mmx2duo

Welcome

The following is a list of items that I have found to be most useful for being prepared and organized as an eBay seller. I will also give you a brief explanation of how the items can be used to make your work easier.

The Inventory Sheet is my own creation. When it is completely filled out it will contain important information that you will want to keep for future reference. After all, selling on eBay is a business venture and should have proper record keeping.

Inventory Sheets are the most important part of record keeping. Inventory Sheets help keep track of items and the information related to your eBay Auction. Inventory Sheets are also good for keeping a permanent record of all your eBay transactions. They can also tell you how much of a profit or loss you made from your item. Use only one Inventory Sheet per item being put up for auction on eBay.

Inventory Sheet Sample PDF file

A Master Log sheet for keeping track of Inventory Numbers and descriptions.
This comes in handy for when you have a lot of items up for auction and need a quick reference to find an item number without thumbing thought all the Inventory Sheets. The log also let's you know the next available inventory number when you are ready to add another item and start another Inventory Sheet.

Master Log Sample PDF file

A Binder to keep your Inventory Sheets in order.

File folders to store completed Inventory Sheets. You will need to have 12 file folders so you can label them by the month. You should also file the Inventory Sheet Items that have failed to sell. You will want to know the expenses involved with all transactions for income tax purposes.

A small tape measure for taking measurements of boxes and items.

A roll of clear packaging tape good for sealing packages and attaching shipping labels.

A tape gun for quick & easy package sealing.

A calculator for totaling dollar amounts on your Inventory Sheet.

Thank you cards to include with your auction item. I use business cards for thank you cards. Each card has space for you to include your e-mail and eBay My World address.

To order 250 FREE* business cards go to http://www.vistaprint.com.
*You pay only shipping and handling.

A small pair of scissors good for cutting tape and shipping labels.

A Sharpie good for marking packages. Some packages may need to be marked FRAGILE.

A highlighter for marking important information on Inventory Sheets. If a buyer has special handling requirements, I always highlight them for quick reference.

A handy tote bag with pockets to hold your eBay supplies. I have noticed that my supplies were getting lost so I started using a tote bag to store my stuff. I put my tape gun in the main compartment and I use the pockets for my scissors, pens, markers, and calculator.

Priority Mail Shipping cartons available for free at your local post office.
You can order FREE Priority Mail Shipping cartons online at http://ebaysupplies.usps.com/

A digital postal scale is good for determining shipping charges.

Packing material needed to help your item to be delivered safely. This can be crumpled up newspaper, bubble wrap and/or packing peanuts. In my town we have a newspaper print shop that sells their end rolls. An end roll has blank paper left on the end of the roll. They are good to use because there is not ink on the paper. The ink is very messy to work with and you don't want to leave black fingerprints on your nice white Priority Mail boxes.

A clipboard for holding Inventory sheets awaiting payment. If an item sells, I take out the Inventory Sheet and place it on a clipboard. I hang the clipboard on a hook so I can see at a glance what needs to be paid.

After the item has been paid, I can finish filling out the Inventory Sheet, print a packing list and package the item for shipping. I turn the sheet side ways on the clipboard to indicate the item is ready for shipping.

When I get back from the post office I take the Inventory Sheets off the clipboard and match them up with receipt from the post office. Then they get filed by the month shipped.

A stapler for attaching Inventory Sheets to shipping receipt.

A printer for printing invoices or packing lists. Always include a packing list or a copy of the invoice with all items being shipped. This will give the buyer a reminder of what they bought and from whom.

A digital camera for taking pictures of your eBay item.

Clear plastic bags to protect the item from any dirt and odors. I always package my items in bags just in case if the package gets damaged during shipping. They are also good for keeping small items in inventory and you can mark the item number on the plastic bag.

A place to store your eBay inventory items. This can range from a simple cardboard box to many plastic totes stored on a shelving system. Mark each box or tote with a number. There is a line on the Inventory Sheet to record the item location. Make sure that your inventory is stored in a smoke-free area and is protected from other odors that will devalue your inventory. A garage might have gasoline odors and a dining room might have cooking odors. I have seen sellers get negative feedback because the item had a bad smoky odor.

My Inventory Sheets are available to purchase on my eBay page.

I will be listing eBay Seller's Starter Kits soon.

Check my eBay page at http://myworld.ebay.com/mmx2duo for my current listings.