.................

[C.Ann]

Thanks!

 

[ceecee]

After you sell the item you can just click send invoice, or if you only want to accept m/o put that in your ad and just email them with the total. If you are selling all books that weigh apprx the same, you could get one set weighed at P.O. and forego the scale, i did. The $30.00 eats up a lot otf your profit. Depends on how much you sell. Bubble envelopes will work for really small books, they also cost $$! I was buying mine at office depot when I first started, now I order from www.bubblefast.com they have good prices. I sell a lot of my DD clothes, so they are perfect for that.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks,

 

[tinaluis]

I'm not CeeCee, but the reason some sellers don't accept Paypal is because their fees are very high. For example, I sold a movie and the total with shipping and everything was $16.50. Out of that Paypal took a $.78 fee and that's on top of a listing fee with eBay and a final value fee with eBay. However, Paypal is convenient and allows buyers to pay instantly thereby allowing you to ship the item and close out the transaction. I accept Paypal, checks and money orders but I know that some sellers won't use Paypal. There's also a service called BidPay through Western Union and they charge the fees to send money to the buyer. Some sellers use them, but as a buyer I avoid listings with BidPay as the only payment method because I don't need to incur any additional fees on top of shipping and insurance.

 

[beansmom]

If you have a business, you can order shipping supplies free from the post office at usps.com

They have everything from boxes to envelopes to packing tape free.

 

[ceecee]

I do accept Paypal, even though they take a fee, it's fast and easy. Some people actually take weeks to send their money order and you have to give checks time to clear, I had one bounce and stopped taking personal checks. I like Paypal because once the stuff is sold, I can mail it and get it out of the way. I then transfer the $$ to my checking acct when it gets up to a certain amount.
I have gotten free priority tape, envelopes and boxes sent to me from the PO and I'm not a business, I think anyone can get them, ask at your local p.o. too, they have them.

 

[MCazer]

You can sign in on www.usps.com and get the Priority boxes and tape for free, and they deliver them to your home.

You can also get the Priority Tyvek envelopes, turn them inside out and tape or staple them closed if you want to send something "not" priority. The tyvek is a very secure envelope, and the inside is white.

Sometimes I wrap a box (could be a cereal box LOL) if its the right size! Then just wrap it with the priority Tyvek envelope!

I also use www.stamps.com and print my own postage. Often times I can skip the post office all together and put the items in my mailbox for the postal carrier.

Stamps.com was running a promotion for a free scale when you sign up, not sure if they are now.

Delivery confirmation is free if you print off the label (with or without postage) on the www.usps.com website. That saves .45 that you can still charge the buyer. Helps to cover those PayPal fees.

Good Luck, and hold those items until the check clears (been burned).

Oh, one more thing, never ever click on an ebay link in an email and fill in your information. My friend was just burned by this.

She recieved an authentic looking email from "ebay" and it said to fill in all her information ... well her bank account was emptied. She will get it back, but why set yourself up. Just be overly cautious. Ebay and Paypal will NEVER ask for your information again.

 

[DianeV]

One thing to add: You really arent supposed to turn the Priority envelopes inside out just as you arent supposed to turn Priority boxes inside out. They are free to use for Priority mail and if too many people abuse them they may take them away or start charging for them..

 

[DMRick]

I'd like to add to the Priority box useage also. When you order them on line, you are agreeing to use them just for the Priority items. If you turn them inside out, and your post office accepts them (ours sure won't..and most are coming now, with USPS lightly stamped inside to stop this abuse), there is nothing to say that the buyer you are selling to, won't be charged the correct Priority rate at his end. Buyers get very upset when they are told postage is due, because the seller did something they weren't suppose to. Also, many sellers on the eBay list I frequent, give negative feedback for this misuse.

I do use Paypal, since it's gets the payment to me so much quicker, and no fears of a bounced check (I accept checks too). It is expensive for small items, if you don't have the free Paypal account (which is a whole other letter), but it's the cost of doing business I figure.

 

[Chloesmom]

Originally posted by DianeV
One thing to add: You really arent supposed to turn the Priority envelopes inside out just as you arent supposed to turn Priority boxes inside out. They are free to use for Priority mail and if too many people abuse them they may take them away or start charging for them..

It's actually a federal offense to use the Priority boxes for something other than shipping priority. When you sign up for free supplies you have to agree to use them for shipping priority only. Our post master( who is a friend) is bent on enforcing this rule and has visited several people personally to warn them ( I think there may be a fine too). Apparently it all depends on your local post master but is a no no at any rate.

 

[MCazer]

I didn't mean to rip off the post office at all. Most of my mail is sent in padded mailers or Priority boxes. I spend over $500 in postage per month. I never use the Priority boxes inside out. I also buy or reuse boxes I have received.

I am sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

[DMRick]

It's actually a federal offense to use the Priority boxes for something other than shipping priority.

I'm not sure that it's a federal offense. We tried to find just what kind of offense it was on our eBay list..and the most anyone could get the PO to agree to, was, it's against the rules, and if caught, you have to pay the full price of the shipping, and you will not be able to order again on line. It's stealing..but I'm not sure about the federal offense part. Maybe you could find the ruling from your friend..I know we'd be very interested on out list. The Post workers can't just tell us it's a fed offense, they have to show us the number in the book they have (all the PO rules have numbers)...so far no one has.

Mcazer..no offense taken here. Some people just don't realize you aren't suppose to use them. The interesting thing is, I had people saving me the used ones, which the PO says is fine to turn inside out (and you have to write on them..recycled box) and reuse..but I got so many comments in the PO lines, that I just use regular boxes, rather than recycling. Bad enough the customers grumble when they see me ahead of them in line..don't need to add to it.

 

[poober25]

I am an e-bay seller and wanted to give my input on PayPal, etc.
I do accept PayPal, but not credit cards or debit cards. You do not get charged anything to receive money if don't accept debit or credit card payments. I also accept c2it.com. They recently started charging a 2% fee to the buyer for their service. These are the only 2 ways I even accept payment anymore. I occassionally have someone who bids and doesn't want to pay that way, but I have always worked it out. Make sure you clearly post your payment requirements in your auctions. Actually, the biggest thing to remember with e-bay is that you are clear about everything in your listings.

 

[punkin]

Can anyone explain exactly how paypal works and how you sign up for it. I really don't want to pay because I only want to use ebay this once (my sister wants to sell a week of her timeshare that she already deposited but will now be unable to use). Does it make sense to pay for paypal in such a circumstance?

 

[shovelhd]

Just set up a standard account and don't upgrade it. You won't be charged for paypal cash transfers. Make sure that you always state clearly and LOUDLY in your auction listing that credit cards are not accepted. I state "paypal transfers only". Be careful. If you have paypal automatically add paypal checkout in your listing, it will state that credit cards are accepted. Also, if someone tries to pay with a credit card, and you have a standard (non-merchant) account, paypal will prompt you to upgrade your account in order to accept the payment. If you do, you will get whacked with credit card fees. Fee details are on paypal's site. You can downgrade the account later, but one time only.

I have used c2it for a few deals. Now I have a local vendor process my credit card transactions. Much cheaper.

Good luck,

Chris

 

[Chloesmom]

From previous experience I believe the code is C010 but it says directly on the USPS website "Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, Global Express Guaranteed®, Global Express Mail® and Global Priority Mail® packaging is the property of the United States Postal Service and is provided solely for sending Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, Global Express Guaranteed®, Global Express Mail® and Global Priority Mail®. Misuse may be a violation of federal law."

 

[DMRick]

Misuse may be a violation of federal law."

Yes, I agreed to that blurb when I ordered my boxes online..but a violation isn't the same as a federal offense. And that key word is "may". Lot less prison time for a violation, than a federal offense {smile}.

Not that I would ever cheat the system, because I thank the PO daily (even though I know we are paying for them..or at least the buyers are) in the higher shipping prices..but to put it in perspective..all that happens to you is, they either refuse the box (the inside out one) or charge the receiver the full Priority price when upon delivery. They just don't bother sending the FBI out for this particular "maybe" violation, like they do federal offenses.