Quick Guide to Buying on eBay and online

I noticed that a lot of buyers seem not to use a little common sense when buying on eBay or any other online sites. Since you cannot physically handle the item you wish to purchase it is important that you actually read through the description of the item on sale and not base your purchase or bid on the picture or title alone.

Since the picture is open to interpretation and the title may be limited to the number of words that can be used, the description will provide all the specifications for the item that you are looking at. A good description will give you information on :

• State of the article 
• MOC - Mint on card
• MOSC - Mint on sealed card
• NM - Near mint
• Loose - item by itself without the box / package

and so on

• Any accessories or other items that are included in the sale. This is particularly important as it will tell you what you are getting.
• Color (if relevant)
• Size
• Condition - New, Used, Display unit etc
• Shipping conditions
• Countries that are shipped to
• Countries that are not shipped to
• Shipment services available
• Shipment costs and handling charges
• Shipment processing times
• Shipment estimate delivery times

etc.


If it is an international shipment which has been stated to take approximately 14 days to reach you, don't start worrying after 3 days. It is physically impossible for an international shipment to be fasted the a domestic shipment. International shipments will need to :

• Go to an international departure point in their country
• Travel across the globe (air obviously will be faster then land / sea mail )
• Clear customs in your country
• Depend on your local postal service to transport inland from the port of arrival to your location

The speed of all these depends on the postal service in your respective countries. Some inland postage will actually take much longer then the actual international journey. You will need to refer to your local postal service for delivery times. You can refer to your local post office website if they operate one in your country such as :

• www.usps.com for the United States
• http://track.royalmail.com/portal/rm/track?catId=500185&mediaId=22700601&keyname=track_home for the United Kingdom
• Other countries can refer to here to locate your local website

http://www.postoffice.com/

eBaye Seller Tips : Tracking your shipments

You should always ship your items using a method which provides a tracking number to prevent any misunderstandings and also to provide the customer visibility on where their purchases are. For Malaysia we can use either :

• Registered post - parcels below 2 Kg and 300 cm max in 3 dimensions measurement
  
• Pros : 
• Low cost
• Acknowledgment of receipt
  

• Cons : 
• Limited tracking in Pos Malaysia website - only to the point it leaves Malaysia
  
• Parcel mail 
• Pros : 
• More detailed tracking in Pos Malaysia website up to destination
  
• Lower cost if parcel weight > 1 kg
• Cons
• May be slower in delivery then registered mail (although based on experience by not much in most cases )
  
• Higher cost for light parcels < 1 kg
• EMS (Expedited Mail Service) / Post Laju
• Pros :
• Faster delivery
• Better tracking (slightly)
• Cons
• Higher cost

You can track the parcel internationally in the recipient's country website and this is a good website to use if you do not know where to find it :

http://www.postoffice.com/

eBay Seller Tips : Holiday calendar

Here is a useful tool for all eBay and online sellers who want to sell worldwide. This website allows you to check for local holidays in the countries of the world. This is useful as some items are seasonal items and also people then to have more time to go surfing during the holiday seasons.

Time and Date calendar

It also has a time zone converter so you can know when your customers are awake.

Ebay seller guide for posting parcels - Tip 2

Tip 2 :

Yes you need to write the address of the person you are sending the parcel to and your return address actually on the box even though you have filled up a form which will be stuck on the parcel.

Reason :

The prevents the parcel being lost should the form be separated from the parcel

Recommendation:

Write in as large letters as possible the address of your recipient in a permanent marker preferably in black or blue and your return address in smaller letters on the reverse.

Hope this helps you...

Ebay seller guide for posting parcels

I noted at the post office on the number of times I came across people who seem to be postal challenged. I am starting a guide for those who are thinking of selling on eBay or any other sites, or just need to send things through the mail.

These are related to using the Malaysian Postal service but I'm sure will be common to other countries as well.

Rule 1: 

Parcels wrapped in fancy birthday or other wrapping paper do not make acceptable postal parcels.


Reason: You need to write the recipient's and your return address on the package and no one is able to see it if  you have fancy wrapping paper.


Recommended method : Brown wrapping paper is the standard acceptable method to wrap parcels although white paper is also accepted.  


It also help to protect your parcel with a well packed wrap.


Stay tuned for more postal tips ...