| PRICING ITEMS:How much profit you want to make is | | | | tracking as delivery confirmation. There is standard |
| entirely up to you. Depending on what you sell, if your | | | | confirmation and signature confirmation. You should |
| products are priced too low you'll be working for | | | | use signature confirmation for shipping expensive |
| peanuts, price it too high and you won't be selling | | | | purchases and standard for the others. Insured |
| any.You need to factor in all the individual line item | | | | shipments over $50.00 require a signature anyway so |
| costs before you set your retail price. eBay takes a | | | | signature confirmation may be redundant. When you |
| percentage of the final sale price (final value fee). If | | | | do ship with confirmation or insurance the counter |
| you use Paypal to accept payments electronically | | | | person will give you a green receipt for confirmation |
| they'll take a percentage as well, plus a small | | | | and a blue receipt for insurance. On each is a section |
| transaction fee. eBay does not include shipping costs | | | | to write the name of the buyer.APC MACHINES:In the |
| when they calculate their final value fee while Paypal | | | | lobby of certain post offices is an automatic postal |
| does.Other eBay fees include auction, buy it now, store | | | | machine. These can speed up shipping significantly. |
| inventory and those for additional pictures as well as | | | | The machine is easy to use and walks you through |
| any optional listing features.However, you can save on | | | | the shipping process. However the system and the |
| the eBay insertion fees by pricing items just at or | | | | current version of the software have a few |
| under the break range. For instance, if you want to sell | | | | drawbacks. Sometimes the package drum is full. Make |
| an item for $50.00 then price it at $49.99 (instead of | | | | sure you can open the drum before you start shipping. |
| $50.00) and you'll save 50% on the insertion fee. (eBay | | | | Don't ship any fragile items or they could get damaged |
| Basic Fees)You must also consider the cost of your | | | | when other packages are inserted on top of them.The |
| shipping material. At the Laundry Bag Store Online we | | | | machine is capable of confirmation or insurance but |
| know the exact weight of each item down to the | | | | not both. You can ship a flat rate envelope but not a |
| printed invoice. By knowing the exact weight of each | | | | flat rate box. You can't ship to an APO.It can print two |
| item including the shipping material, you can tell if a | | | | sizes of labels, a large and a small. If you plan on using |
| buyer is being truthful if they claim that an item was | | | | the large label make sure you leave enough room on |
| not included with their order since the shipping weight is | | | | your package for it. Use this label if you plan on adding |
| printed on the postal receipt.Some sellers set up their | | | | insurance or confirmation.Since you have to type in the |
| listing to use the shipping calculators while others use | | | | destination zip code make sure you double check it |
| the flat rate option. It may boil down to a matter of | | | | before printing the label.You can pay with a debit or |
| choice, but on some items one be better to use than | | | | credit card but not cash. When you use a debit card it |
| the other and sometimes the calculator is unavailable | | | | requires you to make separate payments for each |
| which can result in a lost sale. Stores with a large | | | | package, thus separate receipts. Credit card |
| volume of products should use the calculator.Keep in | | | | transactions are printed on one receipt. When you add |
| mind that savvy buyers know if they are being | | | | confirmation to a package the tracking number is |
| overcharged for shipping. Don't risk losing a repeat | | | | printed on the receipt as well as destination zip |
| customer by overcharging for shipping. A small handling | | | | code.eBay TOOLS:Thee are many free and fee |
| charge is an acceptable industry | | | | based seller tools available from eBay. Some of the |
| standard.GUARANTEE:Just what is your guarantee? | | | | more common ones include Selling Manager, Turbo |
| Your guarantee and any store policies should be clear | | | | Lister, Andale Counters, Picture Manager and Sales |
| and well defined. Wishy-washy policies are sure to | | | | Reports Plus.However, another great tool is Omniture's |
| confuse your buyers. Work with your buyers. Consider | | | | Site Catalyst. It provides detailed reports on your site's |
| bending the rules for a valued customer or a large | | | | traffic. Some of the stats include: the most often |
| order if it will mean future business.FEEDBACK:Open | | | | viewed pages and listing, the web sites and search |
| any business and you automatically have a reputation. | | | | term keywords that generated the most visitors and |
| It is within your power to create a good reputation or a | | | | the path reports will show you exactly how they |
| bad one. For eBay sellers and buyers your feedback | | | | navigated to and through your store.PROMOTING |
| page is your reputation and is one of the most widely | | | | YOUR STORE:There are several things you can do |
| viewed pages.Trying to keep a 100% positive | | | | to promote your site. However, your site must be |
| feedback is the ultimate goal. However, there are | | | | pleasing in design. You store listings should be |
| some things that may be beyond your control, for | | | | consistent. Choose the same font size, and colors for |
| instance, a buyer may have had a bad day and | | | | each listing. Avoid the cute graphics and the rainbow |
| decided to take their frustration out on you.Still certain | | | | text. This is one of the benefits of using Turbo |
| buyers may have their email accounts set up to block | | | | Lister.Utilize your storefront's real estate to offer sale |
| spam, AOL and hotmail accounts are notorious for this. | | | | items, special offers, your guarantee, and even shipping |
| Avoid including any links, pictures, attachments and/or | | | | information. Put items in both auctions and buy it now. |
| HTML code in any emails sent to these accounts.If | | | | Use the subtitle to mention your store or key features |
| you need to contact a buyer with an AOL or hotmail | | | | about your product. Add a link in your listings to your |
| email address, first send a basic text only email to let | | | | store or other products. By reviewing the stats |
| them know you are contacting them and then follow it | | | | recorded by Omniture's Site Catalyst, you'll know |
| up with an email that contains HTML.Lapse a store | | | | exactly which items and pages are generating |
| policy if it could mean the difference between getting | | | | results.That being said, getting a steady flow of visitors |
| positive feedback and negative feedback.If an item is | | | | to your store is really the hard part. If you sell a hot |
| out of stock, email the buyer as soon as possible. | | | | item you'll get plenty of traffic but also have fierce |
| Include an estimated shipping date.SHIPPING:Some | | | | competition and if you sell a niche market item you'll |
| sellers use UPS while others use the USPS. The | | | | have to go out and get your traffic.You may have |
| Laundry Bag Store Online uses the USPS so these | | | | read our guide on RSS FEEDS (available on our eBay |
| tips are based on shipping with the USPS. Some of | | | | about me page), if not, you should check it out. RSS |
| the information you may already be aware of.The | | | | feeds provide an easy way of getting your products |
| USPS offers several types of free shipping boxes, | | | | listed throughout the Internet.Another way of getting |
| mailers and envelopes. However, some of these can | | | | traffic is to list your store in ListMyStore. It is free to |
| add extra weight and thus add extra cost to your | | | | join and is exclusively for eBay stores. A sponsored |
| shipping. Aside from using postal rate calculators you | | | | listing is very inexpensive.A link is available at the top of |
| can print or ask your local post office for Notice 123, | | | | the Laundry Bag Store Online Home Page and also in |
| rate fold. The notice includes all the current postal | | | | our About Me page.Advertising your site with Google |
| rates. You will also need a postal zone chart.13.1 oz. is | | | | AdWords and Yahoo Sponsored Search are two |
| where First Class postal rates ends and Priority Mail or | | | | possibilities.A link directory is certainly a popular way of |
| Parcel Post rates begin up to 70 lbs. The cost of | | | | generating traffic but usually requires a reciprocal link |
| shipping most items Priority Mail vs. Parcel Post is small | | | | so your options may be limited. However, search with |
| and can be the difference between getting positive | | | | Google or Yahoo for a free links directory.Be sure to |
| feedback or negative feedback, a satisfied customer | | | | test your link before you submit it and write your |
| or a dissatisfied customer.Depending on the weight | | | | stores description ahead of time. Link directories allow |
| and size, some items may be best shipped via Parcel | | | | only a certain number of characters in the description |
| Post instead of Priority Mail. The saving amount | | | | so make sure you get your best pitch up front.If you |
| between Priority Mail and Parcel Post increases | | | | have a non-eBay site like we do you can use that to |
| significantly as the weight increases and you can pass | | | | drive traffic to your store. Did you know that eBay will |
| this saving on to your buyer.Shipping Parcel Post takes | | | | give you a store referral credit off the final value fee if |
| a few days longer so make sure your buyer is willing | | | | someone buys your item through a link outside of |
| to accept the delay. However, keep in mind that there | | | | eBay? Search on "store referral credit" in eBay help |
| are specific guidelines when shipping packages via | | | | for more information on how to set this up.Join some |
| Parcel Post. Notice 123 and the USPS web site lists all | | | | forums outside of eBay. You won't be able to spam |
| the required criteria.Another shipping option offered by | | | | your store but you can set up your signature with your |
| the USPS is Priority Mail Flat Rate. You can ship to | | | | store's link.Create landing pages. There are tons of |
| any US destination regardless of weight for a specific | | | | free web hosts that you can use. If you don't know |
| cost. The post office offers free flat rate boxes in | | | | HTML you can use one of the free web host's |
| two sizes as well as a flat rate envelope.If you buy | | | | templates. It would be advantageous to learn both |
| your own shipping boxes the size of the box may | | | | basic HTML and then Search Engine Optimization |
| exceed the USPS shipping limits and you may have to | | | | (SEO) in that order. Pick up a book on both at the local |
| pay additional shipping. The combined length and girth | | | | library.The areas you should know something about |
| of a piece (the length of its longest side plus the | | | | are the HTML Meta tags for title, description and |
| distance around its thickest part) may not exceed 108 | | | | search terms (keywords). If you can learn how to |
| inches.However, to be safe in most cases the | | | | code HTML tables and the anchor and image tags |
| combined length and girth should not exceed 84 inches. | | | | you'll be able to modify your store's home page and |
| The formula is simple. It is 2x the height + 2x the width | | | | listings at will.If you sell different products you could |
| + the length. For example, a box measuring 24" L x 12" | | | | make a landing page for each and even add a link |
| H x 16" W is 80 inches. (24H+32W+24L)Self adhesive | | | | exchange directory.Press releases are great way to |
| poly bags come in various sizes and are extremely | | | | promote your Store. However, it can't be an |
| durable. These may provide an inexpensive way of | | | | advertisement but should be a newsworthy story. The |
| shipping certain items and may even save your some | | | | Laundry Bag Store Online sends out press releases on |
| money on shipping if you are including it in the sale | | | | an ongoing basis and these show up in the Search |
| price.If you print your own shipping labels on an ink jet | | | | Engines rather quickly as well in RSS feeds.If you have |
| printer, tape over the entire label covering the ship to | | | | a verified PayPal account list your store in PayPal |
| and return address. The ink will run if it comes in | | | | shops and then submit an application to have your |
| contact with any water making the label | | | | store considered for a PayPal "featured shop".Driving |
| illegible.INSURANCE AND CONFIRMATION:Depending | | | | traffic to your store is an ongoing effort. Use the |
| on the retail cost of your products, insuring shipments is | | | | Omniture traffic stats to monitor exactly where traffic |
| always a wise choice. If you ship via UPS then your | | | | is coming from. Experiment with different ads, offers |
| packages up to $100 in value are insured for free. | | | | and descriptions to increase sales.As you can see |
| USPS insurance is extra. For USPS online and APC | | | | there are many aspects of operating an online store. If |
| you can insure packages up to $500, over $500 | | | | you do your homework you'll have success. |
| requires a trip to the post office.The USPS refers to | | | | |