A few getting ready for Christmas 2008 questions

1: Do you know what the hot items are in your niche?

Suggestion: If you are an ebay customer using PayPal download your paypal report for the last six months; sort it by “transaction type” in xcel and then by item title. Your hot sellers will be right there.

2: Did you order early?

Suggestion: Order what sells out early now and get fill in orders for easy to get items as the holiday season progresses. There’s nothing worse than a steady or hot selling item being sold out in at the wholesaler in December so plan your orders now.

3: Do you do free shipping?

Suggestion: Despite the very valid gripes about ebay pushing free shipping, including shipping in the total price can be a great way to get sales during the holidays. Many shoppers simply don’t have time to sort through multiple sites comparing shipping.

Solution: Don’t push as free shipping, Offer items at a fair price with shipping and promote them as “shipping already included to simplify your shopping!”

4: Have you got your packing supplies ready?

Suggestion: If you know how much you sold last year calculate the number and types of supplies you will need this year and plan those purchases out. Websites like uline.com offer low price shipping supplies. 25 boxes from uline.com for $15 sure beats buying similar boxes from Staples for $1.50 each!

5: Do you send tracking numbers at the time of shipment?

Suggestion: Prevent angry emails by including tracking in your shipping notices. Don’t use tracking? Start now.

During the holidays folks tend to get extra fussy about when items were shipped and where they are once they are in transit so send detail shipping notices. I have seen big Amazon sellers who just send a note that “your item shipped today” and nothing else.

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Anyone else have good suggestions for making holiday selling trouble free?

CS

Great List - nothing wrong with ensuring all your 'hot sellers' are mentioned if you blog, write, squidoo or distribute a newsletter.

If I think of another - I'll add it!

I would suggest, maybe, making shopping easier for your buyers by including direct links to related items rather than them having to search your store. Quick and easy might increase up-sells. One might be able to identify possible relateds by reviewing prior purchases.