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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 12:04:29 GMT -5
i need some help and advice on my ebay slab. I have never sold anything on there and i need some pointers. Did i do it right? heres the number, i don't know how to do this any other way.
Dino Bone Slab Item number: 270274296733
ty all very much ralph and mary ann
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 9, 2008 12:09:51 GMT -5
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270274296733Just use the URL upto the end of the item number Seems like a reasonable starting price. Might want to put up a few more so folks can take advantage of shipping savings. It could also be good to state the thickness and whether or not there is any taper. Slab listing often (but not always) comment on how solid, or if any fractures ... etc. It may also be good to further articulate combined shipping policy. Must be paid together? Must be ending within same week? Any per item charge? Will ship to Canada? Good luck
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1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
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Post by 1rockhound on Sept 9, 2008 12:23:35 GMT -5
I would also put a few more keywords in the title as this is what people use to find the item on eBay. I would use a title like" PETRIFIED DINOSAUR DINO BONE ROUGH SLAB". Try to use every letter that eBay allows in the title without keyword stuffing. What I normally do is think of all of the words or phrases that people would use to find that particular item.
Hope this helps a little and good luck!
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 12:58:41 GMT -5
Hi , The quality of the picture usually determines the final sales price . You might have a super nice slap actually worth a hundred dollars , but if you have only one blurry picture that makes it look like a $3 slab , odds are , that is what you will get . If you really want to sell on ebay , sign up with vendio and use their picture hosting and listing service ( I use them ) . Free services such as inkfrog and auctivia also host pictures. You'll want several full size pictures to help you sell your item . These days , I soley make my living off of ebay sales. Times are tough right now with the economy down and no one has any spare change to buy a luxury such as a rock ( But it wont always be this way ) . I have found that with great pictures you may or may not get a fair or even a great price . But you dont stand much of a chance with out several full - size clear pictures . It is hard right now for an established ebayer with a regular following . Ebay has made some recent changes that has really been bad for the sellers . I can only imagine how tough it will be with a zero feedback starting out . Good luck , and I think I'll place the first bid !
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Post by stardiamond on Sept 9, 2008 13:00:04 GMT -5
I buy most of my slabs on ebay. For some reason your item isn't showing up on a "dino bone" search. Maybe it takes a while. The listing for your item is good. Really good pictures are very important to a buyer. You have a lot of really great material. Most of us buyers are looking for unusual and high quality material. That kind of material will always sell and you will make money for ebay and paypal. The question for you is whether it is worth your while to sell there.
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 13:04:30 GMT -5
ps . on shipping , ebay will make your ad invisible if their computer decides that your shipping is too high . This means you may get a low sales price if only a handfull of people see the add . With a flat rate envelope , you dont want to charge more than actual . I am not saying this is fair , just how things are . I would never , ever , ship a slab in a flat rate envelope . First broken slab will come back to cost you money , time , unhappy customer and bad feedback . Order the large video cassette boxes and ship a single slab that way . As long as it is only 16 ounces or less , your actual cost is only $4.60 if you get postage online with free delivery confirmation . Other than that , use the #4 7x7x7" square box . You can order your supplies online at www.usps.com but it takes weeks to get the supplies .
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 13:13:43 GMT -5
omg ty for all in information, now i'm really confused lol its so hard to start something new. My shipping is too much for one, i will agree but that was the only way i knew how at the moment. I will check out the usps site.
i hate all the fees on ebay thats why i have stayed away from it. But i was bored and thought today.......... what the heck, i'll try it.
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 13:22:34 GMT -5
since there is a bid on the item , you are limited as to how you can revise your item ( as opposed to if there were currently no bids and longer than 12 hours before auction end ) . But I think you can "revise" your item and add additional shipping . I would go back in and add priority mail Fixed price - $4.80 on their asap . Ebay can be a good source of income . I am less than happy with their recent changes , but I like the flexiblity it offers me to work from home . I added a mini-warehouse onto my home , circular driveway , storage room , display room , packing room , all just for ebay sales .
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 14:12:12 GMT -5
that is flat rate envelope price with conformation
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 14:51:06 GMT -5
yeah , but as I mentioned , no way would I ship out a slab in a flat rate envelope . Most would go thru the mail ok this way , but I sure wouldnt wont to have to hassle with the one that broke . For example , if your first one breaks on your first ebay sale , your feedback might be -1 . They stuff those mail bags with 150 pounds of mail and then sling them around . A little pressure in the middle of the slab and it might break , if it were to be at the bottom of the bag . It's no extra expense to use the video box or the 7" box.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 15:03:04 GMT -5
k i will change it to a box and make it $4.80 shipping, is that ok?
ty
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 15:23:05 GMT -5
That will probably work best for you in the long run ! If you end up selling much at all , get you a p-touch ql-500 printer. I needed mine in a hurry and paid $100 for it at office max , but you can find them on ebay for a lot less . Also buy the label stock on ebay for half price . As soon as a paypal payment comes in , you just click on "print label" and it will prompt you for specifics and you just fill in where applicable . You can then print your postage from home , at a discount and with free delivery confirmation . You can also order a usps pick-up for the package the next day . This way , you can ship super fast without any trips to the post office . Not only do you save a trip , you can do this at 4 in the morning , or at midnight , just whatever might work best for your schedule. doing it this way links your tracking information with ebay . it automatically emails the customer with tracking info , as well
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Post by stardiamond on Sept 9, 2008 15:30:05 GMT -5
I've got slabs shipped to me all different ways. Cheap shipping for a small slab has been sandwiching a slab between two pieces of plywood and putting it in a padded envelope.
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indigoace
starting to shine!
Member since May 2008
Posts: 26
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Post by indigoace on Sept 9, 2008 16:02:15 GMT -5
I just bumped it up for you. For some reason, when I clicked on the "View seller's other items", I got *zero* results. eBay doesn't think that you have anything listed for sale. As stardiamond mentioned above, your listing does not come up when I search on Dino Bone Slab. You might want to contact eBay to figure out what's up.
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 16:39:23 GMT -5
................it look's like at the moment he actually does have "zero" other items ? ( only 1 item listed presently )
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 16:46:51 GMT -5
i only put one item on as a test cause i don't know what i am doing lol All my other stuff is on my flickr.
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 9, 2008 17:04:17 GMT -5
I agree the small box is better for single slabs since the cost is comparable to flat-rate env.
The small FRB is great for 5 or more slabs, even if mostly empty, and I have bought slabs like this often, and did not mind paying for the FRB - but only when I got 5 or more slabs.
SOme sellers offer single slab in padded env with 1st class postage. I have chosen this option of inexpensive slabs. Seems the seller is vulnerable though because of potential breakage and not having delivery confirmation.
IF you print your label online at USPS.com (or with other electronic postage service) the delivery confirmation is free. So, if you are charging actual shipping (postage+conf) it would be good to state that - small handling is fair, but many look for actual cost.
Study some of the other slab listings from folks selling many slabs. See how many photos, what auction service, what shipping terms ... etc.
You may also want to have some buy-it-now items for folks who like to combine shipping.
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Sept 9, 2008 17:15:53 GMT -5
just a note that if you order online postage thru paypal , delivery confirmation is FREE , even with first class , media mail , you name it . To start out with , you dont have to have a special printer , you can print the label with any ordinary printer or fax machine . The downside to this is that the label is always large ( half a sheet ) and wont fit on small packages . It is also something that has to be taped on , which is a hassle . Using postage thru paypal , links the account and emails the buyer to expect a package. The other day I had a buyer that said " hey , I got your email stating it was shipped , but I dont have the package " . Since I had used paypal , instead of rummaging thru papers and reciepts , i just went to my "my ebay " clicked on the item , clicked on "view order details" . This told me that the item really was delivered ( in this case , the buyer moved but didnt change her address ) , which no matter what , saves me from any claims .
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 9, 2008 17:18:03 GMT -5
i just added a slab of chrysocolla, tell me how that looks and does it show up? ty all very much
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fisherman510
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by fisherman510 on Sept 9, 2008 18:02:53 GMT -5
I ship quite a few knives and knife related products that I sell on ebay. I use priority mail only. I use priority mail boxes which are free through usps.com when possible. I buy boxes from uline.com if the post office boxes are not the size I want. I buy my postage online from usps.com and get delivery confirmation free. This way I don't have to guess about shipping. I offer insurance as an option on lesser expensive items, but if over $50 or I require it and add to shipping. My ebay store is arklatexsales if you want to look If nothing else, it may show some things not to do.
Bob
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