You HAVE to try this!! EBAY your way to DISNEY Part 2!!!!

[bobcat]

I just looked at my priority envelopes and they don't say flat rate so I guess I have the wrong ones. I'll have to stop at the PO tomorrow and get the right ones. Thanks.

 

[zurgswife]

You don't have any real contact with them so they don't usually contact you and tell you that they rec'd the item. I did have two buyers email me thru half.com stating and I quote "where's my feedback

I could have been one of those people I sold 2 books on half.com and neither buyer left me any feed back....I how was I supposed to know that they got the item..and how was I supposed to move up the rankings of feed back...One of the buyers emailed me back and stated that she never left feed back...I asked if she might this time as I was just getting started and would appreciate getting establishe...she finally did...

 

[jgates]

I am not sure if your PM envelopes actually have to 'say' Flat Rate on them. This is what they look like from the order center:

This is the order page (2 of 3 I believe), where I get most of my PM supplies -

USPS Order Pages

On page 1 I get the O-1092s, Box 4, Box 7, 1096s (video size) and on page 3 the tape. I will probably order some 1096L's on the next order too.

As a note on 'stuffing' the Flat Rate envelopes - I believe the criteria mentioned at one time is that they still have to be able to seal by themselves. You can reinforce with tape, but if you went to shut it basically the stick strip should be able to shut it (maybe not hold it! )

 

[DMRick]

I think they encourage you to offer a rebate or lower shipping price if the person DOES NOT pay with paypal. Hope this helps!

Actually, you cannot offer a lower price via Paypal, or eBay rules, if someone soes not pay with Paypal. Any "special" you offer, has to be available to all..such as any bid over $200 will get free delivery, etc. If you have in your auction, that you will offer a rebate if they do not pay with Paypal, you are risking being suspended, or having your auctions pulled.

You can tape them up, just don't cover up the FLAT RATE part of the envelope, use CLEAR tape. Sometimes mine look like footballs, but they still go through (knock on wood).

The actual rules state you may not use tape on flat rate packages, although they have a stipulation, that one piece may be used..I usually use my one piece on the addy label, so it won't run if it gets wet. Some PO's, of course don't follow the rules, so you may or may not get away with packing the envy, and then taping it to make it secure. Mine happens to be one that won't allow it.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Originally posted by Belle0101
Question?

I clearly state in my TOS that I do not accept credit / debit cards.

I had an auction close on 2/22 for which the buyer attempted to pay with a credit card via Paypal. I emailed her and apologized for the confusion but I don't take credit cards and explained the why and asked her nicely if she could pay another way.

She asked for my address so I thought she was going to mail a money order. Instead she paid via credit card again. I emailed her back and apologized again and again asked her to pay via another method.

She has never responded back to me.

Since it's been 2 weeks since she won do I email her again, start the non-paying bidder process or just what? I really don't like being mean but if you win an item you can't just ignore the seller and/or their TOS.

Thanks for your advice!!

I would not bother to email her again. As long as you've given her plenty of time to mail a money order (at least 7-10 days after her initial confusion, when she tried to pay by credit card), I would just go ahead and start the non-paying bidder process. But again, I would make sure I had given her adequate time to mail the money order.

I usually don't start the non-paying bidder process until 30 days after the sale, especially if the person has lots of positive feedback. But if they are ignoring my emails or my terms of service, I sometimes start sooner.

What I NEVER do is threaten people with negative feedback or threaten to start the non-paying bidder process, etc. Ebay's non-paying bidder letter very pleasantly says it all, and keeps everything impersonal. When I do have to leave negative feedback, I just say something like "Did not pay." I've never had a retaliatory negative (yet! I'm sure I'll get one someday), and I think at least part of the reason is because I keep everything business-like.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I sold an item with BIN last Thursday, the day after I posted the listing. I promptly sent the PayPal invoice and followed up with the ebay invoice yesterday reminding the buyer about payment. I stil haven't received the payment, so I nosed into his/her auctions to see if there was an indication that he/she might be away or on vacation. There are a number of auctions ending momentarily, requesting PayPal transfer only and overnight delivery for money orders. So why then, have I not been acknowledged with a payment or so much as an email? You would think his/her policy would work both as a buyer and a seller. Maybe a money order was mailed - don't know because I haven't had any contact. I figure I'll wait until tomorrow, when his/her auctions have ended and payments for them might be in his PayPal account.

Sorry for ranting and whining. I just want my payment so that I can ship or if the buyer doesn't want it I want to relist asap. I feel better now.

 

[disney4us2002]

I sort of jumped in without figuring out some stuff, lol. For instance, I don't have mail delivery or pickup at my house which means I have to cart all this stuff to the PO before they close at 5pm every day. Given that I'm a daycare provider and have 6 kids with me all day sometimes right til 5pm, this is going to be a pain or I have to send it all on Saturdays! If an auction ends on a Monday or Tuesday, waiting to mail til Saturday morning seems a bit rude. What do you think?

The items that I've listed and sold are used vhs movies that we've upgraded to DVD and therefore don't need/want anymore. I listed them in lots of 5-10 which is pretty heavy for PM. If I want to send media post, is that available thru the shipping assistant? It seems only PM or 1st class is available thru the SA unless I'm just missing it. I like the idea of DC. Is that available if I send package at media rates?

Finally, I listed these things following the step-by-step thru ebay's single listing approach. What is typical auction timeframe? I was getting disappointed with no bids on my stuff & then with about 12 hrs before closing, the bids came. If most items don't get any bids til the very end, why not list everything for 1 day or 3 days? All in all, I made over $100 on 6 auctions which is pretty good I suppose. My dh thinks I'm crazy because I spent way more on all that stuff, but I keep telling him any money is better than just letting this stuff collect in our basement!

 

[DNSDisney]

Well I finally decided I think I am going to try this.
Now I just have some questions about paypal.
the paypal.com site really doesn't give you a lot of answers to how they work and I am a bit concerned after reading some post on another site about paypalsucks.com.
So can you all give me opinions about paypal services, experiances, etc.?
Also how does it work , everytime you sell something does it go into a paypal acct or do they send it directly to your bank acct?
do you have to give them a bank acct #? I have read post on another site where they have removed money they shouldn't of from peoples bank accts.
My DH has used paypal but just as buyer so we use cc and never have to worry about access to a live bank acct.

Thanks,
Sharon

 

[thechangingtable]

re: taping mailers

Tell your post office to read their MARCH 2002 Mailers Companion. here is the link.

http://www.usps.com/mailerscompanion/_pdf/mrc0302.pdf

on page 5 on the bottom, it says that flat rates can be used with tape to reinforce. No "1 pc" rule anymore I guess. As long as you are not taking it apart and reassembling it to fit your items, we should be ok. I always tape the sides, bottom and flap. Those envelopes are really flimsy.

re: paypal fees.

Before ebay bought paypal, ebay used to suggest that sellers encourage buyers to offer a CASH (i.e., non-paypal) discount for paying with checks, money orders and NOT paypal. Guess now that they own Paypal it is different.

Happy to help!
christine

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by disney4us2002
I Given that I'm a daycare provider and have 6 kids with me all day sometimes right til 5pm, this is going to be a pain or I have to send it all on Saturdays! If an auction ends on a Monday or Tuesday, waiting to mail til Saturday morning seems a bit rude. What do you think?

. If I want to send media post, is that available thru the shipping assistant? It seems only PM or 1st class is available thru the SA unless I'm just missing it. I like the idea of DC. Is that available if I send package at media rates?

Yes , you can select media mail with the DC option using the Shipping assistant software. I used it all the time. Be prepared to pay .13 for the DC though.

And if you are in that much of a time /schedule crunch., you may do better off going the stamps.com route. The stamps.com is prepaid (you print them off the computer). If you packages are less than a pound you can give them to your mail person.

You may also just have to write in your auction terms, I mail only on Saturdays.. please be advised. Or you can end all your Auctions on a Friday night.

 

[Donna]

I remember reading on the old thread, the shipping assistant works with adobe 5.0. Where can I download 5.0? i can only see the 6.0 on adobe's site. with 6.0 adobe, i am getting the error "there is an error trying to use the image display module". use an external image viewer to view the labels. I don't get this at all. Where can i print my labels from? thanks.

 

[thechangingtable]

I had a hard time with shipping assistant on my PC, so I used the form for MAC users and it works fine. No downloads. Here is the link

http://shiplabel.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.cgi?

Free on your priority mail packages. I have used it for first class as well. You just cut off the PRIORITY MAIL part and add .13 cents.

I just filled in all my info and then saved it to my favorites to use over and over. I use endicia now and have not had to use it so I hope it still works.

Happy to HELP

christine

 

[Donna]

thanks! that worked like a charm!

 

[jeankeri]

Robibb- thanks for the Viking info! Just ordered my envelopes (and tape to make the $75 mark to use the coupon). Also- went through mypoints, used my MilesOne card for the sale...it all helps get us back to Disney !!
What books have you been selling on ebay? What titles/ types of books have the best result? I am torn between using Amazon and ebay for listing books. Any input greatly appreciated.
Also- for any ebayer out there- shipping advice greatly needed! I have seen Shipping Assistant mentioned. I can't really wrap my brain around it- can anyone explain it to me like I'm a three year old ? Is it a stamp generated program from home? Do you still go to the PO? For some reason the link given is not working for me!
Last question- I know to research like items to get a feel for what they are going for. What is the minimun bid you would do regardless of item? I read the OP who said it was not worth it to post anything for .99!
Ebaying is my new year's resolution!

 

[bobcat]

Thanks jgates. I stoped at our large PO today and picked up a few. I had already ordered other priority supplies but I only had the regular priority envelopes. I ended up using those after all for most of my ending auction because they were lots of kids clothes and I couldn't make them fit into the priority envelope. Glad to know I can tape the flat rate envelopes as it makes it feel more secure.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by marcyinPA

Has anyone raised their prices mid-stream and still had success selling the item?

I have, Marcy, in fact I had to take a Buy It Now OFF of an item when I realized I could get more, a LOT more, for it.

 

[airhead]

I put everything up as a "buy it now" item. I'm finding sales are better for the impulse buyer who won't remember to come back to bid on a regular auction. Most of my sales are PayPal. Its great!!

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by jeankeri
Last question- I know to research like items to get a feel for what they are going for. What is the minimun bid you would do regardless of item? I read the OP who said it was not worth it to post anything for .99!

I guess it depends on how you do it. I list things for $0.99 just to get them out of the house. As long as you are including your fees in your s/h charge you will be okay. Many people seem to forget about the H in S/H and that is handling. It costs money to list on ebay, to print address labels, gas to take things to the PO etc. This is all covered under the HANDLING part of shipipng and HANDLING. If you are going to charge someone exact postage charges for shipping you will end up losing by listing for $.99, if you add to the s/h a "resonable" amount for your fees etc then you will be okay. IMO $0.99 is better then nothing.

 

[thechangingtable]

I tried mostly .99 cent and .01 cent auctions last week with some $9.99 and $5.00 ones too. I put up 160 and had $1635 in sales so far for the month of march. Out of 160 auctions, only about 4 did not have a bid. Some tanked, others did very, very good. I am trying to list at least 100 this week. It is very hard with 4 kids (two at home always at my feet).

Does anyone else use vrane.com sales reporter to check up to date sales and fees status? I love it!

 

[jgates]

I'm proud of you guys. I would lose my mind if I listed 100 per week!!!!

I know we have discussed the FLD (free listing day) before. Is our next best shot around the 4th of July or has there ever been one during Easter time frame or Memorial Day?