Hmmmm -- now she hasn't paid yet? Is that normal?
To eBay or not to eBay - what do I do with the stuff meanwhile is the question?
(157 posts) (26 voices)
Overall Rating: 3 votes
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Some people ask buyers to pay within 5 days. Some less. I didn't say on mine. That is something I will have to remember next time.
The bidding finished on the item I posted. It has given me real incentive to post more items. The final bid was far more than I would have guessed.
Thank you for your earlier bid, nws2002. :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Claycat, that's terrific! I'm glad your effort was rewarded - you should feel great about that! And, one more thing out the door, right?
I do usually say 3 days for payment - and durn if I forgot that in this auction template. bugger! I want to have that money in my account!
Alexa
Posted 1 year ago # -
Phew - buyer for my auction finally paid (after a fairly stern "Please pay or email if there is a problem" message). It's all packed up to ship today. Doing label should have been easy but I signed up for the UPS account to get discounted rates and then it turned out to be a pain. I had transferred money out of Paypal account and it wouldn't make the label unless I paid from Paypal, so it just wouldn't let me do the label. Had to go into UPS online directly to do it. Whole thing took about an hour when it should have taken 5 minutes! (I saw there are some complaints on the Paypal forums about this!)
Question for the eBay crowd - what happens if you change shipping methods? It would have been easier to just send USPS Priority Mail after all that, but is it frowned upon to change b/c you've charged for the other method? Would you have to refund the difference?
Anyway, I have some other stuff to post, including a Marc Jacobs leather bomber jacket that was my husband's, so hopefully I can figure out how to be more efficient at this. Still a lot of work to me but it's nice to recoup funds.
Posted 1 year ago # -
akcorcoran, I find the easiest way with shipping is to calculate what it will run you before starting the auction. If it will fit in a flat rate box it is so much easier. When you list your item and your shipping charge, you will know exactly what it will cost you. I always add an additional few dollars to my shipping amount so I cover my materials, etc. As long as they know what I'm charging before they bid I make no excuses for my charges. Also, I make it clear, where I will ship for that amount and to contact me if you want an item shipped overseas.
When the auction ends and you are paid, click on "print shipping label" which will take you to Paypal where you pay for your postage and print your label.
I have "Palpal is my preferred method of payment and payment is expected when auction ends" on all my listings. If someone doesn't pay within 3 days, I email them and tell them payment is expected at the end of the auction and ask when and how they will be paying.
It just takes a few times to get the hang of it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes, that is what I did - and in the past, I've had no problem printing the shipping label. The issue was that I signed up for that UPS program where you get an account and then you get lower rates (but could charge the regular rate, I guess). It was a total pain - and I've never had a problem. I had entered the weight and dimensions, etc. so the auction was calculating exact shipping - and, in the end, it cost what she had paid, just wouldn't let me print the label through Paypal. I had to go back in and do the tracking number since I had to print it through UPS. I wonder if it's a current glitch or something.
I ordered flat rate boxes from USPS and may switch to that. I also haven't been charging for handling (for materials) which I probably should, I guess.
Do you do the thing where if they do "Buy It Now," immediate payment is required? I don't know if that scares off buyers or doesn't' matter matter b/c if they do Buy It Now, they'll pay anyway?
And, how long to you give them to pay if it's not required for a regular auction?
I can tell it will take me a while to get the hang of it! :-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
If your books, CDs, or DVDs are not worth the price you can get to sell them on eBay, I suggest using a trade website like http://www.swaptree.com where you can post items that you have and make a wish list of items you want. When you initiate a trade or someone else does, all you have to do is pay a low fee for shipping your item by Media Mail. I've used it several times to get books I've wanted and get rid of CDs and books I no longer use.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alexa, I mailed mine today, too. I used USPS parcel post. I printed the label online and added delivery confirmation and insurance. I just took it to the post office. Unless I have something too big or too heavy, I imagined I will always use USPS.
One thing! It didn't print my label at first. I had to go in and undo the Block Pop-up Windows command.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@annkb, that's a great idea! I have never heard of trade websites or swaptree. Good tip!
@Claycat, glad your experience was easier (as mine usually is)! I just got all fancy with signing up for the UPS account which bungled the whole thing when printing through eBay. I have no problem printing those labels and sure get at it with the tape but the UPS to eBay handoff was not a smooth thing. The forums are abuzz with the problems so I'll surely avoid for the next items. Got your next item to list on eBay? Just curious...
Posted 1 year ago # -
To ebay or NOT to ebay...hmmm....I am really in favour of ebay, especially for "specialty" items, like equestrian gear. I personally sell figure skating items and they go all over the world. The problem I used to have: don't keep more items on hand then you can ebay(get rid of!) within a reasonable amount of time. Ebay items can take over your house, if you let them! Ebay is a great way to de-clutter your house. Good luck and don't be afraid to request your buyers to pay you by a certain time frame.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I decided to let go of about 75 books just recently. I was able to sell them to abebooks.com and cash4books.net. You type in the ISBNS, they tell you how much (if anything) they'll give you for them, you package them up and ship them. They inspect them and put the money into your paypal account (or send you a check) about 24 hours about receiving. They will also pay for your FexEd/UPS postage!
It was a relatively easy way to make some extra cash and help me unclutter at the same time.
The great part was that, like some of you, I can't stand having to ship stuff, and luckily, FedEx and UPS will both pick up your packages from you.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alexa, I have been photographing and weighing stuff. I was going to post something tonight, but I just can't get going. (I had a setback yesterday. I had to put my dog to sleep.)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I put some more stuff on eBay. I guess I will just keep on keeping on.
I have a lady coming to look at some vintage cookbooks tomorrow. She heard I was going to start selling some on eBay, and she wanted to see what I have. I hope she will buy some!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Claycat, keep us posted. I'm very interested to hear about how your meeting about the vintage cookbooks went? I'm sorry to hear about your dog - it's losing a family member, I know, and you have to let yourself grieve.
To everyone - I have two more questions:
1) What qualifies as vintage?
2) What is the typical percentage of an "eBay consultant"?
I ask these because my next-door neighbor has a whole room full of clothes and shoes that she has nothing to do with, all are in large part, high-end designer pieces, many Chanel and the like. I told her that I would be willing to sell them for her if we worked together, but I'd like to know what folks charge for that kind of work.
Thanks!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alexa, I know that Lynn Dralle, thequeenofauctions, says she won't do commission selling anymore except occasionally for relatives, and she charges them 50%. I'm getting 30% for selling for my MIL. I wouldn't charge her 50%.
You can find people on eBay that will sell on consignment. You might ask them what they charge. I would say 50% if I were going to do it.
I was looking up "vintage" the other day. Most vintage is from the 50s or 60s, even the 70s. I'm going to sell some early 70s cookbooks as vintage.
I sold the lady three cookbooks for $10. That was really estate sale prices. However, they might or might not have sold on eBay, and I was ready to let them leave the house.
I have sorted out some more things that, for one reason or another, would be hard to sell on eBay, so I'm making another trip to the thrift shop this week.
Also, I'm putting some large things up on craigslist this week. I don't want to ship really big stuff.
Thanks for the kind words about my sweet doggie. :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Akcorcoran, I sold full time on eBay for years (becky740) 30-50% is the standard. Of the profit, not the closing price. Make sure to figure out all the fees involved. Or you could just charge her an hourly rate. Check the Vintage Discussion Board and Frequently Asked Questions, but you can call '80s clothing "vintage." I mean, everyone called Julia Roberts' black and white Valentino dress she wore to the Oscars the year she won "vintage" and it was only a couple of years old! Be sure to get help on the Clothing and Accessories, Shoes, and Vintage Discussion Boards - those people will help you come up with keywords to include and other things you may not think of - it's always very friendly and helpful over there.
I want to get a peek at that CHANEL! That would be very dangerous for me to assist her - I'd probably wind up keeping half of it!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks, thebubbreport! That was helpful to me as well!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I charge 40% commission of the net amount. The client has to cover all expenses.
Sometimes I'll do it for a friend and only take 20% but unless it's a high ticket items, it's not worth it. It takes time to research and then do the actual listings unless it's books or similar items that can be easily listed using a template.
Congrats, Claycat, on your eBay sale! I'm sorry I did not look at it, everything was happening very quickly with my SO's cancer diagnosis and surgery. I'm just getting back to my home and catching up.
My sympathy on your dog. It's always heart wrenching to say good bye to a beloved pet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks, nellieb! My sweet doggie is running free now.
I hope your boyfriend heals quickly. I've spent a lot of time taking my MIL to the oncologist and other appts. I know how hard it is. I know it is scary for you and him. Blessings!
I've got 5 items now on eBay. Only one has a bid so far. Another has a watcher. I just need to concentrate on getting more and more stuff on there. It is so time consuming to take the photo, get the right packing materials, write the description, etc.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks, all -
I'll do more research and then I think it will be good to formalize the deal with her, even if she is a neighbor (or maybe especially). She is VERY flighty - she offered that we could "Split" it when I talked to her and I didn't say anything. Figured I'd verify before I made any kind of proposal. If others are taking 50% of the profit, I'd sure enjoy that! It's going to be a lot of effort b/c of the situation (more below on that).
Oh, she has whole wardrobe boxes of Chanel suits and other incredible designers (some purchased in Europe, all the rest in exclusive boutiques in NY) that were over $10K when purchased, gowns and shoes that are more. Her family was very high profile - they donated and built a cancer ward here in Baltimore at one of the top hospitals. But, her husband left her for his high-school sweetheart two years and ago and sort of cast her off. She has no one and no where to go - and thus, no need for this former life. It's very sad.
I am actually afraid that she'll not take care of them and they will be ruined, which is why I offered to evaluate them and possibly sell them. I thought I'd also look into vintage stores in the area, as that might be easier. She has the shoes in a box her garage right now, gasp!
The only issue is that she has a sister (much was her mother's clothes - the vintage variety) and we'll have to see what she says about it. I always love when siblings come out to claim things they don't want simply because they want the money - when, in fact, she'll never do anything with them either!
I'll dig into it more and let you know how it goes, especially the discussion boards, @thebubbreport, I never even knew to use those. And, I did notice that there were other keywords that were used if it wasn't vintage to make the auctions sound even more desirable. Honestly, if she does agree, I'll be very excited to do it. Selling my small stuff seems like a lot of effort for little money. Selling these items that may go for a lot of money but basically require the same effort seem like a MUCH better use of my time!
@Claycat, hope your coping with the empty dog areas (crates and beds and toys) - those always bother me the most after they are gone. @nellieb, sending positive thoughts your way too!
Will keep y'all updated -
P.S. On the flip side, for a terrible experience, I bought some boots for myself on eBay and got a deadbeat auctioneer. Never sent them. Big bummer. It's been a week since I paid and no word so I guess it's time to start the formal eBay process to file a complaint and then get my money back from PayPal. :o(
Posted 1 year ago #
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