This Week on eBay

This week on eBay has been a little crazy! (YAY!!!)  Because of packing, moving and unpacking, I ended up not listing on eBay for nearly two weeks!

I was beginning to feel like I was on withdrawal, so I spent almost all of last Saturday listing, listing, listing and shipping, shipping, shipping!

The items I picked up this summer that I thought would be good sellers for Christmas are starting to move (Pixos and Zoobles.)  It’s always fun to see things you made an investment in start selling.

I pretty much have everything worked out with my new mail carrier as far as pick ups.  All of this week, I’ve had two totes full of packages for him each day, so that’s a lot of fun for me to see my effort from the entire year paying off.  I’ve also had a few things sell on addoway.com and bonanza.com.

The other thing that’s really starting to move in my store right now is my Starbucks bears.  Almost everyday I’m selling one or two of them.

I love having my garage all organized so that I can quickly locate my items to ship, and I’m in the process of organizing my office so that shipping is super efficient too.

Hope your sales are going crazy!!!

Surviving the eBay Christmas Buying & Selling Season

♫ Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane ♫

The eBay Christmas buying and selling season is quickly approaching.

I find that the Christmas season for my store seems to start at the end of September and usually lasts until about the end of January.

Since that’s a hectic time of year anyway, I try to be proactive with my eBay listings so I’m ready for the Christmas season before it hits.

All year long, I stock items that I think will be great for the Christmas season.  Some are new items, others are pre-owned items.  I figure that if they sell in the mean time, that’s a bonus for me.  This way, I don’t have to rush to get things listed once the season hits.

During the Christmas selling season, I find it’s important to stay on top of shipping. I try to ship promptly all year, but it’s very important during this time of year.  Over the weekends when something is paid for, I print the label and have it sitting and ready to go by my front door  Monday morning.  That way when I get up on Monday morning, there may be a few things that need to be shipped out, but I don’t have to spend my morning shipping.  I can list a few things I found over the weekend.   I also try to ship items out 1st class or PRIORITY whenever possible.

I  try to not overwhelm myself with listings.  I push to get as much as I can listed before the end of October, but still list things as I find them during the Christmas season. Sometimes I only have time to list an item or two per day during that time of year.  I tell myself it’s OK.  I’d rather list a few things a day than nothing.

Make sure you keep a close eye on your shipping supplies and printer ink this time of year.  Order them ahead of time so you’re well stocked.  There’s nothing worse than running out of tape or  bubble wrap  in the middle of a huge pile of items you’re trying to ship out.

During the Christmas season, lots of new buyers find eBay and others order at the last minute.  Just expect to get some cranky buyers.  I get people who buy an item and send an email the next morning wondering why they haven’t received it yet.  Don’t let rude or cranky Christmas buyers rattle you, just expect it and be professional with them.

Every year that I sell on eBay, the Christmas season gets more and more hectic, so I figure I must be doing something right……don’t get frustrated that you have so many items to ship out or tons of customer questions, that’s the reason you’re selling online right?  To get items sold.  I love shipping, that’s when I hear CHA-CHING!!!

Keep things in perspective, and most of all, make time for what’s important to you and your family this Holiday season