Well, Since You Asked…The Easy Way To Sell Online

I receive a few emails a week from people asking me to “help” them sell online. I don’t mind these emails, but …there is no easy way to sell online. Sorry. So I decided to write up a small basic plan that anyone who ever wanted to sell online can use to get started.

 

First things first-what do you want to sell? I always say choose things you are familiar with and enjoy. Why sell hot wheel cars if you hate them? Antiques are fab, but if you know nothing about them then you are going to waste a majority of your time learning about them rather then selling them.

 

2-Start small. Sell items from around your house. Don’t put yourself in debt over inventory if your not even sure you’ll be doing this 1 week from not.Get a feel for it. I have talked to so many people that tell me, “Oh, you sell on line? Wow, I’m going to do that-it looks so easy.”  Uh huh, you keep thinking that.

 

3-Finding a venue. There are 3 ways to sell online. On a venue (Ebay, Amazon, Ruby Lane, ect…), your own website, or through a third party (consignors).

Using an established venue is easy peasy and garners you max exposure for minimum price. However there are pros and cons to this deal. The number 1 pro- You have a company that has millions of dollars to spend on advertising for you. The number 1 con-you have to follow all THEIR rules. Yup. And trust me, most venues have more rules then a Catholic all girls school for the sexually promiscuous.

Working up your own website is great, but I advise this for experienced sellers. You will have to do EVERYTHING. And keep in mind that you are competing against MILLIONS of other sellers online. I spend about 2 hrs total a day just in advertising my stand alone web store.

 

4-RESEARCH!!!!
   RESEARCH!!!!
   RESEARCH!!!!

I cannot stress that enough. You can ask me or any other seller a million times a day but what works for us may not work for you.  I know sellers who can push no name brands all day long while I couldn’t sell one to a naked man in the dead of winter. Also, we’ve all spent years doing just this- RESEARCH. You need to know what is hot and what is not. Budgeting. Laws in your state. Accounting. Taxes. Shipping and handling. Finding suppliers. Getting the best prices. Horning your fake VS real eye. HTML. Submitting to search engines. Ect…

 

5-If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. I’m sorry but if everyone could buy the, “Make a Million Dollars in just 3 Days” cds and actually MAKE a million dollars well, then we would all be doing it wouldn’t we? What we have here is a seller who has found their nich. Selling information that you have to ….wait for it….RESEARCH. And the so called “secret lists”?  Ummm, no. All your paying for is someone else to do your research. the to write and beg for product. Plus, designers do not sell wholesale to small sellers.

 

Working from home is one of the best but hardest jobs I’ve ever had. I have to budget my time accordingly. I have to be VERY committed and structured through out the day. I also do not get the same respect or privacy that one working from an office might get.  But I wouldn’t trade it for the world as I get to spend more time with my family and I am my own boss.

 

Got any tips to add? I’d love to hear them. :)

Well, Since You Asked....

I've decided to share some of my more unusual emails, phone calls, and such with you on Fridays because I have enough info here to last me through 2015.


The Phone Call:
You have to imagine this call in the female voice of version of Chong from Cheech & Chong.


1 st call: "Hi..................................my....nameis....XXXX.......I....want....um......yea.....velvet coat.....that.....ummmm...yea....fits me. Kay?


2nd call: Me....'gain. I......yea......want some.....ummmmm.


3rd Call: It's XXXX.......................................I'm .....looooooking for.......velvet.....fits......coat.......me.


All the calls show as incoming. While I do take requests and will look for particular items for clients, I really need you to be sober and coherent when you call. I'm funny like that.




The Email:


Hi, I bought a skirt from you and I'm afraid it doesn't fit. Where Do I return?


Hi. I'm sorry but I am not showing that you made a purchase from me. Could you give me the item or order number?


The number is XXXXXXXXXX.


Hi. That is not a number in my inventory and I have not sold that skirt before. Perhaps you have me mixed up with another seller.


What? So you don't want to honor your return policy? What kind of &*^%$% outfit are you running? I want to return this &^&%$# or I'm calling the Ebay police on you.(yes, they seriously said Ebay policy)


Hi. I always honor my return policy, however, I did not sell that skirt to you. I have never sold a skirt like that. I have never had a skirt like that in inventory. If you check your BUY column it will tell you who the seller is and you can contact them about a return.


You had better return my money now or I'm giving you a BIG FAT NEG.


Hi. Ma'am, I did not sell that item to you. If you want to leave a neg I cannot stop you but it won't be for me. It'll be for the seller you refused to contact about returning the skirt you bought from them.


Well, I left a neg. I hope your satisfied and can live with yourself.


You may have left a neg...but you left it for XXXX-see (inserted that seller's link). This is me(inserted my link-neg free thank you). 


So you just let me leave another seller a neg and refused to do anything about it?


Oy vey. After that I blocked her 'cause it just wasn't any fun anymore. I did find out later the seller she negged was able to get it removed. 


what's my point? There is no point. Only that selling clothing online can be a fun, relaxing money making venture allowing you to share your love of style and fashion with saving the planet.
It can also being you into contact with some strange peeps. 

The Creepiness Of Selling Online

I have been selling on line for over 8 years. In the beginning I admit that I wasn't the brightest light bulb in the lamp. I did a lot of things wrong and paid the price for it. So I decided to devote some time to helping those who are starting out selling learn some tricks and how to be safe. Tip # 1- GET A PO BOX. I cannot stress that enough. Do you know how many freaky people are out there? A LOT!! Just go to Craigslist. They all post there. A po box starts out as low as $12 depending on size. True story. A few years ago I woke up to a pounding on the door. A gentleman who had purchased something from me had tracked me down at my house. He wanted to pick up item. Now, I don't mind pick ups but I will usually meet person in a public place if I decide to do that. But this man took it upon himself to come to my home. So here I am, alone with small child, freaking out. Then it got creepy. He wanted to see my store. Wanted to make a deal for furture purchases. Then he asked if I was happily married. Thankfully my neighbor responded to my DC(direct connect) alert and came running over. The point is that this would have NEVER happened had I not posted my address. After that all references to my address were deleted and I went and got a po box. Tip #2-Get an 800 number or a 2nd line on phone for your business. Either way each only cost about $9.98 a month. Same principal applies here. Do you know how EASY it is to get someone's addy from their phone number. Reverse phone number sites have hit an all time high. And they are VERY easy to use. Top #3- Pick up & deliveries. As I posted up above, I will do it but under certain circumstances. Only in a public place. And by public I mean with 50 million people mulling around all up in my business. If you decide to allow a customer to pick up or you meet them somewhere here are some rules to follow. Let someone know who, what, when, where, and how. While I do believe in the inate goodness of people, I also watch to many psy thrillers and have no urge to be dropped in a hole and marinated in babyoil. No $$$= no product. Really, do I need to say more? No CODs. I hope these tips help you. Though I know the majority here are safety concious sometimes we get more lax when concerning our business. Stay tuned as I devulage into advertising...the good, the bad, and the cheap.

Well, Since You Asked....

Today's topic will be on best offers. Best offer. Otherwise known as dickering, negotiating,making a deal. Often sellers will take best offers on items that they are unsure of exact worth or they know just needs the right buyer. Recent email: Hi. I really like this item but I don't pay this much for used old items. Would you accept $25 including s&h? What I wanted to say: Wow. An offer of $25 on a NOS (new old stock) designer dress worth $565 that I'm selling for $145. AND offering free shipping on. When you were writing this email did you honestly expect me to jump on this and thank my lucky stars you showed up? Do you think that I spend hrs searching, buying, cleaning, photographing, listing for nothing? That I do all this out of the goodness of my heart? This isn't a charity. If I were stupid enough to take this deal it would cost me 1/2 the $25 just to ship it. I would make a profit after fees and misc cost of exactly $6.00. Wow, McDonalds here I come. What I really said: Thank you for your offer. I'm afraid that I cannot accept your offer. Thank you When making a best offer please be realistic. Most sellers will accept 75% of their asking price. So you can offer about 25% less of the listed price and almost (some sellers are weird) be assured it'll be taken. Take in to consideration of the condition, price, and shipping method also. If the seller is offering free shipping that is guaranteed additional money off. When making the offer, insulting the seller's goods is not a good way to get what you want. Remarks like: "I really love this but it's not worth that much." "I can get this cheaper at XX" "It's been in your store for awhile and not selling. I'll take it off your hands." and the #1 remark that will get you nothing but blocked... "I'm on a fixed income, dying, relative's dying, animals are dying,incapacitated,have 8 kids,ect...and cannot pay that much." The above remark is annoying; especially when we can see track what your buying and your racking up $100 purses, boots, and other finery. So go shop your heart out and make those offers-just be sane about them. Love, Your Seller