eBay

westernstargifts · ‎02-24-2014

Stubborn probably fits the best...I AM a Taurus after all.

Sick all weekend, emergency appendectomy at 7:00 p.m. last night, home by midnight. And I still packaged and shipped all of my orders today.

Which brings to mind another subject that I posted about a little over 3 years ago.

In December of 2011 my son-in-law suddenly became ill and passed away a week later. There was and still is no easy and fast way to end auctions early. Although I put my Store on vacation at that time and ended some auctions, it was faster to just fill and ship the orders I received from won auctions. Something I didn't need to be doing at that time while babysitting my 9 and 5 year old grandsons while their father was in the hospital.

If I had had to stay in the hospital there would be nobody available here that knows how to do these things. I made some quick notes for my husband who knows nothing about selling on eBay.

Also sellers are now penalized for ending auctions early because we pay FVF on them even though unsold.

I am wondering if anyone else has emergency backup plans for occasions like this and would like to hear about them if you do. I had already been thinking of making up some instructions for my family and did write up some quick notes this weekend for my DH just in case. With constant changes on eBay they would have to be continuously revised. Even the smallest detail can throw someone off who is not accustomed to the site.

Please let me know your thoughts.

mr.elmwood · ‎02-26-2014

And who would be able to get into the box in a timely manner? I keep all my info in a little book beside my computer.

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rose-dee · ‎02-26-2014

@mr.elmwood wrote:
And who would be able to get into the box in a timely manner? I keep all my info in a little book beside my computer.

You're right -- the best place to keep your eBay password is somewhere that can be quickly and easily accessed by someone you trust. Mine is in a book on my desk where my husband knows to look for it. I never move it. If you don't have a spouse or son/daughter, you could ask a trusted friend to step in for you (and make sure that they know where the password is kept!).

If there is no one else you can turn to, and if you use a professional accountant to do your annual tax returns, consider asking her or him to keep your eBay password in your file, along with instructions on how to shut down your store on "vacation" with blacked out listings. A phone call from you (or anyone you ask to call) to activate that procedure is all it would take in an emergency. Yes, the accountant would charge you a fee to do it, but better than losing everything you've worked for if you were completed indisposed for a week or more.

Even if you don't use an accountant, a notary or lawyer will perform the same service (for a fee of course, including a set-up fee for the file and the consultation), but it would be peace of mind if you have no one else you can trust. Lawyers do this all the time for clients' Wills, Powers of Attorney, etc. -- many are kept in the lawyers' locked office vault for decades.

rose-dee · ‎02-26-2014

Actually, to add to the above, if you're using a lawyer or notary to keep your password and instructions, you may as well give them Power of Attorney to deal with your business (and anything else you stipulate) in the event of incapacity or death. This is of course assuming you don't have a spouse or significant other who would normally fill that role.