Purge Genie

So you’ve decided to take the big step and purge your house of unneeded stuff taking up space. But what to do with that stuff? Sure, some of it is destined for Goodwill or the curb, but a lot of your stuff still has value and is worthwhile trying to sell. eBay and Amazon Marketplace give individuals the tools to sell their items with just a bit of effort. Beyond making sure you set up eBay, Amazon Marketplace and PayPal accounts (and accumulate a high rating on those sites by fulfilling several orders to satisfied buyers), there’s an essential toolkit you need in order to fulfill orders:

• A digital camera to take photos of the items you’re listing on Ebay, Craigslist or any other site. Having quality photos that shows the item, the condition it’s in and any other details that buyers want to know – is the key to just selling the item and selling the item for maximum dollar.
• Proper lighting and backdrops for taking photos. General household lighting and the flash on your digital camera rarely cuts it for most items you might want to sell. You’ll end up with bad shadowing, cluttered backgrounds, flash spots reflecting back off shiny surfaces, etc. For smaller items, constructing your own light box is a great way to go. Or set up an area of your home with lots of lighting, a clean background (a table, clean floor, open wall, etc.) and take lots of photos to make sure you get one that is clear. Experiment with different angles to get the flash just right.
• A measuring tape. You will need to take measurements on many of your items to list them – especially on clothing, collectibles, furniture and other miscellaneous stuff. If you don’t include measurements, many potential buyer’s will write asking. And after the sale, you may need to take measurements of the boxes you’re sending to calculate the proper shipping fees. A seamstresses measuring tape (one that is flexible) is a great way to go. I usually keep one within arms reach when I’m preparing stuff for sale and shipping.
• Cleaning supplies. Most of your items will probably need a good dusting off and cleaning before they can be photographed. And having an item that looks newer will lead to more satisfied buyers. You will net unhappy buyers demanding refunds and leaving negative feedback if you ship them something dusty or dirty.
• A postal scale. You will need to know the weights of your items to be able to estimate what the shipping costs are going to be. For eBay, you have to state upfront what you will be charging for shipping. Be sure to include the weight of the box and shipping materials you’ll be using to secure the item during shipping. Don’t rely on a bathroom scale for smaller items, as most bathroom scales are not reliable at the smaller weights. You’ll need to know the weights down to the ounce in many cases, especially if you plan to print your own postage at home by using PayPal or the Post Office’s online postage centers.
• Decent writing skills. When you write your ads for your listings, use good grammar and spelling. Be sure to accurately describe your items, and absolutely disclose any defects, scratches, smudges or damage to the items. Write your ads, proof read them before clicking the submit button, and then proof read them again after the listing is live. Well written ads sell your items and instill trust in your potential buyers.
• Shipping boxes. Chances are, you haven’t kept all the original boxes your stuff came in. And even if you did, they’re likely not shipping worthy. You’ll need boxes to ship your stuff in. Save boxes you receive from items you’ve ordered and re-use packaging whenever you can. Ask friends and neighbors for boxes they’re not using. And as a last resort, visit your local office or shipping supply place and buy the boxes you think you’ll need. You may need to take measurements of the items you’re selling to know what size boxes to buy. And remember to add the cost of your box into your shipping quote on eBay listings.
• Shipping Supplies. Most of your items will need to be properly secured in their boxes. Never leave an item loose in the box – as it will tumble around during shipping, potentially causing damage during transit. Your buyer will not be happy when they open the box. Save things like bubble wrap, shipping peanuts, wrapping paper, newspaper, styrofoam inserts, those bags filled with air, shredded paper, plastic grocery bags, etc. to use as packaging supplies. Re-use (clean) materials whenever possible – it’s good for the environment and good for your pocketbook. And, as a last resort – buy some at your local office supply store.
• Printer and Paper. You should print out a packing list with your order (which are usually supplied by eBay, PayPal and Amazon), and if you use online postage – you will need to print out your postage.
• Selection of Stamps. If you’re selling things like books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, etc. – media mail via the USPS is the cheapest way to ship them. Unfortunately, you can’t print media mail postage online – so you’ll have to use old fashion stamps, or take these items to the post office (personally, I prefer just sticking them in my mail box as the orders come in). If you have several of these items, it’s a good idea to go to www.usps.com and buy a variety of stamps. Check out the current media mail rates (1 lb – $2.13, 2 lbs – 2.47, 3 lbs – 2.81) and have an idea of the weight of the items you’ll be shipping. You’ll have to buy a variety of stamps to make up the exact postage. I typically keep these denominations on hand: $1, .80, .37, .10, .03 and .01 so that I can make up the typical media mail rates. Oh, and be sure to have something to ship these items in! I find that 10 x 13 envelopes are great for most books, CDs and DVDs.
• Packing Tape – A roll of clear packing tape and a dispenser are pretty much essential for both sealing up your shipping boxes and attaching printed postage and addresses to the front.
• Scissors - You’ll need these to cut your printed postage out, potentially cut bubble wrap and other items.
• Pen/Marker – It’s always nice to scribble a quick note of thanks to your buyers on their packing list.
• Scratch Paper - To mark down measurements, weights, potential damage to your items to disclose, etc.

If you’re using the Purge Genie full service, you don’t have to worry about all of the above stuff.. because I take care of the transaction from start to finish.