Question for those of you who sell items on ebay--help please!

[gumdrop]

Hello!! I hope this is the right board for this question...Today, I just signed up to sell items on ebay. So far, I've listed about 4 items and recieved the email confirmations that they have been successfully posted on ebay. To double check that they were there, I searched for my items and could not find them at all--it was like I never even posted them! I was wondering if it takes a few hours/days for the item to appear? Thanks for any help with this!

 

[Bev J]

To answer your question, it will take several hours for your items to show up if you are doing a serch for a item by name or catagory. But you will be able to find your items right away if you search using the item number. At least this way you will know your item is listed correctly. This same thing happened to me when I sold some baskets and I panicked when they were not listed right away.

 

[gumdrop]

Phew!! Thanks Bev J for your response. I'll check back for the items later tonight. Thanks for the quick reply!!

--Maren

 

[cuterlt]

you can also check their status on the "my Ebay" page.
Good luck selling on ebay. It can be feast or famine over there. I am always surprised at what I sell and don't... I've had stuff I bought for $10 sell for $100.

 

[WDW2002]

It can deffiently be a while for item to show up via a search. And I have put things on that I thought would sell like "hot cakes" and not get any bids....you never can tell.

 

[DMRick]

The easiest way for you to keep track (especially since My eBay is experiencing problems off and on since they revamped it), is to go to any eBay page, click on search on the top of hte page, and then click on seller. Put in your name, and bookmark it.

 

[gumdrop]

Thanks everyone for your help. I finally found my items when I checked back about three hours later. It can really get addicting! I'm scouring my room for items to sell and am constantly checking the status of my items!! Another question I have is regarding shipping--I've noticed that many ebayers know the price of shipping and post it on their items page. Is there any way that I can look up shipping fees in advance? Also, when I am ready to ship, can I just bring the items unboxed to the post office? I don't really have any packaging supplies here at home. Thanks for any help!

 

[momm2four]

One piece of advice...don't get discouraged if you don't get any bids at first. Most people (including myself only look at items that are closing today or in the next day or so...so your item may not even be looked at until the last day of the auction.

I have had things get no bids until the last day, and then .....Wham! a bidding war begins. It's a lot of fun.

As far as shipping, you can get a scale and weigh the item before you list it, then in your description, you can list the weight and your zip code so the customer can figure out their shipping costs. However, I would make sure to put that you will only charge the ACTUAL shipping costs (unless you don't plan to) I will not bid on items that don't have the shipping cost and where the seller doesn't say "actual shipping costs only". Some sellers really pad their fees and try to make money off what people pay for shipping.

I definitely wouldn't buy materials to ship at the post office. They charge an arm and a leg for these things. I don't know what type things you are selling, but you can use padded envelopes (at WalMart) or try to find used boxes from various sources. Good luck! I'm ready for August to get here so that I can begin listing my fall/winter children's clothing. It's a lot of fun,

Lori P.

 

[gumdrop]

Lori--Thanks so much for your information! I'll check out Staples and Wal-Mart for shipping supplies. I'm new at all of this ebay stuff and I probably would have walked into the post office with all of my items (if they sell!) loose and unwrapped! I appreciate your help.

--Maren

 

[cuterlt]

The post office also supplies packing materials for shipping priority mail, which (before the rate hikes) was the preferred way to ship.... So you might want to check out your P.O. for supplies. There is a way to get them to deliver supplies to you, BUT I think they may have discontinued that.
You might want to stop over at the ebay message boards also. They are always a lot of help, even for folks who aren't newbies.
Great luck to you!!
P.S. at one time, my DH was afraid I would wrap the cats in a priority mail box and sell them on ebay so I know what it's like to hunt the house for items....

 

[SalandJeff]

I would definitely agree that you should try to get your shipping/packing materials before going to the post office. Depending on the size of what you are shipping, the PO may have priority mail boxes. But the POs in my area now only have the rectangular boxes that are smaller and not very deep. They told me they stopped getting the larger square type boxes because of the cost to them of basically giving away shipping materials.

Another suggestion - tell your family/friends that if they purchase items thru mail order to save the boxes & packing for you. You can start a stash.

Happy selling!

 

[gumdrop]

Thanks again for the great tips!! I'll check with the PO to see what types of supplies they have. In the meantime, I've already snagged some of my mom's QVC boxes before she tosses them. She will probably be my #1 source of shipping supplies!!!

--Maren

 

[nuke]

Another tip is to find out what day your local Target or Walmart stocks the shelves. I go on that day and then I can get great shipping boxes right in the aisles. The stockers are greatful that you are taking them off of their hands.