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

[DMRick]

According to the UPS rate guide, UPS charges you $4 per one-time pickup if you are not on a daily pickup schedule,

If you hadn't told me that UPS was now charging, I would never have noticed. I did notice that it was more expensive lately, and I just assumed they went up as did the Post Office. I just got out my slips from winter, and I wasn't being charged, last week I was..so on my merry way I have been going. I started using the PO for more Priority heavier items because when I compared, they were coming out cheaper. Well, duh, now I know why. Do you know when they started charging? (I just called UPS (and who knows if the info is correct), and he said it has been since January..before that he said I prob didn't notice, because the shipping from the place I ship from for carry-in was a different zip code and costs more than shipping from my zip code..so before it was just pennies..so thanks for bringing that to my attention...although it was just in February when I compared the large item I mention below and airbourne still lost for me).
My buyers pay for all the shipping, so it still costs me nothing. For much heavier items UPS still wins out, and I will continue to have them pick up in most instances, since it's still the cheapest for me.
Airbourne still comes out more expensive for me... I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've called them as well, and they suggested I find a drop off center to drop it off..the closest was no where near where it would be worth going. I sent out a large (even broken down) item, which ended up beign $70 to ship..and would you believe the cheapest way was priority? Didn't faze the winner, but it fazed me.
Thanks for the new info..can't wait til the UPS guy comes today, so I can raze him..
Doris
Upstate NY

 

[cindala]

Charleneluvsdisney,

Thanks for the info about the Ebay technical board. I will go there to get more info.

This has been so frustrating. I'll be able to load up a picture on one auction, then not again even after several tries. (Tried both AOL and IE 5.0) If it works once, why won't it work again? Also it has been working for me before this!!

I went in to where I keep my pictures stored on my computer, and deleted what has sold, and what I no longer need. I figured that maybe the pictures were taking up too much memory maybe. Still, doing that didn't work!

Finally I copied from my computer the pictures that I needed for my auctions, and put them on a disk. Then I went to Internet Explorer, (version 5.0), and had no problem loading the pictures from a disk. So at least I have my auctions up for now, but the original problem isn't fixed as far as I know.

I'll just keep deleting the pictures from the disk too after I no longer need them.

WDWorBUST,
I have a buyer whose auction ended on 5/1/2003. I still have not received payment. She keeps emailing me with reasons why the M.O. hasn't been mailed yet, and her last email said she was mailing the payment on 5/24. I haven't received it yet. I think I am going to start putting in my listings that payment is due within 10 days of the end of the auction, so that it is clear, and I can take action sooner if need be.

 

[candylover]

This is such a great idea.
I was wondering "How" we were going to take our next trip.
Hmmmmmm...sounds like a plan.
Now if my husband would just take off his sneakers so I can sell them
Well I'll be looking around the house now........
Does anyone have some "Hot" items that they can suggest????

Have fun!!

 

[DMRick]

Does anyone have some "Hot" items that they can suggest????

This is one of the most asked questions on all of the eBay boards. It's usually answered by someone saying, I'll be happy to tell you what sells best and where to buy it wholesale..but then I'd have to kill you (all in jest of course).

The best way to find out what sells best (of items you have ways to get) is to go to search, then advanced, then completed items, and check out how items you had in mind sell.

Most people who are serious about this, are not very willing to share their info (what they sell, and where they get it from at wholesale prices)...it's their business, and they don't need the competition.

I can tell you that most items that are easy to find, you don't want to sell..since everyone else found it too. I do see lots of stuff up form the Christmas tree shop, and some of that goes well, since it's inexpensive, fun, and some people have to way to buy the item, since they don't have a Christmas tree shop, but you won't get high prices, since others are already doing that.

It's work to find your niche..if it wasn't, it would already be there.

 

[DMRick]

PS If you are able....Mom's attic is a great place to start.

 

[shovelhd]

DMRick -

Glad I could help. The big three started instituting pickup charges right about the time FedX started charging a premium for residential pickups. Late last fall. Be nice to your UPS driver, it's not their fault.

ebay has changed the shipping world significantly. It has been the catalyst for millions more home based businesses, and the shippers felt that it was an opportunity to react to this expanding market.

The next time you ship something over 4lbs., check the big three and compare. I still believe that you will find Airborne the cheapest when all charges are considered, and if you ship more than 5 packages per pickup, your pickup fees are waived. I'm pretty sure that FedX and UPS do not do this.

Of course, things may change after the Airborne/DHL merger.

Of course, the best deal is when your package fits into a drop box and you can avoid pickup altogether. Sometimes it takes some doing to cram the thing in there but I can tell you for a fact that they are not for letters only

 

[DMRick]

The next time you ship something over 4lbs., check the big three and compare. I still believe that you will find Airborne the cheapest when all charges are considered,

For some reason it isn't for us. As I said, I've had buyers swear it would be cheaper, and they have the same info as me (weight, address, etc), and so we both check. I even got an account, thinking that was it..but it isn't. It may just be where I live (although it's right outside of the capital of NY). I have checked. If you want to sleuth, let me know and I'll pm you my zip code.

While I would raze my UPS driver, I would never blame him for anything. He is super, one of the best. Protects my incoming packages, and will make more than one trip if Im not home when delivering, or picking up. Knows when I've got a parishable, and makes sure to deliver early that day. Great guy!! Besides, he's seen me in my PJ's on really busy eBay days..and never laughs.

 

[minnieandmickey]

Well first day is over and I have already sold 1 thing with buy it now, and have a bid on another. Hoping for more. Good luck to all of you

 

[Robinrs]

I found this in the General Announcements:

As a special offer to our sellers we are offering three features -- Highlight, Featured Plus! and Gallery Featured -- at half price for two days on the U.S. site (www.ebay.com) from Wednesday, May 28, 2003 between 00:00:01 PDT (12:00 AM plus one second) and 23:59:59 PDT Thursday, May 29, 2003 (11:59 PM plus 59 seconds). Listings created prior to May 28, 2003 and scheduled to start during the promotional period May 28-29, 2003 will be eligible for the promotional rate.

 

[Robinrs]

ebay has changed the shipping world significantly. It has been the catalyst for millions more home based businesses, and the shippers felt that it was an opportunity to react to this expanding market.

Just wanted to add that my sister, who works for the Post Office, said that 80 percent of her work now is EBAY! After they lost so much business to bills being paid on the web, this is no doubt a boon for them!

 

[disneyfan551]

I'm having a yard sale this weekend, and while I was pricing items, I was a bad girl... I was pulling out more things to sell on ebay, rather than put in the yard sale! If my dh sees this stuff come back home with me, he is going to flip his lid!! I'm hoping to get started on ebay within a week or so!

 

[Robinrs]

disneyfan551:

My days of yard sales are OVER! We had one back in February at my parents' home. I spent $8 to put it in the paper, risked my life putting up signs, then sold about $20 worth of stuff!!! We ended up putting most of the stuff back in my parents' basement.

Now that we're selling the house I had to get that stuff out of the basement. Most of the stuff I'm selling on ebay now is that stuff that did NOT sell. Every last one of them have sold now and the rest have bids on them to end this week!

I'm never going to do that again!

 

[candylover]

Thank you so much
Here is another idea..
I told my sister about "HOW" I was going to find the money to go to Disney.
She thought it was a great idea.
Gee...she could do that but she just doesnt have the time
Ya know...she has important things to do
How about if you do it for me?????
I was taken back for a moment.....I'LL give you 30%
Hey... I would have never even have thought of that.
Since my sister is my sister I would have done it to help her out but she offered so... I said YES!
Now I am so excited!!!

 

[mad4themouse]

I finally took the plunge and listed a few items yesterday.

Nothing big, just a few brand-new inkjet cartridges for a printer that I no longer have. I figured that I would start small and work my way up. So far, I've sold one through Buy-It-Now. At least I will have recovered my auction fees and a made a few dollars in the process even if the others don't sell.

 

[DMRick]

I was taken back for a moment.....I'LL give you 30%

Wow..what a generous sister..that's more than the people who hjave signed up on eBay to do this, charge LOL!!

Be sure you are clear on if the listing/end of auction fees (sell or not) come out of your pocket..and will you do the shipping, etc.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
I finally took the plunge and listed a few items yesterday.

Nothing big, just a few brand-new inkjet cartridges for a printer that I no longer have. I figured that I would start small and work my way up. So far, I've sold one through Buy-It-Now. At least I will have recovered my auction fees and a made a few dollars in the process even if the others don't sell.

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

Ahhhh yes... I have fond memories of an "ink cartridge"... That was the VERY first thing I put up for bid on eBay.. Just that ONE item.. I opened the auction at $2 - and it sold for $16-something!! That was IT!!! I was HOOKED!! And now.......................................

I'm an ebay "lifer".................................... LOL

Yay eBay!!!!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I have had a couple of things up on ebay for 2 days and no bids yet . Help, I'm getting discouraged! I need some encouragement here, guys!

 

[susan137]

Niks Mom, I have read that this is really a slow time for Ebay, June and July. Hang in there, sometimes (lots of times), you get bids in last hours or minutes of your auction.

Susan

 

[Robinrs]

I agree with Susan, Nik's Mom. I've found that most of my stuff gets NO bids till the last moment! Hang in there!

 

[Cinders]

Grrrrrrr just got an email from Ebay saying that my bid on a item has been canceled. Then it said to go to the auction page then bid history to see why. I went there and the item had 2 bids of $1 each.....mine was first but then the owner (a company) canceled the item. How can they do this? I cant even leave feedback since the auction wasnt over.