Hi Folks!
It seems the entire planet is abuzz with the announcements eBay has made for the upcoming changes they are implementing this spring! Emergency conference calls, Town Hall call-ins, mini-seminars to explain different aspects and summaries to outline what may impact the Seller the hardest or what will require work to implement.
Initial reactions have been outrage and panic, but any type of CHANGE is greeted that way at first. No one likes CHANGE but we either go with the flow or do something else for a living!
I have a booth on Bonanza as well as my eBay Store and would like to look into other avenues for on-line selling but you can only stretch yourself so far and eBay continues to be the best way to reach buyers worldwide. In order to continue my passion of Treasure Hunting, I must SELL what I find.
It isn't as simple as "find something, then sell it". I wish it were! As a collector and seller, one must have at least a basic idea of WHAT to look for; WHERE to look for it; HOW much to pay for it; WHO will want it; understand how to rate or GRADE it for condition, age, use, scarcity, value; how to CLEAN it, REPAIR it, STORE it, MEASURE it, PHOTOGRAPH it, DESCRIBE it, PACK it, SHIP it, and what to do if you have not made a good choice and figure out how to GET RID of it (purge inventory) and not lose too much vs the original INVESTMENT. Then all of this has to be DOCUMENTED and submitted for income tax purposes.
Some buyers understand. Some buyers have no idea! As a seller we must be prepared to offer the best CUSTOMER SERVICE we can no matter what the buyer's concerns are. Though SHIPPING is a big part of a buyer's purchase, and rightly so, a seller has little control over the cost, shipping method, transit time, customs clearance and what may happen once an item leaves our hands!
Besides the cost of actually shipping an item, a seller must invest in PACKAGING SUPPLIES that will transport an item safely. Boxes, bubblewrap, foam, packing peanuts, tape, tissue paper, plastic bags etc. Labels must be printed or written, so paper, ink, labels, airmail stickers, and fragile stickers are another "hidden" expense.
In addition to the original cost paid for an item, there are costs to PREPARE that item FOR SALE. Cleaning supplies, reference books or databases for research, educational seminars or courses. A system for inventory storage whether that may be boxes, totes, or shelving. A camera is a necessity. Batteries, chargers, programs for downloading, programs for editing, "space" to store photographs in-house or on the web. Equipment for taking a photo that will display it in minute detail; photo tent, tripod, coloured backgrounds, lighting etc. Even taking a photo in natural light outside, still requires equipment so that you don't see Suzie's swing in the background or the neighbours fence.
Listing an item for sale is not free. There are FEES to have an on-line selling platform, fees for listing, fees on an actual sale, fees for accepting different types of payment. There are costs to promote an item or the selling platform where the item is listed. Website and domain names, forum membership fees, ads, bonus rebate programs, e-commerce flyers or newsletters, and physical business cards, letterhead etc.
Then there is the commodity of TIME. A seller must be available 24/7, to answer questions, to enter a listing, to invoice, to give shipping estimates, to post on websites, forums, and social networks, and to create newsletters, blogs and such. Time to pull items that have been sold to prepare for shipping, to do the packing, to ship, to run to the post office or call a service to pick up and be there when they do; and yet still be able to go into the world to FIND the items, never mind eating, sleeping, and carrying on a life.
I love most of it, but I must admit the shipping and the accounting aspects I could cheerfully do without, but to do that I would have to hire someone and pay them; another expense! (Anyone know a CHEAP GOOD Accountant??)
Just a gentle friendly reminder to all those Buyer's out there, that if you do not want to do your own Treasure Hunting, please keep in mind what we do, as sellers, in order to bring you that item for sale and to remind you to try and have some patience and understanding should there be a hiccup in the road to your obtaining that item quickly, safely and at the most economical cost possible!
Now, back to the FUN!! And it is FUN!!
Bear Hugs
Mandy
Mandicrafts
It seems the entire planet is abuzz with the announcements eBay has made for the upcoming changes they are implementing this spring! Emergency conference calls, Town Hall call-ins, mini-seminars to explain different aspects and summaries to outline what may impact the Seller the hardest or what will require work to implement.
Initial reactions have been outrage and panic, but any type of CHANGE is greeted that way at first. No one likes CHANGE but we either go with the flow or do something else for a living!
I have a booth on Bonanza as well as my eBay Store and would like to look into other avenues for on-line selling but you can only stretch yourself so far and eBay continues to be the best way to reach buyers worldwide. In order to continue my passion of Treasure Hunting, I must SELL what I find.
It isn't as simple as "find something, then sell it". I wish it were! As a collector and seller, one must have at least a basic idea of WHAT to look for; WHERE to look for it; HOW much to pay for it; WHO will want it; understand how to rate or GRADE it for condition, age, use, scarcity, value; how to CLEAN it, REPAIR it, STORE it, MEASURE it, PHOTOGRAPH it, DESCRIBE it, PACK it, SHIP it, and what to do if you have not made a good choice and figure out how to GET RID of it (purge inventory) and not lose too much vs the original INVESTMENT. Then all of this has to be DOCUMENTED and submitted for income tax purposes.
Some buyers understand. Some buyers have no idea! As a seller we must be prepared to offer the best CUSTOMER SERVICE we can no matter what the buyer's concerns are. Though SHIPPING is a big part of a buyer's purchase, and rightly so, a seller has little control over the cost, shipping method, transit time, customs clearance and what may happen once an item leaves our hands!
Besides the cost of actually shipping an item, a seller must invest in PACKAGING SUPPLIES that will transport an item safely. Boxes, bubblewrap, foam, packing peanuts, tape, tissue paper, plastic bags etc. Labels must be printed or written, so paper, ink, labels, airmail stickers, and fragile stickers are another "hidden" expense.
In addition to the original cost paid for an item, there are costs to PREPARE that item FOR SALE. Cleaning supplies, reference books or databases for research, educational seminars or courses. A system for inventory storage whether that may be boxes, totes, or shelving. A camera is a necessity. Batteries, chargers, programs for downloading, programs for editing, "space" to store photographs in-house or on the web. Equipment for taking a photo that will display it in minute detail; photo tent, tripod, coloured backgrounds, lighting etc. Even taking a photo in natural light outside, still requires equipment so that you don't see Suzie's swing in the background or the neighbours fence.
Listing an item for sale is not free. There are FEES to have an on-line selling platform, fees for listing, fees on an actual sale, fees for accepting different types of payment. There are costs to promote an item or the selling platform where the item is listed. Website and domain names, forum membership fees, ads, bonus rebate programs, e-commerce flyers or newsletters, and physical business cards, letterhead etc.
Then there is the commodity of TIME. A seller must be available 24/7, to answer questions, to enter a listing, to invoice, to give shipping estimates, to post on websites, forums, and social networks, and to create newsletters, blogs and such. Time to pull items that have been sold to prepare for shipping, to do the packing, to ship, to run to the post office or call a service to pick up and be there when they do; and yet still be able to go into the world to FIND the items, never mind eating, sleeping, and carrying on a life.
I love most of it, but I must admit the shipping and the accounting aspects I could cheerfully do without, but to do that I would have to hire someone and pay them; another expense! (Anyone know a CHEAP GOOD Accountant??)
Just a gentle friendly reminder to all those Buyer's out there, that if you do not want to do your own Treasure Hunting, please keep in mind what we do, as sellers, in order to bring you that item for sale and to remind you to try and have some patience and understanding should there be a hiccup in the road to your obtaining that item quickly, safely and at the most economical cost possible!
Now, back to the FUN!! And it is FUN!!
Bear Hugs
Mandy
Mandicrafts
Amazingly well-put, Mandy! I can't think of a single thing you might have missed, and I'm now exhausted just thinking about all the things I -- WE -- have to do.
ReplyDeleteMandy this is very "WELL DONE" Bravo! I wish Eboob would post it on the front page! Well written.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliments! Describing what we do for buyers may help them understand!
ReplyDelete