eBay Adventures : Always Check the Back End

I arose this morning to see a message about one of my higher priced dresses. The email was from outside of the US. Though I took the photo and gave her the measurements, I also checked the back end to see if I checked the US Global Priority shipping box. I did; but, I saw that the ‘automatically decline bids below this amount’ field as unchanged from my original price listing. I reduced the price on this dress, the automatic decline stayed the same amount knocking out bids. I have gone behind the back end of every item I have and ensured that the automatic decline.

This was a lightbulb moment making me realize why I wasn’t receiving as many sales. Also it sent a message to me to always spend time working on my business. Don’t just relist items or do anything by default. Now I felt that I would receive more sales after changing the automatic decline numbers on all of the my items. Remember, always check the back end.

For the best in tall women’s fashion luxury consignment, shop www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch and shop my latest fashion livestream show here: 

eBay Adventure : Self-Service Priority

I have been an eBay reseller using the post office since the beginning. Everyone knows that I only ship domestic and global priority mail shipping. If you’re an American customer, you’d receive your package in 1-3 business days. If you’re international, you’d receive it in 6-10 business days. I’ve adopted priority shipping because I sell luxury items and I feel that the customer wants her order as soon as possible.

So I go to the post office as usual without fanfare to drop off another shipment. I get to the counter, do my normal routine (including pressing the red button to say that my package doesn’t contains bomb and danger liquids), when the clerk tells me to pick up my package and drop it off at the front counter. Now THAT was a first! I mean is THAT YOUR job to deliver and distribute the mail. What a lazy broad! I do it but still. I mean the post office has cash flow issues and has been steadily losing market share with everyone using email. You’d think that she could just accept my package. The nerve!

                Anyway, I am still adding new items to my store. If you are a tall women looking for luxury fashion for less, shop my store here: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

                I have an all-new fashion livestream showcasing my latest skinny jeans offering. 

eBay Adventure - Truth in Advertising | www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

I have received my 46^th gold star. A gold star is a positive customer feedback rating. I truly do this for the gold star because I am all about ensuring that the customer experience is the best! When the lady sales that my dress is as advertised, I am taken aback. I mean, aren’t all people doing truth in advertising. Then I remember my eBay experience where I have to deal with fraud and people trying to get refunds out of thin air. I have always prided myself on telling the truth and providing accurate product descriptions. If there is a hole or a rip, I photograph it and write it in the description (Full disclosure – the item that I have sold her isn’t ripped!). I am all about telling the truth because integrity is big and my buyers love me for it.

Shop my eBay store for the latest in tall women luxury consignment! www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my eBay fashion livestream to see my entire inventory: 

eBay Adventure - Loan Me $5

                I have received an offer for one of my new with tags dresses. It is $5 off the halfway price for the dress. So I make a counteroffer increasing the price by $5. I never hear from the potential buyer and the deal expires. I am quite perplexed. Yes, I understand that money is tight but if you are hard up for a measly extra $5, then don’t bid on items period!

                One of my rules has always been to get at least half of my listed price. I admit that I feel like it is a time waster; however, I have adopted the whole release strategy. Whenever I do a counteroffer, I release the expectation that I would automatically receive a sale. That way I won’t be disappointed if the sale doesn’t go through. Remember, that as a seller, nothing counts until you receive that instant PayPal receipt. 

Shop my eBay store for the best in tall women’s luxury fashion: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Here is a selection of items straight from my store:

*Prices and availability vary.*

New - Diane von Furstenberg white Carpreena mini dress size 12 - $50

Stuart Weitzman OTK Dunkirk Boots size 11M - $100

Diane von Furstenberg black and white striped wrap dress size 12 - $75

 Gucci Black Viscose Stretched Dress Size Large - $200 

You can also watch my latest eBay livestream where I showcase my entire store.

eBay Adventure - A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

Although I have been writing eBay Adventures for over one year and doing eBay YouTube Livestreams for over two months, it has never clicked with me until this week that I should include photos in my blogs. I am thinking that people want business knowledge and to watch videos. That may all be true but I do think that my readers want to see the clothes up front. Also maybe they aren’t going to view the entire video. So here are some of the photos from my collection. 

Check them out and shop my eBay store for the best in tall women’s luxury fashion: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Prices and availability can change at any times.

Gucci Viscose Stretch Dress Size Large - $200

Stuart Weitzman Over the Knee Dunkirk Boots Size 11M - $100

Aidan Mattox Brown Sequined Dress Size Large - $65

You can also watch my latest eBay livestream where I showcase my entire store.

eBay Adventure – Tendering Fair Counteroffers

I have received an offer from a customer has already bid on a previous item that I’ve accepted. Counteroffers can be tricky. My rule of thumb has always been get 50% of the listed price. I mean I have to make a profit too. Besides, asking for 50% is not outrageous. The buyer is getting it for half-off. Moreover, in this particular situation, I’ve added combined shipping to this counteroffer. The buyer hasn’t paid for the first item yet; but, by taking my counteroffer, she’ll receive two items for the price of shipping one. I tender very fair counteroffers.

Shop my eBay store for the latest in tall women’s affordable luxury fashion. I carry Theory, DVF and Alice + Olivia. www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my most recent eBay livestream where I showcase my newest additions to my store!

eBay Adventure - The Invisible Hand

Most people know that I am an eBay reseller. Most people don’t know that I have studied and once worked as an economist. The invisible hand phrase was coined by economist Adam Smith. I have experienced my invisible hand moment today. I have a lull in my business and decide to photo and upload new merchandise renewed interest. I am thinking that no one is interested in my current inventory so why not add some new pieces. No sooner do I finish adding the final (seventh) piece, does my Kate Spade skirt sells! I am so giddy with excitement over this because it’s from the same bidder! Read about it here: https://carlarjenkins.blogspot.com/2017/07/ebay-adventure-its-principle.html. Immediately upon accepting the bid, I recall Adam Smith and the invisible hand statement. Economics strikes once again. This time with eBay!

More information on Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_hand 

Shop my eBay store for the best in tall women’s affordable luxury: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my all-new eBay livestream where I highlight 7 new items! 

eBay Adventure - It's the Principle!

My Kate Spade skirt sold today. It came out of nowhere because I thought that the bidder wouldn’t return after I made my counteroffer. Let me back up. Two days ago, the bidder placed a $47 counteroffer on a $125. No Bueno! I counteroffer with $60 (Hey, you had to do at least half!). The bidder never returned. Now I admitted that I could had used that money but it was the principle; and, I was glad that I stuck to my guns because that very same bidder returned with a $55 bid (adding the $10.55 priority shipping and it was $65.). I accepted the order and shipped it immediately. Morale of the store: always stick to your principles because the sales will come!

Shop my eBay store for the best in tall women’s affordable luxury: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my all-new eBay livestream where I highlight 7 new items! 

eBay Adventure – Keeping It 100!

                OMG! The good news just keeps on coming! You know that I have just written about how I have received my 40^th gold star (Read it here: https://carlarjenkins.blogspot.com/2017/07/ebay-adventure-receiving-my-40th-gold.html ). However, underneath this eBay tells me that I have received 100% positive feedback! I have nearly died and gone to the heaven. Although I love those 40 gold stars, it always irks me as to how I am wrongfully getting that 1 negative review. Yet, I am extremely happy that I have returned to 100% positive feedback because I am all about the customers.

 My customer mantra is:

•          Provide good quality merchandise – that’s half the battle.
•          Fair pricing – the rule of thumb is if the item is pre-owned (worn), price it 50% of what you’ve purchased it. For instance, a $500 pre-owned dress would start at $250.
•         Expedited shipping – I ship only domestic and global USPS priority mail.
•          Answer customers’ questions:
•       Livestream to enhance customer experience – I give my customers behind the scenes looks via Periscope and YouTube Live
•     Provide lots of photos – eBay is a visual medium. Your customer does not touch the merchandise
•          Honestly in product descriptions – I tell people where there is a whole, rip or tear in an item. It is all about being honest. Integrity is NOT for sale!

As always, shop my store for the absolute best in tall women’s affordable luxury fashion!

http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my latest eBay fashion video to see my newest merchandise!

eBay Adventure – Receiving My 40th Gold Star

                I awake this morning with the usual vim and vigor. I go about my day checking my eBay to see if a buyer has responded to my counteroffer (She hasn’t). Lo and behold I see it: my 40^th gold star! You don’t know the euphoria I always feel whenever I receive a new one! Below are my two blog posts about receiving my gold stars:

http://carlarjenkins.blogspot.com/2016/11/ebay-adventure-receiving-my-14th-gold.html

http://carlarjenkins.blogspot.com/2016/10/ebay-adventure-gold-star-for-you.html

A gold star on eBay means high customer service and that the seller loves my item! I grateful that the customer feel the same love that I display for my store and them.

Shop the greatest in tall women’s luxury fashion here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Get a peek behind the curtain! Watch my eBay livestream showcasing the best in affordable luxury!

eBay Adventure - How Often Should I Livestream?

Promoting your eBay store is a full-time job in itself! You have blogging, livestreams, sharing your merchandise, doing podcasts, etc. Livestream has helped me sell a whole lot of merchandise.

How often should I do store merchandise livestreams?

You should do one at least once a week. I do my eBay YouTube livestreams whenever I get sales. I feel that my customers should see the current inventory. I also do Periscope and YouTube livestreams whenever I add or relist items because the inventory change and I want customers to know about it!

Looking for tall women’s luxury fashion? Shop: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my video as I answer this question:

eBay Adventure - eBay Layaway

I received an email from a buyer talking about being on vacation and wanting me to hold her item. Well, it is in an open case for an unpaid item strike. Since she was a repeat buyer, I was in the process of contacting eBay to see what I could do. I had something like this happen to me before. I had a lady who bought an item, it became an unpaid item strike. After the case closed, she emailed me saying that she was on vacation in western Africa and had janky wifi (She never bought the item). It was amazing how some people thought that eBay was layway but the rules clearly stated that you had to pay for your item in 48 hours. Stories like these were one of the reasons why I started eBay Adventures because future resellers needed to know the real!

Shop my latest in tall woman’s affordable luxury fashion here:

www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my latest eBay fashion livestream to see my collection upfront:

eBay Adventure - Lessons Learned, Cash Earned

The sales keep rolling in and I am NOT complaining one bit! I have thankful that I got off my duff this past Monday and have done the livestream else I would be sitting here flummoxed as to why things aren’t selling. I have done much more since the livestream but doing this YouTube Live is the starting point. I have written blog posts, done Facebook Live broadcasts (must cross-promote and go where the customers are!), shared my merchandise on Twitter at least twice per day, priced according to the eBay recommendations and shared my blog posts to some Twitter re-share accounts every day since Monday. The result is 5 sales this week. I have just made a sale and completed a payment today. It feels great when I keep going, being diligent and thinking of new ways to promote my store every single day because I reap the rewards.

Shop my eBay store for the latest in tall women’s affordable luxury fashions!

www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my lessons learned video

Watch and shop my eBay livestream for the best in tall women’s affordable luxury:

eBay Adventure - Planting the Seeds, Reaping the Harvest

I awake this morning and do my normal routine: morning walk, breakfast, etc, etc. However, my routine is disrupted with an eBay offer. I check my account and see it along with a ‘pay ship now’ alert. I click on it and see that one of my dresses sold last night while I was asleep. I hit the roof because this transaction more than compensated for the open case I had against someone who hasn’t paid (more on that later!). I submit a counteroffer to the low offer. The buyer meets me halfway and because she is a repeat customer, I accept. All of a sudden, that’s two sales; but, it doesn’t stop there. The buyer with the open case buys the shoes making it three; and, there is even more because I have received a fourth sale! It is like the floodgates are open. How has this all happen at the same time?

I have laid the groundwork. This past Monday, after seeing one of my favorite YouTube channels post a video the day before the Fourth of July, I bossed up and did my eBay livestream! I didn’t stop there writing not one but two blog posts which I circulated on Twitter and loaded up onto HootSuite. It didn’t stop there! On the Fourth of July, I wrote 12 Things I Learned During My First Year on eBay on my personal site. Finally, I reduced my prices according to the eBay recommendations, relisted some more inventory and kept resharing my eBay inventory every day at noon and 9pm EST. After diligently planting the seeds, I have reaped the harvest. These three extra sales are due to hard work! I haven’t stopped because I have listed a new item, taken some more photos which I will upload tomorrow and kept resharing my inventory on my Twitter account. I am not stopped because I am having all of these sales. I have hacked my process, double downed and am ready to reload with more new merchandise on the way!

Shop my eBay store: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Watch my latest eBay YouTube livestream showcasing tall women’s affordable luxury.

eBay Adventure - A Dollar Doesn’t Buy What It Use To

                Christmas selling season has been slower than average. I admit that I have not been writing eBay Adventure and going onto Periscope as much. Also I have been a tad bit under the weather stopping my progress. Yesterday night I willed myself to do a late night Periscope detailing how I was not taking New Year’s orders for both US and global buyers. I loaded it into HootSuite and reshared it to Twitter aggregators retiring for the night.

                I awake today and break my ‘no email first thing in the morning’ rule. Whenever I break this, it does not go well; but, something in my spirit tells me so I do it. I check this $1 Stuart Weitzman eBay bid offer. Her letter says ‘$75 shipping is a mistake?’. I decline that offer explaining that the $75 shipping for the global priority because the post office lists gladiator sandals as dim weight items. Dim weight items receive an extra charge. This correspondence gives me a chuckle that will take me throughout my day!

                I am taking New Year’s orders for both domestic and global clients. Shop my store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

eBay Adventure – Keeper of my Word

                I have noticed as of lately that people are emailing me after the sale. Yesterday is the same. I received an email for my Stuart Weitzman Dunkirk boots saying that she would pay $75. I quickly relisted changing it from auction to fixed price. I gave it $100 fixed price emailing her back then returning to sleep.

                This morning I see 2 bids: 1) for $90 and 2) the other $75. Well, I have kept my word accepting the $75. Although the other bid is $15 more but I am kept my word. Integrity is very important to me as a businesswoman. It is the best way to run my shop.

Shop my store: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

eBay Adventure – Pause for the Cause

                Okay I am the first to admit that having 4 sales in 5 days (one of those days was Veterans Day, a federal holiday) is time and energy consuming. You have to pack, write thank you letters and ship. Resale is hard work so I have taken a slight break Monday. All I’ve done is track my Saturday package. I haven’t relisted anything. I even let some things expire. I just take a break from the madness (It also helps that I am getting instant PayPal payments because now I don’t have to wait until the buyer receives her package to receive my money.)

                Shop my eBay store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

eBay Adventure – Receiving My 15th Star

                I have working feverishly photographing merchandise to put in my store. There have been a lot of sales lately but I will keep all of my items ready for sale. I must keep a fully stocked store especially with these few weeks before Thanksgiving. After uploading new merchandise, I see a new rating. It has gone from 14 to 15. My heart flutters because I am truly honored that my customers view me so highly. I will remember these hearts because they say that they appreciate my customer service. I shop same day upon payment. Also I ship only domestic and global USPS priority mail so that my customers get their items ASAP! On a personal note, I am very happy that my overall rating increases to 92.3%. Haters take that!

                Shop my eBay store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

eBay Adventure - All Hail Instant Payment PayPal

                Resale is not an easy business. I have been doing it for 5 months. I have listed, relisted, negotiated, fought fraudsters, checked ungrateful customers and been surprised by shipping weight more than once at the post office. Throughout it all, I’ve written thank you cards, purchased materials and shipping the same day as payment. All of this toiling and seed planting have reaped me a bountiful harvest: I now qualify for PayPal’s instant payment.

                This blessing ranks right up there like manna from heaven! Liquidity and solvency are important to every business. Instant payments mean that I can transfer the money to my bank. I achieve liquidity because these transfers are cash infusions. Also with cash on hand I stay solvent by paying my bills!

                Shop my eBay store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

eBay Adventure - 120 Days In

                This 30-day period is my slowest because I have taken myself offline after the Depop failure. I have emotionally regroup from that. I have only sold one item for $55; and, I am perfectly okay with that because eBay’s fees are super slow. The last thing I need right now is a heavy heart and high fees. I do think that I will reassess what I do regarding selling my clothes.

                Shop my eBay store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6