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

[claudia]

Perhaps I should get something stronger.

 

[claudia]

Perhaps I should get something stronger.

Karen,
I definitely think you should get a stronger box/carton...atleast a 200 lb test. Unfortunately I don't know where you would find/buy one box. (I buy in lots of 25). Possibly your post office may have a stronger one available (hopefully large enough as well) maybe even your local grocery or possibly a Target/Walmart type store?? It sound like you have it well insulated with the bubble wrap and peanuts...good luck on your search.

 

[welovedis]

Claudia-
Thanks for the info. I called the local place and gave them the measurements I have for the weaker box--they have some there so I can go and buy just one-cool! It is 200 lb test so that should be ok. Thanks again for the advice, I really wanted to be sure the platters got there ok.

On another note--I just left a neutral that I am *sure* is going to get me at least a neutral or a negative-the seller is so mean!

Do most of you post a follow-up comment when someone has given you a negative--like to explain your side of the story-so to speak?

 

[Lollipop Mom]

all of the fixed price items I listed last night were sold by lunch time today. It wasn't a TON of things, just 6 or 7 things I've been meaning to list for a while and kept forgetting about. My paypal account could use an infusion of cash to finish Christmas shopping so I decided to do fixed price and hope for the best.

I have good luck with fixed price or buy it now if I set the price plus shipping about $1 or $2 less then the going rate and list it is "Free Shipping to the lower 48 states with buy it now!" For people in Alaska, Hawaii or international I just discount shipping by whatever amount I factored in for US shipping. I know a lot of people on the ebay boards don't like doing this b/c you end up paying final value fees on your shipping but every time I do it I just about everything goes quickly and is paid for quickly. Since it's all lightweight stuff and the shipping I'm paying for is first class or parcel post, ebay's bite out of that is very minimal. I usually go back and look at other auctions for similar thnigs and often times those sold for less all together than mine did so I figure I'm ahead of the game in the end. I'd rather have 10 things sell for the buy it now price and pay a few cents more on final value fees than have 3 thngs not sell, 5 things sell for opening bid price and only do well on 2 items, kwim? This is my strategy when things are slow on ebay.

 

[cats mom]

Karen,

I only have 1 neg. I did post a follow-up to that as it was for non-payment and I DID send payment. I just put auction ended (date) payment sent (date). It has not caused any problems as all my other feedback is positive.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Do most of you post a follow-up comment when someone has given you a negative--like to explain your side of the story-so to speak?

I only have 1 negative right now (which, sadly I deserved...never sell a travel system stroller without making sure you have a box it fits in that is not too large for UPS to accept!) and 2 neutrals. I do think it's a good idea to respond to them. Just be professional and stick to the facts. IMHO, how someone responds to them gives a lot of insight into how they handle problems if they come up. I do know a few sellers who suggest that you respond to all negatives right away but wait to respond to a neutral untill it drops off the first page of your feedback because responding to it just draws more attention to it.

Hopefully you won't end up having to worry about a poor response from them!

 

[welovedis]

Well, I got my first negative! BOO HISS!!! I've been on eBay since 11-98 and not one-until now-ugh!

I really don't feel bad about the comment I left--the coat I purchased was described as excellent and it came-literally rolled into a ball, and put in an inside out (unused) Priority Mail Tyvex. The coat was so covered in fuzz, lint and hair (looked like human & pet) that I was ready to throw it out! SHe WAY overcharged for shipping and mailed the package about 5 days after she told me she mailed it. When I contacted her I asked for a refund and she offered me one-less eBay fees, shipping and I would be paying for return shipping. Hmm let me think--get about $6.00 back-no thanks! Plus she never said "sorry" that it was not as described or anything.

I did leave her a neutral, but talk about retaliatory FB! Man! I did leave a follow up comment in my FB that was very calm and also left a follow-up with my neutral that said she left retaliatory FB and was not willing to solve the problem. I don't think that this will reflect on my sales as I can explain the situation if anyone asks.

Anyway--thanks for letting me vent!

 

[alohacousin]

I started selling on ebay last february. Took some nerve to take the jump. I did great at first which started my addiction. Sometimes I would sell something weird and would do great then I would sell my daughters oshkosh clothes in excellent condition and didn't sell anything and I still had to pay the listing fees. The paypal option was great but the fees add up in a month. Ebay is great but as long as you know sometimes you win sometimes you loose not to mention the people who bid who take forever to pay or not at all especially if you allow a money order for payment. I am still glad I sell on ebay but study what sells and what doesnt, it could save you my mistakes. My Ebay title is "disneyangel96"

 

[lat]

coming back to e-bay gurus here for advice:

one of my buyers claims that she did not get the coat that I mailed her via priority mail . I had a delivery confirmation on it and it says that it was delivered on 12/3. What do I do if she still comes back insisting she did not get it?

 

[pjlla]

Personally, I believe if you have delivery confirmation from the USPS, then you are off the hook. She needs to speak with her mailman and/or her local p.o. to see if they possibly left it for her somewhere (back porch, side stairs) that she is not seeing it. My mailman often leaves larger packages on my mudroom stairs, but since we use the garage I don't always see it right away. Fortunately the stairs are somewhat covered, so I've had no problems with stuff getting wrecked. Give her the delivery confirmation number so that she can see for herself that it was delivered. Hope everything works out!!......P

 

[DMRick]

about $1 or $2 less then the going rate and list it is "Free Shipping to the lower 48 states with buy it now!"

This recently came up on another board...a gal had her auctions ended and ebay said she must offer the same "bonus" to everyone who bids. I can't find it (she posted where eBay said it said it)..the bad part about being on several boards. Have you checked to see if eBay allows that?

 

[cpl100]

Originally posted by DMRick
This recently came up on another board...a gal had her auctions ended and ebay said she must offer the same "bonus" to everyone who bids. I can't find it (she posted where eBay said it said it)..the bad part about being on several boards. Have you checked to see if eBay allows that?

It seems that it's just a matter of semantics to get around that rule. Rather than free for the lower 48 states, one could determine the postage cost for the lower 48 states and say 'the first $--- in shipping is free, which should cover the cost to the lower 48 states." In the unlikely event that it is bought by someone living elsewhere, the cost to the seller is the same.. a fixed postal cost. The buyer would be liable for the remainder.

 

[DMRick]

It seems that it's just a matter of semantics to get around that rule. Rather than free for the lower 48 states, one could determine the postage cost for the lower 48 states and say 'the first $--- in shipping is free,

Actually, if you say it that way, then it is ok..but if you offer free shipping, it's suppose to be the same for all. Now, how do you say that in the title? Free shipping grabs them....free up to $10 shipping, takes up the whole title. In any case, if someone reports it to eBay, down comes the auction..they get to decide how it's to be.

 

[disneychrista]

What is the logic in only offer the shiping to the "lower 48" when it does not cost any more to ship to Alaska or Hawaii then to any other Zone 8 location??

 

[DMRick]

What is the logic in only offer the shiping to the "lower 48" when it does not cost any more to ship to Alaska or Hawaii then to any other Zone 8 location??

It cost me a more if the package is over 1 #. Th emore it weighs, the more it costs. For instance, a 5# package for me to ship from my home in NY within NY, costs $5.85. To ship to zone 8, it's $12.15. Parcel post costs more the further from my zone too. First class doesn't matter, but I never sell light stuff.
Doris

 

[jgates]

I set my MKA dolls up with free shipping with BIN. I increased the price for BIN accordingly to cover my tushy if they were in Zone 7 (I don't think I have an 8 except maybe Alaska or Hawaii). My cost for the postage with insurance was $8.15 but I figured I had enough cushion to cover it. On the other one that was won on bids, I had priced shipping to cover up to Zone 7 - the gal that won is only 3 hours from me so I just didn't charge her for the insurance - threw it in. Thought that would be the nice thing to do.

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by DMRick
It cost me a more if the package is over 1 #. Th emore it weighs, the more it costs. For instance, a 5# package for me to ship from my home in NY within NY, costs $5.85. To ship to zone 8, it's $12.15.

Yes but it will cost the same to California from NY as it will from NY to Hawaii or Alaska. California would fall under the "lower 48" while Hawaii or Alaska would not.

 

[DMRick]

California would fall under the "lower 48" while Hawaii or Alaska would not

You're right..aparently I was in the "we only ship withing the US..no Alaska or HI mode" LOL!

 

[Vals]

what are MKA dolls & what is BIN ?? thanks

 

[Lollipop Mom]

This recently came up on another board...a gal had her auctions ended and ebay said she must offer the same "bonus" to everyone who bids. I can't find it (she posted where eBay said it said it)..the bad part about being on several boards. Have you checked to see if eBay allows that?

hmm...I'd never heard anything about that but that doesn't mean it isn't true. I've never had a problem with it and never had anything pulled for wording it that way. A lot of the things I list that way are bulkier so I do list a lot of them to US only anyway.



As far as zones to Alaska and Hawaii, the main reason I have done that back when I was still a powerseller (I took this summer off and lost the status then) I qualified for a volume discount through Airborne ground (which they havn't taken away so I still use it) and ship most things through them. The only time things go USPS is if they are less than 1 lb or for things that are going to somewhere else in the same part of the state I am in. Airborne ground (or UPS or FedEx groud) do not go to Alaska or Hawaii so I have to go through the USPS and that makes it considerably more expensive. I guess it boils down to that it's just to cover my butt. :lol I did this once on a rather heavy baby item and factored in shipping to zone 7 through Airborne which was maybe $5 or so. It was bought by someone in Alaska. Shipping ended up being at least $10 more than what I had factored in so I didn't end up doing all that well on that item! :lol

Another reason to do it that way would be to cover the extra cost of priority mail to those places rather than parcel post (assuming you don't use priority for everything). A woman I know from my son's preschool is a platinum powerseller and has mentioned having to fight a reversal through paypal on 2 different shipments to Hawaii because the buyers requested parcel post and parcel post takes so long to get there. Paypal requires that you ship within 7 days. If you can't prove you did ship before then, they reverse the charges. She does use electronic delivery confirmation but since it's not tracking and isn't scanned at drop off to the post office, when you check the confirmation number it gives that "check back later" message untill it is actually delivered (some desk clearks do scan it but our post office allows you to fill out a form to get permission to leave packages with prepaid postage at the loading dock so they are never scanned in at delivery. She and her partner ship over 150 packages per week so I know she doesn't go inside!). Paypal won't accept this as proof of shipment. They said all it proves was that she printed postage with ID number on it. She was paid on Friday and shipped on Monday but it took 2 weeks for the package to arrive and the buyer complained to paypal 12 days after payment.