Using current events as promotion for your eBay - Piggybacking

Around the time of the summer Olympics there were tons of shows about the Olypmics but there was one radio program that really stood out to me. It was on NPR but I don't remember the show in order to give them credit, sorry. It was about the advertisers and who were "official sponsors" and what they paid and such. They discussed all aspects of marketing during the Olympics but what struck me was when they talked about the advertisers who "piggybacked" the Olympics.

This concept is basically like running along side. It isn't direct advertising with the event (that is expensive) but uses the hype and excitement to their advantage. Mainly by using heavy targeted advertising before and after the event (or on another channel) without directly siting the event.

eBay sellers can use this sort of momentum to their advantage too. For example, right now I've been hearing a bunch about how Barbie will turn 50 on March 9th. We all know how popular Barbie is and how she is a staple on eBay. Wouldn't it be a good time to jump on the bandwagon?

You can do this with any event that is getting publicity on its own accord. Obviously you'll need to pick something that connects to your niche. I mean, I love Barbie and have a small collection of my own, but I'm not a Barbie seller so her birthday doesn't really help me much, but maybe it would be a good time to do a little closet cleaning!

eBay makes a much needed change committing to withdraw bad feedback regarding customs fees

Burried 11 pages back into my feedback is a neutral with this comment:

ottimi oggetti, ma spedisce come commerciante e bisogna pagare tasse doganali

which according to an online language translator, means this:

optimal objects, but send as trader and must pay customs taxes

I wasn't too overly concerned about it, but it does go to show that this customs issue is one that can effect eBay sellers' feedback and DSR scores. Which in turn, can effect an eBay sellers' ability to rise higher in searches and earn powerseller discounts. So yes, it does matter.

I am happy to hear that eBay is now willing to consider taking off neutral or negative feedback that is explicitly about customs fees. However, there are certain things that you have to do. (Click here for eBay's page on the new policy) You must have clear text in your description about the possibility for customs fees and charges. eBay has a standard line they would like you to use and although they say "or very similar", I'll be working tonight to update my template with eBay's standard text.

Which by the way is this:

International Buyers – Please Note:
- Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
-Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

This new policy won't solve all the issues, it won't stop customers from getting upset about the fees, it won't stop buyers from asking sellers if they will mark something as a gift. But in my opinion, it is a step in the right direction. And had it been enacted a few months ago, I would have nothing but positives. That one neutral is the only neutral I have!

I'm really liking my DSRs right about now, tips to keep 'em up

I don't dwell on DSRs or feedback, I don't think anyone should. I do agree, they are important, but not enough to stress out over.

I think the most important aspect is if you are a powerseller and whether or not you qualify for those discounts. Yes, they can be substantial (I saved over $400 in fees last year!) but the way the system works, it is not worth your time or effort to watch every second, or every day. Do your best customer service, communicate with your customers and keep your shipping reasonable. It is just that simple.
My best advice, think like a buyer.
Sit down, put yourself in your buyers' shoes and make a list of everything you would want from a seller that you were purchasing your product from and do that.

No longer an Education Specialist

It is kinda sad to admit this, but I'm no longer an Education Specialist. It kinda stinks that it came to this, but at this point in my life it just didn't make sense to pay the fees to continue. My original plan was to teach quite a bit to supplement my income, reality being that I didn't enjoy teaching the basics class and wanted to move to the next level and teach advanced. However, in order to teach the "advanced" class, you have to have an ES feedback of 10 to qualify. In a year I couldn't get to 10. There are several reasons why, and I do take responsibility for most.
Most of the people I encountered are people already selling on eBay and looking to get to the next level. Most people who are at that point don't need the basics course. And, those are the folks that I really wanted to teach.
I had no desire to teach people how to navigate around eBay, I wanted to teach people how to use eBay to make them money. I had lots of clients, but because I was dealing with them one on one doing coaching, I didn't build up that feedback to get qualified.
I should have sucked it up and gone out and did what I needed to do, but I just wasn't motivated.
I'm sure that without that endorsement from eBay and ability to be listed in their educators database, my coaching clients will be harder to find. But oh well, I'll just have to make-do.

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Shamless self promotion:

Items for sale on eBay under user id Shelley-Faye

Items for sale on eBay under user id Love2DressUp

Items for sale on Etsy under user id KitschyAprons

I wish I had some spacebags! My sewing room is getting out of control

Ok, so the holidays are over, inventory is finished and the new year has begun. I did a big craft show right before Christmas so I had been sewing pretty much non-stop for months before that. Then my entire family came down for Christmas and now, everything is just a mess. I want badly to get back to sewing and selling on eBay & etsy but I cannot do a thing until I clean out the sewing room. I have two big metal shelving units and before this latest sewing excursion, I would keep all my fabrics folded neatly and organized.
Now, I've increased my inventory for my eBay store and would love to use one of those shelving units to house the extra handbags that are just stacked up on my pool table. I think a
Space Bag
or two would be perfect, you know you've seen their commercial, they are amazing. I need to get some. (and if you haven't seen their commercial, click that link up there and check it out)

-Cheers

Set Realistic Expectations for your eBay customers

I believe that the one thing that makes a difference between a good and bad experience for buyers on eBay is the expectation set by the seller. When a buyer makes a purchase on eBay, they have nothing to go on for expectations except what you've told them in your descriptions and their past experiences buying online. And yes, I said 'online', not just eBay. As a seller, you don't know if your customers' past experiences were great and they have set high expectations for you, or whether they have had nothing but bad experiences and you can very easily wow them with a simple 'thank you'. So, being that the only factor that you have control over is what you are telling your customers, you simply must be very clear and realistic when telling your customers what to expect from you.

For example, if you only ship on the weekends, make sure this is stated plainly and clearly for the buyer. If they give you their money on Monday, and don't fully understand your policy, they will be upset that you didn't put their item in the mail until Saturday. Bitch and moan all you want after the fact about your "policy" but in the end it is your DSRs that are on the line. In a case like this, your best bet would be to, not only to have it in your description, but make sure to set up an automated response thanking them for their quick payment and that their item will be shipped out first thing on Saturday morning. This way they know exactly what to expect.

Example #2; If an item is used and is anything less than perfect condition, point out every flaw. Describe it accurately. Do not try to make it sound better than it really is because your customer will be let down when they open the package.

I'm sure I could go on and on here with examples, but it all boils back down to being realistic and clear about what your customers are expecting from you. If you tell them that you are going to give them the world... than you better have a plan to deliver.

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Shameless self promotion:

Items for sale on eBay under user id Shelley-Faye

Items for sale on eBay under user id Love2DressUp

Items for sale on Etsy under user id KitschyAprons

One more for the "what not to do" list, this time from Amazon

I made my very first purchase on Amazon last month on the 12th. I bought a 'How to' book about re-constructing t-shirts. I was super excited for this book and have a stack of T-shirts that I want to work with. When shopping online, eBay is always my first stop but I couldn't find a copy of this particular book from a seller with a reputation that I was comfortable with so, I ventured off the site.
I quickly found the book I was looking for and found it at a reasonable price, so I bought it.
On Thursday, I'm staring at this pile of t-shirts wondering where my book is since it had been 14 business days.
I look up the tracking and it tells me that I shouldn't panic yet because it is still within the "window" of time for delivery. Apparently, 16 business days is the time it should take to deliver a book.
So, I click out and find something else to do. No big deal.
The next day I get an email from the seller I purchased from on Amazon:
"I received your book back to me. The address was slightly wrong. I'm sending it again but this time priority"
Maybe I'm too nit-picky, but shouldn't I have gotten an apology? or at least an admission of making a mistake? "the address was slightly wrong"? What does that mean? My address isn't wrong. The seller made a mistake labeling it.

Please, people, we are all human. We make mistakes. Just like we tell our kids, tell the truth and own up to your mistakes. Say you are sorry if you need to.

Here is the Book I'm still waiting to get. Even though I'm annoyed, I'm still very very excited to get it! :)