Anyone interested in a £300 by Easter ebay selling thread?

[carrotsandcelery]

Inspired by the threads before Christmas, I was hoping we could get another thread going to motivate us as we sell and ask each other questions as we go along.

I am hoping to start selling again once the dc go back to school next week.

Anyone else want to join me?

There is a postage calculator link in the postage section of the form you fill out when listing an item. It has only failed me once and that was for a 2nd class recorded delivery. Otherwise it has always been accurate.

I add a little to the postage for the postage materials (learnt from bitter experience)

It is a pain waiting for the postage limit to be lifted. I have the same frustration with my charity account. It does stop me listing more than I can post though.

Tamoo - if you don't have a set of accurate digital kitchen scales you should invest in some. Weigh each item carefully with expected packaging before you list it. If you are close to the borderline of the postage price band quote the next price up - you can always refund some postage later - this gets lots of nice feedback comments.

Keep all bubblewrap, mail order postage bags, jiffy bags etc, and re-use as much as you can each time.

the Royal Mail website is excellent: www.royalmail.com

It has a personal section and takes you through the postage options really easily.

I agree with the over charge and refund policy, especially if you get a request to post overseas. You do get nice feedback comments and you don't end up out of pocket.

I have also emailed buyers who have bought several items and said I will refund postage but would they mind if I now post the item recorded as, with everything together, it becomes more valuable and too much to risk losing out on. I have one like that today. Buyers usually appreciate the communication.

I also keep all bubble wrap and decent looking packing materials for postage.

I will soon be posting a glass bottle of aftershave. Any ideas on the safest way to post it? It doesn't have a box.

Thanks for the tips :) I'm an ebay newbie, found the postage calculator link for later items but I'd already sold the shoes by then.

On a nice note, one of the other items I'd underestimated (!) sold and the lady who bought it messaged offering to pay me the shortfall in postage. What a sweetie. I said no thanks but really appreciate the offer :)

I've got rid of so much packaging over Christmas etc that I could have used for the items I'm selling. Also given away so much stuff I could have sold

I know exactly what you mean. I must have given away hundreds, if not thousands of pounds worth of stuff, and thrown out some too. I try not to think about it and just think about from here onwards

carrotsandcelery - box did you say - I keep all handy sized boxes as well! I'm sure I could find one for your aftershave.

Honestly, I would bubble wrap and put in a box, or a cardboard tube if it is roundish. Put in enough bubble wrap so it doesn't move about.

BTW there are instructions for wrapping perfume on the Royal Mail website here.

PurpleFrog thank you for that. Mumsnet really can answer anything it seems

Dh's aftershave is certainly popular - there are about 19 people watching it now and bids are up to £23 already

Nothing else has bids though although I am gathering watchers.

Is there any movement on anyone else's listings?

I have a bid on ds's outgrown trainers. Woo hoo! Has anyone else got any?

I'm selling a few pieces of jewellery, what I consider to be the ugliest item has got the most watchers/bids. It's foreign and quite unusual though, maybe that's why.

Got a couple of designer tops which have watchers but no bidders.

And several crappy old DVDs which clearly nobody wants any more than I do!

Aftershave: I am a master at posting fragile items.

Tightly Bubble wrap item inside styro peanuts type stuff (recycled materials fine). Layers & layers of bubble wrap might do the peanuts job, too.
Put all Inside a cardboard box that is itself extra lined (all sides) with pieces of cardboard.
When done (box all taped up) you should be able to shake the box and it feels like nothing is moving inside.
Then imagine dropping it from the top of your stairs.
The thought should not fill you with horror.

Most of my listings attracting no interest, BUT one item has 20 watchers & one bid, hooray! :)

Mine seems to be ticking along nicely, up to £486 now :) 71 items sold and 25 more that will sell, I'm on a roll!

Although I am going to have to take a break soon as we're going away for a week and I don't want any late payers to pay when we're away as I won't be able to post.

A slow week for me - I have 17 items finishing Sunday/Monday and only one with a bid. I am selling higher-value stuff though this week (I've saved my 99p stuff for when it isn't free listings). A few watchers, though, so we'll see.

Agree CV - a slow week here as well. In the last week I have sold about £15.00 worth. Still, it's money in rather than out .

Well done to everyone.

Yes, I only have 2 items that will sell out of about 37. Last week it hotted up in the last day though so I won't give up yet

Amazingly I have a pair of bargain bin type DVDs that have been bid up to £16.00 am waiting for the bids to be retracted, they are the type of thing you get in Poundland!

Oh what type of films are they? I have loads of dvds but didnt think it was worth listing them!

Motorsport, so I guess 'special interest', though they are not documentaries or films, just really old nondescript races.

Re. DVDs I have a couple of 'cult' films that are getting watchers, but my modern/widely available ones aren't getting any interest at all, even at 99p.

Buyer not paid up after a week,I have in-boxed them (politely).Any more suggestions?It`s a gorgeous warm coat which I only got one pound twenty pence for(worth a lot more).I think due to the cold snap I could get a lot more!
What shall I do?

Jardy You need to open non paying bidder case. Unfortunately you won't be able to list it until that's sorted. Or you could maybe send them a request to mutually cancel transaction.

I'm slowly getting watchers and the odd bid. Not much interest in most of it though!

Tortoise-I have followed your instructions.Many thanks.Also I thought Ebay`s instructions very clear and helpful

Watchers and bids are beginning to trickle in now. If all goes well we are going to make at least £43 this week.

It does seem very slow though.

rebecklet sorry you answered me ages ago. I am in awe of the amount you have listed, when do you fit it in?! I managed 4 tonight, took all evening!
Also how did you know you could sell eg the kipling monkeys? I might be sitting on a goldmine and not know it ha ha!

Also keep meaning to ask re PayPal- how d