Shipping Services

For most items, the U.S. post office will offer the lowest cost and often most convenient shipping services.

If you have very large, heavy, and/or odd-shaped items, it is advisable to check the services of other transit companies like UPS, FedEx, DLS and any regional services you can find. Make sure to verify the measurements, weight as packaged to ship, and if it is odd sized. There can be substantial surcharges if the item is a nonstandard shape or oversize. There are even surcharges for large items that do not meet a minimum weight. Try not to estimate the packaged weight. Underestimating can cause substantial differences in the shipping charged and the actual cost. You do not need to package it. Just weigh the item, and packaging material required, and add them together. Make sure the box is the correct size and sturdy enough for the weight and fragility of the item you are shipping. Consider if double boxing is required and what type of protection will be required to prevent damage from crushing or moving around in the box. Bubble wrap, peanuts, and air pillows reduce shipping costs but you usually need to purchase them. Sometimes it is a cost savings to use newspaper, tissue, or other supplies on hand and pay higher shipping fees rather than purchasing the materials.

For items you do not want to attempt shipping, then you can offer them for local pick-up only. Post them to other boards like craigslist.com. Yet, even if you have them listed on Craig’s list, you can still list the same item on eBay. Just make sure and note in the listing the item is for sale elsewhere and subject to possible sell before the item ends. If you do sell the item using a forum other than eBay, make sure and end your item on eBay. You do not want to sell something you no longer own. When using local pick-up only, I usually list the item in my store only. Due to the limited buyers within driving distance it usually does not justify the cost of sending it to auction
You can sell cars, machinery and other high-priced, large items on auction and offer pick-up only. It is advisable to use auction listings for items that the buyer is willing to drive a greater distance or pay a third party to arrange shipping. If you are selling your basketball hoop or dog kennel, then you might want to list it in your store inventory with local pick-up only. See paragraph above.

eBay Holiday Shopping

At the beginning of December go to the post office website, usps.com, to verify the last day shipments can be mailed to reach customers by the 25th using First Class, Parcel Post and Priority Shipping options for domestic shipping.

Make sure your items that weight more than 13 ozs., and cannot be sent by First Class Mail, end prior to the deadline for parcel shipping. Do the same for the First Class Mail deadline and in the last week of shopping make sure everything in your store ends in time to ship it by the Priority deadline.

You may want to hide your store inventory if you do not make changes to all your inventory shipping options. You can hide your inventory items, and keep your auctions active, by setting your store to vacation mode. This is found in the Managing Your Store section.

Physical Inventory

You want to store your physical inventory so that it is accessible for shipping and protected from damage. As your sales increase, so will the time you need to spend shipping. You want to manage this time since new listings are the way to generate additional sales - not searching for a lost item. Plus, if you cannot find an item you sold, or it is now damaged, you will need to refund the buyer and risk negative feedback and/or low star ratings. When you start out, you may just need to set aside a shelf in a closet or garage for your items. As your inventory grows additional organization will save you time.

Consider using clear storage bins. You can stack the bins or line them up on a shelf. This helps protect your inventory from dust, moisture and damage. It also helps to organize items by type for faster retrieval.

Label the outside of the bin with the category of the item.
Since my categories tend to increase and decrease in storage requirements I tape a post-it to the outside that can easily be replaced/updated.

Put individual items in clear storage bags (ziploc style) inside the bin.
This may seem reduntant. However, when you are looking through the bin for a specific item it helps protect the other items. For instance, you do not want to snag clothes or get items dirty. Using clear storage bags makes it easier and faster to sort through the bin.

Taxes

Talk to your tax adivsor/financial consultant regarding taxes - hobby or business, possible tax deductions, income, and sales tax guidelines for your state.

Dress Measurements

When listing a dress include the following measurements:
Length: from shoulder seam to hemline. If the hem is varied provide a range.
Bust: measure across from under the armpit seams and double. Do not stretch.
Waist: usually the smallest width area between the bust and hips
Hips: usually at the end of the zipper. Measure seam to seam and double
Sleeve Inseam: measure the inside seam to the sleeve hemline.

If it has a tapered hemline then include the width at the hemline.
If is a tank dress include the width of the strap

Brand Awareness

You want to increase your brand awareness and traffic to your store. Brand awareness helps develop confidence in your buyers.

Design a logo - you can pay someone to design one or even use software you may have on your computer that offers painting, font design, etc.

Take advantage of social networking sites like myspace and facebook
Set up a page for your store and include eBay widgets. eBay makes this easy with a few clicks and then copy and past the code they provide. Examples are on this blog. Have your friends become fans or friends of the site. Include a link to your store and a picture of your logo.


Use the logo everywhere you can on eBay: your store headliner, invoices, automated emails. You can do this through preferences and the Manage Your Store area on eBay. Also use on social network pages, tissue logos, packing slips, and return address labels or shipping labels.

PACKAGING

When your package arrives your buyers have their first impression. Then they will likely post feedback. You want that first impression to be positive.

Wrap your items in tissue paper
Pack your items to arrive safely. Ship fragile items in a box.
Use bubble, air pillows, packing peanuts and double-boxing as needed.
Print your labels online using labels or white paper

Consider logo stickers to seal the tissue paper and increase brand awareness
Include a packing slip of the order
Consider inserting a coupon to increase repeat buyers

Support other eBay sellers. Purchase your packaging materials, tissue, and logo stickers on eBay.