If you are selling items on eBay, you should consider a few things before rushing into the shipping process. After all, it is your responsibility to ensure the item arrives with the customer as quickly and safely as possible.

Read on for our need-to-know eBay shipping tips.

1.    Always pack the item securely

One of the most common mistakes you can make when shipping an item is to package it incorrectly. Buyers will leave negative reviews if your item arrives broken or damaged. Do your research and make sure you know exactly how to pack a specific item, so it arrives in one piece.

2.    Never pay for packing materials

If you are a business-savvy seller, you need to understand the importance of saving money when shipping on eBay, even during the shipping process. You do not need to pay for your boxes and padding. Both eBay and USPS offer free boxes if you request them. Local retailers may also have old boxes they no longer need.

3.    Ship promptly once the item has been sold

Think about it – when you purchase an item, you want it to arrive as soon as possible. Well, so do your customers. Ship the item as soon as it has been sold, or the auction has closed. You should get in the habit of packaging the items before somebody pays for them. This makes it easier to ship within a day of the sale. This is also a good way to earn positive feedback.

4.    Use USPS ground shipping for large items; USPS priority mail for smaller items

It is good practice to use USPS ground for any items that weigh more than 10lbs. It is inexpensive and much more cost-effective on larger freight. However, if you are shipping small items, go with priority mail. This is fast and inexpensive. The buyer will also appreciate speedily receiving their item.

Alternatively, you may want to ship with USPS media mail if you are shipping media items (books, CDs, Blu-rays). The service is cheap and secure. However, priority mail is still the quickest way to get small items to the buyer quickly.

5.    Make sure you include a personalized thank you note

This is a relatively overlooked way of creating repeat customers. Include a personalized thank you note to build your brand reputation and encourage people to buy through your store again in the future.

6.    Use ReadyCloud and ReadyShipperX

By using the ReadyCloud CRM, you can install the ReadyShipper eBay shopping software to fully integrate with your eBay store so you can ship items quickly while enjoying the lowest shipping rates possible.

The software only takes a few moments to get set up and integrate into your eBay account. Enjoy an efficient way to import, sort, edit, and ship all your eBay orders with various delivery services (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.)

ReadyShipper will also provide accurate shipping labels and allows you to update your customers with the click of a button.

If you’d like to know more, get in touch today. Shipping with eBay doesn’t have to be difficult. With these handy tips, it never will be again.