Haven't used eBay to sell for quite a while - what's changed?

[suntodayplease]

Apart from postage going up with Royal Mail has any thing else changed.

I'm hoping to sell a fair bit of maternity clothing, I know some will sell well - brand new with tags from Isabella Oliver, but for worn bits is it best to do a bundle?

How are people going about postage these days? Are courier firms being used a lot more?

If I've small bits of baby wear can I get away with using large letter stamps?

Thanks

Fees are charged on P&P now. Check RM parcel sizes as there have been some changes here but small parcel size increased a bit which was much needed. Jumps up a bit if you hit next size so pack well and as flat as possible which can mean getting Large Letter instead of small parcel. I try and fold to small parcel size as much as possible.

Lots of chat on couriers on here so have a browse through threads. I tend to use RM but I know lots of people use couriers more. For bigger items I think they are cheaper.

Buy tissue, postal bags etc in bulk from ebay unless you have a cheap supply of these from elsewhere. Then you are ready to pack.

Free listing weekends are useful so you can set a min price and not pay a listing fee. Get items/listings ready and then list when there's a free wkend.

There has been a discussion on bundles vs individual listing recently. I generally favour individual but other people like doing bundles. See what works for you. NCT sales can also be quite good for maternity & baby clothes I think but I guess you have to wait for one to happen in your area.

Good luck.

Have sold loads of the nicer brand baby stuff, like Jojo and Gap. You can squeeze 99% of it into large letter size, which cuts down postage massively, and helps it sell. I sort of vacuum pack it in one of those zip seal freezer bags, roll all the air out then zip. Then pack in a plastic envelope. Get one of the letter size templates to be sure, and a postage calculator app.

Never guess postage! Weight it and check size before you list (I should take my own advice, have been bitten by this several times!)

DSRs are extremely important; possibly more important than feedback dots. Pay attention to your seller dashboard and read up what to do if your DSRs are low. If you get low ratings, you can receive a lifetime ban from selling and so will other people in your household.

Postage inclusive is the best way to protect your postage DSRs. Also guaranteed 5* for comms star if you offer express delivery, dispatch within 1 day and don't actually communicate with the buyer other than to mark the item as dispatched.

Thanks for the useful tips, especially about folding baby bits etc.

What does DSR stand for? And what is my dashboard? I've downloaded the app and used that to list two items yesterday. I went with the eBay suggested postal amounts.

Detailed Star Rating; Guide here.

lljkk Can you explain a bit more about the DSR Comms thing please. So is it best not to send a message to the buyer even if it is to offer P&P refund or say item has been posted exchange pleasantries etc

I think I remember reading something about it once but I am not totally sure. How is the comms DSR 5* guaranteed, can't the buyer just mark whatever they want? Thanks.

No communication took place between the buyer and seller from 14 days before the transaction up until the point that Feedback was left. This includes messages within My eBay and any opened cases

This is from the link you posted (thanks for the link) So if any messages have taken place, does that mean automatic 5* is no longer an option & then it is up to buyer to rate with stars? I always thought messages could be considered good communication but looks like this isn't the case.

The contradictions in the logic of the system you point out are common criticisms. Less comms = better comms in Ebay think. It's okay, good even, to mark item as dispatched using the drop down menu, but try not to communicate otherwise.
Here's how to guarantee 5* for comms.

I don't do this, by the way because I can't promise 1 day dispatch (depends on vagaries of when they pay, doesn't it?!). But if you can promise that...

What does constitute 1 day dispatch?

At one point I offered this, then had a buyer buy something on BIN at 8.30am while I was on route to work. Of course I hadn't taken the item with me as it hadn't been bought when I checked eBay at 8.00am. Since it was bought before the Post Offices open and before the normal working day starts, would posting later that day have been same day or 1 day dispatch?

Good question, PF! Could try live Ebay chat to maybe get an answer; but I think it only works for people who don't have real jobs.

I'm really not that bothered, but I have offered 2 day dispatch ever since. It is far less stressful, and means I don't feel obliged to run to the post office with one parcel, when 5 people still have to pay. Around 90% of my sales are posted next day, though.