Postage Guide for eBay Clothing Sellers

I know what you are thinking:  “That sounds like the dullest subject anyone ever decided to write about!”  Well, that is correct.  However, sometimes you have to pay attention to a few dull details or you will quickly be handing over all of your profits to the post office.  No one, except the post office, wants that to happen.

This guide will be broken into three main categories:

Beginners 101
1.  First Class
2.  Priority
3.  Parcel Post, Express, and other options

Intermediate 201 (coming soon)
1.  Supplies and stuff
2.  Introduction to postal zones
3.  Priority Regional Rate Boxes

Advanced 301 (coming soon)International Shipping

Part I.
Beginners (101)

Oh, the mistakes I made!
The first thing I had ever sold on eBay went like this:  Before I listed the item, I took it down to the post office and had it weighed, then I listed it with calculated shipping for the buyer--based on their zip code.  Once the item sold, I then took it back to the post office, waited in line again, was talked down to by the postal clerk, purchased my over-priced postage and merrily went away.  Next, I had to go home and manually add a mile-long tracking number to the eBay item and hope for the best.

There has to be a better way!  I started hearing about these new “Flat Rate” boxes--where you could just stuff them to maximum capacity and pay one simple price.  I was sold!  My next listing was set up and sold (for way less than I had imagined)  but I was happy that I could just shove the items in this box and pay the flat $10.85 fee, print the postage myself, and 2-3 days later my item was in the hands of it’s new owner!  This owner promptly gave me positive feedback, but gave me only one star for S&H cost.  GREAT!  I guess $10.85 is too much S&H to pay on a $3 sweater.

I also have a confession to make.  The post office, the people who work there, and the entire system of mailing packages scared the bejeezus out of me!  We always fear that which we do not understand, right?  In school they never taught us much about our great postal system and how to wade through the multiple options available, and especially how to do so without the clerk talking down to us.  Until eBay, I knew how to address an envelope properly, where to buy a stamp, and that my letter went in the big blue metal box on the corner.  Mailing anything larger than a standard letter made me so nervous, you would think someone just told me I had to file my taxes, by myself, using the long form!

Where do I start?
It’s really not as complicated as you think!  In this guide, I will walk you through the main types of postage options available:  First Class, Priority, and Parcel Post.  I will also teach you how to get the best postage prices for your buyers, without absorbing the costs yourself, and whether you should offer your customers calculated postage or flat rate postage.  You will know how to set up a multiple item discount.  Finally, we will discuss the pros and cons of international shipping and how to go about it.

This guide and the prices contained in this guide are current as of October 2012.

First of all, I would like to lead with the good news:  You never have to go to the post office again!  Going to the post office is for old ladies and you no longer have any reason to go there!  That must be a relief and I will give you a moment to let that absorb in!

You will need two items:  a printer and a postal scale.  If you do not have these items, you must immediately head over to eBay now and start bidding on them!  The postal scale does not have to fancy!  It doesn’t even really have to be a postal scale--I am currently using one that was designed for weighing food when you are watching your calories!  Currently, you can get a nice one on eBay for about $7, including S&H.  This will be one of the best investments you ever made!

Always print your postage directly from eBay.com
Now that you have the necessary equipment, you can print all of your postage directly from eBay!  There are several great reasons to do this, including:

You will save up to 32% by taking advantage of the USPS Commercial prices  (Eventually you may become a power-seller and then you can receive USPS Commercial Plus pricing, and will save even more money!)
Delivery confirmation is included.
Your buyer will be immediately notified that their package has been sent and they will receive a link, so that they may track their package.
All of your shipping and tracking information will be in one place for you to easily access it.


First Class Mail Parcel
This is the easiest part of all!  If your item and it’s packaging weigh 13 ounces or less, than you are in luck!  You will most likely nearly always want to choose this very inexpensive, reliable, and quick shipping method.  The downside:  You have to buy your own envelopes, boxes, or packages.


*These prices are the USPS Commercial Prices available through eBay.com, as of October 2012.  These prices do include delivery confirmation.

Restrictions on First Class Mail Parcels:
Maximum weight of 13 oz.
Up to 108” in combined length and girth.
Most hazardous materials cannot be shipped.
Priority Mail
Since most things weigh more than 13 oz., the most common type of mail you will use when mailing clothes will be Priority.  I use a combination of three different types of Priority mailing options:

Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes
Standard Priority Mail Packages
Regional Rate Boxes (will be covered in Part II)

Each of these options have pros and cons and I use a combination of each one, depending on the situation.  You are entitled to have free mailing supplies sent directly to your home, free of charge!  I recommend that you create an account on USPS.com and order a variety of each type as soon as possible.

I particularly like Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail Tyvek Envelopes for clothing items.  Flat Rate Envelopes start at $4.90 and you don‘t have to consider weight, making them the least expensive Priority Mailing option.  However, they are not very strong and they do not hold much. 

Package contents must reasonably fit within the Flat Rate Box or Envelope.
Maximum weight is 70 lbs.
Can't include any hazardous materials.

If it doesn’t fit in the “Flat Rate Mailing Envelope” you will have to use either a “Flat Rate Box” (which are really over-priced) or you will have to send it based on weight and zone.  You can use any of the other Priority Mailing boxes and envelopes on the USPS website, which as you know, can be delivered to your home, free of charge!

The final (and often best) Priority option is Regional Rate boxes, but we will cover those in Part II.

Parcel Post and Express Mail
It’s nice to offer these services to your customers, but I have never had anyone opt to pay for Premium Express Mail.  I suppose if it were 3 days before Christmas, you may find this could benefit your customer.  Anyhow, it doesn’t cost you anything extra to offer it and eBay recommends it.

Parcel Post is a necessary evil.  If you are selling an entire wardrobe or huge lot, you may need to offer Parcel Post to keep the price somewhat reasonable.  Please tell your buyer that it takes a long time to receive a package this way and give them some other option, just in case they need the items before the season changes.

Parcel Post typically takes about 2 weeks, but in some cases it can be even longer.


Helpful websites:
Zone Charts
http://postcalc.usps.gov/Zonecharts/
Postage Calculator
http://postcalc.usps.com/
Current USPS Pricing Charts
http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/Notice123.pdf

Maternity Clothes Part II

The next question you have to ask yourself is this:

Should I sell my maternity clothes as  
 
individual pieces, 

 

complete outfits

This lovely outfit is curently

 en route to it's new owner in Belgium!

 

or complete wardrobes?

 

Of course, there really is no right or wrong answer to that question.  You have to do research plus factor in cost to ship, the value of your time, and your own personal preference.  At first I thought I would be selling complete wardrobes, because this is how I would want to buy maternity clothes on eBay (and have done so!).  But it just does not tend to be very profitable at the moment.  Hopefully that will change.

In the mean time I have been selling mostly complete outfits, unless I have an item that has considerably more value than your average items, and those I have been selling individually.

Whatever you decide, please start the bidding at the least amount of money you are willing to accept.  An auction that starts at 99 cents is great, but sometimes the risk is too high that you will only get 99 cents.

Buying and Selling Maternity Clothes Part I

I love love love selling maternity clothes on eBay!

Maternity clothes are expensive and you only wear them such a short time.  On average, you will wear your maternity clothes about six months total (including that horrid postpartum time when you think you will look pregnant for the rest of your life!).  Buying pre-owned maternity clothing on eBay JUST MAKES SENSE!

So, which brands are popular and sell well?  Here are my favorites:

Budget Friendly
Old Navy
Take Nine
Oh Baby! by Motherhood
Liz Lange Maternity for Target
Duo
Two Hearts
I would not pay more than a dollar or two for any of these brands at my local Goodwill store--while they are well known and sell well, they do not bring in a ton of cash.  I typically expect to sell a nice shirt or pair of pants in the above brands for $5-$7 each.  My only exception here would be nice career clothing or very large sizes, which sell well because they are hard to find.

Middle of the Road
Motherhood Maternity
Gap
H&M Mama
A Pea in the Pod/Mimi
Ann Taylor Loft
These are my favorites!  They are well known, excellent quality, and all-around-great-sellers!  You can typically expect to sell a cute top for about $10-$20.  Jeans or pants will bring in  about $15-$20.  A suit, dress or cute outfit for up to $50 or more! 

Higher End
Isabella Oliver
Olian
Thyme
Ripe
Nom
Boob
Maternal
If you see these brands at your local thrift store make a loud "CHA-CHING" noise, so that any other nearby re-sellers will be very jealous!

Thrift Store Thursday!

Every Thursday I plan to give real-life examples of money I made shopping at thrift stores and re-selling the items on eBay.   

 

Here are some recent items that I picked up and made a nice profit on!

Last Friday I hit 2 local Salvation Army stores near my house and they both had "Yellow Tags" 5 for $5 so I grabbed just about every maternity item with a yellow tag in both stores!  I spent $50 (plus tax) and walked out with 50 items in total.  

This Liz Lange Maternity dress was NWT (new with tags) I sold it BIN (Buy It Now) for $14.99 (plus $5.99 S&H) the same day I listed it!  I wanted to ask more than $15, but that's what the retail tag said, so I felt uncomfortable asking more than that. 
The Post Office charged me $3.28 to ship the dress, eBay charged me .50 for the Insertion Fee and $2.10 in Final Value Fees, and PayPal charged me .91 to collect my money.  After all that (and the $1.00 I paid for the dress) I made a net profit of $13.29
  
-$1.00 Cost of dress at Salvation Army
+14.99 Sale Price
+5.99 S&H paid by buyer
-3.28 cost to ship
-0.91 cost of PayPal
-2.50 eBay's cut
$13.29 Net Profit

 

 

Here is another example:

I found this gorgeous suit by Larry Levine for Dress Barn on a ONE DOLLAR rack at a local Consignment Shop!  The retail tag was still attached and the MSRP was $129.00.  Needless to say, I was elated when the sales clerk confirmed the price!  The first time I listed it at $45.00 for 7 days and didn't get much attention, so I re-listed it for $39.99 and it sold the very next day!

-$1.00 Cost of suit at local consignment store
+$39.99 Sale Price
+7.99 S&H paid by buyer
-7.14 cost to ship
-1.69 cost of PayPal
-5.30 eBay's cut
$32.85 Net Profit


These are only 2 examples of the 92 things that I have sold on eBay in the last 31 days!  Some have brought more profit and some have brought less profit, but ALL have brought SOME profit! 

I regularly hit 2 local Salvation Army stores every Friday they have some color tag on sale 5 for $5 and I go to the Disabled Veterans Resale store every Sunday when they have 5 items for $1!  (How could you not profit off that?)  I only buy items that are NWT or EUC and I try to stick with better labels.  That's my entire system!

Please share which thrift/goodwill stores are your favorite and which items do you look for?

What's my Stuff Worth?

How to choose a starting price for your eBay auctions

This is a bit of a tough one, and I would like to start this post with the following disclaimer:

This post is intended to give you a guide to pricing your items, but each situation is unique and there are too many factors to be considered for anyone to give a right or wrong answers to this question!

Now, with that out of the way, let's get to it!

The first thing you always want to do is research.  Check out how much the item (or a similar item) you have is selling for at a regular store.  Next, go to eBay and check items that have sold recently.  Be sure to sort "Price: High to Low" because we want to make the High-End, not the Low-End!  Now, study the one that got the most money.

Here are the questions to ask yourself:

• Did this person use "Auction" or "Buy It Now" or a combination?
• If it was an Auction, what did he start the bidding off at?  How many bids came in and how many different people bid on the item?
• What day of the week and time did his auction end?
• Is this item really the same as yours?  Pay close attention to the condition and possibly the size.
• Is this Seller a "Power-Seller"?
• Would you be happy getting this amount for this item?

Risky but often most profitable
I have often found that starting my auction off at a really low dollar amount (usually 99 cents) will generate more traffic to my listing, start a bidding war, and I will get far more money for the item than I had originally dreamed possible!  But, of course, this is a gamble.  You may very well get 99 cents for your item.  This type works best when you are selling an item that you are certain is highly popular and will get a lot of attention!  See my post on creating amazing titles!  Also, if you choose to go with any type of auction, please consider the time of day and day of week that your auction will be ending.  I like my auctions to end on Sunday or Monday evening around 10:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Pacific.  I think this time allows more people to be in front of their computer competing for my items.

Safe Auctions
The safest way to do an auction listing is to start the item off at the least amount of money that you consider reasonable.  Keep in mind that starting the item out on the higher end will also cost you more in insertion fees and will generate less traffic.  I believe that it is better to just do "Buy It Now" if you are not sure about "Risky Auctions".  But it never hurts to try a "Safe Auction" first to see how it works out for you.  See:  http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html#if_auction

Buy It Now
Then we have the oh-so-popular "Buy It Now".  Buy it Now is great for buyers and sellers because, as a buyer, I don't have to worry about being out-bid, and for the seller, he does not have to worry about having his item be under-sold.  However, if you use "Buy It Now" to sell your items, you will want to make extra sure you are not over- or under-pricing.  It will probably take longer to sell your items this way, but try not to let that frustrate you.  If you have done your research, you will find the right buyer eventually.

How to Write an AMAZING Title for your eBay listing

How important is a Good Title in your eBay listing?

Creating a great title is the single most important aspect to your eBay listing!  I once won an auction for 6 pairs of boys Nike gym pants that were brand new and only paid 99 cents!  I was elated, but the seller was not!  I felt a little bad for her, but the reason this happened is because her title was simply, "Nike Clothes".  That's it!  So, anyone who searched "boys Nike size 10" or "boys Nike pants" would never find her listing.  I think I stumbled across it by mistake--her loss, my gain.

 My title would have read:  
"Lot of six pair Boy's Size 10 Medium Nike Athletic Gym Pants NWT"

  

So what do I add, exactly?

You have to consider every possible combination of words a person might type into their search box, when choosing a title.  Aside from that, a smart seller also considers popular abbreviations and misspellings.  And, by the way, you have to squeeze all of that information in a box of 80 characters or less.

When it comes specifically to clothing, here are the IMPORTANT keywords:

• Gender
• Size & Size Type
• Color
• Brand
• Type of garment

Example:   Women's Plus Size 18 Red Lane Bryant Sweater

Optional:

• Material  (100% Silk, Cashmere, etc)
• Condition (NWT, EUC, Worn Once, MINT)
• Adjectives (Sexy, Cute, Adorable, Warm, etc)
• Size Synonym (size 8/Medium, size 2T/24 Months)
• Measurements *important with pants*  (32x30)
• Common Misspellings and abbreviations (MK for Mary Kay, TCP for The Children's Place, etc)  for common misspellings check http://www.goofbid.com/ and http://www.fatfingers.com/
• Other possible uses for this item (This requires imagination--but think costumes--an example of this is "Ugly Christmas Sweaters".  One of my favorite things to sell on eBay!  You can make MORE money off a Christmas Sweater if you add the word "Ugly" to your title!)
• Special events or Seasons (Church Dress, Career Suit, Easter Gloves, Fall Sweater, etc)

Example:  Sexy Cashmere Women's Plus Size 18 1X Red Lane Bryant Sweater MINT LB Bryan
(You may think adding Bryan is silly, but many people really think this store is called Lane Bryan's)

This is my process for coming up with a great title:  

1. I go to eBay and type in a very vague search for the item I want to sell, such as "Crazy 8 Shirt".  
2. I ask eBay to show me only "sold listings" and then I filter to show me the prices high to low.  
3. Next I scroll down the list until I find an item similar to mine and I study it.  How did the seller word his title and descriptions, and how did he photograph the item.  How can I do this better?

Here are some great websites eBay has provided to help us out:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/title_desc_ov.html
http://labs.ebay.com/Catman/
http://labs.ebay.com/erl/demoto/instructions.html
http://labs.ebay.com/erl/demoto/faq.html
http://labs.ebay.com/demos/qnet/

What NOT to add?

No one wants to see  any of this:
 "L@@K Girl's Gymboree Lot"
"*******WOW******  Maternity Pants"
"♫♪♪·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:      Boy's Shirt      ·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*♫♪♪"
 
It does not really get anyone's attention, because once the list pops up, your average shopper is only looking at the pictures, and it only wastes valuable characters in your title.  I even know people who refuse to click on titles that contain those odd characters.

Also, be careful when writing your titles that you are honest and not misleading!  If you list your item as "Gap Jeans" and in the description you say, "Old Navy Jeans which are made by the same company that makes Gap Jeans", you are deliberately misleading your buyers and could face having your item removed by eBay.

Another problem is using the work "LIKE"!  This is a serious eBay no-no!  You can not say your item is "Like New", "Like Ralph Lauren", or "Like a size 6" (even if it is).  That is because if a buyer searches, "New Ralph Lauren size 6" and they see your item (which is a used Hugo Boss size 4), they will be extremely frustrated.  Save your opinions for the description, not the TITLE.

First thing's First!

Dip your cute little toes in the water!

I wish my toes were this nicely manicured!

Free inventory:

So, you have never sold clothing on eBay and you have no idea where or how to start, right?  Well, go grab a laundry basket and head to your closet!  Grab anything that you do not wear.  I don't care if it's out of style or if you bought it off a clearance rack at Wal-Mart, just grab it and throw it in that basket!  Grab the blouse that is missing buttons, the pants you never wear because they are wrinkly 10 minutes after you put them on, and the suit that is "dry clean only" because who has time for that?! 

Now, go do the same thing in your kid's and husband's closets.

The next thing to do is sort everything by season and focus on the season that is upon you.  The items that fall into the other 3 seasons will be your inventory, and that you can store for later.

Now take the items that you want to sell NOW and further categorize them by size, type, and value.  When it comes to clothing, I like to group cheap stuff into "lots", which makes the buyer feel like they are getting a better deal.  Anything with a higher value should be sold individually or as an outfit.

Many people will get hung up on the concept that their items have no value to them, so they will have no value to anyone--but this is absolutely 100% NOT TRUE!

You are not your average eBay buyer.  Your average eBay buyer can be a Grandmother, an Eskimo, or your best friend.  With that in mind, you must adopt the attitude that this thing you are selling is the greatest thing ever, and you are doing a public service by helping the person or people who are out there looking for this thing, find it.  You will be so thrilled when the person who finds it, sends you positive feedback telling you that their life is now better because because they own your 1992 rayon drop-crotch pants!  Do not take my word for it.  Go to eBay and search sold listings of "Harem Pants" under the "Costume and Reenactment" category.

This will vary geographically, but this is how I sort:

Spring:  February-April
Capri pants, pastel colors, Easter dresses and suits, blouses, polo shirts, khakis, golf clothing, skirts, wind breakers, resort wear, baseball related clothing & items, soccer related clothing & items, tennis items & clothing, etc.  (Note:  Spring and Winter can also be a fabulous time to sell swimsuits, because many stores are not yet carrying them and many people are planning their vacations to sunny places.)

Summer:  May-July
Shorts, Swimsuits & Cover-ups, Resort Wear, Halter & Tank Tops, T-Shirts, Bright Sunny Vibrant Colors, Americana, Sandals, Camping Clothing & items, BBQ aprons, Sundresses, Sunhats, Roller skates, Inline Skates, etc.  (The summertime is the best time to hunt for things that you will be selling throughout the other seasons--but I will save that for another day).

Fall:  August-October
Backpacks, denim jackets & pants, hoodies, school uniforms, Halloween costumes, dorm items, corduroy, suede, sweaters, long-sleeve T shirts, darker colored suits, ties, shoes, Scouting uniforms & misc., warm pajamas, football-related clothing & items (college & NFL), hockey jerseys, ice skates, bowling shoes, shirts, & gloves, leotards, martial arts uniforms, hunting clothing, etc.

Winter:  November-January
This is a slower time for clothing, but there is still a fortune to be made, if you know what sells:  Christmas-themed clothing & pajamas, toys, swimsuits (but make sure you do not under-price them), any clothing you have that you never removed tags (NWT), velvet, heavy winter coats, anything ski-related, sweatshirts, sweaters, shoes, warm pajamas, long johns, school uniforms & jeans, ice skates, costumes for school plays & projects.  January is the time to sell basketball shorts & shoes and any type of workout clothing, diet books, etc that you have laying around.

What would you add?

Welcome to Fiercebabies!

Why am I here?

I love to $AVE money on everything and I love to MAKE money on the stuff that I saved money on!

I am so excited to start a new blog that will show other people how to do what I do:  

• Find the best deals online, at stores, at garage sales, and everywhere else!
• How to earn extra cash selling items on eBay and other ways that I make money.
• How to live better and save more when you make less.

About me:  

My name is Linda and I am a 35-year-old work-at-home mom.  I have 3 ridiculously handsome, intelligent, and creative boys ranging from preschool to high school age.  The man who puts up with me is Ray.  The more people I meet, the more I love my husband.  Our dog, Puggy, is the sixth member of our crazy house.

I have been selling on eBay for 5 years and I want to share how I make up to $1000+ per week!  It's easy (...OK, sometimes it's a little hard), It's fun (most of the time), and it is PROFITABLE (always)!!  I promise you that I am terrible at math, but I do know that 99% profits are good.

I do not have a business degree and I do not posses any special knowledge or expertise.
  
What I do have:  
1.  An eBay account, a PayPal account, and a digital camera.
2.  A love of shopping and scoring great deals!
3.  An intense desire to stay home with my kids, while earning a huge salary.

I specialize in acquiring and selling gently used clothing, especially children's, maternity, and plus sizes.  I will, however, sell anything I can get a super-good deal on!  So, thank you for visiting my first blog post and please join me on my journey.  I promise to try to always keep it interesting and original!

My Fierce Babies :)