurance, then a seller can apply it. If the mailing is expedited, insurance is included up to $50.00. I always ask if insurance is included and , if not, I request it, too many crooks in the post service.

As a buyer, though, insurance isn't necessary. It's the seller's responsibility to make sure a buyer gets their item. If the package is lost, the buyer can file an INR. If it's damaged, the buyer can file a SNAD. The only time a buyer may be out is if the tracking shows the package as being delivered to the correct zip. And even then insurance will most likely not pay because of the delivery confirmation.

I know that I have lost hundred of dollars of items due to not insuring them. It is easy for someone to mark an item as delivered, and then not deliver it, and my post office will do nothing to find an item if it is not insured. they outright stole an envelope from ebay. The delivery person did not put it in the mailbox, who knows why, and took it back to the post office. After many calls and filing complaints, and speaking to a guy who said he had it and didn't know why it wasn't delivered, who never returned any calls, and I never recieved the items. I sent a letter/complaint to the Postmaster General with a cd of the phone conversation between the post office guy saying his name and all the details, and never heard from anyone. When I insure, I always receive the item, so that is the route I take. A tracking number does nothing for a buyer.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

Sushismom — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 03:11:22 GMT

If you want to pay for insurance, go ahead. But if your seller is using eBay/PayPal to print their labels, insurance up to $50 is automatically included.

I don't pay extra for insurance but have received hundreds of packages without issue.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

bells4me — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 03:44:18 GMT

It's a hassle anymore to sell on Ebay. I have a few more Skinn items to sell, then retire from selling. On the other hand I have purchased over 250 items and never had insurance applied. I have never had a problem with receiving items.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

mousiegirl — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 04:56:31 GMT

On 11/13/2014 Sushismom said:
If you want to pay for insurance, go ahead. But if your seller is using eBay/PayPal to print their labels, insurance up to $50 is automatically included.

I don't pay extra for insurance but have received hundreds of packages without issue.

That is not what they say. When I ask the question, either they say that it is not included, or that it is.

Re: E-Bay Sellers--I Have a Question

shamalamadingdong4 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:23:09 GMT

Hi, I sell only books, cameras and camera accessories. I do have a postal scale which is necessary if you want to sell. I bought mine off of eBay. It was inexpensive, and I don't know the brand. Mine has a digital read out and is easy to use. However, I don't have a postage meter. I print my labels through eBay. If you eventually become a Top Rated Seller, you will get a percentage off the shipping price. It makes a difference.

If you're selling jewelry, I would think about offering free shipping. Jewelry is light and would only cost a few dollars to ship so raise your price a few dollars and ship for free. As another poster said, buyers like free shipping as they think they're getting a deal. Just make sure your item is well protected, bubble wrap and maybe a small light jewelry box and a padded envelope should work for most jewelry items.

I know you didn't ask about insurance, but my rule of thumb is to insure any item worth more than $100. I use ShipSaver, an application that's affiliated with eBay. It's cheaper than the post office insurance. Luckily. I've never had to use it, knock on wood. Most of my books are inexpensive so I can easily give a refund. The cameras are a different story. I ship them Priority Mail with my own insurance. That way, I'm covered no matter what. Good luck with your selling. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.