posted on October 15, 2006 10:36:03 AM
I'm getting out of Dodge on December 7 and won't return until December 28.
Yes, we planned it this way to miss the "prime Christmas selling season". Blecch. Last year was an absolute disaster. This year I'll be sitting on the veranda of my stateroom, sipping a cold fruity umbrella drink and gazing out over the clear turquoise waters.
But what about eBay?
I've given this some thought. The options are:
1) Close down completely and have no eBay presence at all.
2) Open an eBay Store right before I leave, populate it and let people know that shipping resumes on December 28. I think most people won't want to wait that long.
3) Same as #2, only hire someone to do the shipping when payment is received.
4) Schedule auctions and BINs in advance, prepackage everything and pre-stamp it so that all it needs is a label, and hire someone yadda yadda.
Nothing that I'll sell is over 6 ounces, so it can all be tossed into a USPS dropbox. No waiting in line at the PO (I know, I know, that's the fun part and you hate to miss it).
Anyone interested in being my shipper? You have to be able to generate labels in USPS Shipping Assistant because I want the eDC.
posted on October 15, 2006 11:10:28 AM
Awh take the vacation and forget feebay. No worried that the one you hired sent the package and if he sent the right one. no worries better vacation.
Fact is I am on sort of a vacation don't have anything listed now for almost 2 weeks. Ebay has been dead lately.
************** Check it out
posted on October 15, 2006 02:28:41 PM
Ditto, just go and forget it. We cruise every Christmas ourselves (Holland America) and the best thing is to close it up and have some fun.
Beth
VintageAds4U http://stores.ebay.com/vintageads4uonline?refid=store
posted on October 15, 2006 02:50:25 PM
I say close it up if you don't need the money. I am leaving my store open and will schedule some relists to launch when we go on vacation at the end of the month because I have two college tuitions to pay but I would rather have the luxury of closing. The downside is that it usually takes me at least a month to get things started up again and longer than that to reach full stride.
posted on October 15, 2006 06:36:56 PM
I'd go with option 5 - send emails to existing and previous customers offering 5% discount or free shipping on orders made via my website...
posted on October 16, 2006 11:47:25 AM
I'd go with option 1. If I could afford to do it, that's what I'd do for the entire holiday season! But, since it looks like I'll be laid off here in a week or so, I'm sticking it out.
Have a great vacation, fluffy! Relax, enjoy and forget about eBay! It will still be here when you get back.
posted on October 16, 2006 01:00:29 PM
OT - VintageAds4U - Beth, any chance you will be on the Oosterdam in Mexico? If so, you will see my son perform!
posted on October 16, 2006 01:04:56 PMWe cruise every Christmas ourselves (Holland America) and the best thing is to close it up and have some fun.
Beth, we're going on Celebrity's Mercury this time. First time for that ship and that cruise line. (We have been on Crystal, Cunard, RCCL.) I am apprehensive. But it's a family trip and Celebrity is what the family wanted.
I hear what you all are saying. Let's hope for a strong pre-Christmas selling season on eBay, so that December can be party-party-party. I do have some non-eBay wholesale customers now, so perhaps that will make up any difference. No, I haven't put up a web site; they send me money and trust me to send them some beautiful jewelry.
I may even start sending out jewelry on approval to a few select customers, the old-fashioned way. Remember when you were a kid and you got stamps on approval?
posted on October 16, 2006 01:07:26 PM
I wanted to go on Celebrity for our honeymoon. My DH selected Carnival
I wanted the spa - the no-kids or few kids.
I want Celebrity next time! oops my !! was almost stuck!
posted on October 16, 2006 02:53:04 PM
OT to Trader: no, not the O-dam. Since I live in Texas, Mexico has little come hither for me. It must be fun (for awhile) to work on those boats, but it sure looks like hard work, a lot of double duty, too.
OT to Neglus: It is hard to ramp back up. I check the emails everyday and have been known to do some editing in the early mornings while family is asleep. You can also use that time to schedule auctions to end upon your return.
ENJOY FLUFF...as our resident REALIST we need you back, refreshed and ready to slap us upside the head when we are being to WAy OUt....
posted on October 16, 2006 10:12:04 PM
Have fun on the trip. I also travel around this time of year annually. It's great not to deal with the holiday post office mess (though lately, I take my stuff directly into the back part of my local post office) - I have an ebay store, I keep my inventory live, and put a note on all of my listings that I am gone until (usually after Christmas) and everything will ship then. The past 5 years, my sales have been down during this time, but I still get a decent amount. Most of my customers have been great, and I think I got one neutral over 5 years for slow shipping. Have a great cruise!
