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

[maggiew]

Just an update - I mailed my package today that had the label I printed on Saturday. Nothing was said and it worked fine!

I have another question though. The lady whose items were in the above mentioned package had requested insurance. I totally forgot to get that today. ( I would have remembered on Saturday!!) So what do I do? She paid with a MO. Do I email her and tell her I forgot and offer to refund the money via pay pal? Do I email her that I will self insure it (item was about $10)? Do I not say anything and have her assume I self insured it?? What do I do??

Maggie

 

[floridagirrl2]

Personally, I would not mention it until you know she received the package--otherwise she might decide the package got lost in the mail when she knows you can't trace it (sounds very cynical of me, I know, but there are a lot of scammers on Ebay!). It IS self-insured, since you would be obligated to pay for it if it was lost in the mail, now that your buyer has paid for insurance. However, I think I would still refund the difference.

 

[maggiew]

To clarify my last question: I did get delivery confirmation on it.

If I refund the money, how should I do it since she paid with a MO?

Maggie

 

[disneychrista]

The buyer purchased insurance and you will have to refund her money if something happens that is what insurance is for. In this case, since insurance was not purchased at the PO, you are the carry not the PO. If you choose to refund I would simply send her cash back, with a note saying, glad your item arrived safely, due to shipping error postal insurance was not purchased here is your refund.

 

[cpl100]

Originally posted by maggiew
Just an update - I mailed my package today that had the label I printed on Saturday. Nothing was said and it worked fine!

I have another question though. The lady whose items were in the above mentioned package had requested insurance. I totally forgot to get that today. ( I would have remembered on Saturday!!) So what do I do? She paid with a MO. Do I email her and tell her I forgot and offer to refund the money via pay pal? Do I email her that I will self insure it (item was about $10)? Do I not say anything and have her assume I self insured it?? What do I do??

Maggie

I had this exact thing happen to me as a seller. I sent her an email asking that she email me when she received the item. When I got that email, I immediately responded with my apology for forgetting the insurance and told her I would refund the money. She didn't want the refun but thanked me for being honest.

 

[katerkat]

Newbie here - I've been selling for about a month. I had a question, and I'm sure it's been answered here, but did y'all know this thread is over 300 pages?? There should be a quick guide or FAQ on the first page!

Anyway, how do you do shipping? I tried doing the little box based on the location, but I got people arguing with the price. (It's shipping and HANDLING, people, not just shipping!) So I tried a flat rate, based on a California zip code (and I have my trusty 7-lb scale!), but I'm still getting hosed. I lost $10 on shipping on my last set of auctions! Any advice?

 

[jennymouse]

Originally posted by katerkat
Newbie here - I've been selling for about a month. I had a question, and I'm sure it's been answered here, but did y'all know this thread is over 300 pages?? There should be a quick guide or FAQ on the first page!

Anyway, how do you do shipping? I tried doing the little box based on the location, but I got people arguing with the price. (It's shipping and HANDLING, people, not just shipping!) So I tried a flat rate, based on a California zip code (and I have my trusty 7-lb scale!), but I'm still getting hosed. I lost $10 on shipping on my last set of auctions! Any advice?

Shipping is hard for me too. At first I was getting hosed every other time. Now, I use the shipping calculator based on Priority Mail and add .50 - $1.50 handling. I weigh the item then add 2 pounds for packing material for the weight unless it's a really light item that I know will go for the $3.85. If they want to haggle with the shipping amount I offer to ship Parcel Post. I don't get shorted very often anymore, but sometimes I do.

I have to really watch the SIZE of my item as if it's big then the "extra large 1 or 2" size will really jack the price up. Boxes are an issue with me when it comes to large items too. I just sold this vintage bathroom light fixture (I know it sounds weird, but it was really neat) and I didn't have a box for it. I was going to bite the bullet and buy one at Mail Box since I only paid $2 and it brought $25. Mail Box wanted $8 for a box. I said "No thank you." and walked out not knowing what the heck I was going to do for a box. I went home and made one out of 3 #7 Priority Mail boxes. It looks good and is study too!

 

[jgates]

Whew! That's a tuffie - shipping!

I have several methods. If it is a lightweight under 1lb item, I normally list Priority as my method and then set the rate at about $4.75. It will cost me $3.85 since it is under 1 lb and the rest becomes my handling fees for time, etc (which help offset my ebay & pp fees). So a lot of the time I actually get what my auction ended at!

Another option is to use the calculated shipping method when listing your auction - you put in your zip code when you select that option, you enter the type of shipping you are using and then a handling fee (such as $1.50) and the customer can then enter their zip when viewing the auction on ebay and you should be safe. The customer will not see your handling fee - only the total postage for their zip code.

Since I am in Wisconsin I also often use the 90210 zip code and base it on that. Mississippi is maybe not quite such a good starting zip code - I would pick one that is more in the middle of the US to start with when you calculate so that you will always have a cushion.

 

[Belle0101]

Originally posted by katerkat
Newbie here - I've been selling for about a month. I had a question, and I'm sure it's been answered here, but did y'all know this thread is over 300 pages?? There should be a quick guide or FAQ on the first page!

Anyway, how do you do shipping? I tried doing the little box based on the location, but I got people arguing with the price. (It's shipping and HANDLING, people, not just shipping!) So I tried a flat rate, based on a California zip code (and I have my trusty 7-lb scale!), but I'm still getting hosed. I lost $10 on shipping on my last set of auctions! Any advice?

I have the same question I mailed my first 2 sales today and I lost money on shipping. I weighed my packages here at home on the scale I bought at Office Max, paid $30 for it since I wanted a nice one. Anyhow the first package was 3 ounces more at the post office than at home and the other was even more of a difference!

I used the "Shipping Calculator" tool on ebay for buyers and put in 50 cents for the handling.

I can't believe I lost money on shipping and that the postal scale and my scale are so far off.

Whatever you're doing "wrong" I must be doing too.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've gone so far as to calculate the average for three different zones. Since I'm on the East Coast, I compare rates for a town near here - such as Philadelphia or New York, then a midwest city like Kansas City and finally a west coast town like San Francisco or Seattle. Add the three together and divide by three for the average cost and add handling fees. It worked better for me than establishing one price that only pertained to one zone. For larger items I use the calculated shipping method, allowing the buyer to figure the cost of shipping based on the weight I've specified to their zip code.

 

[jcemom]

Talk about losing money on shipping...DH just bought something from ebay last week, it was 48.00 Buy It Now price, with 8.00 shipping. We assumed it would ship via UPS or Parcel Post, whatever. Well it arrived today...Priority Mail with a shipping cost of $27.45!!!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by jcemom
Talk about losing money on shipping...DH just bought something from ebay last week, it was 48.00 Buy It Now price, with 8.00 shipping. We assumed it would ship via UPS or Parcel Post, whatever. Well it arrived today...Priority Mail with a shipping cost of $27.45!!!!

New seller? Sheesh, they lost half their sale. And I thought I had trouble getting the shipping right - never been that far off.

 

[disneychrista]

When weighing your items make sure you are weighing them WITH their packaging, in a box etc. This stuff will add a significate weight to some items, especially if it bring you up one or two weight classes.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
New seller? Sheesh, they lost half their sale. And I thought I had trouble getting the shipping right - never been that far off.

He had over 100 feedbacks, and 20-something were from buyers. So, while he isn't a seasoned veteran seller, he has sold before. I don't understand why he didn't just ship some other way when he found out what the cost would be. It wasn't specified in the auction what the shipping method would be, so it wouldn't have mattered if he had gone with parcel post.

 

[disneychrista]

I had a buyer who charged less then $5 for something then shipped priority for $10. The item only ended for $10.05

 

[bafmrf]

I still screw up on shipping. I am normally only end up charging the customer .25-.50 over the actual shipping. Yesterday, I shipped an item that was more than the 5lbs. my little scale can handle. I got on my bathroom scale then had the package in my hand to see if I could tell the difference. I charged the customer $20 shipping and it only came to $12.60. Needless to say, I refunded the customer $7 for an overcharge of shipping.

Martha

 

[bafmrf]

I am leaving in about 4 hours to go out of town till Friday. Do I take the two ended auction items with me just in case they pay me within that time? (I'll check my account at the hotel). Or do I just wing it and ship them when I get home? What would you do? I always try to ship within 24hrs. of getting paid. I would think it wouldn't be that big a deal but I know shipping is the one area I can control. I actually won't be able to ship until Saturday cause of the time I expect to get back on Friday will be too late. Let me know what ya think.

Martha

 

[jennymouse]

Do you have time to send them a quick email letting them know? That might be your best bet.

 

[bafmrf]

I received a email from one buyer saying their sending a m.o. so I don't need to worry about that one. One is notorious for paying no sooner than the 10 day mark which will be Sunday. Don't need to worry about that one. I have one ending today with a couple bids on it, so I'll bring it with. It's only a couple pair of jeans so it's really no big deal.

Have a great couple of days.

Martha

 

[toystoryduo]

Boy, did I goof up on eBay! I had thirteen auctions listed and 8 of my items sold. GREAT! ... until I realized that people were making payments to PayPal using my old e-mail address that does not exist anymore. Ughhh!! When I listed the items in Turbo Lister, I changed everything but the email address where PayPal payments are sent. I spent all afternoon e-mailing people with an apology. I have 21 positive feedbacks (100%)... I hope that people will understand that I am a newbie and will forgive my mistake and not leave negative feedback.

Is it possible for these people to cancel the payment to the old address and send it to the new one????? Ughhh!!! And here I thought I was doing so well.......

Thanks for listening...