Bananas - Your Source of eBay Packing Materials!

This is the most boring stage of the process and subsequently where some eBay sellers let themselves down. If the buyer receives thier purchase poorly packed and broken then they are not going to be happy and will want a refund and more importantly never buy off you again which will have negated all the hard work that you put into the previous stages of your professional auction listing.

Packing is not difficult but if you get carried away then it will impact greatly on your profit, all items fall into two categories:

Envelope Packages - always use padded envelopes as these will protect your items properly

and

Box Packages - always use a sturdy box and ideally wrap the item in bubble wrap

As I mentioned packaging costs can impact on your profit, however, if you carefully work out what is required when you are calculating the shipping charge then this cost is covered by the customer as they pay the shipping charge. This doesn't mean use the first supplier of packaging that you can find as the shipping charge will have an effect on the listing and the customers perception of you, the customer assumes that the shipping charge relates only to the postage cost and not to the packaging costs so when they see that they paid more than the actual cost of postage they assume that you are ripping them off and this will ruin anyone's professional image.

There are numerous suppliers of packaging available, with some very good suppliers available on eBay itself. However there are other alternatives, your items do not have to go out in box's that are plain or covered in your logo (if you have one). Customers will not mind as long as thier item arrives in one piece.

My advice would be to become a recycler, when you visit the store keep a look out for boxes that you can use to pack your items and also for packaging materials to secure the item with within the box. The stores are more than willing to let you take these(always ask first) as they only throw them away or recycle them themselves.

I am going to let you in on a big secret, there is a great source of FREE BUBBLE WRAP that anyone can get access to. All it takes is one word :

BANANA'S

Banana's are the single biggest selling fruit in superstores and every box of them comes packed with a sheet of bubble wrap within to protect the delicate fruit. All you do is ask your local produce department manager in your local store to save it for you and hey presto instant FREE packaging. Do not worry about the banana smell tainting the bubble wrap as the bananas are removed from the packaging before they are ripe (the stage they start to smell) as the stores like to ensure a customer life of the product and as such sell them just as they are ripening. Trust me, try it and see.

When you are packing the item, always put a thank you note in to ensure that the customer knows you are grateful for thier purchase and this will also raise your image within their mind. Always use a good strong tape on the box and ensure all flaps are taped down and that no one can gain entry to the box without cutting the tape. When you are putting the customers address on the box I would recommend that you type it out on the PC, firstly it looks more professional and also not everyone can read your writing and this will only cause delays in the mail.

It is also advisable to always get proof of postage from the mail or better still send it recorded, this acts in two ways... it provides a means of tracking the delivery so that you know the customer received it (helps against fraudulent 'not received' claims) and it also provides a insurance cover against loss and damage. The relative costs are minor compared to the piece of mind it gives you and the customer.

The next stage is to develop this after sales one stage further.. please read want money for nothing?

Visit ebay information central to use the FREE resources to develop your online business.

---

How To Sell On Ebay & Keep Your Shirt

Have you ever been delighted after a huge sale on... Read More

Buying & Selling Gently Used Baby Clothing, Strollers, Toys, and Other Baby Items & Products on eBay

Need Extra Money? Buy and Sell Your Gently Used Baby... Read More

Drop Shipping Secrets and Sources Revealed

Unfortunately for those just breaking into the wholesaling business, drop-shipping... Read More

Selling through Auction Marketplaces

Consumers are increasingly feeling more comfortable in buying products through... Read More

Low Cost, High Profit Dream Products To Sell on eBay and Amazon

Finding quality products to sell is the key to continuing... Read More

Mail Order: The Original Internet Still Going Strong

While the world continues to go catatonic over the Internet... Read More

Online Auctions: 10 Secrets You Should Know Before Bidding At An Online Auction

You may have heard about ebay and other online auctions.You... Read More

How Drop Shipping Works

One of the most frequently asked questions on the Net... Read More

10 Tips to Starting a Financially Successful Ebay Business Startting Right Now

Ebay is Perhaps the easiest and fastest way to start... Read More

Why Its a BAD Idea To Promote Hot Selling Products on eBay

Do a quick search on Google, Yahoo, or your favorite... Read More

Maria?s New Lifestyle: Short Story About The Benefits Shopping On The Net Has Given

I've got this strange friend; her name is Maria. Maria's... Read More

eBay After Sales - as Important as the Listing Itself

Your eBay listing has finished and you have made a... Read More

The Quickest Way To Have A Product To Sell On The Internet

Creating a product from scratch that you can sell on... Read More

How To Sell Santa?s Slip-Ups

Shoppers spent more than $15.5 billion this Christmas on gifts... Read More

Start an Easy Home Business: Become an Ebay Trading Assistant

EBay's online auctions have created business opportunities for thousands of... Read More

Tips on How to Profit from eBay Buy It Now Auction Listings

eBay is an online auction site so it stands to... Read More

Image Hosting For Online Auctions

Use eBay picture service or host your own photos?If you... Read More

Importing Products to Sell on eBay

The interesting thing about online buyers is they are extremely... Read More

Authentic or Fake?

1. Admit It: Old business models are no longer working.... Read More

5 Ways to Drive Traffic Away from Your EBay Auction

eBay is a one-stop solution to any one who wants... Read More

A New Definition of Buyer Beware

"Who's Suzie?"My wife Katrina had been acting strangely ever since... Read More

Taxing Your eBay Profits

As a small business person-slash-advice columnist I dread the first... Read More

5 Secrets To Make A Killing on EBay

Secret #1: Find a 'real' wholesale and drop ship companyDo... Read More

Drop Shipping Is Your Perfect Home Based Business Solution

Drop Shipping Is Your Perfect Home Based Business SolutionDrop shipping... Read More

Target Potential Bidders With Laser Beam Precision!

When a potential bidder (customer) is looking at a specific... Read More

What Ebay Can Teach Us About Success

I flew back to New York from Atlanta a few... Read More

eBay Gold

Internet auctions are relatively new having been around since the... Read More

From Ebay Zero to Power-Selling Hero: The Devil Is In The Details

If you've ever heard the expression "the devil is in... Read More

How Professional Ebay Auction Templates Can Boost Your Ebay Sales

Do you like to sell on eBay ? It's easy... Read More

Fed Up With eBay?

For many people, their first experience of working online involves... Read More

Profitable Paper Piecing on eBay--Part 1

Why sell paper piecings on eBay?eBay is a great way... Read More

Start Selling On eBay - Getting Started On The Right Foot

You've started your own eBay business and, even though it's... Read More

The Benefits of Buying and Selling Locally

Shop at a flea market in Oaxaca, Mexico. Trade with... Read More