How do you manage your ebay? !!!!

[linnettevl]

How do you manage your ebay? I recently started selling my stuff on ebay (thanks to you all) and I did not imagine that I will be able to "sell anything " well... I was wrong!! I sold all my items then went and listed more stuff and out of the sudden I feel like I am loosing control so many things to keep track of: mailing packages, who paid , who didn't,what goes on what package, all the emails with question regarding items for sell.How do you organize yourself?Need help and ideas to help me be more in control, Even after sending a package sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake. I do not like to stop because in 4weeks I made aprox. 400.00(disney trip) HELP...

 

[mad4themouse]

I try not to have too many auctions going at one time. Anything more than 15 and I get a little overwhelmed. I figure that I can always list more items the following week.

To keep track of everything, I file all emails on my computer. The main folder is just "eBay" with subfolders for "Up for Auction", "Ended Auctions", "Paid Auctions", "Shipped Auctions".

When an item is put up for auction, I create a folder for it in the "Up for Auction" subfolder. The listing confirmation email as well as any emails from potential buyers goes into that folder.

When the auction is over, the entire folder for that item gets moved from "Up for Auction" to "Ended Auctions" where there are two subfolders: "SOLD" and "UNSOLD". The item's folder is placed in the appropriate subfolder.

When payment is received, the file is moved from "SOLD" to "Paid Auctions". I do not print any labels or prepare an item to ship until I have received payment and it has cleared. Once an item has been shipped, I move the folder to "Shipped Auctions". Once a month, I archive those folders to a disk and clear them out of my computer's memory.

I use PayPal to print packing slips and I invoice the buyers directly thru eBay when the auction ends. I print a second copy of the PayPal packing slip for my own reference. I have another invoice I used for buyers who choose to pay by Money Order. I don't accept personal checks (don't want to pay for any insufficient funds fees). To my copy, I tape any insurance receipts and the shipping receipt. This then gets filed in a real folder near my computer (as opposed to the virtual folders on my hard drive). At the end of the month, the paperwork gets put into a filing cabinet and filed by month.

Feedback gets done once per week and I only leave feedback after I get feedback from the buyer. I figure that if they aren't interested in leaving me any feedback once their item arrives, they aren't interested in getting it either. I just reached a feedback rating of 100 this week, mostly because my buyers have won multiple auctions and their multiple feedbacks don't count towards increasing my score.

Keeping track of expenses vs. gross income is another story for another post. It isn't as easy as it first seemed but I'm finding my way around EXCELL and it has helped tremendously. Good luck!

 

[kilee]

I keep a log. I write down each item and it's listing #. Then the listing price and flat shippping fee if applicable. Then I write down the final ending price and actual shipping fee. Then the next column has the date pd. Then the last column has date sent. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't. It really helps me keep track of everything.

I usually try to keep an average of 30 auctions going and then take a break every few months. That's where I am right now-- break time! I will start listing again in another week or so. After 2 or 3 months I usually start to burn out, as ebaying is on top of a full time job already. So, I still collect things to sell, but I usually don't list for about a month.

It takes a lot of work, but it is definetly a great way to make that extra money for WDW or anything else you might need/want.

 

[tboss]

I use Vendio.com. It is a wonderful tool and well worth the small fee to me. You can set up all your auctions beforehand with no charge, use templates free, set it up to take care of sending emails and invoices at the auction close. Makes it very easy to keep track of everything.

 

[plummer925]

I use Microsoft Works Spreadsheet. I put the following colunms at the top:

End Item # Description Bid Amt S/H Total

email Mailing Address Resp. Pmt Rec. Shipped Notes

I then put the info under the columns. I keep track of what is paid, waiting for pmt, shipped, etc by changing the font color in each line. Example: Waiting for payment is red, Paid, needs to be shipped is purple, Paid, waiting for pmt to clear is green (with the date I need to ship written under the "notes" column), Shipped, auction completed is black.

I can tell at a glance what I am waiting for, who has paid, and who needs to be shipped.

It does take a little more effort to do this, BUT, I can't tell you how many times it has saved my butt!!


If anyone wants me to email you a copy of my sheet (with my info removed so you can just save it for yourself), just PM me and I'll be happy to do so!!

 

[StephMK]

I"m glad you asked, I have been thinking of selling but afraid of the organization needed!

If you don't mind me asking, what have you been selling? Sounds like you are off to a great start!

 

[maggiew]

Originally posted by kilee
I keep a log. I write down each item and it's listing #. Then the listing price and flat shippping fee if applicable. Then I write down the final ending price and actual shipping fee. Then the next column has the date pd. Then the last column has date sent. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't. It really helps me keep track of everything.

I usually try to keep an average of 30 auctions going and then take a break every few months. That's where I am right now-- break time! I will start listing again in another week or so. After 2 or 3 months I usually start to burn out, as ebaying is on top of a full time job already. So, I still collect things to sell, but I usually don't list for about a month.

It takes a lot of work, but it is definetly a great way to make that extra money for WDW or anything else you might need/want.

I do exactly this!!!! I have a 13 column analysis pad that I bought at Office Depot (you know, it is like an accounting pad with lots of different columns). One day at work my boss walked in while I was writing in it. He laughed at me and said he didn't think anyone used those anymore (everyone just uses Microsoft Excel). I like to have a hard copy though. Also, I print off a copy of the listing, any paypal payment info, the "payment status" page with the buyers address. Then I staple the Delivery confirmation receipt with that and the post office receipt. I figure if Uncle Sam comes lookign for me that I will be ready.

I usually only list about a dozen or so things at a time. Plus I do it EVERY OTHER week. I list my items. They close the next week. Then I have that week to receive payment and mail, etc. Then at the end of that week I list more stuff. It keeps me organized and I don't feel so crazy. At first I listed stuff every week, but it became too much to keep track of to have stuff listed plus have to deal with shipping, etc. (Not to mention a full time job and 2 kids!)

Since our November trip, I have made $1000 for this next trip in August. I figure by the time I have to pay our package in full (June) I will have the remaining $500 or so to pay it off. It makes DH so much more happy to be goin to Disney when it is "free".

Maggie

 

[linnettevl]

THANK YOU ALL F0R THE HELP!

I will try the log method to keep track of everything and I also realize that too much is not always good, so I will limit the amount of items that I have every week.

Stephmk: I started selling the stuff that I have around the house that I do not longer needed mostly the kids clothes: jeans, shirts jackets,dresses within a week I sold most of them . I also went to salvation army and goodwills and bought clothes at dirt cheap prices (try to look for brand names: ) fubu jeans I paid 2.00 and sold them for 7.00 I always look for the quality of the clothes, no rips tears; you'll be surprise sometimes at the stuff that you will find almost brand new.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

See the link in my sig for ebay. I have a spreadsheet available to anyone who wants it. If you need help with it, just email me.