posted on June 9, 2001 02:39:15 PM
Ok-somebody help me. I just started selling on Ebay a few months ago. I'm now up to listing around 10 auctions a day. I can't keep up with all of this email. I write individual winning bidder notifications, half the time I get an email back with no auction number in it. I need to know how I can keep up with who is paying with money orders or Paypal, shipping addresses, shipped items, etc.. I suppose I should have thought this out more in advance and planned ahead, but now I'm knee deep in email and auctions ending every 30 minutes. Somebody help!
posted on June 9, 2001 02:50:00 PM
I use Ebay's Seller Assistant, this really automates much of this process. It makes it easier to launch auctions, as well as notify bidders with a one button click end of auction notice, payment received, and even feedback. Also, there is a search feature, so if they pay me and do not include the auction number, I can often find the information by doing a description search (though I did have one payment this week I could not find any record of, and that is annoying!)
I don't care how people pay me, as long as they do. I have the items in an area ready to go, so if a week or two has passed, I know payment has not been sent, and then go back and notify them. Doesn't seem efficient to me to keep track of how people are going to pay. Just let them pay you, and use the software to help automate the process.
It costs $5 per month, well worth it in my opinion. I have about 50 auctions ending this weekend, I expect it will take me about 10 minutes to notify all bidders.
Please take a look around AuctionWatch and do some reading. The PSM (post sale management) tools will send out your announcements for you, and will accept the return notices, with all the details you need.
posted on June 9, 2001 07:01:20 PMmrch,
I don't list much, but I find that most people (myself included) just hit the "reply" button when responding to a WBN. I always put the auction number in the "subject" line when doing a WBN, and you might find that most of your problem is solved. Hope this helps!
posted on June 10, 2001 08:53:36 AM
Let's see if I can post this without getting it removed. I use AuctionTamer and am very happy with the program and service. Ummm, I'd better just stop there. Email me if you have more questions!
posted on June 10, 2001 09:03:20 AM
Can you guys name any services (without being promotional!!!) that offer free services like AuctionWatch used to do before they started charging?
I would not recommend free services. They either will 1)start to charge fees, or 2)fold.
That said, the link below takes you to the Online Auction User's Association review of web-based solutions. It's a little dated, but they've kept up with fee changes. Some are still free. OAUA is a non-profit association of auction users that's free to join.
I am sorry but I had to delete your last post because it contained a link to another message board. According to the Community Guidelines, this isn't allowed.
I see what you mean, I was just looking at the first page with links to auction listing services. Of course, the board only has one message, from last March - not the most active on the 'net!
posted on June 10, 2001 12:28:04 PM
I don't use any management tools yet, though I may have to soon because of my new self-imposed goals for the next couple of months.
One thing I thought of is perhaps instead of running 10 auctions a day, what if you get some of your auctions ready in advance, and while listing as many items per week, list only 2 or 3 days a week. Now instead of having to do WBN's every day, you only have to do them the days your auctions end.
Also, creating your own templates in Word or Notepad can help. Then when you send out WBN's, you just have cut and paste the templates into the emails, then fill in the totals.
Also, you didn't mention if you're keeping paper files also. I would totally get blown away if I didn't keep a sheet on every auction that ends successfully. Some people on this board have said they print out a copy of the auction itself, others use the email from eBay, and others handwrite something - then keep notes on that.
If shipping is driving you crazy, then ship only a couple of times a week. I only ship once a week, and have only had one complaint (from someone who paid a large amount by check 18 days after the auction) and one request to ship earlier in the last year.
Don't feel like you have to answer every email within 5 seconds. Twenty four hours is fine, and if you set aside some time twice a day to answer email, you won't be on and off the computer every 15 minutes.
If you need to regroup, let your current auctions end, do the follow-up, then take some time to jot down a "life-cycle" for an auction. For eg.: buy item, clean item, take pics, edit pics, write description, list item, print sheet at end of auction, notify winning bidder, etc. right through to ship item. You'll have some idea of the things that are getting you confused.
I hope some of this is useful to you.
Don't freak! The learning curve will be swift. Good luck!
posted on June 10, 2001 03:57:35 PM
Thanks to everyone for the help! I downloaded Sellers Assistant from Ebay, but don't really see the benefits yet. It seems to take as much time as it did when I went to Ebay to start an auction. I agree with the previous poster about having a hard copy of information. I printed my sold auctions off of MY EBAY and that has helped somewhat. I also added to my winning bidder notifications and requested that the buyer put the auction number in all email correspondence. I also liked the department number idea. Hopefully this will get easier as I become more familiar with the process. Thanks again!
Starting should save time. One more thing I like about this is that you can set up the auctions in advance, and literally press one button to start many at the same time. Handy little feature. If you sell many of the same thing at different times, you can duplicate the auction (Press the Control Button and D) - Save lots of typing.
Finally, I think you will really see the benefits when you close your auctions. I have 50 or so closing in the next 2 hours, I expect it to take me 5-10 minutes to notify everyone - If I had to do that individually, it would take at least a couple of hours, even with some sort of template
posted on June 10, 2001 08:33:40 PM
When I send my WBN I put in the subject area ebay # and title of auction. Then in the notice I say. Please respond to me by using this email with the information I need. I find this helps alot and I only have a couple that haven't used it. Then if I need the information it is in one email only...
I read your inquiry tonight, and the replies. I know how confusing it all is, and how frustrating it is when people act like it's so easy! I will mail you the form I created for myself if you would like it. It really helps to track where you are in the process, from the sale to the feedback. I also made a form for tracking monthly profit from eBay sales, after factoring in fees and my cost of goods sold. Just email me your name & address. I really don't know how one could get by without some kind of chart to track after the sale.
Beyond that, I highly recommend the Auctionwatch Post Sale feature. That has helped me very much. It's very difficult at first, but you'll get the hang of it, and it's worth the trouble.
First, I began using AW Post-sale management tools a few months ago & it has worked wonders from getting WBN out immediately & automatically to keeping track of where in the post sale process I am for each auction. And DO NOT TYPE if you don't have to, cut & Paste instead. Since I don't use all of the post-sale keys as they are designate by AW I assign various meanings to those keys to suit my needs so I know at a glance where I am in the process.
Second, I need a paper trail!!!
1- I print the auction when it closes. I highlight from the auction title to the winning bidder's ID. Then I print the selection in landscape format.
2- When the winner leaves his/her info (in post sale tools) I print that page on the reverse side of the auction that I printed in #1 above. I then click box #4 of the post sale keys so that I know that I have checked & printed their response.
3- The response has their address & payment option. On the auction side of this page I write PP for Paypal, BP for Billpoint, MO for money order or PC for personal check. Now I know at a glance how the winner is paying.
4 - If they chose an online payment I go to that site. If they have not paid yet I send a "request for payment" & make note of that on the auction printout.
These things have helped me go from listing 50-75 auctions to listing 250-300 auctions weekly.
But I still have to organize all of that paper. So, I use an expandable file folder. Each pocket is labled according to the post-sale steps I use & it has been changed to suit my needs. And since I print my auction in landscape the auction title is at the top of the page & easy to read.
Here's how I organize my pockets.
1 - Closed auctions I print off ebay
2 - Confirmed auctions/Awaiting payment.
3 - Multiple auctions - one bidder with more than one auction
4 - NPB (non-paying bidder) - unfortunately I have had to add this
5 - Paid - hold for personal check
6 - paid - to be shipped
7 - shipped - send feedback
I am sure that I left something out. Email me if you have questions. This system really works well for me.........Susan, CustomVeils
posted on June 15, 2001 10:57:16 AM
I knew I left something out.
When I am paid with a personal check I write all of the info on the printed auction page: chk #, date of check, date check received, date check deposited & date when I can mail item, usually 10 days. I hold for 10 days on all checks. Just this week I had a $5.00 check returned for indufficient funds.
That's it, I am done for now.....Susan, CustomVeils
posted on June 15, 2001 11:29:27 AM
Joette-- Yes, I would love the forms! That could be a BIG help. Thank you so much for offering-that is very kind of you.
However, I can't find your email address. I must be looking in the wrong place!
Misty
