EBay can be a scary place for new members. Sellers need some savvy when it comes to handling feedback and setting reserve prices, not to mention dealing with shipping options and online payment services.
But Everett eBay users got a crash course in the world of online selling Monday and Tuesday, courtesy of the U. S. Postal Service. A one-hour class at the Everett post office offered tips for both serious sellers doing business online and to those such as Wendy Whiteley, who was just looking to unload some of the stuff around her house.
“I just recently started purchasing items on eBay to get my family outfitted for a backpacking trip,” she said. “I started thinking I might want to sell some things.”
Rhonda Kelly, a small business specialist for the Postal Service, taught the one-hour workshops, showing those who attended how they can use the Postal Service in their eBay transactions.
Ebay and the Postal Service have launched an integrated mailing program that allows eBay members to arrange online for shipping. Sellers can calculate postage, purchase package insurance, print labels and request that a carrier pick up their outgoing items from their homes – all through the eBay Web site, www.ebay.com.
“This is by far the way to go,” Kelly said.
People in the Seattle district use carrier pickup more than any other area in the nation, Kelly told eBay users Tuesday.
She noted that media mail is a cheap option for shipping books, CDs, DVDs, video games and similar items. But sellers have to be careful that the contents of the package don’t include any nonmedia items; even including an invoice could result in a hefty fee being charged to the receiver.
“You want to make sure you do it properly and you do it ethically,” she said.
Priority mail is still the best option, Kelly said.
Buyers tend to be willing to pay more to get the merchandise sooner, and they enjoy the added bonus of receiving items in a box instead of an envelope
“Feedback is so important,” Kelly said. “When you ship something, you want to make sure you ship it right.”
About 14 workshops were taught Monday and Tuesday, and they usually drew the maximum of 30 people each.
“I’ve signed up to do some of this eBay stuff,” said Everett resident Ray Weeks as he left the post office. “I haven’t sold anything yet. But I feel a little more prepared now.”
Ebay reported earlier this month that more people are using the online auction site to sell and buy merchandise.
A survey released this month by eBay reported that the number of users has gone up 68 percent in the last three years. Members in the U.S. sold about $10.6 billion worth of merchandise in the first six months of the year.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
Rhonda Kelly of the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday teaches a class at the Everett post office on how eBay works, especially in shipping items through the mail.
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