posted on April 24, 2001 03:04:12 PM
I've only been selling on eBay for a couple of weeks, and without any experience, I'm doing the best I can to put up as many good looking auctions as possible while still keeping track of my expenses/profits.
This is what I'm doing so far:
I created a database in MS Access that I input description, shipping price and shipping method. I run a macro that exports HTML for an auction. I add pictures which I take with a digital camera (I show thumbnails that you can click on to see a larger view). I keep track of my expenses for each item in MS Excel. This includes my purchase price of the item, shipping costs, insurance costs, packaging costs (if any), eBay fees and PayPal fees. Formulas calculate how much I've made off each item. I'm still learning how to find good items to resell and low prices. Thus far the work hasn't been worth the rewards.
When the auction ends I have an e-mail template that I copy into a blank email to send to the auction winner with the relevant price, shipping charges, etc. I print out all of my emails to buyers as well as their emails to me.
I keep each auction's email correspondence paperclipped together with a summary sheet so that I can see that status of each ended auction.
So far I've only been able to get 2-5 auctions up per night (I'm doing this on some spare time with my wife's help). It seems like it's just taking too long. Anyone have any suggestions?
I've heard of AuctionTamer... I'm thinking of trying that. Does it sound like it would be appropriate for the process I go through? What would I still have to do that I already do?
posted on April 24, 2001 03:48:18 PM
Thanks for giving such detail. That helps us in trying to give some pointers.
You're obviously already detail-oriented, so that's a plus. The minus is sometimes we get so caught up in those details that it does slow us down.
Try to automate your processes as much as possible. Take advantage of either the web-based programs for auction launching and/or post-sale management like AW, or software-based like Auction Tamer (which is what I use). Also Mr. Lister for eBay and Seller Manager for Yahoo (both free) are quite workable for auction launching.
Also, you don't quite mention the specific process you use to get the auctions up. For example, if you take the picture, write up the description, list on-site, then move on to the next item, it's going to take longer.
Try taking a bunch of pictures first, maybe in groups of 10 or whatever you feel comfortable with. Experiment. Get those pictures up to your image hosting site. Then write up all the descriptions for those 10 or so items. Please note that this process might mean that you won't be listing auctions each and every night. That's OK. It might be better to get 20 auctions up a week over a 1 or 2 night period rather than list a few each night.
Then, either list on site, or use one of the auction launching programs mentioned above. It'll be a snap then, because the pictures will be on site already, and the descriptions already written. All you need to do is plug everything into the right spaces on the form and you're ready to go.
As far as Auction Tamer goes, it's worth the price of just having the relevant auction information already inserted into your email templates for you, just like AW does with their PSM. Two major differences: AT is software-based and costs a one-time fee;AW is web-based and the cost to use is ongoing.
I'd suggest starting with the lower cost or free tools and then working your way up as you decide what tools you like best vs. what you're willing to automate and pay for. http://bjgrolle.freehomepage.com
posted on April 24, 2001 06:09:21 PM
Thanks for the great, detailed advice! I do realize that taking pictures of several items and then writing descriptions for several items, etc would probably be easier. I'll give that a shot. And I'll try out those free services you mentioned...
But how do I go about finding Mr. Lister?
Go to the selling services page and click on the link for Mister Lister you'll find on the left hand side. Scroll down.
It works a little differently than AW, Auction Tamer, and probably most of the other programs out there.
When you upload, the items are stored on the server for up to 2 weeks. During that time, you have to log in to Mr. Lister to launch the items, kind of a 2 step process compared to the one-step of the others. Not too bad once you're used to it.
posted on April 24, 2001 07:40:26 PM
Going against previous comments I have made, auction specific databases are best because they can interface with the internet. I agree that you should have large amounts of auctions posted all on the same day. Maybe make a decision to list every saturday or sunday everything. That will allow you to write descriptions and take photo on the weekdays. Even better would be to get the auctions launched on friday because then you have it posted for 2 weekends on the 10 day auctions. Also by listing a lot of auctions at one time you can begin to see payments flow in on a more steady basis, as you will begin to receive funds even by mail the next week (at least you should if they send it the next day)
"We're flooding people with
information. We need to feed it
through a processor. A human must turn information into
intelligence or knowledge. We've tended
to forget that no computer will ever ask a new question." - Grace Hopper
posted on April 24, 2001 07:51:16 PMI print out all of my emails to buyers as well as their emails to me.
Why do you do this? Is there a benefit to be gained by having the emails on paper as opposed to saving them electronically on your computer or backed up on a floppy? It seems to me like a waste of time (you could be doing other things, such as writing listings or taking photos) and money (paper and ink does cost), as well as being a good start at killing another tree.
Not meaning to be critical- just curious, that's all.
posted on April 24, 2001 10:12:29 PM
Sounds like you're doing a fairly good job but I have to agree about printing out each and every one of those e-mails. That's really time-consuming and a waste of good paper and ink, LOL.
I use an on-line e-mail account for my auction stuff. I have folders, one for 'incoming' meaning auctions I'm purchasing and four for 'outgoing' and one for international, meaning auctions I'm selling. The outgoing folders are used on a rotating basis. All e-mails pertaining to auctions ending one week go into one folder, the next week into the next folder and so on. I also save a copy of all sent e-mails just in case (sometimes folks never receive the original so I have the back-up just in case). Once the transaction is completely finished all e-mails for that transaction are deleted (usually in time for the next cycle).
Okay, this is getting lengthy, LOL.
I use a small program for listing called Auction Submit. It has a place to store preferences and any things in the listings that don't change (like TOS & HTML). My listings are done on my HD as time permits, then uploaded to start when I want them to go. As suggested, I take pictures in batches, then edit and upload to the hosting site I use. As I make up the listings I copy and paste the URLs into the program. Listing like this takes about 15 minutes per item versus 30 doing it on-site.
I also use an automated e-mail service for eBay (too bad it won't work at many other sites) and this saves more time than you can imagine! I thought at first buyers would hate the automated e-mail service but they loved it! Every time the status of a transaction changes an e-mail can be sent with the click of a mouse button. I was pleasantly surprised to see my feedback after I started using it because I'll admit I started slipping a little in the e-mail department. Buyers love to know when payment was received, when item shipped and so on. I can only ship a couple of times a week so I set my mail to let them know when the payment arrives telling them their item will be going out within the next couple of days (even shipping only twice a week most things go out the next day).
Anyway, like I said, this is lengthy, and it's probably getting real boring, LOL.
Good luck to you. I hope you do well in your auctions.
Oh, I did forget to say that I do print out the first page (on economy) of the ended auction and keep those filed in a binder. I've found I can easily keep track of all pertinent info right on that page and it's fairly easy to keep organized. http://www.wallypogsbog.bizland.com
posted on April 25, 2001 02:34:12 AM
I keep folders in outlook express for listings/endings, sold items, purchases, etc, etc. I keep auction emails in the inbox until they have received the item, then transfer those to sold items. I used to print them out but that takes too much time and too much space.
Thanks for the detailed descriptions/instructions... It's not boring. =)
Your method of creating a folder for auctions that end one week and another for auctions that end the next week... This sounds like it could work, but how do you keep track of who's items you have shipped, who you are awaiting payment from, when you should ship their item while you wait for their check to clear, etc? It's the main reason I was printing them out --- because I didn't know how else to keep track of it all. I don't even have that many auctions going compared to some people, and I still can't remember who ordered what and when I should ship, etc without looking through everything again.
Please explain, the lengthy replies aren't boring. It's exciting to me to see what others have to say, especially since selling on eBay is such a new hobby for me.
posted on April 25, 2001 10:09:40 AM
I make a separate folder for each auction (or group of auctions if the same bidder wins more than one) and file all email for that particular transaction there. These transaction folders are then stored in a "Pending" folder. Once payment is received and the item is mailed, the transaction folder is moved to a "Shipped" folder. When the buyer leaves feedback or sends email that they received the item, the transaction folder is moved to a "Completed" folder.
The reason that all the correspondence for a particular transaction is kept in the same folder is that it makes it extremely easy to find any emails sent or received for any individual transaction. If the emails are stored in different folders, it's a lot more work tracking down one particular message.
posted on April 25, 2001 12:02:33 PM
I, too, was finding listing auctions was taking forever. I was using Auction Assistant by Blackthorne (at the time - now owned by eBay). Then my sister discovered Auction Watch. I have been smooth sailing ever since!
I know it is an ongoing cost for me, but it is a cost that is well worth it.
posted on April 30, 2001 11:34:21 PM
You could try Channel Fusion
( Go To Auctions)
They will calculate about 60%
Of what you are doing 3X manualy
In the form that u use to submit the auction
With, takes forever (compare to auctionwatch
To submit)
They are pretty cool with the acounting part of it though.
I think that you have to pay after the free trial, I only used them for 4 auctions, so that's all I can say.
As a newbie 5+ years ago, I use to print out everything also, and quickly had enormous piles of paper, in which it took forever to find anything.
Like many others I discovered using the folders I could create in Outlook Express, so that eBay had a folder, etc., when I need to locate a specific seller's e-mail I just use the "FIND" feature of Outlook Express and it quickly locates the correspondence to and from said person.
I use AuctionTamer for all submissions, bookkeeping, etc., it is a one time cost, an excellent program with 5 stars from Tucows, and C-Net, and has the best customer support in the industry, and is CHEAP!!!!
In the past I used Auction Assistant and eBud, but because of the changes in each, I stopped using such. I use my AuctionAssistant now as merely a storage area and personally create all my auctions in FrontPage. For a newbie, there are templates in AuctionTamer to do your auction creations through.
Most of all dump the printing out action, it takes too much time, too much paper, too much ink, and gets to be an impossible mess in a short time. Learn to file your e-mails in your mail program.
posted on May 1, 2001 07:50:38 AM
I use a 3x5 card file for all my ended auctions that works very well for me.
In the 3x5 card box I have tabs for: First Notice-no response........Responded-waiting for pmt.........2nd notice(NPBA)........Waiting for ck to clear(don't take checks, so this doesn't get used much)......Deadbeat.........Completed sales.
On the front of the 3x5 card I put the auction# & title & end date. Below that the winning bid amt plus ship = total. Then the ebay ID and/or email addr of buyer. When I hear from the buyer and get their info I put their name & addr below that.
On the back of the card are all the communications including dts & times. When pmt is rec'd & parcel shipped I just move that card back to the "completed" file.
Works well for me & takes up minimal space & time. I can quickly go through the first notice or waiting for pmt files to check on progress.
[ edited by sharkbaby on May 1, 2001 08:12 AM ]
posted on May 1, 2001 07:54:11 AM
Thanks for the suggestions! I've been filing my e-mails in folders now, and I think I've figured it out. It's pretty quick. I make sure to move things only AFTER I reply to their email, etc., otherwise I can't keep track of the progress of each e-mail.
posted on May 1, 2001 07:54:32 AM
It looks like I fall in the middle of all these suggestions. I use Auction Tamer to submit (working great!), track, and email my customers. It saves lots of time and keeps everything organized. I prefer to have a paper trail to, especially since I do ebay with a friend. We need to be able to get together and make sure all is in order. We have a letter file with folders for Won, Paid, and the months. Here's what we do after the auction closes.
Send and print "won" email from Auction Tamer - file in Won.
When payment comes I update AT and print out 1 small and 1 large (or Priority) label. The small label I set up to include their user name as a double-check. The smaller label goes on the "won" email and gets filed in the Paid file.
When the items have been shipped the receipt gets stapled to the appropriate "won" emails and filed in the correct month.
On Auction Tamer I delete the auction from the Sold tab on the main page after they have received their item. I also put the date in the comments column in the bidders file just in case.
posted on May 1, 2001 10:38:02 AM
I have tried some of the 'auction assistant' type programs and found them either confusing, or redundant to my own system.
For uploading to ebay, Mr. Lister, which now actually works most of the time, is my main tool. I have various templates for the different types of my auctions and simply fill in the required information. I do not use any commercial type templates, as I prefer my own, and it gives my auctions a unique look. Find a nice background texture ( or 'borrow' one!), and keep your HTML simple and your fonts large enough to be easily seen on WEBTV.
For keeping track I have a 3 section letter holder atop the pooter simply marked IN PENDING and OUT. I use the envelopes the payment comes in as shipping papers, and to track with. Electronic payments get wriiten on index cards and added to the letter holder. Transactions, with all relevant info eventually get written to a ledger, but that is a final step. This method may seem a bit crude, but it takes alot less time and is less confusing in the long run. I also use the feedback list to find overdue payments, since I normally leave feedback when the payment arrives. I can also use the ledger.
I save ALL email into appropriate folders, and when sufficient time has passed I print each folder to a file which I archive. Then I delete the messages in the folder and start anew.
I send out notices at end-of-auction and when shipped. Its not practical to do so when payment arrives unless in special circumstances. All notices are from simple text file templates in which I cut and paste names and item info.
The trick is to keep to an absolute minimum the time spent on paperwork. And generate as little paper as possible. As a purple star vendor this method has worked well for me. Your mileage may vary....
I use Auction Tamer to submit (working great!), track, and email my customers. It saves lots of time and keeps everything organized. I prefer to have a paper trail to, especially since I do ebay with a friend. We need to be able to get together and make sure all is in order. We have a letter file with folders for Won, Paid, and the months. Here's what we do after the auction closes.