by Kathy Terrill | Dec 5, 2018 | eCommerce Selling Tips, eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay
December is upon us. That means it’s time for eBay top December sales tips. Sellers put your pedal to the metal!
eBay top December sales tips for sellers
Most important of the eBay top December sales tips, is keep adding fresh merchandise to your store shelves. So, of course don’t stop listing altogether. But do concentrate now on selling and shipping what’s already listed.
In fact, at this point, SHIPPING is your most important activity. And it’s crucial to do it right.
Big-volume multi-channel sellers cite shipping as one of their top concerns for successful sales and happy customers, especially repeat buyers. Why?
The answer to that question is as easy as 1-2-3: because if their item does not arrive (1) fast; (2) in one piece; and (3) appropriately packaged — including being dry! — your customer is NOT going to be happy.
And an unhappy customer is the last thing you want!
Top eBay sales tip to keep customers happy!
Luckily, in most cases, making customers happy doesn’t have to be difficult. It just takes some thought, care, and attention to detail. Here are top tips for successful holiday shipping.
‘By now you should have reviewed your shipping workflow and revised it if necessary. But if you’ve been putting that off, or just want a quick refresher course, read my recent blog post. Remember, saving 5 minutes of packing time per item adds up quickly!
You also should be offering paid shipping upgrades, including overnight express delivery.
Again, if you’ve been procrastinating, sit down at your computer — desktop or laptop — and bulk edit your listings to add those additional shipping options.
Most importantly, pack each item appropriately AND attractively so that it arrives in one piece, dry, and looking its best!
Remember, ‘tis the season for snow, sleet, and just plain rain. Boxes are highly susceptible to moisture, and even polyvinyl mailing envelopes rip or may leak.
So pack your items for shipping with wet weather in mind.
eBay top sales tips includes think of the weather when packing!
For example, clothing should be sealed in plastic bags; if you typically wrap apparel items in tissue, do that first, then seal the wrapped garment in a plastic bag. Ziplock bags work particularly well for this, and store brands are typically not expensive. You should also put clear tape over the addresses on your shipping label (just don’t tape over the bar code).
As for other items, don’t expect even the biggest, reddest FRAGILE sticker ever to protect your goods. Because it won’t; by some accounts, packages bearing FRAGILE stickers may even be treated MORE roughly than other packages!
Instead, pack everything so that it can be dropped 4 feet without breaking.
(Hint: Test this with a generic item you don’t mind destroying, NOT your sold item!) That means lots of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and possibly using a box within a box for super-breakable stuff. When in doubt, add more bubble wrap and another layer of peanuts! If the bubble wrap doesn’t seal the item away from moisture sufficiently, put the bubble-wrapped item into a plastic bag before placing it in its nest of packing peanuts.
Speaking of bubble wrap, it’s made with different sizes of bubbles for a reason. Multiple layers of the small bubbles protect differently than do the large bubbles, and it doesn’t necessarily correspond to the size of the item. Some items will ship most safely swathed in small bubbles with an outer layer of large bubbles. Experiment to figure out what works best. Very delicate items may even need to be carefully swathed in soft cotton batting rather than bubble wrapped.
Air pillows are another type of what shipping professionals call “void fill solutions”. Certain types of corrugated boxes are more protective than others, too. All of these packing materials (and much more) are available from Bubblefast.com. Use code esnbes and save 10% on your entire order.
Now you’ve got your marching orders…pa-rumpa-pum-pum…and a recipe for happy customers:
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Keep streamlining your workflow to make shipping faster and easier
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Offer paid shipping upgrades, including overnight express delivery
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Pack each item appropriately, and make sure it’s weatherproof
So put the shipping pedal to the metal, and get those sold items flying out the door!
by Kathy Terrill | Nov 14, 2018 | eCommerce Tips
Thanksgiving is a little over a week away. Are you ready, set, go for eBay Holiday sales seller?
Are you ready…REALLY ready…for eBay Holiday sales with Black Friday coming and December? Have you thoroughly thought through your workflow? So, did you put some crucial backups in place? And are you stocked up on shipping supplies? If NO, then you’re not really ready.
Q4 is crunch time for eBay sellers, especially the second half of Q4.
Be prepared well in advance in order to handle the onslaught of shoppers you’re hoping to lure your way. Think through your workflow now. It saves you precious minutes and even hours not too far down the road.
Here are 2 key questions to ask yourself:
- Can I find each item in my listed inventory quickly and easily when it sells?
- Does my workspace include a shipping station where I can pack and ship multiple packages as efficiently as possible?
The answer to question #1 is easy:
Use the custom label field in each listing to note where that item is stored. You don’t want to be tearing your hair out and your storage place apart trying to locate elusive stock! Here’s my Youtube How To Find And Use eBay’s Custom Label Field.
As for question #2, shipping is where the retail rubber meets the road, so backups are essential.
For starters, it’s smart to have an extra digital scale on hand. Accuteck’s All-in-One Series W-8250-50bs( my affiliate link) is self-calibrating with a capacity of 50 pounds. It runs on 3 AAA batteries or via power cord, and costs under $20. If you need a scale with a larger capacity and detachable display, consider (my affiliate link) Accuteck’s ShipPro W-8580-110. It handles anything from 1 ounce up to 110 pounds. It’s powered by 3 AAA batteries, AC adapter, or USB cable and costs less than $25.
Backup plans for eBay Holiday shipping are a must!
It’s also a good idea to have a backup system in place for purchasing and printing shipping labels.
Stamps.com offers a free account for eBay users. It’s good to have that on standby in case your regular provider (whether it’s eBay Labels or anyone else) goes down during the holiday crunch.
Last but far from least, do NOT run out of shipping supplies!
Remember, you can always use them after the holidays, too. Order now from USPS for free Priority Mail and Regional Rate supplies.
For everything else I recommend Bubblefast.com.
Bubblefast is a family run business. Mark and Robin Le Vine offer a huge selection of shipping supplies and ship super fast. They are in a Chicago suburb, and I’m in NYC. Typically I receive my order in two business days. Use discount code esnbes to save 10% on your entire order.
Your inventory is listed and stored and you have the location displayed in your custom label field. You’ve thought through your shipping.
A backup scale and free Stamps.com account are ready to use.
You’ve ordered your shipping supplies. You used your esnbes 10% off code on Bubblefast and saved a bundle. You’ve stocked up so you won’t, run out.
Now you’re ready, set go for the Holiday eBay sales!
by Kathy Terrill | Oct 22, 2018 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay
The Holidays, Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwaanza are just around the corner. Together, they comprise the year’s most profitable retail moment.
But how do sellers supercharge this year’s eBay Holiday sales?
There’s plenty of competition for customers’ dollars. So, what can you do to stand out in the e-commerce crowd, so you can garner more sales? Here are my three top tips for outselling your competition.
#1 – First, remember that when it comes to shipping, buyers like choices.
Give shoppers choices this Holiday shopping season!
So offer them options: For example, you might ship USPS First Class for free while providing paid upgrades to USPS Priority Mail and USPS Priority Express.
Be sure to also give your buyers the choice of having their package shipped to them overnight. That could make all the difference when it comes to scoring a last-minute sale!
Overnight shipping is not just for higher-end purchases, either. I once had a buyer pay $20 to have a $9.99 item shipped via USPS Priority Express Mail; it was that important to them to receive their item ASAP.
Giving buyers their choice of shipping class is especially important if you’re eligible for eBay Guaranteed Delivery. Guaranteed Delivery is eBay’s promise that an item will be delivered in three days or less. Do try to qualify for Guaranteed Delivery if you can. It gives your listings additional visibility. Buyers can even filter search results to see only items within the Guaranteed Delivery program. The more shipping options you offer, the more Guaranteed Delivery filters your listing shows in. More visibility means more sales.
Not sure what it takes to participate in eBay Guaranteed Delivery, or hazy on the details of requirements and benefits? Get the full scoop at ebay.com/GuaranteedDelivery.
Here’s my video “Did You Know eBay May Pay For This So You Don’t Have To”. It has important information on eBay’s Guaranteed Delivery for you.
#2 – Second, consider bundling complementary products together to generate additional sales.
Welcome shoppers with eBay Holiday bundles!
You can even make your bundle holiday-centric; why not have it include, say, a cheerful gift bag and colorful tissue paper? Learn more about bundles in my online class Secret Spice for Online Sales. It includes a bonus PDF with 60 bundling tips you can use right now!
#3 – Third, think mobile.
Be ready for Holiday shoppers by being mobile optimized!
More than 60% of all eBay transactions are touched by mobile. That means the majority of eBay shoppers are shopping via their mobile devices. So your listings have to look good on smartphones and tablets, not just on desktop and laptop computers.
To ensure your listings will do so, use the Mobile-Friendly checker at the upper right-hand corner of the description box in the Sell Your Item (SYI) form. Then every week, spot-check at least one listing in each of your main selling categories to see how it looks on a mobile device. Check out your competitors’ listings as well; whose look better?
Here’s an infographic to give you a better handle on these 3 holiday selling tips. Use them wisely and well to boost your Q4 profits.
Here are 3 Ways To Supercharge Your eBay Holiday Sales!
Let the eBay Holiday shopping begin! With these three ways to supercharge your eBay Holiday sales, you’re ready! Fa, la, la, la!
by Kathy Terrill | Oct 3, 2018 | eCommerce Selling Tips, eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay
Yes, Virginia, eBay inventory sourcing for 4th quarter can be easy.
However be forewarned, the holidays are coming up fast. If you don’t stock up now on in-demand products, you’ll miss out on the most profitable quarter of the year.
First, sourcing profitable eBay inventory is always a challenge.
But never more so than when it comes to Q4. It’s the time that every seller in every marketplace is looking to score gift-worthy goods. What to do?
Sellers are looking to source great Holiday eBay inventory!
So, some sellers shop the clearance racks at their local retailers. Others scour the shelves at discount retail outlets like Tuesday Morning or Big Lots to find flippable bargains. Still others thrift or hit estate and garage sales (which are hard to find by now in cooler parts of the country). Then there are other savvy sellers that go wholesale.
Wholesale has traditionally been hard for small sellers.
A pallet of merchandise is just more stuff that can easily be handled without a warehouse. Then factor in the expense and logistics. With wholesale, there is arranging for shipping, finding enough storage space, and getting everything listed in a timely fashion. But now you can buy in bulk without being overwhelmed using BULQ. That’s BULQ with a Q.
BULQ offers liquidation goods by the pallet or the case.
Merchandise is closeouts, overstocks, and returns from leading US retailers and manufacturers. Retailers include Target and Home Depot. A case is a large box that most sellers can comfortably accommodate. Both cases and pallets come with a detailed manifest. It’s guaranteed to show you exactly what you’re getting. So, if that itemized list is not at least 98% accurate, BULQ will refund the difference. And yes there are scores to be had even in the competitive category of toys!
BULQ also takes care of delivering the goods directly to your doorstep, shipping anywhere in the continental USA for a surprisingly low flat rate.
In addition, their all-American customer support is behind you throughout every transaction. Best of all, you can browse and buy from BULQ.com even in your jammies. Then pay via credit card with just one click. Or you can put lots on your Watch list for further consideration.
This is the time of year when major retailers clear out excess inventory quickly.
Knowing this smart sellers act fast and score seasonal and giftable goods. BULQ offers their pallets and cases at auction as well as for fixed prices. They upload fresh merchandise three times a day: 11am PT, 2pm PT, and 5pm PT. Kind of like Dr Pepper’s “10, 2, and 4”, except that the only thing BULQ will fatten up is your profits! If you need to do some quick research of hot products ShelfTrend has answers for you.
Whether you shop clearance sales, discount retailers, thrift shops, or estate sales, NOW is the time to stock up for a successful holiday selling season. If you’re looking to save travel time to stores and sales, BULQ is a click away. It offers a great way to source in-demand Holiday eBay inventory.
Remember act fast. If it’s a great case on BULQ it will sell fast.
Snatch up gift worthy gifts as major retailers regularly clear out goods. Bring on great inventory and bring on the sales!
by Kathy Terrill | Jul 20, 2018 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay
Feeling slow summertime eBay sales blues?
Contrary to what the old song says, there IS a cure for any eBay sales summertime blues. I’ll list the ingredients; then it’s up to you to concoct the mixture that works best for your business.
The first step towards stirring up eBay sales is to check prices.
Keep an eye on prices for your listings on eBay!
Market values can change over time…demand for your item may increase or decrease…new competitors may undercut you; there are lots of reasons why it’s important to stay current on pricing.
Check out my “Advanced Search” YouTube video to learn how to quickly research SOLD prices on eBay so that you know what your item is selling for. If necessary, adjust your pricing. Don’t forget to note whether sold items offered free or paid shipping, so you can take that into consideration. In addition, be sure to check the size and condition of sold items to ensure they’re truly comparable to what you’re selling.
Also, consider shipping. If you’re not yet selling internationally, you’re missing out on millions of potential customers.
Open your business up to that world of possibilities by going global. For heavier items, expensive items, and items shipping to countries that do not yet offer USPS First Class International’s Electronic Delivery Confirmation (eDelCon), opt into eBay’s Global Shipping Program at ebay.com/GSP. GSP users have seen their sales increase by up to 15%!
And it’s easy: With GSP, you create a shipping label through eBay as usual to generate a global tracking number. It’s automatically uploaded to your and your buyer’s My eBay page. Then you ship the item to eBay’s Global Shipping Center in Kentucky. eBay does the rest, including filling out customs forms, paying import fees, and providing international shipping to your buyer.
Small and/or lightweight and/or inexpensive items may be shipped directly via USPS First Class International with eDelCon. eBay Labels and third-party providers automatically generate and fill out customs forms. For more details enjoy my blog post International Sales Mean Cash
Selling internationally increases eBay sales!
So you’ve checked your pricing and are shipping worldwide. Now let’s check your listings’ formats.
It’s best to have a mix of fixed price and auction listings because while some shoppers love to bid, others prefer to Buy It Now.
For fixed price listings, add the Best Offer option. Best Offer lets the buyer know that you’re willing to haggle a bit. If you get an unacceptable offer, always counteroffer, with a note thanking the buyer and telling them how much of a discount you’re offering and why your item is worth it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many lowball offers can be turned into sales!
You can also send Private Offers in response to questions received through My Messages.
Just click “Reply with an offer” in the upper right-hand corner of the message. Again, add a note explaining your offer is for $X, which is Y% off.
Promotions Manager is free to eBay Store subscribers; use it to create special offers, discounts, and sale events. Store subscribers and Top Rated Sellers can also use Promoted Listings to boost item visibility by 30%.
Pull ahead in sales with eBay Promotions!
With Promoted Listings, you choose an ad rate: a percentage you’re willing to pay if your item sells from its promoted listing. You only pay if a buyer clicks on your ad AND purchases the item within 30 days. Top Rated Sellers receive a quarterly $30 Promotions Listing credit, while Anchor and Enterprise Store subscribers receive a $25 credit. Top-Rated Anchor and Enterprise Store subscribers receive both.
So go ahead and cure those slow summer sales blues.
Now that you know the ingredients — check pricing; sell internationally; vary your listing formats; use Best Offer and Private Offer; try Promotions Manager and Promoted Listings — you’re sure to be able to cook up a recipe for success!
P.S. For even more summer sales success tips, listen to my recent interview on eBay Radio.
