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

[cinlee3]

Ugh! I just sold an item today that ended up costing me .10

I thought I had figured enough postage and with my Ebay fees and Paypal fee (they paid with credit card) I ended up losing 10 cents on the deal.

I'm really blowing it on calculating the postage when I list my auctions. I guess this is a learning experience but on items that are getting a very low selling price anyway - it's going to kill me.

 

[CajunDixie]

I thought I had figured enough postage and with my Ebay fees and Paypal fee (they paid with credit card) I ended up losing 10 cents on the deal.

If you're going to keep selling on a permanent basis you might want to invest in a digital scale. Then use the US Postal site to figure costs before you list your item. Possibly if your items are similiar you could group them together to get a better profit too. If you are just doing this temporarily then I would not use the PayPal business account (dont accept credit cards).

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Hi everyone,
I'm a believer. I was starting to have my doubts, I must say. I had 5 things listed on ebay and 4 came back with the standard, "Unfortunately, the following eBay item listing ended without a winning bidder." but then on the fifth, I had a winner!!! Yea. Anyway, I purchased the item for $1.50 and I sold it for $6.51. Of course, there are the fees but after all of that, I'll have cleared about $4.00. Not breaking the bank by any means but a start, none the less. As far as the other items go, I'm not sure if I should relist right away or wait a bit. I had one poster write and say she gets encouraged when she doesn't see anything listed like she wants to sell. Now I definately know what she means!!! Everyone was listing what I was selling. Perhaps it's just not a good time to sell what I'm trying to sell.
April

 

[C.Ann]

Yaaaay!! I'm finally getting my email notifications again!!!

Still can't check my auctions with baconbuttie though.. Am I the ONLY one having this problem???
---------------

On the subject of postage.. That can get real tricky.. Even though I have this marvelous scale that will weigh up to 5 lbs. (also gives you the ounce readings) - and I have all the postal charts right here next to my computer - I have come mighty close to "going over" on a few occasions.. I've never actually GONE over - but darn close! I think part of it is because I weigh my items BEFORE packing them and although I use light-weight packing materials, it may be just enough to kick it over to the next pound..
-----------------------

Anybody decide how they're going to handle their auctions for next week yet - with the 4th of July weekend?

 

[cinlee3]

I do want to do this permanently and may have to look into a digital scale. I may re-think taking the credit cards though.

I have a 25 lb and I thought I had weighed it and checked before I listed. I thought I even had a little room left there but this is the second time I have goofed - not quite so bad the first time. I don't dare tell my DH what I did - he won't let me live it down.

 

[pnorto]

Okay I admit I haven't read all 78 pages of this thread so this may have already been touched on but what is the best sale someone has had? What did you make the most money off of? Maybe something you bought cheap and sold for a ton. I will start this off with my winfall last November. Me and my dad do estate sales all of the time looking mainly for paper goods: old magazines, programs, catalogs, brochures, etc. Anyways, I bought two identicle Army v Notre Dame Football Programs for $10.00 each and they sold for a total of $600.00. At this particular estate sale, I spent $100 on a box of stuff and made $1100.00(including the programs). The key is to find something you no somthing about or like, study up on that types of items and then you will develop a keen eye for bargains at estate sales, yard sales and flea markets. I have been doing the ebay thing off and on since 1996 and it can be a great way to ebay your way to Disney. Everyone keep it up and see in Orlando.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by pnorto
Okay I admit I haven't read all 78 pages of this thread so this may have already been touched on but what is the best sale someone has had? What did you make the most money off of? Maybe something you bought cheap and sold for a ton. I will start this off with my winfall last November. Me and my dad do estate sales all of the time looking mainly for paper goods: old magazines, programs, catalogs, brochures, etc. Anyways, I bought two identicle Army v Notre Dame Football Programs for $10.00 each and they sold for a total of $600.00. At this particular estate sale, I spent $100 on a box of stuff and made $1100.00(including the programs). The key is to find something you no somthing about or like, study up on that types of items and then you will develop a keen eye for bargains at estate sales, yard sales and flea markets. I have been doing the ebay thing off and on since 1996 and it can be a great way to ebay your way to Disney. Everyone keep it up and see in Orlando.

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

Great advice! And this is exactly what I hope to do (concentrate on certain items) once I unload the 35 years of junk I have sitting here in my house! LOL

Just in browsing on ebay I have already noticed certain items that fetch a high price and can usually be had for next to nothing at garage sales.. At this point though - until I can clear out my house - I'm trying very, VERY hard not to buy MORE stuff - but I'll admit, I bought a few things last weekend.. Well - gee - how can you NOT when you KNOW you can turn a nice profit???

I just LOVE selling on eBay - and I've only been doing it since the end of March..

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

Yaaaay eBay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[waughzee]

WOW Pnorto! Great find!

A few weeks ago, I bought an older Disney video at a yard sale for 50cents and sold it on Ebay for $56!

 

[bafmrf]

Thanks to C.Ann and DMRick I am on my way. It's just one bid for 2.99 but it's a start.

Does anyone have a sample invoice and packing slip they use? I would like to start preparing this item for shipment so I can ship it as soon as I receive payment. I am just trying to stay on top of all of this.

Martha

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Great, Martha! It always has to start with the first bid!

I like to use the printable packing slip that you can get from your PayPal payers' info. Of course, not everybody uses PayPal, so on those who don't, I select the portion of my ebay auction listing page with the winning bidder ID and other pertinent info on it, then print that portion to pack in the box/envelope. Since my descriptions are kind of long and I don't need the photo, I just print the relevant text to keep it down to 1 page. Then I hand-write "Enjoy your (whatever)! Thanks, Joy".

For those of you unfamiliar with printing a selection from a browser window, do this:

- Highlight the section you wish to print (hold down left mouse button & drag)
- right click while pointing at the highlighted area
- select "print"
- on the print dialog box that comes up, select "selection" and click "OK" or "Print"

This will save you from printing all the non-essential stuff from your page. No doubt many will find this step-by-step info more basic than they need, but I hope it helps some of you.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by bafmrf
Thanks to C.Ann and DMRick I am on my way. It's just one bid for 2.99 but it's a start.

Does anyone have a sample invoice and packing slip they use? I would like to start preparing this item for shipment so I can ship it as soon as I receive payment. I am just trying to stay on top of all of this.

Martha

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

Good for you!! When the auction ends, you will be able to print out the invoice either from eBay - or from Paypal (if they pay that way)..

Yesterday I listed something with a starting bid of over $11 and really second-guessed myself if I should have gone that high.. Got up this morning and someone had bid on it already!!
Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm busy listing again today because I'll be heading up to the lake on Friday and can't list from there..

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

I sure hope I don't pass by any garage sales on my way.. My van just kind of follows the signs and I can't control it...

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by CajunDixie
If you are just doing this temporarily then I would not use the PayPal business account (dont accept credit cards).

I would agree on the temporary part, but if you're going to be selling on eBay for a long time I would consider accepting credit cards. I personally will by-pass an auction that does not accept credit cards on PayPal. I like to get my Disney points when buying something! I know that some of you sellers don't take CC and you do so because PayPal charges you more, but I just consider that a part of doing business. BTW, I also take personal checks with no hold from people with a FB of 20 of more. Those with lower FB or negatives have a 1 week hold after I deposit the check. I try to make it as easy as possible for my buyers .

Another thing ... endless snotty "terms and conditions" (no refunds, no paypal, no this and no that) and non-paying bidder threats in the auction really turn me off as a buyer.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

endless snotty "terms and conditions" (no refunds, no paypal, no this and no that) and non-paying bidder threats in the auction really turn me off as a buyer.

I'm with you there. Way earlier in this thread I believe someone stated that they do not mention a refund policy one way or another, but if someone has a complaint, they do their best to provide good customer service. I think that is the key - treat people with respect and courtesy and ultimately it will repay you in kind.

My stated payment methods are PayPal (CCs included), Money orders or certified funds. I've been surprised a few times to receive cash - in fact one person sent an overpayment with a note that they didn't have exact change, so I just made change and included it in the package.

 

[C.Ann]

I agree 100% - leave all negativity out of your listings!!! When I read an auction like that my first thought is that it's a dishonest seller - or one likely to be less than easy to deal with..

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

Now I know I'm supposed to be one of the "teachers" here - but - DUH - it just dawned on me that I should get the Paypal Debit card to pay postage with at the PO so I can get that 1.5% rebate!! Only problem is I don't know if I applied right.. I have the Premier Acct. so I got the business Debit card.. Should I have done something different? Can't wait to get it and recoup some of my fees!!!!!

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

Busy taking photos so I can get more stuff listed..



I'm goin' to Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Courtesy of eBay, of course..

Yaaaaaaay eBay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sandy3550]

I am in need of some help from the Ebay experts. I've been selling on & off for about a year (more off than on until recently)- But I have run into what is apparently my first problem. I have an auction winner (auction ended 6/18) that won't respond to emails & reminder payment messages, so I pulled the contact info & tried to call and the number is no longer in service. What next? Do I go ahead & file a NPB & wait to get my Final Value fees returned or what? This guy bid & won about 5 auctions within 2 days of each other, so I emailed one of his other sellers to ask if he had any luck contacting this person, but haven't heard from him either. Recommendations???? Thanks! Sandy

 

[sandy3550]

Oh, I forgot to mention that he had a zero feedback either. I'm afraid that I just got snookered! Thanks

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

sandy3550, I think that others may have differing opinions, but with a 0-feedback bidder, I would be inclined to make less effort than with a bidder with a well established positive reputation. That is, I'd follow standard ebay protocol, but not give any extra time before filing the NPB info and requesting your fees back.

I currently am waiting on someone who won 3 of my auctions. She has a feedback of 26, 100% positive. The auctions all ended last Thursday, and I stated in the auction that I requested communication within 3 days and payment within 7 days of close of the bidding. I have had no response to 3 rounds of emails - 1) immediately after winning the auction with a total for combined shipping; 2) 3 days later (Sunday) - the ebay follow-up reminder; and 3) last night, a personal message that was friendly but firm, stating that I am concerned about not hearing from her, and that if her payment is received after this Thursday, I won't be able to mail her pins until I return from vacation.

I plan to obtain her phone number tomorrow night if I have not yet had a response. This happened to me once before, and upon calling, I learned that the bidder thought she'd lost the auction so had not been checking her email. She paid via PayPal within an hour of the call, and emailed me with profuse apologies.

I guess my long-winded point is that if someone has a positive record, I'm inclined to give them more slack since there is real life outside of ebay, and I don't think most people are trying to rip each other off. OTOH, I'd expect a newbie to make the best effort to prove themselves, and I'd not be extremely patient if that does not happen.

 

[sandy3550]

Thanks for the quick response. That actually was what I was thinking. I realize that we all have to start at Zero, but I remember when I was starting out (& still do), I wanted to make sure that I was prompt with everything I did, whether it was buying or selling to make sure that I had & keep good feedback. I think today is day 7 so I will wait until tomorrow & file the NPB. I just wish that I could have reached him by phone-that is what bothers me most about this transaction.
Can anyone tell me if it is a big pain to file the NPB & FVF forms with Ebay? Thanks, Sandy

 

[waughzee]

Please tell me more about the Paypal debit card. How do you go about getting one? What are the fees with accepting Paypal? I have been doing Ebay for 3 years now without accepting Paypal, but I have been thinking that I might get even more, and higher bids if I did accept it.

Please explain it to me (in simple terms, please. :lol )

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Can anyone tell me if it is a big pain to file the NPB & FVF forms with Ebay? Thanks, Sandy

Sandy, I have not had to do this yet, so hopefully someone else will have an answer for you.

Please tell me more about the Paypal debit card. How do you go about getting one?

waughzee, do you have a PayPal account set up? If not, that is the first step. You need to have it linked with a bank account, and then there is a waiting period of 60 or 90 days before you can get the debit card.
In order to get the 1.5% cash back, you have to agree to only offer PayPal as your online payment service (you can still accept MOs and checks by mail, just not C2it or any other online service) and you have to then link to your ebay account.

I'm sorry this is a little vague, but I have already done these steps, so it is not totally fresh in my mind. I know that I am enjoying the cash back aspect, and am using the card for all expenses related to my ebaying, and more. If you go into PayPal and look at their account types and benefits, you will get more detailed and specific information. HTH!