Can't seem to get views on my items and can't seem to sell them

[foulger_tyson]

 I cant seem to get views on items and cant seem to sell stuff. Even popular Items on eBay that I post for sale are the same thing. Any views that they do have are from me.

 How can I get views and sell stuff?

[momcqueen]

More photos, longer and more descriptive titles, more detailed item descriptions, less-expensive postage, and advertising outside of eBay with links to your listing(s) would be my starting advice.

[ypdc_dennis]

---

@foulger_tysonwrote:

 I cant seem to get views on items and cant seem to sell stuff. Even popular Items on eBay that I post for sale are the same thing. Any views that they do have are from me.

 How can I get views and sell stuff?

---

Use more descriptive titles -- the title is used for search and for getting people to stop and take a look at your offer.
Looking at your listing: Handmade Paracord Bracelets
...
You have 8 for sale, include that in the title, include the bracelet size(s) in the title and/or description. Also consider words which have can have a more attractive appeal (this can be a bit variable depending on person's view, so perhaps handcrafted instead of handmade). Also consider mentioning in the description what paracord is, for those who are unfamiliar with the term.

So maybe:  Set of eight Handcrafted Paracord Bracelets - 8 inch / 20 cm length

(replacing numbers with the correct size values)

-..-

[pierrelebel]

" C $18.96 Standard Shipping"

Seriously?

That will turn most  buyers off considering the low price of the items.

Think like a buyer: would you buy your listing for $2 plus $19 shipping?  Most viewers will not even waste their time looking at the listing.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

Currently only seeing one item you have listed.  I would suggest a variety of listings. You can list 50 items per month with a basic account. Adds to your traffic and shows you are serious about selling.

-CM

[foulger_tyson]

But I can't help what Canada post charges for shipping. they are in a small flat envelope. It is calculated shipping. I put in the dimensions and weight.

[foulger_tyson]

But I can't help what Canada post charges for shipping. They are in a small flat envelope. It is calculated shipping. I put in the dimensions and weight.

[femmefan1946]

If your package is less than 500 grams and less than 2cm thick you can use Letter rate shipping.

Domestically that tops out at $5.05 for shipping and to the USA $10.30- for a 500 gram package.

These are FLAT RATE prices.

Calculated shipping gives on Parcel Rates, which is good for bulky and heavy items.

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s1

My suggestions:

• Don't sell used and new together. Different audiences.
• Low prices are not always attractive. Try selling those eight bracelets as eight listings for one bracelet each at the same $2.00 price.
• Forget Auctions. Over 80% of transactions are now Fixed Price.  Better for mobile shoppers and for impulse buyers-- two overlapping groups I suspect are your customer base.
• More listings. You are currently restricted because you are a new seller with no track record. But list as many items as you can -- you have 50 Free Listings every month on dotCA.
• You have another 50 Free Listings every month on dotCOM (the US/ original site). Listings must be in US dollars and shipping must be Flat Rate, but this is very common among Canadian sellers.
• You have 80 keystrokes in your title as FREE advertising. Use them. But the first four words are generally considered the most useful for mobile shoppers.

[foulger_tyson]

---

---

femmefan1946 Thanks for your reply. It was very helpful and gave me some ideas. I am new to selling.

[foulger_tyson]

I don't really like using flat rate prices as the price may be over and I could end up paying for some of it and could loose money that way. Also, does the money the buyer pays for shipping go into my account so I can use it to pay for shipping? I have bought stuff off eBay and they just got the shipping label at the post office. If I do that, how would I mark it as shipped? is there a button to do that?

[femmefan1946]

flat rate prices as the price may be over and I could end up paying

That's why I posted the rate card.

You need a digital scale and a tape measure.

Enter the right information and you get the right price.

does the money the buyer pays for shipping go into my account

Yes.

And it is available right away for shipping labels. (But there are no shipping labels for Letter Rates.)

Actually, you can use the ability to print a label as a double check that your customer's payment has cleared and in in your PP account, even though you can't remove it yet. (Which is a Buyer Protection btw.)

they just got the shipping label at the post office

You can do better than that.

Online or at the PO ask for a Small Business Solutions number.

You get the number immediately and the card arrives later in the mail.

This gives you a 5% or so discount on many services, but not all.

You will also need it to buy labels online, either from SnapShip (Canada Post) or Shippo (eBay partner/ Canada Post).

how would I mark it as shipped?

There is a button if you use stamps or buy the label at the PO counter.

But if you buy through Paypal, the item is marked shipped automatically and your customer is notified that the label has been purchased.

[foulger_tyson]

---

@femmefan1946wrote:

flat rate prices as the price may be over and I could end up paying

That's why I posted the rate card.

You need a digital scale and a tape measure.

Enter the right information and you get the right price.

---

You mean put the info in the eBay calculator when listing the item or on the Canada post one? I usually do put it in on the eBay one, the right info. If I do flat rate it doesn't give me the option to put in the info. If I do flat rate then I don't want the shipping to go over what it was that I put in to charge.

Sorry, but I am confused as I have never done this before. Hope you are patient. 🙂

[foulger_tyson]

Okay so haw do I get the cheap shipping. I don't want to put a fixed price because for example if I put $5 for shipping and the shipping comes to $8 to where the buyer is located then I have to pay some of the shipping. If I put fixed price it won't give me the option to put in the dimensions and weight. I know I put in the correct info.

[foulger_tyson]

What should I put as a flat rate. I can't help what Canada post charges.

[femmefan1946]

The eBay calculator will take your buyer's postal code, which is part of her contact information, and tell her how much it will cost her for delivery to her doorstep.

The Canada Post calculator will take the information about the parcel and tell you the costs for several services to various destinations (which you also input).

Here are some useful postal codes:

K0A 0A6 -- The House of Commons in Ottawa.

X0A 0H0-Iqaluit City Hall

V8W 1P6- Victoria BC City Hall

90210 - for US pricing.

You take the information you are given by Canada Post and decide if a Flat Rate will work for that particular item.

Then you put in the Flat Rate.

You can massage the Rate to include Cookie Jar Insurance (another topic- Search for it, there are lots of explanations) and packaging because bubble wrap ain't free.

You are not guessing when you use the Canada Post calculator. You are researching and making a decision on the basis of that research.

Generally- if you parcel will be over 2cm thick and 500 grams, you should be using Calculated Shipping in Canada.

But you may be able to use Flat Rate shipping to the USA with confidence.

NEVER use Flat Rate shipping overseas. Never.

[foulger_tyson]

Okay. What about the shipping service that I select when listing. And for the shipping cost, If I calculate it on Canada post site, it will probably be different for the buyer or do I wait until they buy the item, calculate the cost, then charge them?

[foulger_tyson]

I'm dumb

[femmefan1946]

Please go to the website and start entering random postal codes and measurements.

You will quickly see where the price changes are-- based on destination, weight and measurements.

ypdc_dennis gave us a chart a while back that I printed out and have under the glass top of my desk.That tells me that if I am shipping anywhere in the USA a parcel from 250- 500grams it will cost me

• $10.30 by LetterPost
• $11.52 by Small Packet Air (not tracked) and
• $19.38 by Tracked Packet.
• There are other, more expensive, options too.

For thicker or heavier parcels you will have to use Package rates for domestic shipping.

Play with those on the Canada Post website too.

That's what the postal codes are for.

And when you choose a service, that's what your Canadian customer will see.

The Calculated Shipping always shows your customer the rate she will pay. If her cousin in Yellowknife looks at the same listing, she will see a different shipping price.

The Flat Rate will always show the same rate to all your Canadian customers. Only use it for LetterRate items.

There is a tab for that on the website.

[foulger_tyson]

So If i use the calculate shipping on eBay when listing, how do I make it as cheap as possible?

[foulger_tyson]

This is stressing me out!! How can I make the shipping cost cheap for say a $10 item for example?? It can be up to 15 to 20 bucks sometimes!