Set Buyers Expectations for Christmas Delivery Times

The Post Office and other delivery companies are still up and running at their normal pace.  Between now and Christmas they will gradually and then abruptly slow down.  It is very important for you as an eBay Seller to set your customers expectations accordingly.

It may seem obvious that customers should place their Christmas Presents orders early enough for delivery by Christmas.  Sometimes this is the case and when it is not you can end up with some angry customers opening up eBay and Paypal Disputes.  These disputes tie up your money and can result in additional restrictions placed on your account by both eBay and Paypal.  Not to mention the potential negative feedback you may receive from these customers.

The best thing you can do is be proactive at this time of year. 

1. Place accurate handling times on each listing.  If you are not able to ship the product for 5 days then make sure your handleing time does not say 1 day.

2.  Add the faster shipping options to your listings.  Sending a package by 1st Class Mail should be fine at the beginning of December and way too risky on December 20th.  Make sure to offer Priority Mail or Overnight as an option.  As it gets closer to Christmas you may want to delete the 1st Class Mail and other simularly slow methods all together.

3.  Ship out each order as soon as possible.  Definitely with in 24 hours after December 10th. 

4.  Add the Post Office or UPS Delivery Times Schedule to each of your listings.  These schedules are already up in your local Post Office.

5.  Finally make mention to your customers that you can not guarantee the shipping times the Post Office quotes because extremely bad weather can slow them down even more than expected.  Ask your customers to allow a few extra days for delivery and to place their orders accordingly.

Welcome To The Official Start of the eBay Holiday Season!

Today is Black Friday and Everyone Knows it is Time to Begin the Christmas Shopping Season!   Today the Malls are Packed with Bargain Hunters.  The eBay Stores are also packed with Online Shoppers and this is the busiest time of the year for eBay Sales.

You may want to add a Christmas, Hanukkah or Seasonal Theme to your listings.  Anything that puts potential buyers into the shopping spirit will work.  Adding a Wreath, a Christmas Tree or even using Red and Green Writing will work.  You can also use specialty templates if you want to go all out.

Consider offering some free temptations in your listings, everyone is looking to get a good deal or something for free these days.  You may consider offering free shipping or a free shipping upgrade.  I used to buy unbreakable Christmas Ornaments in Bulk and place one inside each package I mailed.  Free batteries are a nice option for any toys or gifts that need them.  Offering a Free Cookbook along with Cookware is also a nice thought.

You may want to offer to Gift Wrap and/or a Card for each purchase.  You can add this in for free or for a small charge.  Just use your creativity and thoughtfulness.

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Grouping Products Together For Higher Profit and Time Savings

Consider grouping together simular or like items on a listings.  Doing this can accomplish a several good things.  Selling several products in one listing saves time. 

1.  You only need to place one listing instead of 2, 3 or 4. 
2.  Shipping is all sent to one place to save time and money on postage. 
3.  Any customer service that may arise is involving only one customer. 
4.  The combination of all of the items together is more eye catching and attractive to buyers who also want to save time.  Especially if they are looking to purchase a gift.
5.  The actual selling price may be higher with the combination of items than if they were each sold separately.

Some examples of what I am talking about is a Gift Basket.  You could but together high quality bath towels, scented soaps and bath gel.

A game consule, a game, batteries and a book on being a gaming expert.

Selling women's shoes can be combined with a matching evening bag and a perfume sample.

The ideas are really endless.  Feel free to send us some of your suggestions.  Have a great weekend!

Get Ready For Black Friday on eBay

Black Friday isn't just for the Malls and Department Stores anymore.  eBay shoppers are ready to buy from you as well as go out in person.  In fact every year more and more Holiday Shoppers choose to go online rather than stand in line.

This means you should start a lot of 7 day listings beginning tomorrow, Friday November 18th.  Try to start early and scatter your listings throughout the day.  You can start your listings after Friday as long as you shorten the number of days to have your listings end on Friday. 

You may want to consider adding some of the options eBay offers you like a Bold Listing Title or selecting the Gift Wrap Option.  You could also add a Christmas Theme on your listings Template or even just use Red and Green colors for your text.  Make sure you are available to answer your customers questions.  Potential buyers tend to be impatient on this day and may want an answer is just a few minutes.

Make sure you also take advantage of the Holiday Sales for yourself.  With all of the sales and specials around you can get inventory to sell at much less expensive rates.  Black Friday is a day to make sure you get up early.   Maybe even get a start the night before.  Good Luck!

Some Ideas About What To Sell On eBay

An important tip to consider in deciding what products to sell, think about how easily the product is to ship.  The shipping cost raises with weight and dimensions on the package.
Also keep in mind how much time and packing supplies will be required.  So basically ceramic decorations need to be at a high enough value to be worth your time.  Selling Books, C.D.’s and Stuffed Animals are a breeze.

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A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words, On eBay Pictures Are Worth Thousands of Dollars

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words, On eBay Pictures Are Worth Thousands of Dollars!

When potential buyers do a search on eBay they may be given several pages of listings to look at.  This large quantity can be overwhelming for them.  Usually buyers scroll down the pages and quickly look at the pictures and only stop when something catches their eye.  Those are the listings they will look at.

This may seem like an obvious fact but if a listing does not get looked at then the listing will not sell.  Even if it a better quality product, from a more experienced seller and is less expensive than the competition.

Some simple photography strategies will make a big difference.  The main picture submitted should be a close up of the product and fill out most of the picture frame.  Your product will be easier to see and more appealing from the listings pages.  Color photos are a must.  For most listings professional grade photogrraphy is warranted.  That doesn't mean you have to hire someone, just make sure your photos are high quality.

Once a potentail ebay Buyer has clicked on to your listing, showing them a few more pictures is usually a good idea.  Items like Art Work, Clothing, Furniture and Guitars are enhanced with several pictures.  Items like a stapler or a car battery can do fine with only one.

How To Get A Higher Feedback Score on eBay

Whenever possible make your purchases on eBay.  I try to even make small purchases like Hand Lotion or Tape from an eBay Seller.  Each purchase you make can add 1 more positive Feedback Rating to your Score.   These can really add up, especially if you make 10 or more purchases a month.

The Feedback Percentage Score is almost as important as the number.  Getting as close to 100% as possible is the goal.  Focusing of great customer service, accurate and detailed listing descriptions and photos and fast shipping are what makes a Happy eBay Customer.  Do all these and answer your emails quickly.  The positive feedbacks are sure to follow.

By offering free shipping you automatically are given a five star rating in the shiping category.  Leaving positive feedback for customers 1st is a good way to remind them.  You can also send each eBay Customer a follow up email about a week after their purchase is delivered.  Ask them if they are satisfied with their purchase and to please leave positive feedback for you.

How Many Days Should eBay Auctions Last?

When setting up a new eBay Listing you get to choose the Auction Listing Length.  The most common length is for 7 days.   You have the options of 1 Day, 3 Days, 5 Days, 7 Days and 10 Days Listings.  The cost for the 1st 4 Options is the same and .10 additional for a 10 day Listing.
A reason to choose a 10 day listing may be for Items that are Slow Sellers.  The extra days give your listing time to attract Buyer Attention.  If the Listing is more expensive and has a higher listing fee, then this is also a more economical choice.

As the Holidays approach us you may want to choose shorter length listings to meet certain deadlines.  If you are listing Housewares,  Cookware, Thanksgiving Themed Tables Cloths and so on, delivery dates prior to Thanksiving are necessary.  You can still list these items on the Thursday before Thanksgiving and have them delivered in time.  Just choose a 1 day listing or a 3 day listing with express shipping.

This is especially important when counting down the Days until Christmas.  No one wants a Christmas gift that is delivered late or even cutting it too close for comfort such as a December 24th Delivery.  With the Postal System getting busier and busier as Christmas approaches, it is best to allow a few extra cushion days for delivery!  During the Holidays eBay usually offers temporary specials on listing fees for shorter auction times.

A 1, 3 or 5 day listing is also a good option for listings you want to sell fast and usually get buyer attention right after being listed.   Also good for temporarily reduced prices.

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How to Avoid Non Paying eBayer Buyers

It is a great feeling when you make a sale.  Even if you sell 20 or more listings per day on eBay.  It would be an even better feeling if all of your Buyers Paid For The Purchase when they were supposed to.  As soon as a sale is made, eBay sends the buyer an automatic notice that they won the listing and how to pay for it.

After a sale is made I also send the buyer an invoice.  On the invoice I give them the shipping options if any,  thank them for their purchase and let them know that payment id due within 2 business days.  If payment is not received after 2 days I sent them a 2nd invoice.  A third invoice is sent to them 3 days later with a friendly note saying their payment is now overdue and I ask them if they still want this product.

If payment is not received and especially if the buyer has not even responded to you, then you can open up an unpaid case with eBay.  The buyer then has one week to make payment or eBay will give them an unpaid strike on their eBay account.  If a buyer receives enough strikes their eBay account may be closed down.  Many eBay sellers mark their buyer acceptance options to not allow anyone who has more than 2 unpaid strikes within the past six months.  This is protection for the seller and another incentive for the buyer to pay.

eBay allow you to open up unpaid cases individually.  An easier method is to opt in for the unpaid assistant option.  eBay will automatically take care of the process for you.  Once you have choosen to have the unpaid assistant work on your behalf, you can also add buyers who do not pay to your Block Buyers List.  This prevents the same buyer from causing you this same problem again.  You can add anyone to your Block Buyers List you want, including very difficult buyers and people who have left you negative feedback.

As an ebay Seller you have a few options here.  If a buyer sends you an email asking you to cancel the purchase, you may choose to honor their request and check that both the buyer and seller mutually agreed to cancel the purchase.  The buyer does not get an unpaid strike and you still receive your listing fee credit back.  You can do this whenever you feel it is warranted.  However, if you really want the buyer to go through with the sale, then you will probably choose the unpaid case route.