OT - tip for ebay sellers
AlteredTone
Posts: 304
I just finished my big sale of mint and proof sets - 132 separate auction items. When it came time time ship this week, I broke down and bought a digital postal scale and a thermal label printer supported by paypal shipping. All I can say is "wow!".
I got everything packaged up with postage and labels on it in about 2 hours. While watching my 3 year old! All I have to do is go drop it off at the post office tomorrow.
I can't imagine how long this would have taken my "old" way - writing addresses by hand with a Sharpie, then standing in line or using the APC machine.
Very cool stuff - I recommend it if you sell any volume at all on ebay.
I got everything packaged up with postage and labels on it in about 2 hours. While watching my 3 year old! All I have to do is go drop it off at the post office tomorrow.
I can't imagine how long this would have taken my "old" way - writing addresses by hand with a Sharpie, then standing in line or using the APC machine.
Very cool stuff - I recommend it if you sell any volume at all on ebay.
0
Comments
I've been advised that many sellers who do this cut the PP and bay logos off the label so as to minimize "curioisity" along the shipping path.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
<< <i>I just finished my big sale of mint and proof sets - 132 separate auction items. When it came time time ship this week, I broke down and bought a digital postal scale and a thermal label printer supported by paypal shipping. All I can say is "wow!".
I got everything packaged up with postage and labels on it in about 2 hours. While watching my 3 year old! All I have to do is go drop it off at the post office tomorrow.
I can't imagine how long this would have taken my "old" way - writing addresses by hand with a Sharpie, then standing in line or using the APC machine.
Very cool stuff - I recommend it if you sell any volume at all on ebay.
Welcome to the 21st Century...I also purchased a digital postal scale from the "Postal Store" several years ago & all my labels (self adhesive) are generated through PayPal. Only way to go. For non eBay auction mailings, I use a Dymo label writer. All I need now is a P.C. that know how to spell & type.
<< <i>Gotta link to the printer and labels recommended? I've asked at staples and OD for self adhesive labels compaitible with Paypal shipping and nobody has any idea. --Jerry >>
Labels on the bay
YOu can use these ... for your shipping
I've been doing some googling since my last post and it appears you can buy a little printer for less than $50, continuous feed rolled labels, and print a label for less then a nickel. but there may be some compatibility problems. I'll be interested to see which one the OP went with. Thanks, Jerry
Brother P-Touch QL500 or QL550 with DK-2205 label roll works with PayPal. Printer is about $80, label roll about $15.
Edited to add: The label that was on the coin I sent you was printed with the QL-500, but with a different label type than that noted above.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>I've been advised that many sellers who do this cut the PP and bay logos off the label so as to minimize "curioisity" along the shipping path. >>
The labels I print from PayPal with a Dymo have no PP or ebay logos or even the postage amount.
<< <i>I just print them on plain paper and trim, then cover the whole label with clear packing tape, makes a water proof label for about three cents. >>
I do the same. Works great. But I"ve done 500 this month and I need to save a little time. --Jerry
My Registry Sets
<< <i>Jerry, Brother P-Touch QL500 or QL550 with DK-2205 label roll works with PayPal. Printer is about $80, label roll about $15. Edited to add: The label that was on the coin I sent you was printed with the QL-500, but with a different label type than that noted above. Russ, NCNE >>
Russ,
Thanks. My concern is that with your computer skills you could print the launch codes from secret N Korean ICBMs on an old IBM dot matrix printer using the paypal shipping platform. Is this printer easy for us computer mortals to set up?
Second, does it have to be set as the default printer? I've seen some comments that some printers have that glitch.
Third, is it easy to go back and forth to the normal printe for printing out packing slips?
I see that the Elton Zebra LP2844 may be the small business standard. I like standards but they are sometimes overpriced. Apparently you like the Brother better. Or was it just cheaper?
Thanks,
Jerry
<< <i>Is this printer easy for us computer mortals to set up? >>
It's a piece of cake. Even comes with some handy software if you'd like to create other labels for purposes other than PayPal shipping. Even has plugins for Word and Excel so you can print directly from lists created in either program.
<< <i>Second, does it have to be set as the default printer? >>
Nope.
<< <i>Third, is it easy to go back and forth to the normal printe for printing out packing slips? >>
Not a problem. I have it attached to a system that has four printers setup.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>I see that the Elton Zebra LP2844 may be the small business standard. I like standards but they are sometimes overpriced. Apparently you like the Brother better. Or was it just cheaper? >>
I also have a Zebra for my UPS shipping labels.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>While watching my 3 year old! >>
Now that it what makes me say WOW
<< <i>
<< <i>While watching my 3 year old! >>
Now that it what makes me say WOW
Don't want to hijack this thread to childrearing but my coinselling takes too much face time away from my kids as it is. I do almost all of my shipping after they're in bed at night. That's another reason that this timesaving suggestion is of so attractive to me. I'm off to Staples to see if I can find the Russ-recommended brother printer locally. --jerry
<< <i>I'm off to Staples to see if I can find the Russ-recommended brother printer locally. >>
Don't buy the labels locally, though. They're a ripoff.
Get them here.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>Jerry,
Brother P-Touch QL500 or QL550 with DK-2205 label roll works with PayPal. Printer is about $80, label roll about $15.
Edited to add: The label that was on the coin I sent you was printed with the QL-500, but with a different label type than that noted above.
Russ, NCNE >>
I'm with Russ on this one!
I got the QL500 with the DK-2205 label roll, and it's a snap. I do have a degree in Computer Science, and work as a director of IT, but I think anyone can do this. Here were the steps:
1. Install QL-500 software from the CD that came with it.
2. Plug printer into USB port, and give it power
3. Stick in roll of labels - only goes in one way.
4. Go to ebay, select "print shipping label" from one of my auctions that was completed and paid for.
5. When prompted, select the QL500 printer from the list.
6. Enter the weight of the package, and select desired class of USPS service
7. Print label. The printer has a little manual chopper to cut it off the roll.
That's it! Paypal inserts your return address info, and the ship to address info. Even does the validation of the delivery address. I had two that needed correcting, as the buyer had them "wrong" on their paypal account. Needed to correct spelling of their city's (the both had used abbreviations).
The cost of the shipping hits your paypal account, and the item is automatically marked as shipped. Even sends an email to the buyer telling them that it's coming.
One thing to note. The postage expires quickly (48 hours I think), so you need to go to the post office pretty quick after doing this.
Need insurance? No problem, just say how much. That was my one complaint though, it didn't look like paypal automatically knew if the buyer elected to purchase insurance. I'll need to look into that a little more.
Dropped off all my crap at the post office this morning, took 2 seconds. Waved to all the chumps standing in line. This is the ticket!
Thanks AlteredTone for your reply. One comment though: The postage doesn't seem to expire, or else if it does they don't catch it. I've done some presales and printed out the label up to 2 weeks before actual shipping and it went through.
I'll order the printer online this afternoon. Thanks, Jerry
like fee-avoidance at its best by the label sellers.
<< <i>I'm with Atom48coin on this one,looks
like fee-avoidance at its best by the label sellers. >>
No need to buy them on eBay. The company I linked above charges $4.99 shipping no matter how many rolls you order.
Russ, NCNE
Gotta run now so I'll continue this investigation tomorrow. I have a dinner date tonight with a woman I met in a coin shop. Wish me luck.
<< <i>I don't see the DK2205 paper at the linked seller above (labeluniverse.com). >>
Click my link.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>All I have to do is go drop it off at the post office tomorrow. >>
they do pick-ups.
<< <i>they do pick-ups. >>
I don't think they will pick up First Class mail...
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
I dropped off a ton of packages at my local post office Saturday morning, labeled with this new system.
I started getting positive ebay feedback today, on Monday morning!
The labels that paypal prints have ZIP+4 on them, plus barcodes. That must get them through the postal service faster than hand written stuff...