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08-22-2020, 12:38 PM | #1 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: CA
Posts: 19
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Hey guys, new to selling. My kid and I are beginning to put together figures for selling. We'd like to know more about the whole process of selling these figures on ebay. Is there an action figure guide somewhere online for selling, and more importantly, shipping and handling? I mean, with Covid, I'm not sure what the easiest way to package and ship items is? Need the nuts and bolts of labeling a package, and whether or not I drop it off at post office, have it picked up, and how to select weight, etc? Thanks for the help!
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08-22-2020, 02:19 PM | #2 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Boston
Posts: 1,364
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I don't have tons of experience at this, but I do have a couple suggestions. First, get yourself a postage scale. Take pictures of your item for the eBay/Mercari/whatever listing, then package it up in a box with appropriate padding and weigh the whole thing. You can plug the weight into the calculator on the USPS web site to get an approximate postage cost. (You'd need a delivery ZIP code to get the exact cost, but you won't know that until you've sold it.) When you've sold the item and have a shipping address, buy the postage on the USPS site and print a label.
You can then either drop the package off at the post office or schedule your mail carrier to pick it up. In my experience, you may need to try a few times for a scheduled pickup. If the carrier doesn't have room for the box in their bag, they'll ignore it and you have to try again. Especially these days with all the problems the USPS is having, the process may be a little frustrating, unfortunately. I bought this scale recently and it seems to a good enough job that I haven't had a package rejected yet. I've only sent a couple, though. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZV1QCVF/ If you're expecting to be a high-volume seller, you might consider signing up for a subscription service like stamps.com to get reduced postage rates. But there are membership fees for that, so it doesn't make sense if you're only selling a few items. Anyone with more experience and better suggestions can feel free to correct me. |
08-22-2020, 03:32 PM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 4,255
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Just remember Ebay takes the final value out of everything including shipping.
It's cheaper to buy postage online via ebay or the USPS, but never factor that into what you charge for shipping, because if for some reason you have to mail at the post office, you'll lose money. Boxes are preferred over padded envelope for figures, you might get by heavily padding a couple of figures in an envelope, but best to use boxes. Don't buy them from USPS. Might consider just going all priority shipping so you can use the free priority boxes. As long as you have boxes that can fit what you are selling. Use global shipping program for shipping outside the USA. Ignore anyone who requests otherwise, because it is rarely worth the hassle. If decide to allow offers, check "decline offers lower than __________" , because there's twits who will waste your time offering a buck for a $20 item. Be suspicious of bidders with NO FEEDBACK making offers for high price items. Also ignore any offers that are shenanigans, like "How about _______ with free shipping?" Anything that put the burden of figuring it all out on you is b.s. They clearly don't want what you are selling enough to make a clear and realistic offer. IGNORE SOB STORIES. "My son/daughter really wants this, but..." "I'm a disabled veteran and on a budget...", etc. If the offer is decent, then consider it, but never let that dubious stuff affect your decisions. Last edited by Sean_C; 08-22-2020 at 03:58 PM.. |
08-22-2020, 08:18 PM | #4 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: CA
Posts: 19
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Some excellent suggestions, thanks guys! Especially the nuance of ebay selling insight. Will watch for scammers. Also love the scale idea. What kind of sticker paper do you use to print labels? Or do you just tape it to the box? Thanks again guys, this will all help.
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08-22-2020, 09:27 PM | #5 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 4,255
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I've never invested in label paper. Maybe I should. I tape labels to box (careful not to cover the bar code), but I'm so paranoid that under the label is almost always a written address and return address in case something gets torn off. I rarely do the invoices inside, probably a mistake on my part, but the cost of even non-OEM printer ink adds up.
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08-22-2020, 09:58 PM | #6 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,449
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I always offer free shipping to get views, and just estimate the cost and factor it into the price.
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08-23-2020, 10:54 AM | #7 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: CA
Posts: 19
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Again, excellent suggestions. I'm on it! Thanks.
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08-23-2020, 11:29 AM | #8 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 1,162
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if u want to avoid the sellers fees and all that crap I recommend joining a facebook group and selling your stuff on there. you will make a lot more money then giving to ebay. this is based on my experirence. there is a lot of facebook groups were u can buy and sell gijoe figures.
__________________
Heres my feedback rating. Im SGT SLAUGHTER AT COBRAISLAND. http://www.cobraisland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41 Feedback at Hisstank. http://www.hisstank.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6193 |
08-23-2020, 11:49 AM | #9 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Phoenix,AZ
Posts: 285
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A few tips...
> PayPal offers fleet shipping prices like ebay. > Selling on social media avoids the 10% ebay fee but reduces your views. > Only use PayPal's goods and services on social media. > Use buzz words in your ebay listing title to get views. > Be honest in your listing about the amount of time it takes you to ship. If you can only ship on Saturdays, then put that in your listing. Shit happens and a negative review sucks. > USPS is usually the most affordable but FedEx is close. Compare the two using ebay's shipping calculator. Feel free to post other questions here. I've been selling Joes and Comics for 5+ years. |
08-23-2020, 01:12 PM | #10 |
Space Cadet
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: The southern side of stability
Posts: 2,263
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Postal scale like Josh Z said and printing online shipping will make an enormous difference. Whether to sell on eBay or not depends on the figure. Sometimes you can bet more on eBay than other places and you get more ppl looking like someone said. Collector groups on FB work but read all their group rules twice to make sure you don’t get cross wise with anyone.
__________________
Feedback page: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...-feedback.html Don’t have any tanks, just an attic full of BATs. |
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