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