| You should always use quality packing materials to | | | | Shipping every day will wasted valuable time that can |
| ensure the item reaches your customer undamaged, | | | | be used for other tasks. |
| and you should also ship the item promptly to ensure | | | | Following up With Your Customers |
| the customer is satisfied and will purchase from you | | | | At a minimum, you should send three emails to every |
| again. | | | | customer. The first is to congratulate them on |
| Always charge for insurance on items you think will | | | | winning the auction, and instructing them on how to |
| sell for more than $50. Don't give the bidder the | | | | make payment. The second communication is to let |
| choice of whether they want to insure. Just charge | | | | them know their item has been shipped, how it was |
| for it in the shipping and make it a requirement. If | | | | shipped (USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex), and to remind them to |
| you are shipping via UPS, your item is automatically | | | | look at your other auctions. The third email should be |
| insured for $100 at no additional cost. | | | | sent several days after you expect they should have |
| Become intimately familiar with different methods of | | | | received their item. Thank them for purchasing from |
| shipping, the associated costs, and the speed at | | | | you, tell them you want to ensure they received |
| which the shipping method will get the item to your | | | | their item, tell them you have left them positive |
| customer. Becoming an expert in shipping methods | | | | feedback, request that they leave feedback for you, |
| will save you a lot of money, time and grief. It will | | | | and remind them again to look at your other auctions. |
| also result in happy customers. | | | | You should also capture the contact information of |
| Include some kind of promotional material with every | | | | every customer and use it for further follow-ups. |
| shipment. This can be a flyer for your eBay business | | | | Capture every piece of information you have access |
| with your User ID displayed prominently, it can be a | | | | to: name, email, physical address, and phone number. |
| brochure and order form for items related to what | | | | Send all of your customers an occasional email |
| you shipped, or it can be promotional material for | | | | reminding them that they purchased from you |
| another related business you may own. You can | | | | before, and that you have more items up for auction. |
| even include promotional material for someone else's | | | | You can even include links to your current auctions in |
| business, and charge them to include it the packages | | | | the email. Once or twice a year, send them a |
| you ship. | | | | postcard. This will put you well ahead of your |
| There is no need to ship daily. Set a schedule of two | | | | competition. |
| or three shipping days a week, and stick to that. | | | | |