Tips for eBay Sellers: Only the Strong Survive

If you are an eBay seller, you probably don’t need anybody to tell you that it’s getting tougher all the time to keep afloat on the Bay.

Many eBay sellers have jumped the fence for greener pastures such as Amazon. However, since Amazon doesn’t allow sales of vintage and collectible items for the most part, you may be one of the unfortunate sellers who are well and truly stuck with eBay.

Yes, there are other venues. But realistically speaking, none of them are much competition for FeeBay, at least for the time being.

So, if you must sell on eBay, how can you continue to make a decent and reasonable profit?

How can you avoid getting suspended or restricted in your selling due to a run of bad luck with undeserved low feedback and DSR ratings from a mere handful of PITA buyers?

It won’t be easy.

After the newest changes go into effect next month, it will be extremely difficult. Fees are increasing (surprise, surprise) and the bar has been raised even higher as regards feedback and Detailed Sellers Ratings.

Most of you can kiss any kind of discount off your Final Value Fees goodbye.

The long and short of it is that making it as an eBay seller has turned into the Law of the Jungle where only the strong survive.

So, you will have to be strong, and you will have to be extremely proactive.

You will have to be strong about your work ethics and practices. For example, if you say you will ship within a certain time frame, then do so. Don’t specify a time of 3 business days for shipping, for instance, and then dawdle around for a week or longer before shipping a buyer’s widget.

Don’t charge for Priority Mail and then ship Parcel Post, which is not only cheaper but also takes considerably longer.

Don’t be slipshod in your packaging and try to shave a few cents off expenses by stuffing items in a Priority Mail tyvek envelope turned wrong side out and shipping it First Class. This is not only illegal, it tells the buyer that you are dishonest. After all, if you’ll rip off the USPS, why not them?

Your packages should be professional looking and secure. If it takes an extra few minutes to package well, then take the time and do it.

Don’t leave your buyers in the dark about when you shipped their widget. Send a message and let them know it’s on the way. It takes a little more time, but it will be time well spent. Remember that they will rate you on communication.

Don’t forget one of the most basic but incredibly overlooked things that you should ALWAYS do for your buyer, and that is to say “Thank you.” It is absolutely amazing how many sellers fail to do this and it’s really stupid not to.

Being strong in your professional conduct as a seller, instead of taking the easy shortcuts of poor service to your buyers, will stand you in good stead on eBay.

It may not be enough to completely eliminate any problems with buyers, bad feedback and Detailed Seller Ratings, but it will definitely help!