Buying LEGO on eBay: 4 Fast Tips for Choosing Good Listings and Good Sellers

Posted on September 8, 2016 by BrickingTips

Buying LEGO lots, pieces, sets and minifigures on eBay can sometimes seem overwhelming. There are many factors to consider before buying. Is the item authentic LEGO? How accurate is the condition of the item? Is it possible that the item is stolen? Here are four fast tips to improve your odds of buying accurately described LEGO items from excellent eBay seller.

1. Beware Knockoff LEGO Minifigures from China
Knockoff minifigures that look almost exactly like authentic LEGO pieces in the photo run rampant on eBay. The easiest way to spot a fake minifigure on eBay is typically by looking at the title. Almost none of the fake minifigures will use the word “LEGO” in the title of the listing. Other red flags to look out for are: suspiciously low prices (e.g. a set of Captain America minifigures for $9.58 with free shipping–ONE authentic Captain America minifigures currently sells for at least $3-4), items shipping from China (most of the knockoffs are manufactured in China), and poor feedback comments for the seller mentioning cheap quality minifigures. If it looks to good to be true, it probably is.

2. Proceed with caution when buying LEGO by the pound or unsorted bulk LEGO
With both unsorted bulk LEGO lots and LEGO by the pound lots, a buyer is going into a transaction at least partially blind. Sells that list clean, used lots get bonus points. Receiving clean, used LEGO pieces is not only more convenient, but clean pieces also demonstrates that the seller cares about quality and indicates an attention to detail.

LEGO by the pound listings
LEGO by the pound listings use stock photos or example photos. Read the seller’s description carefully. The description should mention types of pieces you should expect to get and should also mention that non-LEGO pieces have been sorted out of the lot. Also, comb through the seller’s feedback carefully. If many buyers seem satisfied with their LEGO by the pound purchases, then the quality of the pieces is likely pretty decent.

Unsorted Bulk LEGO lots
Many of the same precautions for LEGO by the pound listings apply to unsorted bulk LEGO lots. One distinguishing factor of unsorted bulk lots is the listing should include photos of the exact lot you will be receiving. Watch out for listings with blurry photos, few photos, or photos that only show the top layer of pieces in a large bin. When in doubt, ask the sellers for more photos of the pieces. Ask if the pieces are clean. Ask if the lot is 100% authentic LEGO.

See what other types of items the user is selling. If the seller is only selling one LEGO and a bunch of other non-LEGO items, then it’s more likely that the seller wouldn’t be able distinguish between LEGO and Megabloks, K’NEX, Hot Wheels, or anything else that might end up mixed into the same bin as LEGO pieces.

3.Watch out for stolen LEGO sets!
Sometimes stolen LEGO sets turn up on eBay and buyers definitely want to avoid purchasing stolen merchandise. The most common red flag that a LEGO set on eBay is stolen is if the set is if the seller is discounting the set a bit too much (some LEGO sets over $100 are rarely discounted more than 10%) and is selling or has sold many of the exact same set. Sometimes a seller is just dumping one LEGO Tower Bridge 10214 set on eBay for $195 ($239.99 MSRP in the United States). For whatever reason, they gone one and they don’t want it. If the seller is dumping MANY LEGO Tower Bridge 10214 sets on eBay for a $45 discount, then be wary.

4. ALWAYS consider an eBay seller’s feedback carefully
Whether you’re buying a set, pieces, minifigures, Technic gears, or anything else on eBay, make sure you thoroughly read the eBay seller’s feedback. Looking at the score or percentage is not enough. Read the negatives and neutrals that the seller has received. Do you spot any patterns? Do many buyer mention poor condition, received wrong item, or item not received at all? How does the seller reply to the feedback?

No matter what the buyer writes or who is at fault, watch out for sellers that attack the buyer in the feedback response. Attacking the buyer, regardless of who is at fault, is highly unprofessional behavior for an eBay seller. Also, if the seller does not respond to negative feedback comments at all, this is also a red flag, especially when feedback from buyers mentions a serious errors or falsities.

Further reading on BrickingTips.com:
How and Where to Buy Authentic LEGO Minifigures
How to Avoid Buying Knockoff LEGO Minifigs on eBay
The Genuine Article: Proving LEGO Authenticity to eBay Buyers
LEGO vs. Mega Bloks: Tips on Distinguishing Real LEGO from Knockoff Brands and Custom Pieces
Buyer Beware: 6 Red Flags That You Bought Stolen LEGO Sets on eBay

Posted in Buying Tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in a Name?: 5 Ideas for Choosing a Username for Your eBay, BrickLink or BrickOwl Store

Posted on September 1, 2016 by BrickingTips
man frustrated with computer

Choosing an eBay username can be frustrating. Image credit: Pixabay.com

Whether you a buyer or a seller, choosing a username for your eBay, BrickLink or BrickOwl account is difficult. Many details and considerations play a role in the decision making process. Let’s look at five factors to consider while selecting your username.

1. DO NOT use LEGO in Your name
“LEGO” is a registered trademark of The LEGO Group and should not be used by individuals in their usernames. The “LEGO” name should also not be used in a user’s store name, which is often different from a username.

2. Consider relating your username to what you sell
Since the BrickLink and BrickOwl marketplaces only feature LEGO and some custom LEGO-compatible items, many usernames use LEGO related words like “brick” or “construct”. See the bottom on the article for some common LEGO related terms that could be combined to form a username.

3. Use a broader name on sites like eBay or Bonanza
Even if you are only selling LEGO on eBay right now, you may decide to sell other non-LEGO items in the future. For example, some users who sell LEGO on eBay also sell action figures and other toys.

4. If all else fails, try a username generator
You’d be surprised how many websites offer a free username generator. A quick Google search for “username generator” will give you some good leads. Most name generators ask you pick certain words, hobbies, nicknames, etc. that you like. The generator combines them randomly to form a username. Of course, you could also write down a bunch of words on paper and replicate the name generator method yourself.

5. Check the availability of the name
You might get set on a great name only to find it’s already been taken! If you’re buying or selling on multiple platforms, then check to see if the name is available on ALL platforms.

Final Thoughts
Choosing a username is hard for buyers and sellers. On the one hand, you want to take the time to select a solid name. On the other hand, you don’t want to struggle choosing a name to the point that the decision is hindering your buying or selling opportunities.

If you do end up hating your username, or you buying or selling habits shift to a different market and your username loses relevance, then most ecommerce sites will allow you to change your username. Check the individual site’s policies first to see if name changing is allowed and under which conditions changing is allowed.

LEGO eBay username ideas for sellers and buyers

LEGO related words:
Bric-a-brac
Brick
Build
Builder
Building
Construct
Create
Element
Engineer
Parts
Pieces
Plastic
Plates
Play
Toy

Location words:
Base
Bin
Basement
Bazaar
Castle
City
Den
Dungeon
Emporium
Exchange
Field
Galaxy
Garden
Haven
House
Lab
Land
Lane
Market
Moon
Palace
Place
Planet
Sanctuary
Shop
Space
Store
Tower
Town
Universe
Warehouse
World
Yard

 

Posted in Buying Tips, General Reference, Selling Tips | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’m Kind Of In a Rush: 5 Downsides of Offering USPS Priority Mail Express to eBay Buyers

Posted on August 25, 2016 by BrickingTips
USPS Priority Mail Express Flat Rate envelope

USPS Priority Mail Express flat rate envelopes can be ordered free from USPS.com and cost around $20 to ship (as of Aug. 2016)

If you’re an eBay seller capable of shipping an order the same day or next day, then USPS Priority Mail Express may be a valuable rush shipping option your buyers. But offering rush shipping does increase strain on both the buyer and seller in several ways, some obvious and some less so. Let’s look at five downsides of offering USPS Priority Mail Express to your eBay buyers.

1. Increased eBay Final Value Fees
Since eBay charges the full final value fee of 10% (or 9% for eBay stores) on shipping charges, a USPS Priority Mail Express shipping upgrade will cost sellers at least an additional $1.58 in final value fees (the cheapest USPS Priority Mail Express shipping costs about $20). Even if you’re a Top Rated seller, the 20% final value fee discount only applies to the cost of the item and not the cost of any shipping charges passed on to the buyer.

2. Sellers need to mail the item SUPER FAST for rush shipping to matter
USPS Priority Mail and USPS First Class packages typically arrive in a zippy 2-3 business days. USPS Priority Mail Express arrives in 1-2 days, so shipping the package even one day late defeats the purpose of the buyer purchasing the shipping upgrade. Think of a USPS Priority Mail Express package as a hot potato–you’d like to the package out of your hands as soon as possible.

3. Sellers should take the package to the counter at the post office
Even though USPS Priority Mail Express qualifies for free carrier pickup and can also be mailed in any regular blue mailbox, both methods could delay the package by a day. USPS Priority Mail Express packages must reach the post office by no later than 5pm in order to get cycled into the day’s mail. Unfortunately, sometimes mail carriers do not return to the post office until AFTER 5pm. Also, some smaller markets have earlier cut off times than 5pm, so contact your local post office to find out its cut off time in advance.

Waiting in line at the post office, requesting that the package gets scanned into the system, and receiving a receipt gives a seller proof of mailing and ensures that the package gets cycled into the day’s mail.

4. Money Back Guarantee: Restrictions, Headaches and “Strings Attached”
Unlike most other USPS service offerings, USPS Priority Mail Express offers a Money Back Guarantee for late delivery. Unfortunately getting a refund can be a highly stressful process, if it’s even possible at all. During the holiday season in November and December, USPS doesn’t honor the money back guarantee. Also, all late delivery claims must be handled in person at the post office (no eFiling available as of the posting of this article). Many post offices will also refuse to refund you, even if you have a valid late delivery claim. Sometimes the refusal to refund is due to poor knowledge of the USPS Priority Mail Express service and its guarantee–it’s not a common request that postal clerks receive. Be prepared to ask to speak to the manager to explain your case.

5. Increased stress level for both the buyer and seller due to higher stakes
The cloud of urgency surrounding any USPS Priority Mail Express package increases the stress level of both the buyer and seller. There is zero margin for error, which is why some eBay and Bricklink sellers refuse offer rush delivery and rush handling. A package that is a day late will likely disappoint the buyer, even if the USPS honors the money back guarantee.

* * *
A few final thoughts
USPS Priority Mail Express service gives your buyers an extra, uncommonly used, but occasionally useful shipping option. If you do choose to offer rush shipping, be prepared for the extra responsibility. In fact, you may choose to add a higher handling fee than usual in order to account for the increased hassle and increased final value fees. For example, if USPS Priority Mail Express cost $20.05, then you may decide to charge the $25.00.

If you can handle all five of these downsides and appreciate the added the value of rush shipping for you buyers, then adding USPS Priority Mail Express might work out well for you. If not, then just stick USPS First Class and USPS Priority Mail. You might miss out on few rush orders here and there, but realistically most buyers are content receiving their orders within a few days.

Posted in Customer Service, Selling Tips, Shipping Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Story: 5 Common Questions About Your LEGO eBay Business That Friends and Family Will Ask You

Posted on August 18, 2016 by BrickingTips
girl being questions about her eBay business

Answering common questions about your eBay business can be stressful and confusing, so it helps to prepare answers in advance. Photo credit: OpenClipArt.org

Building your LEGO empire on eBay, BrickLink and BrickOwl is difficult enough, but the more your business grows, the more questions you will need to field from friends, family and acquaintances about your eBay business.

Many of the initial questions will be the same, so let’s look at some of the most common questions people will ask you about your eBay business and how to develop answers for them.

1. How did you get into selling LEGO on eBay?
This is by far the most common question that anyone will ask you, so you may as well develop your story now. My story is that I found a bunch of Star Wars LEGO sets on deep clearance at KB Toys. I was into Star Wars at the time and had already been selling a few items casually on eBay. I thought I would be able to sell the clearance sets easily and, sure enough, I did.

Realistically, your journey into selling LEGO (or anything else) on eBay may be more nuanced and meandering, but come up with a clear, concise and easy to follow moment that launched your selling career.

2. Where do you buy your inventory?
Usually you can just answer this question honestly and broadly without giving too much detail specific sources. For example, you might say, “I buy sets at stores, part them out, and sell the pieces.” Most people asking this question are only curious and are not out to steal your business. Usually mentioning that you source at garage sales, thrift stores, Target, BrickLink, etc. without disclosing specific strategy will suffice. Only give out as much information as you are comfortable.

3. Do you actually make money selling on eBay?
This “question” is actually more a judgment or hint at skepticism. Sometimes people don’t think of eBay selling as a real job. One option is to come of up with some joke of a response like, “No, I don’t make any money. They’ll probably be shutting off the water in my house any day now” (I’m sure you can come up something funnier/more clever than that!). Another option is to describe a common day selling on eBay. For example, you could say something like, I wake up, answer emails from buyers, research inventory, drive to garage sales, take photos, write descriptions, list new items, pack and ship the day’s orders, answer more questions, etc.

4. How many hours a week do you work?
People ask this question to figure out of if your eBay business is a full time job. They also ask this question to see if it’s a really cushy job. If you work 40 hours a week, then your eBay business seems like a regular job. If you work 10 hours week and make a full time income, then the eBay business seems like a really sweet deal.

If you know the exact amount of hours, feel free to tell the person, if you’d like. Many eBay sellers may not know the exact amount of time they work or it could vary week to week, especially during the holiday season. I know sometimes I find myself packing up and order or answering an email at 10pm. Like the last question, you could use a joke of a response or use the question to describe one of your common days of selling on eBay.

5. What is your markup on your inventory?
If you’re comfortable answering the question, feel free. Otherwise, you can basically give the person a polite “none of your business” answer. You could give an answer like “It depends on the type of item” or “It varies”. For many sellers, the “It depends” answer is actually true anyway.

A few final thoughts
Did you a spot a common thread among the questions? Most of the questions are trying assess how your eBay business stacks up to a traditional 9 to 5 job! Even though some of the questions may seem intrusive and sometimes even rude, usually the person asking them is simply driven by curiosity and not malicious intent. Putting some thought into the answers now will help you feel more confident and at ease when the questions are asked to you in the future.

Posted in General Reference, Selling Tips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Buying LEGO Star Wars Polybag Sets: How to Shop for the Best Price on Individual or Bulk Sets

Posted on June 23, 2016 by BrickingTips
30602 Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper polybag

This Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper polybag was available exclusively from The LEGO Store in early May 2016. The set currently sells for about $12 on Bricklink.

Star Wars LEGO polybags provide excellent collectibility and play value for buyers as well as lucrative resale value and investment potential for sellers. Oh, and did I mention that polybags also make super cool birthday party favors and stocking stuffers for the kids (I’m talking to YOU, Mom and Dad!)?

Whether you want to buy Star Wars LEGO polybags for yourself, your kids or for your business, follow these shopping tips to snag the best deals on this side of the Outer Rim!

Scour BrickLink and eBay for Bulk Deals on LEGO Polybags
Both BrickLink and eBay can offer excellent bulk prices on LEGO polybags. When you’re looking on BrickLink, click into the high quantity listings. Some sellers offer tiered, bulk discounts. For example, two polybags cost $10 each, but 10 or more polybags would cost $9 each.

It’s more likely you’ll find a better price on BrickLink, but eBay is still worth a look. The release of The Force Awakens has renewed demand for Star Wars products, so it’s less likely you’ll find a killer bulk deal on Star Wars LEGO polybags. You may find a good deal on non-Star Wars LEGO polybags, though, since many eBay sellers offering cheap bulk pricing on LEGO polybags don’t specialize in LEGO products. They’re just trying to move the inventory and get on to the next sale.

Last week I spotted an eBay listing by a reputable seller for a bunch of 40026 Statue of Liberty polybags. This listing was $75 for 25 polybags with free shipping. The 6 month Bricklink sales average for the Statue of Liberty polybag is $7.78. Not too shabby.

Check out Amazon or eBay for Individual Polybags
Amazon probably won’t get you the best bulk pricing on a LEGO Star Wars polybag, but the site may get you a decent price on an individual polybag. Amazon pricing can be highly competitive, mainly due to the Fullfillment By Amazon program (FBA). FBA sellers ship their items to an Amazon warehouse and Amazon ships the order to the buyer. The seller with the lowest price often wins the lions share of the purchases, which prompts competitive pricing and sometimes a cutthroat ‘race to the bottom’ mentality.

FBA orders qualify for free two-day shipping to Amazon Prime members. So you could get a competitively priced polybag delivered to your door in two days. It would also qualify for regular free shipping for Amazon orders over $49.

By comparison, most BrickLink and BrickOwl sellers charge shipping of at least $3.00 for domestic orders, so if you’re only buying one or two polybags, shipping can kill your savings. That’s why if you are a Prime Member or can qualify for free shipping on your order, Amazon may be cheaper than buying on BrickLink or BrickOwl

The main drawback of buying LEGO polybags on Amazon is the sales tax, if you purchase the item from Amazon or an FBA seller. If you buy from an out of state eBay, BrickLink or BrickOwl seller, then you wouldn’t have to pay sales tax.

Ebay can also be a great place to find a great deal on a one-off polybag. Many eBay sellers offer free shipping and you don’t have to pay sales tax to out of state sellers.

A few final thoughts and resources
Fastest LEGO polybag shipping
If you needed that polybag yesterday, then the fastest shipping, hands down, goes to Amazon Prime and their famous free two-day shipping. Buying from a Top-Rated eBay seller is a decent, somewhat speedy alternative. Top-Rated sellers on eBay are required to ship orders within one day of purchase, so your order will likely arrive within 4 or 5 days. Keep in mind that occasionally a Top-Rated eBay sell will ship later that they are supposed to, whereas Amazon is less likely to ship an order late.

Other LEGO polybag sales outlets
You can also check out LEGO Star Wars polybag prices on other sites like BrickOwl, Bonanza, and Google Shopping.

Following historical sales trends
Finally, if you’d like to see historical sales trends of LEGO set and polybags, check out BrickPicker.com or the 6 Months Sales Averages posted on the individual item listings on BrickLink.

Posted in Buying Tips, Cost Cutting Tips, Inventory Acquisition, Selling Tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why is LEGO Popular?: 5 Reasons LEGO Dominates the Toy Industry

Posted on June 16, 2016 by BrickingTips
standard LEGO brick 2 x 4

Despite multiple patent expirations, including the standard 2 x 4 LEGO brick (pictured), LEGO continues to dominate the toy industry.

Everybody seems to love LEGO, but what makes the little plastic bricks so special? The standard LEGO brick’s patent expired years ago and an abundance of copycat brands and Chinese knockoffs run amok in the global marketplace.

Despite expired patent protection, LEGO handily wins over the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of fans around the world. LEGO devotees don’t crave just any interlocking bricks. In many cases, it’s LEGO or nothing. The result? LEGO now reigns supreme in not only the toy construction industry, but in the entire toy industry as a whole. That’s right, in 2014 LEGO dethroned toy giant Mattel (maker of Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price products), becoming the largest toy company in the world. Let’s examine five key reasons for LEGO’s growth and continued success.

1. Licensing: From Middle Earth and Hogwarts to A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Lucrative licensing deals with popular media franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Toy Story, Lord of the Rings, etc. have allowed LEGO to edge out competition and win over new customers and fan bases. For example, the LEGO Star Wars line attracts Star Wars fans who may have never previously collected LEGO products. In turn, the Star Wars LEGO products may serve as a gateway into other LEGO product lines as well.

First LEGO League Logo

Over 23,000 teams competed in FIRST LEGO League in 2013-2014.

2. STEM Education and LEGO: Technic and Mindstorms Robotics
You’d be hard pressed to survive a week or even a day without hearing an American politician, educator or news outlet discussing the importance of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education in the future success of the United States.

For decades, standard LEGO bricks and sets have been touted as valuable educational toys since children must assemble the LEGO set themselves and interchangeable pieces empower builders to customize and construct their own homespun creations as well.

More recently, LEGO has grown beyond bricks into Mindstorms, a robotics system of programmable software and customizable hardware. LEGO robotics classes and clubs have sprung up around in schools around the world, ranging from elementary school level projects all the way up to university level and beyond. The FIRST LEGO League, an international LEGO robotics competition, attracted 23,748 teams in 2013-2014.

3. “Only the best is good enough”: Perceived quality, durability and interchangibility
What are some of the first words that come to mind when you think of LEGO? “Expensive” often ranks near the top of the list, but so do the terms “high quality” and “durable”. Mega Bloks, Best Lock and other LEGO competitors generally try to differentiate themselves from LEGO with lower price points, but lack the perceived quality and durability of the LEGO brand.

LEGO Star Wars The Force Awakens video game comparison to real LEGO pieces

LEGO Star Wars The Force Awakens trailer screenshot (Top) comparison to real life LEGO pieces (Bottom). Incidentally, the banana is also a real life LEGO piece.

4. It’s not just about the bricks: The LEGO Company’s expansion into movies, TV shows, video games, and other media
LEGO’s expansion into movies, TV shows and video games simultaneously diversifies the company’s profit stream while reinforcing the brand image and stimulating toy sales. Put simply, the popularity of the toys fuel the media productions and the media productions fuel toy sales.

The media productions utilize a unique “LEGO logic” that differentiate the LEGO World from the real world. For example, in the LEGO Star Wars The Force Awakens video game, a player will build objects out of LEGO pieces during gameplay. Ships don’t collapse into rubble, like they would in the real world, but rather they collapse into a heap of LEGO bricks, plates, tiles, radar dishes, etc. Much of the premise of the blockbuster hit The LEGO Movie centered around characters building objects and vehicles, often modifying the vehicle while it is in motion.

“LEGO logic” is also often used to a humorous effect, like putting a LEGO banana into the stormtrooper’s hand, as shown in the photo above.

5. Generational Loyalty and Family LEGOcy 
LEGO has developed into a family tradition that parents can pass down to their children and grandchildren. That warm fuzzy feeling of passing your childhood storage bin of LEGO pieces down to the next generation converts into increased brand loyalty and profits.

Unlike many other toys, LEGO, as a common family tradition, fuels excitement in both parents and kids alike. In other words, kids get excited about LEGO and parents get excited about buying LEGO for their kids. In some case, buying LEGO for their kids reignites a mom or dad’s own interest in collecting or building LEGO projects!

* * *
LEGO remains popular and profitable for many reasons beyond the five mentioned here. Can you think of any that we missed?

Further Reading:
Davidson, Jacob. “Lego Is Now The Largest Toy Company In The World.” Time. Time, 4 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 June 2016.

Posted in General Reference | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Accepting Returns on eBay: Who Pays Return Shipping and Who’s at Fault

Posted on January 21, 2016 by BrickingTips

Returned eBay items are no fun since they create more work for buyers and sellers alike. Although returns do happen, they may not happen as often as you’d think. Sellers shipping 100-400 items each month can easily go several months without a even single return!

Despite the rarity of returns, minimizing instances of returns, deciding how to handle returns, and understanding costs and considerations related to returns are essential pillars of any successful eBay seller’s strategy.

Minimizing instances of buyers returning items
The best ways to minimize your chances of receiving returned items are by posting a detailed photo (or photos) in the listing and by describing the item in a thorough and accurate manner. Highlight any damage to LEGO pieces (read the article  What’s the damage?: How to Identify and Prevent LEGO Piece Deterioration). In other words, try to educate the buyer about the item as much as reasonably possible before they make the purchase.

Seller’s error? Seller should ALWAYS pay return shipping
If the seller sends the buyer the incorrect item, incorrect count or incorrect condition (i.e. a used or broken item instead of new) and the buyer wishes to return the item, then the seller should pay the return shipping costs.

Buyer’s error? Seller chooses who pays return shipping
If the buyer made a mistake or changed their mind, then the seller should decide who pays for the return shipping. Typically a buyer will understand their mistake a be willing to pay the return shipping. Still, the seller may consider paying the return shipping cost even if the buyer is at fault in order to build goodwill with a new buyer or to reinforce the relationship with a repeat buyer.

Some sellers will charge a buyer a restocking fee for returning an item (typically $1-$5) due to the hassle and labor of receiving a return. Other sellers will not charge a restocking fee since any added fees can discourage buyers or prospective buyers.

eBay Top Rated Seller Listings Require a 14 day (or longer) return period
If you’d like your eBay listings to qualify for the Top Rated Seller eBay fee and USPS shipping discounts, then you’re required to offer returns for 14 days or longer. For more information see: Become a Top Rated Seller on eBay, Save Money on Shipping and Final Value Fees.

Creating Positive Vibes for Your Buyers
If a prospective buyer stumbles onto one of your eBay listings and the listing is riddled with many fees and “no” statement, the prospective buyer may become uncomfortable and shop elsewhere. Some examples of fees and “no” statements include:
– $3.00 restocking fee for returned items
– No returns for any reason

The price of “free shipping”
If you sell any items on eBay with free shipping, then you will lose the money it cost you to ship the item to the buyer. Once you receive the returned item from the buyer, you must refund the buyer the full price (less the shipping cost). Since free shipping costs $0 to the buyer, you must absorb the shipping costs yourself.

Posted in Customer Service, Selling Tips, Shipping Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia Rocks: 5 Reasons to Sell LEGO Internationally to the Land Down Under

Posted on December 24, 2015 by BrickingTips
Sydney Opera House

U.S. sellers and Australian buyers rejoice: goods valued AU$ 1000 are exempt from import duty. (Photo Credit: Mark Yang)

Both new sellers and seasoned eBay and Bricklink veterans alike sometimes get squeamish about shipping internationally. Shipping internationally does indeed carry added risks and sometimes added expenses (see 8 Reasons NOT to Ship Internationally). Still, if you’d like to test the waters of international shipping, Australia is a great introductory country for several reasons.

1. No language barrier
Speaking the same language as your buyer streamlines questions and communication between you and your buyer.

2. First Class International Packages to Australia Include Tracking
Tracking gives both buyers and sellers piece of mind while the shipment is en route to the destination. Unfortunately tracking on First Class International Packages is only available to some countries (mostly in Europe). Fortunately First Class International Packages to Australia qualify for tracking!

3. High import tax minimums
Even though customs fees/import taxes are the buyer’s responsibility, buyers will complain to sellers about high customs fees or even ask the seller to falsify customs forms. In 10 years or selling I’ve never ONCE gotten a complaint about customs fees or a request to lie on a customs form from an Australian. Why? Because imported goods under $1000 AUD (about $720 USD) are not taxed in Australia. By contrast, a buyer in Germany with an item valued over €22 (about $25 USD) may be required to pay an added 19% value added tax (VAT).

4. Australians buy many items internationally
As an island nation without any land borders, Australians are accustomed to buying items from abroad that they can’t easily find at home. That means you’ve got a very active buying pool and educated buyers who understand the process of international shipping.

5. Possible higher value orders (due to high import tax minimums and Australians buying many items internationally)
Once you open your store to Australian buyers, you may receive some higher value orders $50-$100+ from Australian buyers due to the high import tax minimums and the fact that Australians buy many items internationally. Of course purchasing behavior and order values also relate to your store’s selection, service, prices, and other factors best discussed in a separate article.
* * *
“You’ve taken your first into a larger world,” Ben Kenobi says (and I think he was talking about shipping to Australia!). Who knows, maybe you’ll take a second step, a third step, then go on to ship to the rest of the world. It’s kind of fun being able to say that you’ve shipped LEGO everywhere from Bahrain to Bermuda.

Posted in International Tips, Selling Tips, Shipping Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment