Ebay and Fedex

[Onyx]

I've got several things I could sell on Ebay but what stops me is the packing up and shipping. I despise addressing things and taking them to the post office.

(Plus I'm wondering if this would just be too much headache with all the little details).

Does anyone keep a personal Fedex account for such things? I was looking at the website and thinking that if I offer only that option and print out the address it should make things easier, plus the fact that they will pick up the package and I wouldn't have to make a trip out.

[Fierce Critter]

"Several things..." I'm not sure what you mean by that. My experience might not be comparable, since I'm used to shipping 10-20 items and more per week. But here's my view.

The packaging and shipping aspect of Ebay is, for me, by far the most crucial part of the whole operation. That's when the most damage can get done, when things are the most out of your hands. Therefore, it's the area you have to pay the most attention to ensure things go smoothly.

My experience with both Fed Ex and UPS are bad. I am near a point where I can't sell anything fragile anymore that can't be shipped by the post office. Your specific interest isn't about that, however, so if you want details on that, ask and I'll make a different reply.

Fed Ex account: I have never investigated this. I don't know how it works or if you need to qualify somehow.

On the Ebay side of things, I find that if you don't offer some flexibility in shipping, your sales can suffer. I specify that I ship USPS Priority Mail unless otherwise requested. The only time I vary from that is if someone wants cheaper shipping by way of parcel post or media mail. Also, if I'm shipping something that goes outside of USPS size/weight restrictions, I have no choice but to go with Fed Ex or UPS.

One problem I can see you running into is that by just having Fed Ex pick up your package and then bill your account, you're unable to charge your customer shipping up front. UNLESS you charge a flat shipping rate. I've personally found that doesn't work well - you either have to under- or overcharge, and someone ends up shorted as a result.

The post office has made shipping a lot easier - you can do just about everything online, and have the post office pick up your stuff right from home. Details are on their website.

What that requires is a good scale up front (There's a seller on Ebay who has one for $50 that most eBay sellers recommend.). You can weight your package, sign onto the website, compute your postage based on zipcode, size & weight of package, and pay online for it. It enables you to print a lable directly, which you affix to the package and contact your carrier to let them know you have something ready (not sure, but the internet might even contact your carrier for you). This is probably the easiest, most foolproof way to go.

To be honest, the cheapest, most foolproof way to go is just to bite the bullet, do those address lables and make those post office trips yourself. One thing you can do is specify you only ship once a week. That's what I do - this enables me to wait until I've got several payments in and then I can take all the packages to the post office in one weekly trip.

If you use microsoft word, they have templates built-in to correctly set up a document & your printer to print lables based on manufacturer number.

I've set up my own mail-merged documents that enable me to plug-in an address document into a blank document that takes those addresses and automatically sets them up to print on the form-feed USPS lables I get directly from them. I had to figure out my own document set-up, however.

I dunno - I haven't gone the Fed Ex route as you describe. If you investigate it, perhaps you might find out it's a viable, easy option after all.

[Onyx]

Thanks Critter!

I didn't know the post office had online verification. What I mean by several things - I have things I've bought like cameras that I've since upgraded, children's electronic toys they have outgrown but are still good and things like that I usually end up giving to Goodwill. These things tend to pile up in my closets till I get rid of them.

I'll investigate the post office services more.

[Nienna]

I also ship about 10-20 items a week. I will only use USPS Priority Mail. The best part is that they provide free boxes for priority so you just pick them up, fill them and ship them. I estimate on shipping since I don't have a scale. I'm usually pretty close now. Also, make sure you always get delivery confirmation! Just keeps everyone honest...

[Fierce Critter]

Oh yeah - the USPS now has 2 different flat-rate priority boxes. Doesnt' matter how much you put in it - it's teh same price to ship. Something like $7.50?

As for delivery confirmation, I hear it's free with all the online shipping now. I personally have never dealt with it myself, unless requested. I specify in my details that I recommend insurance, and I include it in my total price to customers. I tell them they can opt out, but that I'm not in any way responsible for loss or damage on uninsured items.

Haven't been challenged on it yet.

[fallennon]

I've been looking into this for some extra cash as well. Is the income really that helpful?

[Fierce Critter]

That entirely depends on how much income you need/want vs. how much effort you're willing to put in.

I did eBay part-time while working a part-time office job. When the time came that we realized I could make as much as, if not more income by doing the eBay full time and quitting the office job, I quit the office job.

It depends on what you sell. If you do like many power sellers do and buy and sell wholesale items, you can make a steady income year-round. How much depends on what you sell.

If you do yard-sale and trash scavenging like I do, you'll have more ups-and-downs throughout the year. In Michigan, that also means you'll end up on a winter hiatus, unless you've stocked enough extra items to sell throughout the cold weather season.

If you're talking just selling some stuff you've got around the house, you can make a few extra bucks. Again, depends on what you have to sell.

Best way to tell what kind of $$ you'd make selling stuff you already have is to get on Ebay, search completed items for similar stuff and compare. But keep in mind - just 'cause someone else got $200 for that 1976 Jaws model kit doesn't mean YOU will. Often, the first person to put an odd or rare item up gets a billion bids, and the frenzy dies off for the person who has model kit #2.

[Nienna]

I've been looking into this for some extra cash as well.  Is the income really that helpful?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lets put it this way. I make more money in the average week selling crap I don't want (or stuff I find uber cheap) on Ebay than I do at my "job". So yeah. If not for the Ebay stuff I'd be homeless at this point. I actually supported myself solely on this money for about 7 months.

[gothicmom]

If you do yard-sale and trash scavenging like I do, you'll have more ups-and-downs throughout the year. In Michigan, that also means you'll end up on a winter hiatus, unless you've stocked enough extra items to sell throughout the cold weather season

Don't forget to scavange the thrift shops int he winter. I've done that before.

[Fierce Critter]

The problem with "thrift' shops is they've either gotten smart about what they sell in relation to the antiques/eBay market, or they THINK they've gotten smart.

In the past couple years, anything I've ever found of resellable value is kept under glass and the price is jacked up so ridiculously high, the resale value is gone. And I'm talking both Michigan AND NC.

There have been rare exceptions, true. But no way can I find the same amount of "stock" at thrift shops that I can at yard sales.