Selling Physical Info Products On eBay?

Hi,

Just easing back into eBay here after a mess that took us down for a couple months with the electronic downloads. All cleared up now after help from many people including a super lady at Paypal who took time out to sort out the mess, plus a VP at eBay and our attorney using correspondence.

Feels great to be back, but we're working things very different - and making more money. My suggestions are:

1) Packaging products: CDs / DVDs with print workbooks and selling as sets. Make sure to charge enough shipping like the $9.80 for flat rate boxes, or begin your bids with enough to cover this (you get 50-cents off at check at via Paypal if you check out that way). These boxes h old up to 70 pounds (a LOT) so plenty of room to add goodies - -glossy postcards of your other products, business cards, freebies, etc. Stuff those boxes! And add the people to a print postcard. We get great ROI from postcard mailings. (Follow them up with phone calls using short, targted scripts and get even better ROI).

2) Selling larger items too: cars, equipment, furniture...These items take longer to find, get ready to sell and to deliver, but you earn more and this covers your time, effort and energy. Again, watch the fees here and start your bidding with enough to cover the min. you have in the item. Tire-kick on Craigslist or other classified sites that don’t carry such high fees, if you need to. Just beware you don’t quite get the same traffic you do with eBay.

3) Use their eBay Classified ads for digital-delivered products and services and don't take needless risks. Plus do watch what you put in these Classifieds. Even though some seem to get away with using links in them, order buttons, complete contact info, etc. READ eBay's rules and follow them to a T. This is a must. You will still get traffic, calls, sales, etc.

4) Network with other eBayers, your buyers! One lady there is teaching me how to improve my shipping listings, for example, noting details about package sizes that I guess can get you into trouble (might have a thread on that later - but sure hope not.)

5) I know eBay stores cost a little more, but you get so much more coverage and opportunities even with the smallest ones, that I can’t see why so many people don’t have them. For $15, you can’t beat it. Use their Market Research tools at least once a month for like $3, too, as your budget allows and see what the market bears.

So hey, branch out

6) If you do run into trouble, as you can tell we did at the beginning of this post, take a deep breath first, and realize your issues will more than likely not be resolved anytime fast. Then start a file and keep copies of all communications – even chats, logs of phone calls with times, names, titles, phone numbers and extensions, etc. This will save cut/pasting throughout the process of getting reinstated. Communicate in a professional manner, even though you’ll probably feel walked on, fess up to any wrong doings and point out your excellent history and that you will not repeat mistakes, etc. Enlist the help of your attorney, if possible. Ours had no eBay expertise, but took our letter that summed up the trouble (about 3-4 pages in length), and simply added his own cover letter. That was enough to help. Ditto with the Paypal lady. You know the inside facts, so write them out – in a professional manner – and help others help you.

Good luck to all eBayers and "Cheers!" (Rootbeer held high!)

I would have if eBay had told me WHO did the dirty deed. (Can't brand everyone as the same)
But as usual, eBay keep very much at arms length when discussing ANYTHING (unless you owe them money probably) So it'll remain an eBay lesson to be remembered.

What's the coffee? Maybe I need some.

Pete.