Ok, everybody covers their ebay fees some way. Nobody is in this to lose money. Either your price is higher than it would have normally been, or you charge a handling fee. I have tried it both ways. I listed the same exact item for $0.99 with a $2 handling fee and for $2.99 with no handling fee. The $0.99 item sold. Nobody even looked at the $2.99 one. Same total price in the end. I have done this numerous times with the same result every time!
quote:Originally posted by JeffS:quote:Man, I wonder how I should spend all of that $1.15 overage. Dinner? Dancing? Diamonds? <smile> I'm joking.
Which is precisely why I said "I'm Silent" about making comments or "griping" about shipping fees.
Because, even though you're joking. You're not.
We'll agree to disagree..ok?
And Yes I was joking..I was trying to lighten the subject up as it appeared you were so staunchly opposed to any kind of shipping cost but exact.
Take care, Donna
quote:Originally posted by moodymama1024:
Ok, everybody covers their ebay fees some way. Nobody is in this to lose money. Either your price is higher than it would have normally been, or you charge a handling fee. I have tried it both ways. I listed the same exact item for $0.99 with a $2 handling fee and for $2.99 with no handling fee. The $0.99 item sold. Nobody even looked at the $2.99 one. Same total price in the end. I have done this numerous times with the same result every time!
Yep..I have too. My stuff with the lower price always sells better. And that's what I meant about the cell phone with the high shipping. The end price is the same when I do a closed auction search. <shrug>
Take care, Donna
If you pay for items with paypal you should also accept paypal which is only fair. Even if customer uses bidpay they can still chargeback thru their cc so its same risk as paypal. even if you accept paypal many customers will still give you money orders and checks which evens out the paypal fees in the long run.
I don't pay with items for Paypal, vanman. I'm not signed up with them at all. 
if a customer does a chargeback with bidpay--bidpay doesn't take your money or freeze your account. i pay for auctions with pay pal--but i will absolutely not accept payment with pay pal. i only pay for items with pay pal because some seller only allow pay pal--Hey, that is their requirement and if i want the item i have to agree and pay with pay pal. Mine is that I don't take pay pal payments.
My husband is still trying to fight pay pal on his issue. in addition to them freezing $1,000 in his pay pal account, they assessed him over $3400 in fees because he would not allow them to take money from his bank account and every time they tried and they couldn't they would charge him. even though he told them that account was closed. further, pay pal sent emails to sellers telling them that funds he paid to them were being held due to potential fraud--well that just created a series of more problems. sellers calling us thratening that we stole their merchandise and were fraud. all this because pay pal withdrew the funds paid to the sellers and froze them. to this day they have not released those funds--almost 2 years and my husband ended up having to either return items or pay for them a second time. Pay pal used very threatening and harming language when they stated to the seller's that the money had been put on hold "due to potential fraud" that just got these sellers up in a frenzy. Even now that I use pay pal to pay for items--it is always with a prepaid debit card--they did it to my husband and they won't do it to me!
I'm glad pay pal works for some--unfortunately, it didn't for him and I will gldadly take that as a lesson learned. I'd rather take my chances on loosing a sale than taking my chances with Pay Pal.
My husband is still trying to fight pay pal on his issue. in addition to them freezing $1,000 in his pay pal account, they assessed him over $3400 in fees because he would not allow them to take money from his bank account and every time they tried and they couldn't they would charge him. even though he told them that account was closed. further, pay pal sent emails to sellers telling them that funds he paid to them were being held due to potential fraud--well that just created a series of more problems. sellers calling us thratening that we stole their merchandise and were fraud. all this because pay pal withdrew the funds paid to the sellers and froze them. to this day they have not released those funds--almost 2 years and my husband ended up having to either return items or pay for them a second time. Pay pal used very threatening and harming language when they stated to the seller's that the money had been put on hold "due to potential fraud" that just got these sellers up in a frenzy. Even now that I use pay pal to pay for items--it is always with a prepaid debit card--they did it to my husband and they won't do it to me!
I'm glad pay pal works for some--unfortunately, it didn't for him and I will gldadly take that as a lesson learned. I'd rather take my chances on loosing a sale than taking my chances with Pay Pal.
by the way, my husband's bank zeroed out the overdraft pay pal caused but pay pal sent my husband to collections for the $3400 they assessed him in fees--we hired a lawyer to fight it and it is ongoing.
has anyone tried to deal with the inept individuals they have as customer service reps at pay pal? I swear they get these people from the same place they get postal workers (hee! hee! just a lighthearted joke, no offense meant to POSTAL WORKERS.) But seriously, they are idiots and not very helpful.
just do a search for pay pal on the web and you will get lik a 100 sites condeming the service. one in particular: paypalsucks.com
has anyone tried to deal with the inept individuals they have as customer service reps at pay pal? I swear they get these people from the same place they get postal workers (hee! hee! just a lighthearted joke, no offense meant to POSTAL WORKERS.) But seriously, they are idiots and not very helpful.
just do a search for pay pal on the web and you will get lik a 100 sites condeming the service. one in particular: paypalsucks.com
quote:Originally posted by swimordie:
Seeing as Ive been a buyer for 4 years or so and just selling for the past month and a half...I know all about paypal.
I try to only buy from someone with paypal. So much quicker and I can usually check my shipment online. Sometimes I go so quick through a listing I actually have to send MO. I did this on Oct 14 and still waiting for my item. Thats why I hate buying without paypal.
Selling...yes I hate the fees but I cover it with my shipping. And you can transfer it to your bank account easily enough. It takes a few days but its only a few buttons to push.
It also helps me manage my selling. I send everything with Deliv Conf and I leave them on there until they have arrived. Then I delete them and add a note on my ebay. It keeps me soo well organized.
My twenty cents
Liss
If you don't mind going to the bank, go in and do a 'cash advance' using your PayPal debit card. Then deposit it into your bank account. Besides, getting your money immediately, you will earn 1.5% cash back as well.
Hi! Would you go into more detail on your suggestion for "cash advance" using the Paypal card. Doesn't the bank charge you a fee or interest on the advance??? Thanks. Jean
quote:Originally posted by moodymama1024:
Ok, everybody covers their ebay fees some way. Nobody is in this to lose money. Either your price is higher than it would have normally been, or you charge a handling fee. I have tried it both ways. I listed the same exact item for $0.99 with a $2 handling fee and for $2.99 with no handling fee. The $0.99 item sold. Nobody even looked at the $2.99 one. Same total price in the end. I have done this numerous times with the same result every time!
I agree. Lower starting prices with higher shipping is best. As long as it isn't over the top. I've sold some things offering free shipping on items I know will ship for $3.85. My cost for the item, eBay fees and the $3.85 shipping come to about $6.00 to $7.00. So, I take a nice dress and offer it for $21.95 or so and make $14.95 on it. They see a low starting price paired with free shipping and it works. I do this with my average items. On my hip stuff I charge full shipping because I know it will sell. Experiment and try a few different things to see what works best for you.
quote:Originally posted by Jean:
Hi! Would you go into more detail on your suggestion for "cash advance" using the Paypal card. Doesn't the bank charge you a fee or interest on the advance??? Thanks. Jean
I bank at a couple of different banks and neither one charges a fee. Just go into your bank, hand them your PayPal debit card and ask for a cash advance. They'll have you fill out a slip, they'll go process it and then give you the money. While you wait, fill out your deposit slip or just have the bank clerk deposit it for you. Or take it and go on a wild and crazy shopping spree, lol. It's that simple. I hope this helps, give it a try.
quote:Originally posted by Magie Noire:quote:Originally posted by Jean:
Hi! Would you go into more detail on your suggestion for "cash advance" using the Paypal card. Doesn't the bank charge you a fee or interest on the advance??? Thanks. Jean
I bank at a couple of different banks and neither one charges a fee. Just go into your bank, hand them your PayPal debit card and ask for a cash advance. They'll have you fill out a slip, they'll go process it and then give you the money. While you wait, fill out your deposit slip or just have the bank clerk deposit it for you. Or take it and go on a wild and crazy shopping spree, lol. It's that simple. I hope this helps, give it a try.
Dude, way to beat the system. You are my new hero!
My paypal debit card is a wonderful, wonderful tool that I love soooo much. It enables me to keep my spending-vs-selling contained and not have it leak over into my credit cards and leave me wondering if I'm actually making money or not. If I can't pay for it with my PP card, I'm not making enough to buy that specific thing to resell, you know?
I also appreciate paypal for the power it gives to me, both as a buyer and seller. That little 'ship' button that pops up next to my payment info in paypal helps me get things out *immediately* to my buyers. As a buyer, I like that my purchases are protected.
As for fees and such being applied to auctions, here is my feeling - I am in central jersey, I could throw a stone and hit three post offices and three branches of my bank. I live in a safe area where I can leave my to-be-shipped boxes out for the mailman without concern. There are some sellers, however, who live in the boondocks, where banks and POs are not easily accessible - and it is for these that I would not find fault with nominal fees.
However.
Charging for generic packing materials is a bit too ambitious for yours truly. I mean, if you're sending something that legitimately *requires* special packaging, I certainly understand. But as for me, I use free boxes and package with extra sunday papers that I pick up late sunday evening from a nearby gas station - they throw out all the ones that don't sell, so I just come by before they physically throw them out and take them off their hands! If I'm mailing something I'm afraid the newsprint might smudge, or that may leak, I pop it in a ziplock bag. I print out my priority shipping labels right off the paypal/usps system, tape them on the box with clear tape, and get free tracking to boot!
A lot of sellers don't know about the free boxes because they hide the program pretty well, but for those of you uninitiated, here is the link: Free Boxes Right Here!! - They will send you, for *literally* absolutely free, priority mail/ebay branded boxes of various sizes, delivered right to your door. You are allowed to order one set of 25 of EACH size EVERY single day. They look very professional and they're FREE! Yay! The only thing I pay for is clear tape :-D
Happy selling everyone - my sincerest best wishes for all your sale margins this holiday season...hehehe!
-Fox
Skip the clear tape, and buy several thousand label sheets. Look for "UPS Labels". These are "two-up" on a 8.5x11 sheet, and are desifgned for the Paypal USPS/UPS labels. No clear tape. Print-peel-stick.
The labels are cheap. I got 3000 sheets (6000 labels) for $10. You will use one full sheet per item shipped, so if you buy 2400 labels, it's for 1200 shipments.
Example auction here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2400-SHIPPING-LABELS-UPS-USPS-CLICK...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The labels are cheap. I got 3000 sheets (6000 labels) for $10. You will use one full sheet per item shipped, so if you buy 2400 labels, it's for 1200 shipments.
Example auction here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2400-SHIPPING-LABELS-UPS-USPS-CLICK...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
quote:Originally posted by JeffS:
Skip the clear tape, and buy several thousand label sheets. Look for "UPS Labels". These are "two-up" on a 8.5x11 sheet, and are desifgned for the Paypal USPS/UPS labels. No clear tape. Print-peel-stick.
The labels are cheap. I got 3000 sheets (6000 labels) for $10. You will use one full sheet per item shipped, so if you buy 2400 labels, it's for 1200 shipments.
Example auction here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2400-SHIPPING-LABELS-UPS-USPS-CLICK...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Large amounts of thank yous! I do believe I shall acquire some of these!
Update: I just did! I am quite anxious to get my paws on these!!
-Fox
I should also mention, some sellers are selling "UPS Branded" labels that have a little line of text on the edge that says "For UPS Shipping Only". Don't worry about that, those are OK too, and are most likely the cheapest. They are also the ones I use. the USPS couldn't care less if you use UPS labels or if they say "UPS only"!
quote:
The labels are cheap.
The labels are free with a UPS account. They are printed with "UPS shipping only" on them. The sellers order them through UPS for free and have them sent to you. They are out nothing and are committing fraud.
quote:Originally posted by hgmartin:quote:
The labels are cheap.
The labels are free with a UPS account. They are printed with "UPS shipping only" on them. The sellers order them through UPS for free and have them sent to you. They are out nothing and are committing fraud.
Oh. Um...that kinda sucks. now I feel bad for buying some
-Fox
quote:They are out nothing and are committing fraud.
Perhaps, but that's their problem. Not mine.
As far as I'm concerned, I bought them from someone else. If you're concerned, cut the line out with a scissor. I find that when I print the label, the URL of the Paypal print page prints right over the "UPS Only" part and you can't read it.
Either way, it doesn't matter.
If you're that concerned, buy the labels that don't say UPS. Both types are available.
quote:
I'm talking about people who completely cover their fees with shipping, like the memory guys who charge $10 to ship something weighing ONE ONCE.
Some are about fee avoidance.
Your point?
I bought labels, I paid for them, I don't care where the seller got them from.
I bought labels, I paid for them, I don't care where the seller got them from.