Hello eBay,

My new eBay Blog...I welcome questions and comments from all eBay sellers and buyers.

I've looked and looked for a "spell checker" for posting on this Blog...and I can't find one...so if I screw up on my spelling in this posting...oh well!

I'm still on mild overload from the 3 days that I spent in Vegas for "eBay Live"...and since this is my first Blog post I may be forgiven for my thoughts wandering a little back up the road to Vegas.

I know that "What happens in Vegas --Stays in Vegas"  ..or at least that's what the TV commercial tells us..but for eBay information thats just not the case.

There was soooo much good info and business teaching that it would be a crime not to share it with those of you who didn't (or couldn't) attend..so from time to time I'll make a post on this Blog about some of the stuff that I learned...

About my listings..and my S&H charges:

Most of my listings are for (1) item only...but since I make most of the item that I list I won't run out of 'em. The reason that I only list (1) item is ,of course, the listing cost.

For listing (1) item it costs me 80¢ in my 7 day listing...if I listed 25 items in my 7 day listing it would cost me several dollars.

Since it only costs a few cents to list a thousand of 'em in my eBay store..that's what I do...and then I put a link in my 7 day listing directly to my eBay store listing for that same item.

That save me a LOT of money on listing fees...and lets my buyers click on the link and go directly to my store listing and order as many as they need for their project.

My shipping and handling charge is a flat $6.50 per order to any address in the US.

Some of my shipments to the east coast (I'm in Arizona) cost me More than $6.50

I ship nearly all of my items on USPS Priority Mail...so my postage cost will always be at least $4.05 (at least until they (USPS) raise the rates again)...and that $4.05 cost doesn't include my cost for the packing material, the label, and the time and effort it takes to package it and generate the shipping label...so my flat S&H charge of $6.50 is very reasonable.

The main reason that I like to use USPS is that I can use my computer to generate the label and pay for the postage...with a FREE delivery confirmation..and my postal delivery carrier will pick up all of my packages..every day except Sunday...and I don't have to go and stand in line at the Post Office...AND in addition...the USPS furnishes the shipping boxes at no charge. 

Here's a lil' tip from eBay Live:

The USPS is starting to make what they refered to as "Co-Branded" Priority mail shipping boxes.

The "Co-Branded" boxes will have both the normal USPS logo and information on them...and in addition they will have the eBay logo printed on them...How cool is that?

I was told by the eBay live staff people and the USPS staff people that I'd have to order them on the eBay site...but I still can't "figger" out where...

USPS also announced a new Priority Mail "shoe box" made especially for you eBay sellers who sell all of those shoes...I can't seem to locate where to order them either...but when I do find out I'll let you know.