Save money on shipping costs simply by shipping smarter

Yes, you read that correctly. Sellers can save money, reduce shipping costs & be more compeditive, simply by shipping smarter. There isn't any trick or hidden gimic. All a seller has to do is: 1) Think smarter, 2) Do a little research and 3) USE the free tools avaliable to them. The technique i'm about to explain can be use by all sellers; Seasoned, Part time & New sellers alike.

Before I start, there are some requirements a seller must have. You'll need to have or purchase a printer and postage scale. These 2 items are curtial to making this work. If you don't have either one of these, you can purchase them from good sellers right here on eBay.

In the following example A, i'm going to lay out some bullet points detailing a recent purchase I made. I'll reference back to these bullet points, showing you how the seller could have maximized shipping costs, compeditivness and gotten more bids, by shipping smarter.

Example A:

Seller list widget in auction style with a starting price 1/4 of what the average completed listings show as a final selling price

Seller lists Item with a calculated shipping cost of 11.oo

Item in it's own box measures--- 6in x 6in x 1-1/2in thick

The item wieghs 12oz, when mailed in a #2 bubble mailer. I knew this prior to my bidding, as I purchase many of these.

Seller ships this item to me via USPS Priority Medium Flat Rate Box

Actual Postage cost: $10.58

I am in that sellers USPS postal zone 2

Now, lets dig in and Think/Ship Smarter............

You have your items you want to sell, and maybe you already have them listed. Have you...............?

Listed them with Free shipping, Flat rate or Calculated? It really doesn't matter.

Do you know each items wieght? Or the wieght of the item as if it was boxed and ready to ship?

Do you even know how your going to package each item you have listed? Or are you waiting until the item sells to figure it out?

Researched shipping options and their associated rates? Or are you just guessing?

Ever over charged a buyer on shipping? Or do you find yourself consistantly under charging, thus paying some shipping costs out of your own pocket?

Found a supplier of shipping supplies at the best price? Or do you just pick them up/purchase them from the same old place? Or rely solely on the USPS for FREE priority products, because they are FREE?

If you haven't thought, each and every one of those points through, then your not thinking/shipping smart. Remember my seller from example A above? They weren't thinking/shipping smart either. They listed with calculated shipping without knowing: What the item wieghed, How to properly package it, Alternate shipping methods/rates and relied solely on a limited supply of USPS mailing boxes.

They also paid more than I payed them for shipping via FVF's. That's right, with the 9% (.99cents) FVF fee on the 11.oo calculated shipping charge, they paid .57cents more out of their pocket or profit made from the sale of that item, for a total shipping cost (to them) of 11.57. That doesn't include the 2.9% paypal charged them for that portion of the sale.

Granted .57cents isn't a lot, but do that 100 times in a month and your out 57.oo. Thinking Smart, one would realize that a premium eBay store subscription is only 49.95 a month. Just think, you could recoupe the monthly cost of a premium store cost, just by Shipping smarter.

OK. So I think your starting to get the idea, but where do you start? We'll, you start by...................

Doing some basic research

I know, research is about as boring as it gets. You may not like it, but research is not only key to pricing your items, it's KEY to thinking/shipping smarter. Your research should include.......

Knowing the size and weight of the items you sell, packaged ready to ship.

Knowing what the best mailer type is best suited for your item and how to select the proper type.

Knowing where to get the best quality mailing supplies at the lowest cost to you. Always be on the lookout for cheaper sources, without sacrificing quality.

For items over 13oz that cannot ship USPS First Class, you need to know ALL the USPS Priority options avaliable for use.

Most importantly, you need to know the shipping rates for each mailing class. I suggest printing a copy of USPS: FC, standard Priority and All Priority Flat Rate options, and keeping them in a binder for quick reference.

Don't forget to check/compair rates with UPS or FedEx when you have a heavy/bulky item. These two shipping options often go overlooked, and they can save you money -v- USPS.

Researching these areas, and becoming familiar with shipping options/rates, will help you think and ship smarter. Because my seller from example A didn't research these areas............They didn't know the weight of the item, the best packaging to use, where to get the best rates for shipping supplys and more importantly, they didn't know the diferent shipping classes. Had they done any of this research, they would have found that item would ship just as safely by: 1) 12oz in a #2 bubble mailer for 3.28, 2) In a USPS Padded envelope for 4.90 or 3) USPS Rate A box for 5.06, yet they chose to limit their options to a medium flat rate box and loose money.

Not only did they loose money on shipping, they lost out on bidders due to the excessive calculated shipping choice for that item. Three things I want to clerify:

Yes, I know what some of you are thinking......If you thought the shipping was high, why did you still bid and buy the item? A) Because I knew bidders would shy away and not bid. B) Because I was the only bidder, knowing I could relist and sell it for a 30.oo clear profit. That item sold 3 days after I listed it with a proper price and postage cost. On a side NOTE: It's not "Thinking Smart" to severely undercut your competition.

Had the example A seller done some extra research, they would have seen most compeditors charging a flat shipping cost of 5.99-6.99 for the very same item. The seller also lost money by sending prospective bidders & buyers to other sellers with better, more in line shipping costs.

I am in NO way, shape or form suggesting you skimp on packaging. What I am suggesting is to select the best mailing type choice, that gets the item safely to your buyer, while not over paying for postage.

Did you know? That the USPS rates increase on 1/22/12, and that an item packaged weighing 1 lb, can ship to ALL 8 zones via regular priority, cheaper than it can ship to all 8 zones via USPS Rate A box? A 2 lb regular Priority package ships to all 8 zones for the same rate as a USPS Rate A box. Even a 1 lb, total boxed weight, item that would ship nicely as a small flat rate box, will ship cheaper as regular priority to zones 1&2.

Tip: When using the Calculated shipping option for items that have to ship Parcel Post or Priority (other than flat rate boxes/envelopes): Find out what the actual postal cost for the item going to your zone 8. Then add 11% of that cost to your items BIN price or auction starting price. That 11% should cover all FVF's charged by eBay for that shipping charge.

Example: Postage cost for a 6 lb Priority package (to big to fit in a flat rate box) going to your zone 8 is now 20.47. By adding 11% or 2.26 to your items price, your able to keep the item price lower and cover the FVF's charged by ebay for the postage side of that transaction. Note: if the item sells to a buyer in your zone 6, then the postage cost to that buyer is only 16.31. Your still covered with the FVF's and will be .46cents ahead, since 11% of 16.31 is only 1.80.

Also, don't over pay for First Class postage either. For example, I sell a line of items, that when boxed have a shipping weight of 9oz. Since these items are ridgid on their own, they can be shipped in a #0 bubble mailer at 6oz. The box would cost me .24cents each -v- the .14cent bubble mailer. Not only is there a shipping supply cost savings, I also save .51cents in postage for each sale. I know the bubble mailer is the right choice, as I have sold hundreds of this item with zero complaints from my buyers. Since I haven't reduced the items selling price, i've now added .61cents to my profits bottom line each and everytime I sell one of these. All due to simple research.

Only you know your items. Select your shipping container and method wisely. You want the item to ship cost effectively, but more importantly, it needs to get there safely and undamaged. Getting this right will add $$$ to your bottom line, which leads us to.....................

Using the avaliable FREE tools:

There are hundeds upon hundreds of Free tools to help you sell better. Infact there are too many to list, so i'll list the basic ones that I thing are best suited to shipping...........Note: I can't actually link to some of these tools, due to the guide writing policies.

Google USPS (United States Postal Service). On this site you can view, print and compair rates. You can even order all of the Pirority maling supplies, having them delivered to your door. Remember; Regional Rate A, B, C boxes and the Padded envelopes can only be obtained in this manner, as they are not avaliable at the PO, and Postage for those MUST be printed online.

eBay search: this seems simple, but it is a powerful tool when used properly. You can search for any item, and then by using the left side links, search: completed listings, listings with/without free shipping & BIN's/auctions. Searching completed listings allows you to see the sold results of items you wish to sell. This gives you an idea of the average selling and shipping price buyers are willing to pay. Advanced viewing of all the options allows you to go in and see what thoughs sellers are charging for shipping, and whether or not buyers are actually paying the posted shipping. You'll see the highs and lows, as a lot of sellers don't have a clue: such as the flat costs that end with .99cent, i.e. 2.99, 8.99, 15.99 & ect. This tells me that seller doesn't have a clue, their padding to cover FVF's on postage costs or they are adding in a handling charge. Regardless of that, i've never ever printed a postage label that ended with .99cents.

Google: rolbe.com. This free "eBay Fee calculator", created by an eBay member is great, as it can show you all sorts of information about the item you want to list: eBay/paypal FVF's, break even point, profit when item sells and even allows you to play with the numbers. Point to remember: You can't get acurate results if you don't enter the proper information. So knowing the postage cost of your item is KEY to using this tool correctly for maximum profits.

Landmark Beads - Recall Your Travels in Sterling Silver

Landmark Beads are made of high quality .925 sterling silver with oxidized accents, and the large hole makes them compatible with many popular European style brands including Chamilia, Carlo Biagi, Pandora, Pasha and Troll chains. These highly detailed beads have a smooth inner hole, which measures approximately 5mm, and are approximately 3/8" long by 3/8" tall.

Where is your favorite vacation spot? Do you have a love of a particular area of the world? Whatever the case may be you can find a sterling silver memory of that location to wear on your charm bead bracelet. There are over 60 different hghly detailed beads representing locations in the world and the United States that are top vacation spots or historic landmarks, along with those there are several beads to help tell the story of your travels including a cruise ship, jet airplane, sail boat, camper and more.

Landmark Beads should only be cleaned with a silver cleaning cloth. Do not use silver polish dip, as this may remove the oxidation that shows the tiny details in the silver. When you are not wearing your bracelet, keep it stored in a safe place in either a plastic ziplock bag or special jewelry storage, this will help keep it from tarnishing quickly. With proper care, these beads will be a lasting representaion of your travels around the world!

Check out all the Landmark Beads at Bead Lovers Korner

Top Ten List: Why Buy A Luxury Car

The luxury car market is hurting along with the rest of the auto sector, with sales at record lows. But luxury automakers are still hoping their history of solid engineering, performance and brand cachet will convince tentative buyers it's worth it to shell out the extra thousands to buy their cars.

Like any other vehicle purchase, however, it depends on what you need--and on how much you care about your image, of course. Not everyone who owns a Porsche 911 or Audi R8 cares about their superior handling--some just want to be seen driving them.

"It's about emotional connections that people can make with a brand and how it makes you feel," says Wes Brown, a principal consultant at Los Angeles-based consumer-research firm Iceology.

But there's more to luxury cars than prestige. Premium cars offer the most advanced safety options and best entertainment technology on the market, not to mention some of the plushest interior and most options for customization.

It's not that vehicles from midrange brands like Ford Motor and Honda aren't safe or don't offer optional high-class amenities. But with standard features like heated leather seats and headrest-mounted DVD players, there's an undeniable allure to owning a luxury car.

Tough Times for Luxury
Despite the appeal, it is not the best of times for luxury carmakers. Last month, Acura's sales dropped 29.7% from January 2008; Audi, 26.4%; BMW, 15.5%; Cadillac, 42.5%; Land Rover, 34.4%; Mercedes-Benz, 42.9%; and Porsche, 36.1%, to name a few. Ultra-premium brands like Bentley and Ferrari fared even worse, down 74.4% and 52.4%, respectively. It's the first time a downturn has so deeply affected America's luxury segment, says BMW North America President Jim O'Donnell.

"This is the first time, I would say, since 1931 there was such a recession, because there were always areas of the country that [kept luxury cars] popular," O'Donnell says. "Now, everywhere has been affected."

O'Donnell says luxury brands will rebound quicker than the rest, however, thanks to financially healthier dealerships, better leasing and certified pre-owned programs and loyal customers. In some respects, he's already being proved right: Jaguar posted a surprising 17.6% sales gain last January from the same period a year earlier. And Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz each gained 0.1% of market share in 2008.

How to clean your diamond jewelry

A diamond may be the hardest substance known to man, but to keep it looking its best, it needs proper care and maintenance. This is especially important if you wear your diamond every day. To keep daily build-ups of soap, cosmetics, and skin oils from dulling your beautiful jewelry, follow any one of the following procedures to care for your gem:
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING: This is the best option and also gives you the opportunity to have your retail jeweler check your diamond's mounting to make sure prongs or other settings are not weak or loose.

COLD WATER SOAK: A mixture of half cold water and household ammonia will work well if your ring or diamond jewelry is allowed to soak for 30 minutes. Lift your ring out and clean gently around the front and back of the mounting with a small, soft brush. Give the ring a second swish through the solution and let dry on a paper towel. No rinsing is necessary.

OVER-THE-COUNTER JEWELRY CLEANERS: Ask your jeweler for a liquid jewelry cleaner made especially for diamonds and follow the instructions on the label. A good cleaner is designed to remove loose dirt and dissolve any oils or residue on the stone.

DETERGENT BATH: The simplest cleaning method for your diamond is to soak your jewelry in a small bowl of warm, sudsy water combined with any mild liquid detergent. Use a toothbrush or other soft brush and gently brush the ring around the setting while it is in the water. After its bath, put the ring in a fine wire strainer and rinse thoroughly under warm running water (the strainer provides protection for the ring from slipping down the drain). Pat your ring dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

ULTRASONIC CLEANING: This method involves a special machine that uses a high-frequency vibration to clean the ring. The ring is enclosed in a small cup with cleaning solution and in just a minute, any dirt and oils are removed from the stone. The method can be done by your jeweler or at home after purchasing an ultrasonic cleaner.

4mm round Dazzling Natural White Topaz Gems Loose gemstones Jewelry making

Anyone who has ever shopped for a diamond before, might have heard the mention of the "4C's"" color, clarity, carat (or carat weight), and cut"or the four characteristics that determine a diamond's rarity and value. Understanding them can help you understand why diamonds of equal size may not be of equal value. It's the synergy and the many different ways that each of the 4C's can be combined that is the key to understanding what makes each diamond unique and valuable.

COLOR While most diamonds appear to be white, virtually all have slight traces of color. Evaluating a diamond's color for grading purposes is done by measuring the degree to which a diamond approaches colorlessness. Gemologists and jewelers describe the color of diamonds on a letter scale beginning with D (colorless) and moving through the alphabet to Z. The degree of colorlessness is not easily discernible to the untrained eye. D, E, and F color grades are more expensive because they are rarer. However, well cut diamonds with good clarity of all color grades can be equally dazzling as it is the interplay of the 4C's which determines each individual stone's unique beauty. Deeply colored diamonds in shades such as pink, blue, and yellow are known as "fancies" and are especially rare and valuable.

CLARITY Practically all diamonds contain naturally occurring internal blemishes called inclusions, or a diamond's natural birthmarks (these can look like tiny crystals, feathers, or clouds). However, many are microscopic in nature and can only be glimpsed under powerful magnification through a standard 10-power jeweler's loupe. Diamonds with the fewest inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2; those on the other end of the scale are graded I1 or I3. The fewer inclusions the rarer the stone.

Clarity:	Number and Size	Expert-10x loupe	Naked Eye	Influence on Brilliance
IF	no inclusions-internally flawless	nothing	nothing	none
VVS1	very very small inclusions, pin pricks	very difficult	nothing	none
VVS2	very very small inclusions, pin pricks	very difficult	nothing	none
VS1	very small, still minute	difficult to see	nothing	none
VS2	very small, still minute	difficult to see	nothing	none
SI1	tiny	easily seen	nothing	none
SI2	tiny	easily seen	nothing from top	none
I1	small	recognisable immediately	difficult to recognise	none
I2	larger and/or numerous inclusions	obvious	recognisable immediately	slight
I3	large and/or numerous	very obvious	very easily recognised	heavy influence

CARAT indicates the weight and therefore the size of the diamond. One carat weighs 0.2 grams, or 1/142 of an ounce. Jewelers, however, refer to stones using points: 100 points equal 1 carat; 50 points, a half-carat; 25 points, a quarter-carat and so on.

CUT is perhaps the most important of the 4C's because a quality cut is what helps to unleash a diamond's fiery sparkle. A well cut diamond, regardless of shape, releases the fire and brilliance of a diamond through the proportion of its 57 or 58 facets (tiny planes that create angles), allowing the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond. In order to maximize this fire and brilliance, a diamond cutter must place each of the stone's facets and angles, which act as light-dispersing mirrors, in exact geometric relation to one another. Diamonds that are not cut to proper proportions (too deep or too shallow) lose light that spills through the side or bottom.

Cut is also quite different than shape. While cut is a technical quality, determined by the skill of the diamond cutter, the matter of shape is a personal choice. The round (brilliant) is often the most popular of all shapes, with the majority of brides-to-be receiving a round stone. Other popular and traditional shapes include the marquise, pear, oval, emerald, princess, and heart shape.

GEMS TV Woman Ring Flamingo Topaz Diamonds 14k gold band size 6.75 Jewelry

In a remote corner and deep beneath the ragged ranges in the Kimberly region of North West Australia, spectacular diamonds were growing more beautiful as the centuries passed away, the colors began to show. Finally in 1979, the first inkling Diamond mine in the world became known.The Argyle Diamond mine.

Apparently, the Geologists discovered and realized that these precious stones had become colored, even though, the original Diamonds were formed over 3 Billion years ago, It was compression of the Diamond lattice structure by tremendous forces deep beneath the earth is said to have led to Red, Pink and Champagne Diamonds, hence making Australia's soil, bright with fire and brilliance ands color.

It's often said that it is all in the name, so true, Champagne Diamond, like Champagne, subtle, and mysterious, saturated with rich natural color, that took billions of years in the making, hence offering, these extraordinary, fire-laden gems in various shades from light subtle color to a palette of colors, in between, inspiring, remarkable jewelry making.

It is their uniqueness that these Diamonds are set off brilliantly next to colorless diamonds, with an extra dose of sparkle, dash of thrill, timeless classic, in built versatility and limitless possibilities of innovation.

Let's get down to serious business now!

In the case of Champagne Diamonds it's the Three C's

Color:

To understand and inspect the true perspective, it should be done on a bright day with natural day light. There are various tints of Champagne colors, such as, C1-C2 Light Champagne C3- C4 Medium Champagne C5-C6 Dark Champagne C7 Fancy Cognac.

Cut:

Sometimes, Bad or UN professional cutting can affect the color, resulting in un-even color zoning; Bow-ties that often appear in fancy cuts are not necessarily considered bad, unless it dramatically affects the totality of the color.

Clarity:

Like all other diamonds, these stones come in a range of clarities. The amount of color usually outweighs clarity unless the stone is visibly marked.

What is a dual flush toilet?

A dual-flush toilet is a variation of the flush toilet that uses two buttons or handles to flush different levels of water. It has been proven to save up to 67% of water usage in most homes.

The main feature of the toilet is that it has two buttons for releasing water. It outputs water in both 0.8-gallon (3 liter) and 1.6-gallon (6 liter) capacities. The smaller level is designed for liquid waste, and the larger is designed for solid waste. It also uses a larger 4-inch (10 cm) trap way in the bowl, allowing for water to come out faster and clear the bowl efficiently.

The dual flush toilet system, due to its ability to save up to 67% of water usage.

Gift Ideas For Valentines

A Gorgeous sequined Festive black Boho Gypsy Skirt decorated with shining block print and sequins. The sequins are delicately sewn by hand and the skirt is romantically embellished with hundreds of iridescent Silver sequins.There is no lining used, the skirt is slightly sheer. Elasticized waistband with a drawstring. Fabric is 100% Rayon.




Cotton Wrap Around Skirt

100% Cotton hippie Boho Gypsy Animal and ethnic Paisley printed wrap around skirt. Bring back the look from the 70's with comfort and ease into the wrap around which can be worn in many different ways, sarong style or as a wrap skirt. Authentic Indian motifs skirt using old world style the colors and print add a hippie touch to the skirt.Fabulous and trendy bohemian chic style!!!



Bohemian Gypsy Skirt

Bohemian Gypsy and Designer Purple Red Orange Gray color Tiered Long skirt.Elastic Waist lined with adjusting draw string. This cute skirt is a unique and original piece Because of the handmade nature of these garments, sizing, color, pattern, and fabric swatches can vary from item to item. Each item is unique and different.its a perfect apparel for every single lady.






Boho Short Medium Skirt

New Boho Festival Black Sequin Skirt Medium Georgette Gypsy Knee Length Skirt