New to ebay

[inspirationalessences1968]

Hi

I am new to ebay, I just don't know where to start, Do I get a store? How can I calculate postage? The free insertion fees if I have 16 products of the one product eg: 16 bags of items but they all have different meanings so they are different but the one product say as a eg: perfume, is that classed as 16 free insertion fees are taken or just 1? How can I calculate the insertion fees and paypal fees in to my product to make sure it's not out of my pocket?

How can I become a top seller do I need to sell lots of things and good feedback helps with this? Or do I have to pay a price to get a hit if people are searching for my products? Do I put in GST? I looked to see if I could do a course in ebay selling online, the only one I found is $4500 I can't pay that!!! Is there somewhere I can learn all of the stratigies needed to become a seller?

I have a ABN and really want to get it up and running but by golly it is mind boggling to find out all these things I would like to thank you for the any feedback up front.

Kind Regards

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@inpirationalessences wrote:

Why thank you I did not realise my spelling mistake you are totally correct,I think getting up at 3 am in the morning to work on my business before work has not been to good for concerntration. I will fix that up. Thankyou

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you are welcome.  However, you should go and change your ID as soon as possible as it is not inconceivable that some lurker on these boards may just go and start a new eBay account in the name inspirationalessences before you get a chance to change your ID.

[*tippy*toes*]

No one here is being horrible to you. Some just call a spade a shovel, but their advice is very sound. It depends on what you want to see as to how successful you will be. Avoid things like women's clothing or shoes, DVDs and phone cases. The market is saturatated. Also avoid cheap junky Chinese things, like chargers and small electronics. Basically you don't want to be competing with the Chinese, because buyers will buy from them every time as they are cheaper. You can't compete with the Chinese.

You want something you can buy cheap and sell for a lot. A lot of my items I make upwards of 1000% profit. Not always, but most of the time. I see people come here crying because eBay is taking all their profits in fees. They are making nothing or they are actually losing money. If the markup on an item you sell is so small, you need to change the items you sell. I don't take notice of fees because I'm still coming out way in front. 

I agree with the others not to open a store. You will be restricted to selling 10 items a month for quite awhile. That 10 items include sold items. To try and explain it, you list 10 pairs of scissors. 5 pairs of sissors sell in the first 2 weeks. You can't list any more items that month. At the start of next month, you can only list 5 new items, which brings your total back to 10. That month, you sell nothing, so next month you can't list any new stuff because you already have 10 listed. That month all 10 items sell. You can't list any more until the next month.

Paying 20 odd dollars for a store when you can only have 10 items is a complete waste of money. A basic store will give you 600 free listings, but with a listing limit of 10, you can't use them. Unless you are making $1,000 a month with your 10 items, paying for a store is a waste of money. I would hold out until your limit is increased to at least 100. Even then it's borderline whether it's worth it or not. I have been selling for years and have never had a store. I don't plan on having one any time soon. 

If you plan on selling via auction, unless your items are in the collectable category, you'll pay insertion fees, of $1.50 for each auction, regardless of how many store listings you have left. A store is not the be all and end all. It doesn't make you look any better or any more professional. It doesn't make someone buy from you rather than someone else.  There are some very successful sellers out there who have never had a store.

Take all your own photos of your items. Take them from lots of different angles. Describe it to death. As mentioned already, if there are any faults, even the tiniest scratch, make sure you mention it. Buyers will go over every square mm and if there is something there, they will find it. They will open a dispute, get a full refund and often get to keep the item. There are plenty of professional shoplifters who are very experienced at getting a refund and keeping the item.

Don't fear feedback. Don't let feedback rule your selling practices. Don't give into a buyer because you're worried about a red dot on a screen. Stand your ground. If a buyer does leave a red dot, depending on what it is, it can sometimes be removed. If it can't be removed, leave a professional reply, even if the buyer is being an idiot. If it is something you miss, like a tiny scratch, a reply of "I'm so sorry I missed the tiny scratch. Refunded in full". A reply like that, taking responsibility, won't turn buyers off. In fact, it will make them happy to buy from you because they know if there is a problem, you will fix it. You won't scream at them and abuse them like some sellers would.

The only other thing I would say is, hang around these forums. There is a lot of experience and providing you are willing to take advice on board, there are lots of people will to help. What these people don't know isn't worth knowing.

Good luck.

[jellybirddesigns]

Just to add to your earlier response - you can definitely make a profit on Ebay - you have to price your items at a level which you are happy with and which takes into account things like the fees etc.

In the old days I used to auction a lot of stuff, but this was before I started my Cushion Cover business. Now all my items are Buy it Now at a price point which accounts for my hard work, fabric, time and knowledge and allows me to make enough profit to keep a roof over my head.

Ebay is hard work, but there really are no other online venues which offer so much foot traffic and exposure.

Sure, you can do things like open your own website but you will still have to figure a lot of out yourself and you'll still pay for monthly hosting. Also, you'll have to pay to advertise on Google etc just to drive traffic to your website - it can end up costing heaps more than Ebay (I know because I tried it a few years ago and binned the idea after 12 months as it was costing a fortune in advertising for very little return).

At the end of the day - selling is hard work and whether you sell on Ebay, your own website or craft fairs, you will always have to pay someone for the privilege of doing so.

[inspirationalessences1968]

Thank you Thank you so much best advice I have received from this whole expedition. I am certainly going to take everything you have advised me to do. Your a wonderful mentor thanks I hope you have a wonderful day. God Bless Kind Regards

[inspirationalessences1968]

Thank you much appreciated kindness goes a long way thats my attitude be kind, as it sounds like yours. Thanks Kind Regards

[inspirationalessences1968]

Thank you I have changed my name, again thanks for picking that up I really appreciate your advice Kind Regards

[*tippy*toes*]

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@inpirationalessences wrote:

Thank you I have changed my name, again thanks for picking that up I really appreciate your advice Kind Regards

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Just so you don't panic, your name correction won't show up on the forums until you log out and log back in again. It's definitely changed.

[inspirationalessences1968]

Oh wow thank you this is such great advice. The feedback is awsome loving it .

[springyzone]

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@inspirationalessences1968 wrote:

Thank you Thank you so much best advice I have received from this whole expedition. I am certainly going to take everything you have advised me to do. Your a wonderful mentor thanks I hope you have a wonderful day. God Bless Kind Regards

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Thanks but I'm not an expert with recent knowledge like many others here are.

I think your best advice was the name change. Very basic but spelling mistakes don't look professional (so proof read your ads).

No matter how careful you are though, there will occasionally be times when some customers create havoc or kick up a fuss. Always keep your cool & be polite. Some problems will be an easy fix, some may not because contrary to the old saying, the customer isn't always right. Ebay will tend to side with them though. Don't let it get you down, build a little bit of margin in your prices to cover occasional losses. We got through a few eyars of selling without a neg but it was a close thing a couple of times & we hadn't done anything wrong. Don't let it get you too upset if you know you've done the right things.

[janeababe]

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@inspirationalessences1968 wrote:

All I asked for was a little bit of advice, not to be critisised and if you had read my post I was thanking everyone for there advice. I agree contructive critism is certainly to be utilised in a way to help. But by golly I did not expect your input to be so angry, I understand things are hard, I was just asking general advice. Why look at the one sentence I wrote that there seem to be critism in regards to my post and not the whole conversations of thank you and the compliments to the other sellers for all there wonderful input. Wow OMG!!!!! its not my fault ebay is going hay wire China is taking over and Australia Post is increasing it's prices. It was general comment and enquiry. I have never had a buisness before and had no idea that it was so nasty meaning the buyers trying to rip you off or the horrible feedback on ebay itself. I thank you very much and never meant to offend you in anyway but I think that was your intention of your post back to me. God bless you janbabe by the way if this is your response and your a nurse glad I don't work along side you in my workplace let alone be your patient.

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Holy-**bleep**-on-a-stick-with-pumpkin!  Back the bus up, barbie!

Geeze, triggered much??

Firstly, You are the one who mentioned critism. I changed it to constructive critism! A much more pleasant and better term to use, dont you think?
YES I did read the entire thread. I'm not one to read parts here and there!
The fact that you have had a meltdown over my little straight shooting from the hip post, goes to show you are easily upset (way to easy) so gawd help you if you got a serving off a customer!

When Tippy mentioned some of us call a spade a shovel, she was referring to me. But I generally call a spade a spade, because I refuse to sugar coat stuff for folk. It gets you no-where and it only works on kids anyway!  But I tell you what.... not once did I bad mouth you, I never made comment on what you intend to sell, or not sell... I didnt judge you by your ebay Id or the incorrect spelling of it,  nor did I question your proffessionalism at work! 


Well, let me tell you this much, If you were in my vicinity, and you needed my medical assistance, you would get my FULL attention, 100% no questions asked!  And the same goes for any person or animal because whether you believe it or not, I am one of the good ones!

As far as my work ethics go, I hold my head high in the knowledge that I am a damn fine nurse, and have held my own for 32yrs!

I've worked my way up the ladder to where I am now, and I pride myself on my honesty and integrity! 
My work ethics are high standard, I demand it of myself!

But  thank you for your judgement !!

Anyway, It looks like you got what you came here for......
............. one way or another!