New BC seller needs help

[thejvlstore]

My products are coming in next week and I am ready to start listing. They are from China ( I got a friend to bring lots of the products back for me free of charge or custom fees etc.

These items are really small, 48cm in length but they can curl up and fit into the envelope. 

Problem right now is I have to compete with China sellers who list them for $3 ( free shipping ) United states sellers $4 (free shipping) 

What price should I list mine at to compete with these guys? I live in BC, Canada. Say if I charge $4 ( free shipping ) How much will I get dinged on fees? My investment is around 30 cents for 1 product. According to canada post its $1.85 for the postage stamp for international ( worst case scenario place to send ) . Envelope money lets assume ( $.20 per ) So my profit would be around $1.25 after ebay fees. Are my calculations correct here? 

To all you pro sellers out there, where do i buy envelopes and postage stamps for cheap ( besides the discount postage.ca ) because I'm just starting out don't wanna make huge $100 investments into stamps right now. Easiest would be going to canada post office I assume? 

Also should I setup ebay store or just go without one? 

Lots of questions, I know I should just get into it but I don't have the product yet, didnt take any pics yet, so want some answers before then. Any tips for starters would be very helpful to a BC seller ( probably worst place in the world to sell ). Thanks !

[thejvlstore]

Just made my first selling post since I found these brand new lying around. Can someone give some suggestions on anything to work on? I'm gonna use this format for my future sells as well. I'm only selling to Canada and United States for now... is this wise? Any help would be great. Thanks. 

[i*m-still-here]

As you describe your enterprise more it's staring to look like you know what you're doing.

(I don't know if your friend is male, but I have an image of custom's opening "his' suitcase and finding hundreds of pairs of sexy undies?)

Anyway, you'll find the best way to print labels in time.  I'd never do them long hand because even I can't read my own printing, but some people might actually like doing that.

As for where to mail from............. it doesn't matter, but it would make sense to check the pick up times and then mail from the location which benefits you the most.

That can cut a day off transit time and could help DSRs..

[vintagenorth]

Very nice listings, jvlstore! You should do well.

You do know that you can't mail those for $1.35 to the US or $1.10 to Canada don't you? 

[thejvlstore]

"As you describe your enterprise more it's staring to look like you know what you're doing."

Thanks, that actually means alot for me. As for checking, I guess I will just ask my closest Canada Post office. Its located in a Shoppers Drug Mart.

"Very nice listings, jvlstore! You should do well. You do know that you can't mail those for $1.35 to the US or $1.10 to Canada don't you? "

Appreciate it, means alot to me ! I actually spent time looking for templates to use. Yes I know I'm not gonna be fitting them in a small envelope. What do you suggest? Small letter bubble mailers? Since I only have 2 of these products and won't be selling anymore of these in the near future, I guess I'll just go CP and ask for 2 letter bubble mailers? What do you guys think? 

[pocomocomputing]

Do not buy at Canada Post retail outlets. One CP bubble envelope will cost you as must as 5 at the dollar store. Do not buy any shipping supplies from Canada Post. Way too expensive.

Your current item looks fragile to me. Bubble envelope does not offer much protection. The item appears to be in plastic blister packaging. Is this strong enough to help protect the item? If not, get a clean recycled box. Make sure the recycled box does not have hazard warnings about the contents since the post office will read the warning and may not take the item.

[pocomocomputing]

I see that you are using the use.com free templates and picture hosting for the description.

The templates are nice at use.com but the pictures in the listing take the buyer offsite to use.com to see the larger pictures.  Once there, if you click on a picture, it enlarges in a new window. I ended up with 3 extra windows open from your listing on use.com.  Not nice to the potential buyer trying to shop. They have to close each window. This might annoy potential buyers.

Since you already have the same pictures in the eBay photo gallery, the extra pictures in the description are redundant. You may want to go to a simple description without pictures or one picture for faster listing downloading.

What is the source of your pictures?  You cannot take them from anywhere on the Internet without permission. It may be okay for this one time sale but for your regular products that you will list later, this might be a problem.

[pocomocomputing]

Here is a source of low cost supplies in the Vancouver area. Supposed to be the lowest prices in the west. Better than Uline.ca. I never bought from them because I am a small seller and recycle shipping supplies.

http://www.canadamailers.ca/

[pocomocomputing]

Other large suppliers are

http://www.uline.ca/

http://www.staplesindustrial.ca/default.asp?

[thejvlstore]

@poco:

Thanks for your advice . I want to use the bubble envelope mailers because its cheaper to ship than a small box? This item is wrapped around with plastic and is durable so it should be fine. 

I'm using these images through the internet, but its a one time sale only. For my future products, they will be takened by me, I ordered a Light Box already on its way for photo shooting purposes. 

For the templates, I won't upload any pictures on their site anymore since you are correct, theres already pictures at the top of the listing. Thanks for the supplier links, I will look into it if i need anything from there but so far it looks like i only need postage stamps from discount postage.ca