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