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

[C.Ann]

I'd say 75% of my customers use Paypal cash transfers or echecks. The other 25% are about half and half - personal checks or money orders..

If making trips to the bank are difficult for you, then it might be worth the additional fees to get the Premier acct. and accept credit cards.. I'm pretty lucky in that I pass right by both the bank AND the post office on my way to work, so it makes it pretty easy for me to complete my transactions..

Keep the questions coming! Lots of good advice here..

 

[Shells9]

I just started sellign on Ebay, but I have always been proud of my 100% positive fedback ratin -- until this week.

Recently I bought a memory stick that was posted as NEW. Granted, it did not say it came in the original packaging, but I assumed it did, being that is said NEW. When it arrived, it was just the little ole memory stick in a padded envelope, without even the protective casing the original comes with. Also, the shipping cost to the seller was 65 cents, and I was charged $5. (I know, we have to factor in time, supplies, etc). I think $2 may been more reasonable.

Anyway, I left NEUTRAL feedback for the seller. I stated the truth -The item was listed as new but did not come in orginal packing, and he made a $4 profit on shipping. After looking through all of his feedback (which, to my fault, I did not do before bidding -- learned that lesson fast!), I saw where he had sold pirated copies and trial versions of software that had been previously registered. He has 10 negatives out of about 800 transactions.

Well, he left NEGATIVE feedback for me, that was totally untrue. He said I took forever to pay, when the PayPal records show I paid ONE MINUTE after the auction's end! He also said I complain about everything. He leaves negative feedback for everyone who leaves him negative feedback. I left neutral because I did get the product, but it was not really what I anticipated.

So, before I post a response to the feedback I left him, I have paid $20 to mediate the thing through Square Deals, which is an Ebay approved mediator. I am afraid to post any follow up on my feedback, incase he leaves a more vicious response on mine! We have each left one, and I did respond to his on my feedback (do you know what I mean?). I am so tempted to leave a comment on his that says he leaves negative feedback when it is not true, but I figured I need to sit tight until the Square Delas thing is done.

So, how cautious are you with negative or neutral feedback?

 

[C.Ann]

I don't have enough experience yet to advise you on this situation, but this is the way I look at it..

I do the very best that I can - describe every last detail of the item I'm selling (even the flaws) - package it extremely well - and charge very reasonable shipping and handling fees - BUT...................

You can please some of the people ALL of the time - and you can please all of the people SOME of the time - but odds are you will NEVER be able to please ALL of the people ALL of the time.. You're dealing with too many unknown personalities - some are very picky - some are laid back - and some are just miserable folks that tend to take their life problems out on everyone else..

I'm sure that eventually I'll run into some cantankerous individual that can't/won't be satisfied no matter what and I'll end up with a neg, but it's all part of being involved with eBay and I'll just hope and pray that all of my positives outweigh the one negative..

Sorry you had to go thru this.. Try not to let it sour you on the whole process though..

Don't forget - it's all about ebaying our way to Disney World!! Yay!!!!!!

 

[poober25]

ByJiminy,

I think you will have a problem if you only accept online payment and don't accept credit cards on PayPal. Until very recently, I had stopped accepting anything but PayPal existing funds, or echecks, and c2it.com, so they could pay by debit or credit card. I did this because I don't want people know my home addy, and didn't have a PO box. Well, I was having a little bit of a problem with people not reading when they bid, and not getting very many bids. I got a PO box and started accepting money orders and cashier's checks and I think it's helped a lot. My customers are happier and I do think my bids are going a little bit higher. I agree with DMRick that you will probably get more bids and maybe higher bids if you do accept credit cards through PayPal, but IMHO, it's not worth it, just too many fees. I sell a lot of pins lately and if I accepted CC from PayPal, I wouldn't make any money.

 

[Shells9]

Thanks, C.Ann for your rationalization!

I just feel like I am walking around with a scarlet letter now or something, you know? I should not take it personally, but I feel like an idiot. I hope anyone I buy from in the future will look at all of the other "Fast pay," "Lightning Fast Payment!" comments that I have, and understand that this guy is unique.

And, tomorrow at this time, I will be *almost* on my way there! Yippee!

 

[ByJiminy]

C.Ann, thanks for the comments. You know, I probably should have tried to find a no fee, no restriction checking account with a branch near the post office, so I would only have to go out of my way one direction, LOL. As it stands the bank is another direction, and neither the bank nor the post office are really on my way anywhere I usually go! Oh, well!

poober25, thank you for your thoughts also. I wondered about a POBox, what I don't understand is when you mail a package you have to list your address, so they end up with it anyway, right? Is there a reason I should worry about my address being available for sending money orders to when they're going to see my address when I send their package? Of course I'm not terribly keen on having people know my home address, but I don't think I want to rent a POBox, either!

I know I probably seem really dense, I'm sorry!

Thanks again, everyone!

Laura B.

 

[PatriciaH]

I noticed that a lot of auctions for the same exact things were going for much less than others. When I read the discription I saw the ones that went for lower $$ did not take credit cards/Pay Pal. I decided that I would just accept it fees or not. I price my items so I know I will still make out in the end. I also like getting the payment much sooner and just transfering it to my bank account. It seems like people who use Pay Pal pay for my auctions that day or the next day. The only other things I will accept are Money Orders or Cashiers check. I used to take personal checks and I have never been burned, but it just took a long time waiting for them to clear. I like to get the items out to people asap.

 

[DMRick]

Anyway, I left NEUTRAL feedback for the seller. I stated the truth -The item was listed as new but did not come in orginal packing, and he made a $4 profit on shipping.

Shells9:
This isn't going to be a real popular statement, but here goes anyway.

Did he list the shipping in his TOS? And I understand it did not say NIP (new in package)? You got it in a timely matter? If all of the above are true, then I really think he didn't deserve (well of course he did, but not by eBay's standards) a neutral. The time to see if you are happy with the shipping costs, is before you bid. If you see a high shipping cost, it's really up to the buyer to email and ask how it's being shipped (Priority, etc) to make the shipping that high...not to assume that it's coming by a more expensive way. If the shipping isn't listed, I would either write and ask what it is, or I would by pass the item. If the shipping is high, but the item will still be in the price range I want to spend, then I bid anyway, since it's my bottom line I have to be happy with.
Yes, he lied about you when he left feedback, which tells me I wouldn't buy from him again, but I really believe, based on the reasons eBay gives for leaving neutrals and negs, that he didn't deserve it in this case. A positive, with the remark, "item was fine, s/h was high, for packaging" would have been more appropriate IMO.

By Jimmy:
I use a PO Box, and my cell phone (so they can't do a reverse lookup and get my real address)as my contact info on eBay. My PO Box is my return address. Yes, people can still go to the PO and askfor my "real" address, but they have ot show ID, and it's recorded. Most don't know they can do this, and no one has any reason to bother. It just makes me feel safer. Lots of nuts out there.

Patricia:
I'm waiting til I regret taking personal checks (when I list something over $75, I only take PP and Money Order)..but so far, so good. I don't bother to hold them (unless I have a funny feeling in my stomach, and it's check numer 101 LOL), since I"d have to hold some of them for along time..and I wouldn't know which ones. I've known people who held for 10 days, and it they didn't realize it didn't clear for 3 weeks...and of course that one bounced. We put any extra handling fees aside, in case a package gets broken or goes MIA, and the people didn't insure, and I guess those fees could be used for a bounced check as well. Hope it doesn't happen, of course, but I really don't want the stuff hanging around, once it's sold.

Poober:
You could easily add .30 handling fee, be well within the "uncomplainable" limits, and that would cover most of your PP fees. Especially if it brings in more money when selling your pins No one argues with that amount of handling fees. Of course it's up to you, but that's a way to cover those fees, and as long as it's in your TOS, people would know in advance. Of course you would call it handling fee, not say it's to cover the Paypal fee. Not all would be paying via PP, so you could start a little fund..and pay for your bubble envy and paypal out of that fee.

 

[claudia]

"I keep my shipping as low as I possibly can and also add Delivery Confirmation to everything out of my OWN pocket as an added benefit for both myself AND the buyer.. I know that sooner or later I'm probably going to take a beating because my S&H is so low, but I would much rather try to be fair than to gouge people.. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you print your labels from the USPS site, they will include the delivery confimation for free. Just be careful, when you put the label on the package, do not take over the bar code. Tape over the shipping address, and then just below the bar code to secure it. A great money saver....not too many people know about....

 

[DMRick]

Just be careful, when you put the label on the package, do not take over the bar code.

I tape over the whole thing..being careful to keep the tape flat so it will still scan. So far so good. My ink jet ink will smear if moisture gets it, so I have to "portect" it.

You can also use DC for 1st class (printed at home), and pay .13 at the Post Office when you ship (although it has to be 3/4 of an inch thick, so you may have to toss in a couple of shipping peanuts to "thicken" it up. Of course if it was under 1/4" (I think that is the thickness) and you now make it 3/4", you'll also be charged the non machinable surchrge of .12.

 

[Shells9]

DMRick-

Let's just say, I learned ALOT of lessons with this one, and think I will shy away from Ebay for a while. I am not saying I was not at fault for not investigating, but he did list it in a somewhat of a deceptive manner. I looked at some of his past auctions for the same item (after I bought it), and those auctions did say they had been removed from the box. This one did not.

Anyway, like I said, I learned my lesson! I was very fortunate to have had great Ebay experiences since 1999, though. Thanks for your input!

 

[DMRick]

Let's just say, I learned ALOT of lessons with this one,

I think we've all learned a lot of lessons with eBay. I know I have really learned to read carefully, and to write emails in advance. Sometimes we read what we think it should say..or at least I do.

 

[C.Ann]

I just have to say that I am SOOOO very pleased with this thread - and the help we have been able to offer one another.. We have folks just starting out - those who have recently begun and are hooked (like me) - veterans who do this every single day and still find the time to share their knowledge and experiences with the rest of us (like DMRick and several others) - and those who for one reason or another have decided to back away from eBay for a while..

Everyone has something useful and important to say - NO questions are "stupid" - no one is a "dummie" - and we can ALL learn from everything that has been posted here..

I started this thread to inspire everyone else - to give them a little "kick in the butt" to give it a try if they had been secretly longing to do so but were paralyzed by their fears and concerns (again, like I was).. The responses have been nothing short of amazing and I really, really would like to see this thread continue, so PLEASE keep checking in and telling us about your experiences - both the good and the bad (but hopefully the "bad" will be few and far between)..

We all have a common goal.. We want to go to the "most magical place on Earth" and for various reasons, the money just never seems to be there.. Job losses, illness, unexpected increases in monthly bills, etc.. But this is a way we can DO it!! We can ALL do it!!!!

So come on - report for "class" and let us know how you're doing.. And if anyone is going to be (or hopes to be) in Disney world anytime between December 1st and the 20th, feel free to PM me and maybe we can meet up for a hour or so.. Wouldn't that be the neatest thing??????

Yay for eBay!!!!!!!!

 

[cindala]

C.Ann,

Help!!!!!! I decided to add PayPal to my options of letting buyers pay for items with either echecks or verified funds/cash transfers, but how do I do this?

I already have a PayPal account, but have only used it for purchasing. It is a personal account. I don't want to accept CC's. How do I go about setting this up? (I didn't register a checking account to PayPal when I signed up. Do I need to do this first?)

I went to Auction tools, and sellers, and clicked on automatic logos. I entered my eBay user name, and then I got an email that said I will now have the EBay logo added to any new auctions I set up. Is this all I do? How do I show that I only want to accept echecks or verified funds? Should I go and delete this under profile? I'm so confused!!!! Any help is really appreciated!

 

[mickeymouse70]

HELP ME PLEASE

Okay i have a few ????'s how much is the seller fee and I am trying to post on Ebay and I am just getting so confused on Ebay trying to figure out how to just post something out an auction. I wanted to sell as "Buy it now" but then it is asking for a $5.00 charge and my DL #.

Did everyone else have to do this to?

 

[crazymomof4]

C.Ann:
I've been reading your super-long thread a little at a time. It seems to be growing faster than I can read it!! Your enthusiasim is contagious! I feel very encouraged especially since you, yourself, are still new to e-bay and are doing so well.
I had to laugh when, while reading one of your posts, I got a picture in my mind of you sitting at your computer, with only a cardboard box to sit on because you've sold everything you own on e-bay! LOL
My husband was skeptical of e-bay so I've been reading him some of the posts on this thread and now he is thinking of some things he has to sell. How to you think fishing tackle would sell?
We are going to try our "freebie" camera as soon as we find the cable to attach it to the computer. I also have to get my behind to the bank and open a seperate checking acct.

Everyone, thanks for all the great advice. Keep it coming, we e-bay novices need all the tips and encouragement we can get!

 

[poober25]

Originally posted by ByJiminy
[ I wondered about a POBox, what I don't understand is when you mail a package you have to list your address, so they end up with it anyway, right? Is there a reason I should worry about my address being available for sending money orders to when they're going to see my address when I send their package? Of course I'm not terribly keen on having people know my home address, but I don't think I want to rent a POBox, either!

[/B]

I just put my PO Box as my return address and a box was only something like $24 for 6 mos., so the cost really is negligible for the peace of mind it provides and the fact that I don't have my bidders upset with me anymore.

 

[C.Ann]

Have to dash out the door to my "real" job right now but will try to answer some of the questions here when I get home tonight..

Meanwhile...list..list..list..list..LIST !!!!!!

 

[Cinders]

My PO Box is my return address. Yes, people can still go to the PO and askfor my "real" address, but they have ot show ID, and it's recorded. Most don't know they can do this, and no one has any reason to bother.

I think post offices handle this differently sometimes. I am in Scouts and on the school PTFO and usually end up at the post office with thank yous or letters to local businesses and some of them have their street address listed and not a PO Box. But when I've asked for the PO Box # so that it gets to them they refuse to give it out but say they will take care of it for me. Same goes to the one business that lists a PO Box for a woodworking business....I had never heard of this business and we live in a lil 2 stop-light town so asked where they were located and they refused to give out the information. I still havent a clue what sort of woodworking they do.

As for selling on EBay I'm thinking I need to start decluttering....we are currently looking at a house thats for sale so might as well start making some remodeling $$$ now. For some reason the boys dont like the pink carpeting.

 

[DMRick]

But when I've asked for the PO Box #

Hmm..I'll find you the PO code from our PO, if you'd like so you can show it the next time you need someone's real address. They won't give you someone's PO box, but if the person already has a box number, I had been told (when I signed up) that a person has the right to know my "real " address. They showed me the code at the time (becasue I was not a happy camper about it). When we make our next weekday run (not Monday they are too busy on MOnday's), I'll ask the gal to look it up. I was told the reason for this, was to cut down on scams.
I certainly believed them, when I got my DBA, and the newspaper listed my PO Box, and a genkleman showed up at my door two days later (wanting me to join some business organization). I assumed he got my addy from the PO, since I use my business name and cell number and he couldn't have looked up the addy that way. It's been a few years, maybe they have gone backwards on this.

Doris