Hi. I am relatively new to auctiva and have a question regarding insurance and USPS. My customer bought insurance and I use the auctiva. My issue is that I don't print out labels from home to mail packages. I take my things to the post office and mail from there to save a little money. How would the insurance work in that situation? I don't purchase from USPS at all right. Just send package as usual and if a problem arises I go to auctiva with it? I'm confused on this. Can some help?

Nope, don't do a thing at USPS besides buy your postage there, and send out the package. If you need to file a claim, you can get all the required forms here.

Do you use Auctiva Checkout? If so, then the insurance has been bought automatically when your customer paid for it.

Yes biscuit, I do use the auctiva checkout. I saw that it had been purchased for me when the buyer wanted it. Thanks for reassuring me that was the right way to do it. I appreciate it.

quote:

My issue is that I don't print out labels from home to mail packages. I take my things to the post office and mail from there to save a little money.

You go to the Post Office to save money?
Honey...your time is money. Let me introduce you to the FREE internet postage service through PAY PAL...just click on the link under TOOLS, on the left column at your PayPal "My Account" overview page, to launch PayPal MultiOrder Shipping. And BOOKMARK this link, as you may use it daily.

I only see the clerks in the post office when I have to ship international services.

I sell on other internet venues besides eBay, and still use the PayPal MultiOrder shipping program, to create orders, from sales OFF eBay, and purchase and print postage labels from my own computer, at no extra charge. The postage is debited from your PayPal account, or your linked bank account. The only extra I pay for is to purchase the shipping labels, to print ON.
Some folks just print on paper, and tape the labels to the package. Which is a personal preference. I prefer NOT to have to tangle with a tape gun more than neccesary. You can buy these PayPal shipping labels on eBay (Imagine that?) which work with any regular Ink Jet or Laser printer, which you may already have at your eBay computer work-station. (They can also be purchased at your local office supply store. (AVERY label #8126)

And every time you don't have to drive to the post office, please send me warm, and thankful, positive thoughts.

Many blessings to you as you discover the many wonderful tools, to make your life easier.
Your friend and fellow Auctiva member.

eBay seller: LDCdesigns

Wow thanks for that info! Don't know how I could have missed that. I'm just really getting started selling so I don't know all the ins and outs yet. I'll probably be lucky to make a few sales a day...lol. I appreciate you letting me know about that. What other venues do you sell at? I was considering doing that too but didn't know if I would get the product exposure that we all seem to get with ebay??

Well, since I am primarily dealing in pre-owned books presently, I also sell through Half.com, Alibris.com, and their partners, including Barnes & Noble Bookquest.

A cool feature on the PayPal MultiOrder shipping, is that you can set it to automatically import your paid eBay sales, every time you launch the program. All you have to do is enter in the proper weight for the package, and the appropriate postal service.

The drawback is, that it cannot be used for International shipping. While most of the PAID postage services offer this service. Like you, I save money where I can, and choose to go the Post Office for those rare international packages, rather than pay a monthly subscription fee for an online postage provider.

I haven't been selling very long either. But I discovered this wonderful little tool, after my first few sales through Half.com.

What are you selling?

LDCdesigns

I see. When I first started selling it was just excess stuff I had around my home. I've decided to sell homemade soaps. Will have it set up really soon, just trying to get enough product ahead. I'm concerned about all the new rule changes at ebay though. Sounds as though things won't go too well for the little seller which of course I would be.

quote:

I'm concerned about all the new rule changes at ebay though. Sounds as though things won't go too well for the little seller which of course I would be.

I would not be too concerned if I were you. As the changes will lower the cost of upfront selling. Sure you will pay a little more in final value fees, when items do sell, but you will be speding less, to list your product.

And all you need to concentrate on is providing a desirable product, coupled with impeccable customer service, and you have a prayer at success. Aim to focus on postive feedback, and DSR's, and you have as good a chance as anyone. You would have to sell a lot of soap to obtain PowerSeller status, and achieve the discounted final value fees, but it is a worthwhile goal, and take it one step at a time.

Good luck to you.

Hi there! One other thing that was not mentioned...in addition to printing and processing your postage online through PayPal (no extra cost) you can have USPS pick up your packages from your home FREE. You just order Carrier Pickup either through the PayPal shipping process or you can also go directly to USPS.com and order the pickup there. This must be done by midnight for next day pickup. The only rule is that you must have at least one Priority or Express Mail package going out. If you have that one, they will also pick up any Parcel Post or First Class packages also. And you can also process International Priority online. The only International you cannot is First Class. When you process the International label, it automatically processes the customs form also. The only thing you will need to do is order the plastic sleeves that adhere to the top of the International package.
I RARELY have to go to the post office any more, it's wonderful!

When I launch my boutique sales, I expect I may actually have some Priority packages so that I can utilize scheduled carrier pick-up service. As it is now, most of my packages are Media Mail. I am not doing high volume sales, so I have an unofficial system with my mail carrier, that I put my outgoing parcels in my locked mailbox, with a post-it note identifying them as "Outgoing Mail" or on days when I fail to process them in time for his normal stop, I just drive them over to the Post Office, and they have a special drop bin, for parcels which are already prepared for mailing. I don't need to stand on line. I live very close to the main postal processing plant in my city, which is a bonus for my customers, as I often can provide same day service for sales, as I have the ability to drop packages up until 7:00p.m. MST. So, sometimes I process shipments twice a day, once for the morning pick-up, and again in the evening.

You cannot utilize PayPal MultiOrder shipping to process International Priority either, however, I have printed those directly from eBay. Most of my international shipments are Canadian, who are looking to use the First Class International service, which I must stand on line to process. This only occurs every couple weeks, so its not a real issue.

quote:

Originally posted by LDCdesigns:
When I launch my boutique sales, I expect I may actually have some Priority packages so that I can utilize scheduled carrier pick-up service. As it is now, most of my packages are Media Mail. I am not doing high volume sales, so I have an unofficial system with my mail carrier, that I put my outgoing parcels in my locked mailbox, with a post-it note identifying them as "Outgoing Mail" or on days when I fail to process them in time for his normal stop, I just drive them over to the Post Office, and they have a special drop bin, for parcels which are already prepared for mailing. I don't need to stand on line. I live very close to the main postal processing plant in my city, which is a bonus for my customers, as I often can provide same day service for sales, as I have the ability to drop packages up until 7:00p.m. MST. So, sometimes I process shipments twice a day, once for the morning pick-up, and again in the evening.

You cannot utilize PayPal MultiOrder shipping to process International Priority either, however, I have printed those directly from eBay. Most of my international shipments are Canadian, who are looking to use the First Class International service, which I must stand on line to process. This only occurs every couple weeks, so its not a real issue.

Hello LDC, looks like I found someone that uses PayPal MultiOrder shipping tool! lol I looked at it once or twice but never saw a need for it. Though that was when my business first started and it was slow. I guess I should revisit that tool, might make my life easier! However, just as side not, I see you can't process International Priority mail through PayPal MultiOrder Shipping, but you can process Priority International in PayPal if you access each sale individually. I do it all the time. France, Austrilia, Norway, Canada, Mexico etc....

...unless what you meant when you said, "..printed those directly from eBay", meant PayPal... lol

Anyway, thanks for reminding me about PayPal Multiorder! Going to check it out again.

quote:

Originally posted by JeanieB:
Hi there! One other thing that was not mentioned...in addition to printing and processing your postage online through PayPal (no extra cost) you can have USPS pick up your packages from your home FREE. You just order Carrier Pickup either through the PayPal shipping process or you can also go directly to USPS.com and order the pickup there. This must be done by midnight for next day pickup. The only rule is that you must have at least one Priority or Express Mail package going out. If you have that one, they will also pick up any Parcel Post or First Class packages also. And you can also process International Priority online. The only International you cannot is First Class. When you process the International label, it automatically processes the customs form also. The only thing you will need to do is order the plastic sleeves that adhere to the top of the International package.
I RARELY have to go to the post office any more, it's wonderful!

Hi JeanieB,

I was going to go that route when I first opened up for business, but then decided against it. I didn't want the extra traffic coming and going from my house so I went with opening up a UPS Store address box. Its pretty close to my house and I can drop off all UPS/USPS packages (international too) and pick up my mail at the same time. If I ever get big enough to lease some small shop with a backdoor, I'll go the route of having them come to me. lol

Oh, and to cg5_1958, you can order all these USPS supplies (and UPS for tha tmatter) for free online. It costs you nothing! You just need to take the time to generate an account online for your business. So really, going to the post office?? Can't see why.

Happy Selling!

quote:

..unless what you meant when you said, "..printed those directly from eBay", meant PayPal... lol

Yeppers...That is indeed what I meant. I go to my paid sales on eBay, and click the print label button, for Priority International.

I swear by the MultiOrder Shipping program. Even though I am not processing a large amount of sales, it is a boon even with four or five shipments at a time. You can also choose to print packing slips, as well as a pick list. Which I print, and actually use as a "hardcopy" to keep track of my daily postage costs. I just note next to each transaction, what the actual paid postage was.

And when I have sales come in over the weekend, I can still import, or input, for my off eBay sales, the shipping information, have everything prepared, and saved into the program. And then launch PayPal MultiOrder on Monday morning to actually PAY AND PRINT the labels, and affix them to the package.

My small scale book sales on eBay are helping me to learn the administrative processes, so that I can be more efficient when I start processing 50 orders a day. How's that for postive thinking? LOL

Thanks for sharing all this great info with me. This will certainly make life easier like you all say. Appreciate it!

Hi LCD, just wanted to let you know that I used the Paypal shipping this week on some packages and it was awesome! Thanks so much for telling me about it. Although I didn't have any priority packages so I could use the carrier pickup, it did save me from standing in a line to obtain the postage. Just dropped those babies off and I was on to other things! Thanks so much!

I'm so glad to hear that the program worked for you. You are very welcome. And thank you for the warm, positive thoughts.

On your comment about carrier pick-up, a little known fact about this service is...It is most often your NORMAL neighborhood mail carrier, who picks up those packages on his/her USUAL route. He just comes to the front door. Which is why you have to request this service, the night before. So, some folks may want to try to utilize my non-priority mail "work-arounds" and just listen for your mailman's delivery truck, at his approximate stop time, and run outside and hand him the packages, or if they are small outgoing packages, you can try my tactic, and just put them in your mailbox, with a neon post-it note which says OUTGOING MAIL in BOLD BLACK SHARPIE printing. My dedicated postal servant picks these parcels up out of my mailbox all the time, on his normal stop.

At this moment, I am sending warm, postive, grateful thoughts, to Bob, my Mailman. As in many ways, the workers at the USPS are our business partners. At least in my locale, they perform splendidly, most all the time. So, be nice to your mail carriers, and tell them they are appreciated. (They don't hear this every day.) And there is a good chance they may work with you, for your home-based business needs.

I have the locked box style mailbox. Obviously, this is not encouraged, if it isn't a locking mail box. (that is my legal disclaimer.)

LDC