Operating efficiently & netting 5K+ monthly

mmartin9999 · #23 02-25-2015

I ship between 50 and 150 packages a day between my accounts.

I only stock about 15 different products and 2 different poly mailer sizes. I use a HP printer and half sheet labels. Of course I could save some money by going the thermal printer route, but my goal is to look like a novice seller, so I try to stay as basic as I can realistically.

I usually run through my accounts in the morning, printing as I go and writing the product on the backside of the label. When I finish around noon I will start packing, usually less than an hour worth of work. I run the bulk of the packages to the PO and when I return I'll go into those accounts that have sold items since the morning run and print those and drop in a blue box down the street.

It works for me, but my items are all boxed and only slipped in a poly mailer.

littleredengine07 · #24 02-26-2015

You might want to go 3PL and see if you can find a place to do it for you. I was in your position 2013. I got so many orders that I couldn't process them all. Its best to see your numbers. If your numbers are going up and up. Make sure you find a good 3PL. The fact is you want to manage. Packing takes too much time. Time is the biggest factor. Money can always be made but not time.
Always glad to help if you want to PM np. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

Hey everyone.

I haven't seen a real good thread on this topic so I decided to make one myself.

I'm approaching slowly but surely the 5k mark monthly. Now I realize to some thats chump change, but to me its a lot. The way its going the more I make the more I put back into my business.

Do you guys have any tips/tricks on working efficiently while still maintaining and building your ebay empire?

I know the basics like getting a thermal printer, having pre thought out responses per account (to avoid linkage) but I know theres plenty of things I'm not thinking of or its just going over my head.

No I am not looking to hire employees, might work for some but not with what I'm doing.

littleredengine07 · #25 02-26-2015

I forgot to mention. I got a couple of bad ratings because I could catch up. It was bad. lol Almost got my account shut down.

aking · #26 02-26-2015

There's only so much 1 person can do. I don't see how 1 person can possibly process over 100 orders a day alone, unless you increase your handling time to 2 days. That doesn't help you get to power seller status though.

yankee · #27 02-26-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

There's only so much 1 person can do. I don't see how 1 person can possibly process over 100 orders a day alone, unless you increase your handling time to 2 days. That doesn't help you get to power seller status though.

My staff handles at least 500 packages per day each durring peak season but that is all they do. They do nothing but print labels and package goods.

yankee · #28 02-26-2015

You can look into batch printing too. If you have all similar weight items then this is a great option. Print off 100 identical orders in one shot and with a thermal printer you are talking a few minutes.
The problem occurs if buyers are buying multiples.

ytowngirl126 · #29 02-26-2015

I spend about 3 hours a day between packaging and shipping my orders. I ship between 25 to 40 packages a day. My packages are small and maybe weigh around 5 lbs for all of that. I have my postman pick up daily so it saves me time and gas money.

I also use endicia for mac as it works great with eBay. Online bookeeping from Godaddy that syncs sales.

For efficiency as I have a lot of different charms I have them labeled with a stock number. For a while I was just searching while filling orders which took forever.

aking · #30 02-26-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by ytowngirl126

I spend about 3 hours a day between packaging and shipping my orders. I ship between 25 to 40 packages a day. My packages are small and maybe weigh around 5 lbs for all of that. I have my postman pick up daily so it saves me time and gas money.

I also use endicia for mac as it works great with eBay. Online bookeeping from Godaddy that syncs sales.

For efficiency as I have a lot of different charms I have them labeled with a stock number. For a while I was just searching while filling orders which took forever.

Have your tried using Endicia option that uploads the tracking for you?

solefoodbk · #31 02-27-2015

Have you used encidia yourself aking?

Does it use tokens or can you use multiple stealths without linkage?

rsot · #32 02-27-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankee

My staff handles at least 500 packages per day each durring peak season but that is all they do. They do nothing but print labels and package goods.

Sounds like you running the nice little stealth sweat shop too

(joke)

aking · #33 02-27-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

Have you used encidia yourself aking?

Does it use tokens or can you use multiple stealths without linkage?

Yup I am using it now with multiple accounts with no issues so far. It does not use tokens of any kind. I have the Dazzle program on each of my user accounts and it's linked to each of my eBay accounts. It's been working nice.

ytowngirl126 · #34 02-27-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

Have your tried using Endicia option that uploads the tracking for you?

I'm not sure the option but it does automatically mark shipped and uploads the tracking number.

solefoodbk · #35 02-27-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

Yup I am using it now with multiple accounts with no issues so far. It does not use tokens of any kind. I have the Dazzle program on each of my user accounts and it's linked to each of my eBay accounts. It's been working nice.

How long have you been using it?

Do you have it on your stronger accounts to? I've been looking into something like this for a while, just very hestitant when adding new things to my stealths account.

Any thoughts on a this vs shipping station?