Building a Reputable eBay Account

I have posted this elsewhere so i can get the most feedback/suggestions.
Basically, I am a new collector and have taken to eBay to either flip some coins or sell some to 'upgrade' my collection.
Last week I sold 3 of my first coins and included a 'surprise' coin in each shipment.
These coins were an Indian Head (XF Grade), a Flying Eagle Cent (G Grade) and a Merc Dime (Au Grade)
All with at least $5 to $15 value to them.
Basically in hopes that I can in due time build a reputable seller account with great feedback from the coin auctions.
Any suggestions as to what more I can do to insure security for buyers and also keep buyers returning?
I also use UPS shipping with Tracking and make sure to ship with extra protection inside the envelope/box.
As well as purchasing insurance over $100.
My price has been flat rate $10 which is darn low considering the three shipments were between $10-$20.
But I figure sacrificing a bit to start will benefit me selling in the future.

 

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If you are spending "$10-$20" to ship coins worth "$5-$15", your spending and charging WAY too much.
A padded mailer can be sent 1st Class with Delivery Confirmation for a couple of bucks.
Insurance is not really required for such low value items.
personally, I wouldn't bid on a $5-$15 coin with $10 shipping charge.
I have a suspicion that your eBay DSR for shipping charges won't be quite what you would like.

 

Let's not just jump to conclusions now.
who said anything about a $5 coin?
The cheapest I sold was $70 and that included free shipping.
I've heard plenty of horror stories with usps I didn't want to go down that route starting out.
Right now I don't get paid until confirmation of delivery and feedback so my best option is ups.
I have told people who asked for usps that I will do it if they win, in an attempt to accommodate.

But I am in no way selling cheap coins.

 

I ship single slabbed coins usps first class with delivery confirmation for $1.64 in a padded mailer. Usually in the lower 48 they arrive within 3 days. Over $100 I usually insure, and over $200 I do signature confirmation. Generally I do free shipping.

 

To me the three biggest things a seller on ebay needs in order of importance are 1) 3-7 day no questions asked return policy, 2) Accurate pictures/description, and 3) free or low cost shipping.

I don't know what your 1 and 2 look like, but $10 shipping is a huge turnoff for me. Ship that stuff USPS, I know people who send tens of thousands of dollars of coins uninsured through USPS and have never had a problem. Advice on shipping, if you can't afford to eat the cost get it insured.

I could care less about free coins, I care much more about getting a cleaned early copper which was not disclosed in the description and not discernible in the picture.

 

Ah, I'll definitely open my shipping up for my next listing then.
I'll see how it affects my pending funds.
Right now I receive the funds 3 days after package arrives because of tracking.
I think if I do USPS it's 3 days after the user leaves feedback.

Honestly my return policy at the moment is no returns accepted.
I know I should change that but my time is very limited.
Most of the time when I ship its during lunch. My work days are 9-6 and I'm usually off on weekends and I looked at returns as a hassle. I definitely will include returns on my next listing though as I know people look for it and I'll expand my shipping to USPS/Free and see what happens.
I still get lots of bids and high bids on my coins but it might go up from there even more with those available.
Currently I just make sure my pictures are 100% clear and descriptions accurate as possible so returns aren't needed. I will include it next time though, thanks for the suggestions.
How does Delivery Confirmation work? They HAVE to be home or does the postman just mark it delivered?

 

FTW, it's not something that happens over night. I've only sold a few things on eBay so I'm not a BIG dealer. Still, I have a perfect rating and have always done well. The best advice I can give is that it doesn't happen over night, it takes time, be honest, and communicate. Adding extras/too low of price doesn't mean much. But if you track your items to make people feel safe, are honest with them about your listings and are willing to communicate and be civil, you'll do just fine.

P.s. I don't have a return policy, mainly cause I don't want to do with the hassle. However, my rating is still perfect. I've always been completely honest and communicated with my buyers in terms of what they're receiving. That to me goes a long way.

 

Thanks tdog.
I also have a perfect rating (18 Feedback) and I do communicate with all my buyers too.
I didn't do returns for the same reasons (hassle) but I can see myself implementing them and making the buyers have to pay shipping.

 

The postman just marks it delivered. It's a plus to use though in case the buyer claims they never received the item, your backside is covered.
Signature confirmation is when a signature is required for delivery. Costs a little more but on higher priced items is well worth it.

 

Doesn't matter... eBay's policy is you MUST accept returns. Buyers see "no returns" as a hassle and avoid the seller.

The package is scanned and the carrier puts it in your mailbox, proving it was delivered (signature confirmation requires someone to be home to sign), as stated above.

 

You can pepper in some Hotwheels cars with your coins to help build feedback. Get them at Wal-Marx for $.97 & sell them for whatever you can get. Give the buyers shipping options though, as some pefer them boxed up with absolutely perfect packaging. If they sell for $.99, you're not out very much on fees & the 5 star feedback is worth it.

 

I don't mean to tell you how to sell, but sending out free coins does nothing to gain customers. Ebay is a huge marketplace and its really hard to buy loyalty with freebies. The best thing to do is to pack securely, ship out in a timely manner and hope the customer still won't complain.
Also if you have low feedback starting off with small items may be better. When your feedback gets higher more buyers may trust you and bid on your items.

 

Maybe this will sound stupid, but it is a paraphrase of what eBay told me;

Buy a lot of things. Most people just look at your latest feedback and don't even bother with noting if it is buying or selling feedback. Really!

BTW, eBay does not have a policy saying that you must accept returns. However, in practice their regulations pretty much work out to that

 

A good reputation comes naturely to reputable people. Begin by establishing a sound reputation as a buyer...then treat everyone you sell to as you expect to be treated as a buyer. You'll also need to grow some thick skin...even honorable people don't always see eye-to-eye.

 

True... with buyer protection, it effectively is "policy":

As always, even if you specify “no returns accepted,” buyers may still return these items if they don’t match the item description and the buyer files an eBay Buyer Protection case.

Which is one of the reason buyers avoid sellers with a "no return" policy. Too much aggravation if the item is not significantly
as described.

 

You mentioned $5 coins, to wit:

​

 

I think he was talking about the value of his "Surprise"

 

Delivery Confirmation Explanation

Since the Postal System has taken steps to reduce costs, mail recipients in my vicinity are encountering problems with "delivery confirmation". I recently had an in-depth discussion with our local post-master after many problems. The coup de grace was when delivery confirmation tracking information indicated that a package had been in transit ~70 miles for 6 days to my Post Office Box. On the seventh day, under interrogation she informed me that the postal changes resulted in many senior employees retiring, and the remaining employees are insufficient to handle normal duties, resulting in unattentive inexperienced employees being borrowed from other facilities. She said that delivery confirmation only means that a package is delivered to a postal station, and is to be reported by the delivering facility. Only signature confirmation is required by the receiving station. We eventually located the large package, which was found to have been in the postal facility for 6 days.

The delivery confirmation procedure was also discussed with a minority post-master in a major metropolitan post office who in no uncertain terms refused to scan my package into the postal system. He loudly informed me with support from other staff members, that any postage purchased off site is not to be rescanned as that was the responsibility of whoever sold the postage. He informed me that the package could be delivered to any unattended "drop box", available in kiosks, stores, service stations, etc., and would not be accepted at the station window which had long lines of "customers" waiting for retail necessary services.

Everything I now ship via USPS generally is in a small flat rate box, and has signature confirmation required. If the complete package weighs less than 13 ounces, and is compact, it occasionally is shipped in a cardboard reinforced padded envelope, and also has signature confirmation required.

 

I think you are right, my bad.
But at any rate, even for a $70 coin, $10 postage is excessive, IMO.

 

Agreed, as intended, the $10 book value of the bonus coin was supposed to offset the excessive shipping cost. So why not do away with the shipping charges & sell the bonus coins on their own?