Even though ecommerce sales grew at 14.6 percent year over year in 2015 to a grand total of $341.7 billion, it still accounted for only 7.3 percent of total sales. The segment has a long way to go before it catches up to brick and mortar stores, which is why companies are continuously trying to integrate both worlds so consumers can shop without much differentiation.
The expansion of the eBay Valet program to more than 1,600 FedEx Office stores looks to do that by making it more convenient for businesses to ship their items without any hassles.
In addressing the availability of more drop off points, Laura Chambers, Vice President of Consumer Selling, eBay, said:
“We’re investing in solutions and offerings that streamline every stage of the selling process — from listing, to shipping, to successful sales. Our relationship with FedEx Office allows us to offer even more choices to consumers looking to get the most money for their items with the least amount of work … and the peace of mind it will arrive safely.”
eBay Valet Program Handles It All
Just in case you are not aware of the eBay Valet program, it is a professional service that takes care of the entire selling process for its customers.
So how does the eBay Valet program work?
All you have to do is mail in a request for a free postage-paid shipping label, and once you get it, you print it out and attach it to any box. You then take it to your nearest eBay Drop-Off Center, which you can find right here, and that is it.
There are some guidelines as to what type of items the valets accept or don’t accept. These include, items in poor condition, items worth less than $25, breakable items, high-value items that require authentication and more. But once they accept it, the valets will list it for sale within two business days for up to 60 days. When it sells, you will receive payment within two business days.
There is a fee, which is deducted from the sale price of your item. If it is less than $50, it comes out to 60/40, with the largest share going to you. But as the price of the item increases, you get a larger share. It goes up to 70/30 for items that are between $50-$200, and 80/20 if it is more than $200.
There are no shipping costs, and if the item doesn’t sell, the valet will return it to you for free.
Launching a business with just a digital presence is not easy, considering there are more than 800,000 online stores that are vying to get customers through the same gateways. However, if you compliment your small brick and mortar business with an online outlet, you can extend your reach almost anywhere. The eBay Valet and FedEx expansion to 1,600 locations makes that possible without having to be physically present in more than one location.
Do you sell items online? If so, have you used the eBay Valet Program? Please let us know if it has simplified the way you ship your items, and whether the fee is worth the service?
Image: eBay
This article, "eBay Valet Program Lists, Sells and Ships Products for You" was first published on Small Business Trends
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