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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,284 |
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
I follow these rules to cutting down on fees selling coins on ebay. Does anyone else have any tips to share? 1) Use all of the 50 free listing you get a month 2) Don't wast money of "listing features" or unless really necessary, subtitles. 3) List the item for the bare minimum price you will accept for the coin, if the coin doesn't generate many bids you won't be that disappointed. 4) Watch your email for the one or two promotional periods ebay has every month when you are permitted thousands of free listings during a short period of 3 day to a week. They will be either auction or fixed price. These listings are in addition to the 50 free listings you get every month. These periods are often near the end of the month, if you haven't used all of you 50 free monthly listings you can list those in the alternate manner than the promotion. So if ebay is giving you 10,000 free Fixed Price listings, you can still use the 50 free monthly listings for auctions. 5) If you going to sell a lot of coins consider opening a store since Stores are now charged 6% Final Value Fees on coins as opposed to 10% for non-store listings, just make sure you're selling enough since the basic monthly store fee is $19.95. 6) Lower value coins rarely sell because the shipping charges are more than the coin is worth. you need to bunch them up. I break open many Mint and Proof Sets and make full year sets of coins for all denominations and sell them like that. Each year set includes coins from all the mints, So for US coins there are the Philadelphia and Denver issues of business or Satin Finish strikes which I match-up wit the corresponding Proof coin from the San Francisco Mint. I've been selling coins on ebay for years and following these tips I NEVER pay a listing fee anymore. One thing to keep in mind is to be ready for those brief free listing periods by taking pictures of all your coins and drafting the listings beforehand. ebay gives short to no notice prior to the promo period so being prepared enables you to get in as many listings as possible quickly. I'd love to hear other ideas. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
I do the same things you listed above. I don't do it yet, but will probably start doing a shipping discount because you are charged a final value fee for shipping as well as sell price.
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Valued Member
United States
402 Posts |
More Tips Besides coins I also sell small scale Military models and Matchbox cars. Most single coins up to a quarter and priced less than $5 I put in a plastic flip and then in a regular envelope and mail it that way. Only cost me the price of a stamp. I usually charge .65 cents shipping. I have shipped 2 quarters and up to 5 dimes that way. Sold about 300 coins that way and got a lot of repeat business because of the low combined shipping charge. No! ebay does not make you do tracking. But if it gets lost, its your problem. I don't use regular size boxes for shipping. I usually go to Wal-mart when they are restocking the shelves and they let me take any boxes I want ranging from very small 2"x4" to as large as I want. Saves a lot of money on supplies. Found one box that 2 rolls of coins fit in perfectly. Post office was a lot cheaper using the smaller boxes. I wrap all boxes with brown Kraft paper. I start any coin worth up to $10 for .99 cents. Tried a higher starting price but found out the buyers love the .99 cent start. ebay sometimes also gives you free listing when you start at that price. Last, as said by David in the lead thread, forget all the bold type, second titles and anything extra. Only thing extra I ever pay for is the .10 cents for a personal listing start time. I do better when they end between 9 and 10PM Eastern time. Just my thoughts. Its raining so that's why I got lengthy. edgman      |
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Valued Member
 United States
95 Posts |
@ edgman, I agree with your shipping plans, but when you add tracking info you are then eligible for "Top Rated Seller" status and a 20% discount of you Final Value Fees. which can add up. You need to maintain a 90% tracking info rate per month. Yes, you can send many single coin items for the price of a stamp, although I use "pockets" I make from bubble mailers I cut down to protect the coins and add an additional .20 postage for non-machinable mail. Also for heavier items use the priority mail flat rate envelopes and boxes, especially the Regional Rate boxes. I just sent a bag of 500 nickels for $5.32 using a Priority Mail Regional Flat Rate box. Always offer a combined payment/shipping discount and require buyers to pay for all items at the same time to cut down on Paypal fees. You will be pleased to learn, as I just did, that ebay no longer charges for scheduled listings, because items listed in the evening always sell better than items which close earlier in the day. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
If they stopped charging for the scheduled listing this isn't necessary, but I would also make the listings when I had time and save them. Then when it was the time I wanted them ending I would list it to avoid the extra scheduled start fee.
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Valued Member
United States
402 Posts |
basebal21 I tried to make the listings and save them until real time but I got so confused and missed numerous listing, plus listed the wrong thing I finally gave up and said its probably better for me to spend the dime each time. DaveFNYC I use the flat padded envelopes for shipping most of my slabbed coins. As for the PO boxes I only use them for heavy stuff because I found out if you have a light item(s) and you use a smaller box the PO charges are a lot less. Truly takes time to calculate how to do some shipping. OK everybody Question. A small flat rate box cost $5.32 to ship w/tracking if you do it through ebay. Here is a little item to think about. I filled one of those boxes with approximately 21 rolls of Wheat cents. It was packed solid. Even broke out a roll or 2 to fill in minor empty areas. The lid was bent and I could hardly close it. Sealed it with a half roll of duck tape. The box at the PO weighed 43 pounds. Since you are allowed to ship up to 70 pounds in that box, I was trying to figure out what is it that would fit in that box that could come even close to 70 pounds. I cant think of anything unless it was solid gold. What do you guys/gals think could be the heaviest item to fit in that box ? edgman |
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
@ edgman, I use Microsoft word to create template listings for each denomination and type of coin so that I can just change the dates, grade, picture and other differentiating factors. I also keep a list of all coins I have taken pictures of. Then I list my coins by doing all of 1 denomination at a time therefore once I complete a listing I can just click the "sell a similar Item" part of the "congratulations" page at ebay and make the changes in the template, change the pictures and schedule the listing time. I only use the Priority Mail flat rate boxes for really heavy stuff that's true. A slabbed coin in a bubble mailer is under 2oz so 1st class package with free deliver Confirmation is $1.69. For unslabbed single coin items I use 1/3 of a size 000 bubble mailer which I get for about .12 by ordering a box of 300 for $31.00 with free shipping. I make a pocket out of them and then tape that pocket to the packing slip so it can't slide around in the envelope and the coins can't come out. Also, here's a little cheat, I use the priority mail flat rate padded envelopes for their cushioning, but I don't like that they aren't rigid, so I slip that padded mailer into a flat rate cardboard envelope. It's actually .10 cheaper than using the padded envelope, but that's not why I do it, but as I always like to say, "a nickel in my pocket is better than in anyone Else's" |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
What is the deal with a regional rate box? I have heard you can get some great deals, but I am not sure how to figure them out.
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
Priority Mail Flat Rate Regional boxes come in 3 sizes distinguished by the letters A,B and C. There are two different shapes for the A and B boxes. These have lower weight capacity than regular Flat Rate boxes. "A" boxes have a 15lb limit, "B" boxes a 20lb limit. I don't know what the limit is for C boxes. You must order the boxes on-line, they aren't available at the Post Office and you must buy and print your postage on-line. You can drop the boxes at the Post Office, but you can also have them picked-up as you can with any other Priority Mail. Unlike regular Priority Mail Flat rate boxes that charge the same if they go across town or across the country, with Regional Rate boxes the rate is determined by how far the package goes. Regional rate boxes cannot be used internationally. You can order Regional Rate boxes through ebay or at USPS.com. I use USPS.com because I don't want the " ebay Branded" boxes. 1) ebay doesn't pay me to advertise for them. 2) I feel ebay Branded boxes are more inviting to thieves, 3) In case I want to use the box for something that isn't ebay related. When you order the boxes at USPS.com take advantage of the other free items at the site. Get a roll or two of Priority Mail packing tape and a roll of Priority mail stickers. Free is always good. You won't need to buy tape for the boxes. Also you can use both items to turn any box or package a Priority Mail package. I also order the Flat Rate Padded envelops since I never find them at the Post Office. There are times when regular Priority Mail can be cheaper than any Flat Rate option for lightweight items you want to ship quickly. With the Priority Mail stickers you can cover the "Flat Rate" designation on the box and use it at regular Priority Mail rates. This is great if you are mailing Priority Mail to a PO Box because Priority Mail sent to PO Boxes is cheaper than sending regular Priority Mail since the PO doesn't have to deliver it. This may sound complicated, but once you get the hang of it it's really pretty simple. Edited by DavidFNYC
08/08/2013 09:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
Okay, I will check into that! Thanks  |
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Valued Member
United States
286 Posts |
Thanks there's good advice here. A couple of questions:
1) What are those 50 free listing each month?
2) So many buy-it-nows never sell, with e-bays fees for those, how does one ever make a profit?
I have never used e-bay to sell but am very interested.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I tried to make the listings and save them until real time but I got so confused and missed numerous listing, plus listed the wrong thing I finally gave up and said its probably better for me to spend the dime each time. Mines a complete mess too, I cant figure out how to delete the old ones I dont need so theres a bunch of junk sitting in there when I go to find one to finally list it. Quote:
1) What are those 50 free listing each month? Its pretty standard now, I'm not sure if you have to do anything to qualify but most ebay users can list 50 things a month with no fees. Quote:
2) So many buy-it-nows never sell, with e-bays fees for those, how does one ever make a profit? They sell, a bunch of them are just listed at prices you would have to be drunk to even consider. The buy it now and auction fees are now the same too. Profits all just about how much money you have into it. I could make money off a 2 dollar item just as easily as I could lose money on a 2k item, it all just depends on what it cost you. If it cost you less than its worth you have a good chance to make some money. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
Where did you find the free priority mail tape? I found the labels, but can't find the tape.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Yes, many BIN are over priced. You just don't see the good deals because people snag them fast. I agree you should start your auctions at the bare minimum you would accept for the coin. I realize many start their auctions at 99 cents with no reserve but there is always a chance that they won't go for much depending who is shopping. I know it is better to sell low cost coins in lots but many like to buy an individual coin they want. It is too bad everyone isn't honest and you can just throw a stamp on coins you ship. Issue is that someone can simply claim they never received it and get the coin for free and some know that.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I realize many start their auctions at 99 cents with no reserve but there is always a chance that they won't go for much depending who is shopping. Unless its a rare high end item auctions usually end up less than they should. Youre banking on luck that your auction will be ending when a few people who really want that are there to start a bidding war. Especially in the summer when people are more focused on other things. For the big sellers that just want to move the items and probably paid next to nothing for them or got them in a lot/the ones that didnt grade as well thats not a big deal, if you arent a large seller its not that fun to be on that side of it though. Theres a reason why you dont see a lot of auctions for the higher end or more expensive stuff |
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Valued Member
United States
477 Posts |
The PO stopped giving away tape years ago. The excuse was people were selling it on ebay. It was great tape, they should at least sell it. Rick |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,284 |
Posted 08/07/2013 2:03 pm
