posted on March 27, 2003 12:52:37 PM new
I just have a couple of (how to) questions. I have been reading the boards since I joined AW, which was only a few weeks ago. I've been buying and selling on Ebay for about 3 years, but now I'm getting more serious about selling, and loving it. In the past, I have been posting only a VERY few auctions at one time. Because I was doing everything manually, and (as I'm sure most know) is was VERY time consuming and organizing everything was a pain. So far using AW has helped me get organized better. But I was wondering, is posting say 50 to 100+ auctions fairly simple to manage using AW? I know doing alot of auctions like that can still be very time consuming, but I'm sure it's nothing like doing it manually! Also does anyone have any tips and tricks for managing and organizing auctions?
Just thought I'd ask the pros on the subject before I jump in deep water and drown.
Thanks for any help, replies, suggestions or criticism given!
posted on March 27, 2003 01:01:45 PM new
Ihave found AW saved my sanity and tons of time when listing large numbers of auctions. If I were new, I would try increasing my numbers by maybe 25 a week to find a comfort level. When it gets overbearing, scale down a little. When you feel you have it mastered, the scale a little more as your time, sanity and invetory allows.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:19:48 PM new
I don't do near that many auctions but if I did I'd make a description template on Word so that all I had to do was plug in a few particulars and then cut and paste.
Take advantage of anything automated that you can.
And Neonmania is right about ramping up. Don't forget, it takes time to pack and mail. You don't want to find yourelf needing 25 hours a day to do this.
posted on March 27, 2003 01:21:23 PM new
do as much of it with the AW managing tools as possible. personalize the EOA and shipping notice emails and use them. I even send my feedback through AW now and it is so much easier.
posted on March 27, 2003 07:08:23 PM new
"But I was wondering, is posting say 50 to 100+ auctions fairly simple to manage using AW? "
In a word yes. Do as others have said type in Word (or works) and paste. Many times you can cut and past and amend in Word then put in AW. The biggest time burner is scans, good ones.
Don’t have auctions close every day only once a week then you have a question day, packing and shipping day, a scanning and typing day a loading and another shipping day, a pattern that works for you. Don’t get behind on your after sale work, it is every bit as important as prior and sale work. (And a poor job will get you in trouble faster)
Last but not least use some method such as an ID# on each lot that don’t change and double-check each lot for accuracy prior to shipping. Most Ebay failed Seller’s fail in the post sale area (though few would admit it)
Good luck and see you on line.
posted on March 27, 2003 08:56:53 PM new
I agree with all the above. I found running 50 auctions per week the max I can manage. I could never have done it without Auction Manager Pro. The post sale area alone will save you tearing your hair out!
posted on March 27, 2003 09:57:06 PM new
Sold well over 7000 sales....3 years,,,over 1000 feed backs which I care less about. Negs under 20, 98.8 last look...If you are in this full time. Roll up your sleeves and get Ready to work! 24 hours a day. It matters not. The harder you work, the more you make. List and ship and ship and list and e mail and package wrap,,,,send, drive to P.O. find, buy, list write stories, take pictures describe, answer dumb e mails. don't answer dumber emails.....Be happy,,be p.o.ed. Thank them when it's a breeze and tell em off when they are STUPID.....Get those emails to a min. This is a Business not a Chatty Cathy thing......Send your address,I send the postage, they send the money, i ship....Done deal. if they want to leave a feed back remark fine, reply with what ever they gave. onward and forward...Check out Sears on e bay. They!! are a real business. they have no time for e mail cat fights.....they sell,,,,that's it. Best of Sales to you.
Gee, I hope I was Mellow,,,,,,
Snap! snap! snap!,,,,,,Whiiiiiip it, Whiiiiip it GOOD! OUCH!
posted on March 27, 2003 10:07:53 PM new
Lot of good advice - I'd only add that during the times I've upped my auction quantities, it absolutely save my sanity to use online postage printing (I use endicia.com and am quite happy with them). Print your postage, labels, and delivery confirmation numbers at home. I provide dc on all of my packages - through endicia costs 13 cents for non-priority mail and free for priority mail.
I also use u-pic.com for postal insurance, again so that I can do everything online. All of my items are insured for under $100, and it costs $1.25.
Bless my local mailboxes etc. - type store - I just drop off my USPS packages to her (at no charge to me - bless her, bless her), and avoid the P.O. and its horrible lines altogether.
posted on March 28, 2003 12:01:53 AM new
We are retired, but I find that about 25 - 30 auctions per week, perhaps 3 times a month (and then a week to rest up!) is my limit right now. I launched 40 one week and it nearly killed me! (I use lots of pictures and am fanatic about their quality, so photo editing is time-consuming.)
Post-sale messaging is quite time-consuming. I usually have my auctions end in the evenings, and I like to get my EOA's out before morning, so that means some late nights for me.
Find your own comfort level, and as some said here, increase it by a little bit each time if you wish until you know your energy limits. We're all different.
It's still worth it, though. The game is fun. When it isn't fun anymore, I'll stop.
posted on March 28, 2003 05:11:23 AM new
Well folks.....THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the great advice. I will make note and give it all a shot. I really love doing this and I just needed friendly advice. Also thanks for all the tips on post sale, postage, pics and others. I use the USPS online labels for postage now, and edit images in Photoshop, but always open to something better.
I have really learned alot already from everyone here, hopefully one day I can help others too.
Thanks!!! Rick
[ edited by juzlookin41 on Mar 28, 2003 06:20 AM ]
posted on March 28, 2003 05:45:00 PM new
"In a word yes. Do as others have said type in Word (or works) and paste. Many times you can cut and past and amend in Word then put in AW."
Think it might be helpful if said this better. Many times you can take an old write-up that is in word/works copy it, paste it in current word/work location and amend for a new lot,Then copy That and put in auction. Saves retyping from whole cloth over and over and helps to not leave something out. Hope that is better.
posted on March 28, 2003 06:47:16 PM new
If you use Sales manager Pro ( I do), you can keep a "batch" full of descriptions in dummy listings, then just copy and paste from that dummy batch. You don't even have to bother with word/works. Everything will be right where you are working from already. And you can modify your descriptions or save as many as you want or completely delete old ones when you want.
Does'nt anyone else do this?
posted on March 28, 2003 10:08:49 PM new
Save every auction to inventory. I do and if I ever have a similar item to list I just pull up the old listing.
The online postage labels are a big waste of time. Try Endicia's free trial, I bet you won't even consider using the online thing again. (www.endicia.com Promotional Code 507851 )
If you ship items over 3 LBS you might want to use Fedex Ground or UPS. They pickup and save you time and gas for only $7 per week.
posted on March 29, 2003 02:55:50 PM new
I have found that people don't like to go through page after page of auction items, so I try to keep mine to under 20 listed at a time
>^,,^^,,^<
MEOW pft pft
