| Believe it or not, one of the trickiest, most difficult | | | | Use appropriate packaging when shipping an item. If it |
| aspects of running an online business through eBay is | | | | is a fragile or delicate item, using Styrofoam packing |
| not procuring items, listing them or even processing | | | | peanuts to keep the item safe while in transit, but |
| payments. No, often the hairiest part is the delivery | | | | make sure you use a box size that is right for the |
| process. This process is also, oddly, the least | | | | item. Don't get a box or envelope that is too small, |
| discussed on eBay and e-commerce Internet forums, | | | | and cram the item to make it fit, and likewise, don't |
| because it is the most overlooked part of the selling | | | | use a box that is way too big that you had laying |
| process. But never fear, here are a few of the ins | | | | around either. |
| and outs of shipping your product that you should | | | | USE A REPUTABLE SERVICE |
| keep in mind when you have made a sale, and a | | | | Do not use some fly by night parcel service to |
| couple of tips to protect yourself from any of the | | | | deliver your item for you. Any mistake they make in |
| many things that can go wrong when delivering your | | | | delivering it reflects on you and your eBay business. |
| item from Point A to Point B. | | | | So stick to the well known companies such as FedEx, |
| NEVER OVERCHARGE THE CUSTOMER FOR | | | | UPS and the USPS. |
| SHIPPING AND HANDLING | | | | GET THE TRACKING NUMBER |
| One of the things that eBay customers find most | | | | Always obtain a tracking number for the parcel when |
| annoying is striking a bargain on a small item but | | | | you hand it off, and be sure to pass this number |
| getting ripped off on delivery charges. For instance, a | | | | along to the customer as soon as possible. Tracking |
| customer buys a book from an eBay merchant for | | | | numbers are the perfect way to let customers keep |
| $2.00. More often than not, that eBay merchant will | | | | tabs on their shipment, removing you from the |
| then charge $29.99 for domestic shipping and | | | | equation by letting the customer know without |
| handling, even though it only costs a few dollars to | | | | saying it that the whole thing is out of your hands. |
| ship it. The merchant, than, pockets the difference | | | | After this, any and all complaints will be addressed to |
| and pads the profit margin. Though this isn't illegal or | | | | the parcel service. |
| anything, it is bad business and almost certainly | | | | FOLLOW UP |
| insures that this customer will not buy from you | | | | After you have sent the item off it is always a good |
| again. There are many tools you can use to calculate | | | | idea to follow up on its status yourself. This shows |
| an item's shipping cost to any where in the world, so | | | | the customer that you care about your business, |
| utilize these beforehand and charge the customer | | | | generates good will, and goes a long way to |
| only what it costs you to package and ship the item. | | | | convincing the customer to shop from you again. |
| PACK IT UP APPROPRIATELY | | | | |