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

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Glad to see you back!

I recently took a leather jacket I'm selling to the P.O., and asked nicely if I could have a Prioity Mail box to put it in, and have them weigh it. No problem! I got an accurate weight and a box.... Now I just need bids!

The postal clerk asked the destination zip code, and of course I don't know it yet, but to get a ballpark of the likely highest amount, I gave him '90210', and he told me the cost for priority mail for that zip. Since I'm in NH, and CA is about as far as it will go in the lower 48, I feel pretty safe with that.

HTH, and happy listing!

 

[DMRick]

Also - found a whole bunch of Star Wars posters.. Where do I get tubes to ship them in?

I don't sell dishes, so I can't help you there..but if you are shipping the posters Priority..check the priority tubes at the on line post office.

 

[nuke]

All I could suggest for the dishes is the bubble wrap with the big bubbles and layer that with the dishes. Good Luck and the PO does have priority tubes.

 

[wdwpluto]

Originally posted by C.Ann

Last but not least, how do you take something to the PO to have it weighed accurately - and can it be done BEFORE you're actually ready to ship the item out?

Invest in a postal scale! Best $25 I every spent! I know it will eat into your profits a bit, but it's such a time saver for me, that it was well worth it. Plus - no more guess-timating shipping (and guessing wrong and losing $$). I got mine at Staples for $25 and it weights up to 5lbs which is enough for 99% of the items I sell. You might try looking on eBay for a good deal if you need one that will weight heavier items. I believe some people even use old baby scales (if you're lucky enough to have one or find one at a Garage Sale).

As far as the dishes, the best advice I've heard for fragile things is this - pack the dishes in lots of bubble wrap, perhaps use newspaper between each bubble wrapped dish to separate them even further. Pack them snugly into a box, there should be no movement. Seal that box and put it into a larger box surrounded by packing peanuts. That way if the larger box is crushed or kicked or whatever, there's a good chance the dishes in the smaller box will be unharmed. I've done this with several fragile items and (knock on wood) have had no breakage. And ALWAYS insist on insurance for fragile items, just in case!

HTH!
Lori

 

[Robinrs]

Invest in a postal scale! Best $25 I every spent! I know it will eat into your profits a bit, but it's such a time saver for me, that it was well worth it. Plus - no more guess-timating shipping (and guessing wrong and losing $$). I got mine at Staples for $25 and it weights up to 5lbs which is enough for 99% of the items I sell. You might try looking on eBay for a good deal if you need one that will weight heavier items. I believe some people even use old baby scales

Lori: I so agree with investing in a postal scale.

I originally bought a 5 pounder from Office Depot but most of my stuff is over 5 pounds. SO I found a guy on ebay that sells mostly only scales and bought a GREAT one for $33 plus s/h that goes to 30 pounds. This scale is priceless. Now, instead of guessing, I can get a much better idea of what to charge for shipping. Believe me, like others before me, I've been ROOKED by shipping.

The one I have has AC and battery power, is only 8" by 8" and matches my computer and printer!

Ditto on the insurance... boy did it save me last week with the lamps that arrived broken!

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks all! I already have a postal scale that goes to 5lbs. - was the FIRST thing I bought when I decided to do eBay..

It's the larger - and much heavier - items I was wondering about.. I don't want to "guesstimate" and end up not charging enough for shipping.. Don't trust my bathroom scale as it's not digital and more often than not, they're way off..

I forgot about the Priority tubes - will have to go check them out right now!

 

[DMRick]

It's the larger - and much heavier

Those are prob not items you will be shipping through the PO anyway. Get your bathroom scale, stand on it..then pick up item and ask your hubby what the weight is now. Subtact what you weighed, and there is your weight. Even if the bathroom scale is off..it's usually off in the lower weights, so the diff betwwen you and the stuff will be remarkably accurate.
I picked up a cargo scale at a garage sale last year for $5...it works awesome..but until I got it, the bathroom scale did just find..except you ened two people..one ot weigh, one to tell you what it says.

 

[C.Ann]

******* HELP !!!!!!! *********

I just downloaded the Turbo Lister program (took FOREEEEVEERR) - now how do I use it? I thought someone on here mentioned having to do something special the first time they used it rather than just going ahead and listing a whole bunch of stuff..

Also - can I share how thoroughly frustrated I am with this so-called print-your-own Delivery Confirmation nonsense?? This program will NOT work for me under any circumstances!! I've even been emailing back and forth with the Post Office.. I have the right 128-bit security and all but I can only get so far and then I get the "page cannot be displayed" thingee.. I have a LOT of things to mail out tomorrow and now I'm going to have to continue to pay the 55 cents on each package because the darn site won't work for me...

Can you all tell I'm having a bad day/week/month??????

 

[DMRick]

Try this one..you don't have to d/l anything to get this one to work, although it's only for Priority..not good for first class or media. You use it right online. If this one won't work for you, I have another..although I thought I had posted the other one to you a while ago.

this shows up just the pop up, so you have to follow the way to get the label.

Click on url below.

Then click where it says, if your system cannot run java software please try our Priority mail shipping label applications

when that window pops up, click on new shipping label

then shipping label without postage.

Once you are at the shipping label, you shoud be able to save it and use it over and over. It's best to save it after you made the first label, and then clicked on another label..then you'll have your addy in the return addy space. Hope this works for you.

https://sss-web.usps.com/ds/jsps/systemReqs.jsp

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks DMRick - but none of these items are going by Priority Mail - they're either media or parcel post because people just don't want to pay the higher PM for the kind of items I'm selling.. 'Course I don't blame them - I wouldn't either - but this 55 cents a package is driving me nuts!!

 

[DMRick]

When I got my newest computer, I got that message, but that was because I didn't have acrobat loaded on yet..you have acrobat on, right? And you registered?

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

C.Ann, that was me that wrote about TL recently... you need to set up your user info. Launch the program, and in the top left corner, click File, point to New, and select User File. Then, a dialog box will say, "What would you like to do?", and you select "Set up a new Turbo Lister file". Then you enter your ebay ID and PW so it can connect to your ebay account when it uploads your auctions.

After you have set up your ebay info, you can create auction listings. Just click "Create New", and follow all the details in the Wizard. Try to look at everything on each screen, because it presents your choices differently than the ebay set-up, but all the info is there.

Good luck - it's pretty easy if you just poke around.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by DMRick
When I got my newest computer, I got that message, but that was because I didn't have acrobat loaded on yet..you have acrobat on, right? And you registered?

------------------

Acrobat, yes.. Registered???? Where?? What for??

Duh! Some "teacher" - huh?????

Tomorrow I have to have our dog put down and I am SOOOOO stressed out right now.. Several other things have happened in the past week and I'm just plain at the end of my rope...

I'll try to say it anyhow though.................

Yay eBay....................

 

[DMRick]

Acrobat, yes.. Registered???? Where?? What for??

I had to register and when I sign on..it puts my user id and password in for me. I don't remember the how and what fors..it's been too long : (
It does have next to my id and password, a button to click on if I need to register..but I did, so I just have to press continue.

After more than 20 years working for veterinarians, I can tell you that although our animals mean the world to us, when the time comes to go, we would do them an inservice to not let that happen. It's hard, and I was the worse baby, but it's also the humane thing to do. You have had a tough week haven't you?

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by DMRick
I had to register and when I sign on..it puts my user id and password in for me. I don't remember the how and what fors..it's been too long : (
It does have next to my id and password, a button to click on if I need to register..but I did, so I just have to press continue.

After more than 20 years working for veterinarians, I can tell you that although our animals mean the world to us, when the time comes to go, we would do them an inservice to not let that happen. It's hard, and I was the worse baby, but it's also the humane thing to do. You have had a tough week haven't you?

--------------------

Okay - I'll try to register and see what happens..

And yes - it's been a very tough week.. Learned of two MAJOR home repairs that need to be done - had a killer of a migraine last night and missed my granddaughter's dance recital, the situation with the dog - and on and on..

I know it's time to let him go - and HE knows it too.. He's looking at me with those eyes that say, "Okay - it's time.." I'm really worried about my DH though - that's his little buddy and I'm afraid it may worsen my DH's health condition.. It DOES have to be done though - I'm just dreading it terribly..

And since WHEN does it cost $150 to have a pet euthanized??? I'll willingly pay it - so he can go peacefully - but I do have to say I think that's a bit much.. Poor little guy..

 

[wvjules]

Bid cancelled????

An item was bid on on June 13
On June 15 bid was cancelled with the explanation Administrtive cancellation

Has anyone ever had that happen before????? What does that mean exactly? I got the email from stating that a bid was cancelled, but it only told me to go look at the bid history to see why.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

C.Ann, my heart goes out to you. That is the hardest thing. At least you know your decision is made with love.

 

[DMRick]

Administrtive cancellation

eBay cancelled it. Your bidder most likely is now NARU's (not a registered user) and can no longer bid on eBay. She musta done somethin' wrong...got caught shilling, or didn't pay at least 3 people, or didn't pay her bill..or whatever. Dang, I hate when that happens.

 

[DMRick]

And since WHEN does it cost $150 to have a pet euthanized???

I asume you are not bringing the dog home? That adds to the cost. It's tough that it's so expensive. The animal shelter does it for much less, but IMO not as humane. The vet has malpractice insurance and a lot of the same overhead as a "regular" doctor, including the same schooling and school expense, building payments, and so it makes taking care of our animals expensive..even for the final visit. It's still much cheaper than human care. I can tell you that the Animal Techs, sure don't get the same nursing pay : (

It does seem like salt in the wounds to have to pay so much when you are already hurting, but owning a pet sure can be expensive...even at the end.

I knew my cat was ready, but wouldn't let her go..until one of the gals I worked with told me I just had to do it (and I was toating home so much meds and syringes nightly, I just prayed I didn't get stopped)..my cat was looking and feeling mighty pitiful, and all the injections in the world weren't going to help. She was old and tired. When we went..I swear to God, she lifted her paw to our vet. She didn't even give me time to put down her blankie..just plopped herself on his table and gave him her paw. We just don't want to let go, but I was ashamed of myself that I kept her going as long as I did...I knew better...but it hurts when we lose a long time friend, and it's hard to make that decision..because we don't want to make it.
Hope things brighten up for you.

 

[cinlee3]

Well my bidder from Brazil paid. She had her friend pay through Paypal and I will send the item to his address in the US. She asked me very nicely if I would send the item to Brazil. I thought about it and then decided against it.

Now for my problem - I have to quit buying!!! I came back in town this weeked and there was a package. I had forgotten I even bought it. Oh, this could be a real problem because I am not a shopper!!!