2006 December 15

How to Keep Track of Your eBay Sales & Item Never Arrived What Do I Do?

December 15th, 2006 |

Author: admin

Dear eBay Queen;

I took your advice and found some items around my house we didn’t need any more, then I went crazy and listed 20 items my first week selling on ebay. I didn’t think I would get a single bid, and most of the stuff has two or three bids! I cannot believe my items are selling! How do I keep track of these items? How do I know who bought them and when they sold?

I enjoy reading your strange item of the week, what was the strangest item you sold? Thanks for your help; reading your column gave me the push I needed to sell some stuff.

Paula

Dear Paula;

Congratulations on your newfound career! There is nothing like the feeling of de-cluttering your house and getting paid for doing it! eBay makes it easy to keep track of the items your selling and buying all in one place, “My eBay”. To view the status of any item your selling, simply click on the “My eBay” link on any eBay page. Find your items for sale by clicking on “All Items Selling” on the left side of your “My eBay” page. If your item sold, and you offer Paypal as a payment option, the buyer may have already paid you. You can even make a Paypal shipping label directly from your “My eBay” page.

If you deicide to make eBay selling a part of your life, I would look in to using a listing program. Not only can a listing program schedule and list your items, but also it can keep track of your items, and who purchased them.

I’ve had quite a few surprises in my time on eBay. I think one of the biggest surprises was a fishing float. I purchased a box of junk; (I mean collectibles) at a local auction. In the bottom of the box were 2 fishing floats. One of them looked like a rolling pin, and was a pretty lavender color, the other was aqua blue and round. I put them both on together, and within 2 hrs they had several bids, and were over $100.00. The ending price was over 300.00.

Dear eBay Queen

I sold a boxed set of Little House on the Prairie books on December 1^st. I did a shipping label thru Paypal and mailed them out on December 2^nd. On the 9^th, the buyer emailed me wondering where her package was. I politely explained that Media Mail saves money, but takes extra time to get there. When I checked the delivery confirmation number thru the USPS website, it says they received notification that this item was due to be received by the post office on December 2^nd. I don’t think the post office even scanned the box when I mailed it. The buyer emailed me again today wondering where her package is and the Post Office website is still giving me the same message. How should I respond to her? Should I offer her a refund?

Jayne; Richmond

Dear Jayne;

You are so right about Media Mail shipping! It really saves money when you are shipping books, CD’s and DVD’s, but takes forever to get there. The post office website (http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/mediamail.htm) gives 3-12 days as expected delivery times on media mail. During the Holiday season, I would guess that could be extended out by five more days.

I would email your buyer, give them the USPS websites shipping standards link (see above), and explain to them that it might take up to 15 business days for media mail during the holidays. If her package does not arrive by December 22, I would contact your postmaster and see if they can help locate the package. I would not offer a refund, until all your options have been exhausted with the post office.

I’m sure your package will turn up in the next couple of days.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 260060654487 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). Fishing Floats are still used by fisherman today, and some people love to collect or decorate with them. Check out this Antique Japanese Kanji Rolling Pin Glass Float. Sold for $800.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260060654487

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com .