For most ebay sellers, getting the sale proceeds
transferred into their bank account is usually the end of
the deal, but if you have an acute business sense, you will
realize that seller responsibilities do not end at this
stage. As a seller, you need to realize that your
responsibilities are not over until and unless the ordered
product is shipped and is received by its rightful owner in
the same condition as described in your online ebay store.
Your bank account may have been credited, but you still
need to get your shipping right because if the customer is
not satisfied, he can easily give you a negative feedback
ranking, which in turn can seriously jeopardize your
business plans. Getting your shipping right is necessary
also because only fully satisfied customers generate
referrals, something that is vital for the long-term
prospects of any business venture.
While cutting costs is necessary for the success of your
online ebay store, you should look at other available
options rather than using sub-standard products for
packaging and shipment. Shipped products travel great
distances and are most likely to be mishandled during
transit. If you do not use the prescribed materials, the
parcel and its contents may become susceptible to tampering
or damage, which in turn could easily dent your store's
brand image and reputation. In your efforts to save a few
bucks, you can easily end up losing much more in terms of
lost sales due to negative customer feedbacks.
The best way of reducing shipping related costs is to
solicit trade enquiries from as many courier companies as
possible in order to find the best available deals. While
doing so, concentrate on the underdogs, i.e. the second or
third ranked courier company because they are the ones who
are often more than willing to generate new business. You
can also bargain for shipping rate reductions, but for that
you will be required to have large enough business volumes
as required by the courier company.
Now do not lose heart if you are a small time player
because there are many other options available. For
example, instead of offering a single shipment plan, you
can offer multiple shipment plans and ask the buyer to take
his pick. Buyers feel more comfortable when they have
access to multiple choices and as such they are most likely
to ignore your quoted shipping rates, even if your rates
are higher than that offered by other sellers. This will
not result in real time cost reductions, but since you will
no longer be required to compete in terms of shipping
rates, it will still prove quite beneficial. You can then
concentrate more on your main business and work towards
achieving your set goals and objectives.
----------------------------------------------------
John Thornhill is an eBay PowerSeller and trades on eBay
under the username planetsms. He earns $1000s every week
selling info products on eBay. If you want John to mentor
you and show you how he is so successful visit
http://www.mentorshipmonthly.com/
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