More compulsory free postage

soolin

debtsolvie wrote: »

thanks, thats a relief. one more quetion, whats the cheapest way to pack clothes bundles, i normaly use bubble wrap and brown paper for most of my listings but this is because most are fragile. and also clothes would make a large parcel so would consume more packaging material

I am a great believer in the silver packing bags like the catalogues use to send clothes. I wrap everything in appropriately sized plastic bags first and then either just put them in the mailer or sometimes wrap them in another layer or something light first .

I buy mine in bulk so only pay about 6-8p a bag which keeps my costs down as well, they are also tamper proof.

emweaver

debtsolvie wrote: »

thanks, thats a relief. one more quetion, whats the cheapest way to pack clothes bundles, i normaly use bubble wrap and brown paper for most of my listings but this is because most are fragile. and also clothes would make a large parcel so would consume more packaging material

Cardboard boxes? Can get these free so save son buying bubble wrap but MAY add to the weight, best of weighing them with and without the box it may not change the price

emweaver

stevew8975 wrote: »

The majority of the items I sell with free postage are around 1kg to 2kg, and sell at around £10 to £25 per unit, and I send by standard first class mail, yet still make a 200% margin after all costs. It's not what I'm selling, but how I'm selling it.



The many threads on MSE don't lie - people do get upset over excessive P&P, despite having the charges clearly laid out at the point they place their bid. Rightly or wrongly, these people are happy to spread the word that "ebay is a rip off" and that benefits nobody.

If every seller in the same category has to offer inclusive/free postage, then everyone is in the same situation - no advanatge nor disadvantage over anyone else in the category.

Can you give advice / tips over HOW to sell things? Im struggling to sell to cover the item let alone make anything!

StaffsSW

Search keywords are still paramount - look at what people are searching for, and variations of those searches with the keyword index - http://keyword-index.ebay.co.uk/keyword-index.html - Also consider a MIX of UPPER and LOWER case WORDS in THE TITLE to make it stand out, without having to pay for bold/featured/highlighted etc.

Once you have people on your listing keep them there - don't give them a reason to click the back arrow.

Don't just describe an item, sell it by listing features and benefits.
"HD ready" is a feature, "for a sharper, clearer and more vivid image" is a benefit - and which one do you think appeals to the potential buyer?!

Have a few clear pictures displayed (use photobucket to add them into the description for free), have all measurements, weights etc. Cover all bases with regards the questions that a custoemr could ask. It's easier to click the back button than it is to type out a question.

Give the buyer clear information on how often you go to the post office, what service you use, that you offer combined postage, what sort of packaging they can expect to have the item wrapped in, that you can be contacted by email if they have any further questions - only have the positive terms on your listing, not all the guff about no time wasters, I'll open a dispute in 7 days etc - they are all negative statements that have no place in an area designed to sell positive images.

Look at your competitors/similar sellers - take ideas from their best bits, do not copy their bad bits (or pictures) - sell better, but not necessarily cheaper.

Copy and Paste a few comments from your feedback to act as testimonials - reassure your customer with returns policies, guarantees etc. Some people may be reluctant to offer returns, but in reality they are not often exercised. I've had a 30 day return policy on all my sales for the last 2 years, and only had about 10 sent back/refunded for various reasons - besides a few more lost in the post.

When your customer hits the BIN or bid button, they will be doing so with confidence, there will be no negative thoughts in their mind at this stage.

emweaver

I do all of that other than putting some feedback into the listing

wheresmydoshat

i would much rather have free P&P, but only if the same applied for all sellers.

it makes sense. when buying online you just want to see the price, not have to add on P&P.

it may generate some more FVF's, but it will also get rid of the P&P rating (at least in its current form) which is the one that causes all the problems.

wheresmydoshat

Most computer manuals are HUGE and very heavy, it would cost several pounds to post them. This just means that you have to selll them for a higher price and will buyers pay that?

surely you'd still be charging the same ? just in one figure, not two.

soolin

wheresmydoshat wrote: »

surely you'd still be charging the same ? just in one figure, not two.

That's what I queried as well, regardless of how it is shown the buyer still has to pay for postage somewhere?

wheresmydoshat

ebay are on the right track doing this, whatever the teething problems may be.

its got to be one of the biggest gripes buyers have about the site, and free P&P is something to shout about to potential buyers, whether they realise they are still actually paying P&P or not.

what has just occured to me though, is what happens with international sales, and when people wish to collect the item in person ???

soolin

International sales ar enot affected as it is only the first domestic postal option that must remain free. Collection is also not affected except that buyer loses any postal benefit, but then maybe that would be the bribe needed to get buyers to use cash instead of paypal if they want to collect, suggest that they pay x amount less to account for the unused postage costs.