It’s an exciting feeling to win an item you’ve been bidding on and wanting to get, but what happens next? Below are some helpful post-auction tips for both buyers and sellers:
BUYERS:
Provide A Shipping Address: Once an auction ends, a buyer will need to provide the seller with their stored Listia verified address and payment (if applicable) within 7 days. Make sure you take the time to double check your address. If a stored address is incomplete (e.g. missing zip code, street number, etc), you can visit the Shipping Address page to correct it.
If the item is for “local pick-up” only, both parties can agree to meet at a local public place to exchangethe item.
Check for Payment Method: Most listings offer Free Shipping, however if a seller does not offer free shipping, they have one of two shipping payment options:
- Exact Rate – Fees may vary depending on the location between buyer and seller
- Flat Rate – The fee is the same regardless of where the buyer is located (domestic addresses only)
For the actual payment, we ask that you use PayPal. PayPal is an easy, safe way to pay for shipping, but remember not to use the “gift” option. (You can contact PayPal to recover shipping money in case there is a problem, but not if you choose the “gift” or “personal payment” option). Once an auction ends, the seller can provide their PayPal email to the buyer or they can send a PayPal invoice to the buyer.
Avoid other payment methods such as sending cash, checks, money orders and never send wire transfers. These types of payments are extremely hard to recover in case there is a dispute, and Listia is unable to help recover shipping money. If you do send payment by mail, make sure you have evidence of payment.
Provide Feedback: Providing feedback is a great way of showing how the transaction went. A buyer will be prompted to leave a feedback after clicking the “Got It” button (meaning you’ve received the item)
SELLERS:
Check The Buyer’s Address: The only way of receiving an address from the buyer is through the shipping address section on the top of the post-auction page (addresses in the email message section are not allowed and not Listia verified). If the buyer provides an address in the email message logs, we ask that you inform them to use the provided address form on the auction page. If an address is stored correctly but looks incomplete (e.g. missing zip code, street number, etc), double check with the buyer first before shipping.
Provide Proper Payment for Shipping: Whether or not free shipping is offered, make sure you put enough postage on the package. If you are offering free shipping and the amount isn’t enough to cover the cost of the item being shipped, the item may not be delivered to the buyer and can be returned to you.
Securely Package Item(s): A seller is fully responsible for securely packaging and shipping the item to ensure against damage or loss from normal shipping practices. A common mistake is placing small items in a regular white letter envelope. If the item is fragile or delicate, such as jewelry, avoid placing it in an envelope which can be harmed or damaged during delivery. Envelopes may only be used if the item inside is flexible and can be sent through a sorting machine. Be sure to package your item safely and accordingly, to prevent any damages or loss.
Provide Delivery Confirmation: The best way to track a shipped item is by providing a delivery confirmation/tracking number. USPS provides these for a small fee (roughly $0.80; fee may vary in locations), but they are extremely helpful for both parties once an item is shipped. Providing a post office receipt of payment is not sufficient evidence of where the item is, so whenever possible, please use delivery confirmation.
As a reminder, all users on Listia are both a buyer and seller, so we all share these responsibilities and tips. Check out our Rules page for additional information. What helpful tips would you also offer? Let us know by leaving a comment!
The Listia Blog 
Since this is “TIPS”… there is one big gaping hole… one major tip missing… COMMUNICATE!!!!!!!!!!! I get SO frustrated when I NEVER hear one word from both buyers and sellers… especially sellers… the ones that never say a word, never say an item has been sent, never provide any communication at all!! Everyone should communicate with at the least a short quick message, to acknowledge each other, to say THANK YOU… something… anything that keeps communication open!!Also… as far as paypal… since the payment is ONLY to cover shipping, we shouldn’t have to pay their crazy fees!! Listia should get in touch with Paypal, and explain what listia is all about, and maybe paypal will come up with a “postage” option… one that doesn’t charge fees, but is refundable if an issue arises. It can’t hurt for Listia to explain and ask. They offer no-fee for personal/gift payments… so maybe they would consider this… a ‘postage’ payment, that allows refunds if required, but doesn’t charge an upfront fee. OR at the least, a much SMALLER fee… like maybe ONLY a low percentage, and not the extra flat fee also. Since we’re not using paypal to BUY an item, we shouldn’t have to use the “item purchase” option… so Listia should communicate with paypal to see if something could be worked out, a better option for us.Lastly… as to Delivery Confirmation… remember, we cannot purchase delivery confirmation on flat envelopes, or even on bubble mailers that are NOT thicker than 3/4″ either… DC isn’t allowed on envelopes or ‘large envelopes’… only on ‘parcels/packages’. MANY, MANY items I send are “large envelopes”, which are bubble mailers that aren’t super thick… and USPS will not allow me to purchase DC, even though I’d like to!!!! So not everyone is allowed to purchase DC for their items! 😦
I know this is way late but I agree! I put in my description box on my auctions that I require winning bidders to click family and friends on PayPal when paying shipping cause I can’t afford to ship their item when fees are taken. I only started doing this today so I guess we will see how it goes. I hope nobody flags me and I hope listia doesn’t suspend me..lol
Just wanted to add a little something about delivery confirmation. To get around the 3/4″ limit, I’ll add an empty small box 2″x2″x1″ to a bubble mailer. Adds only 0.2 oz of weight which usually doesn’t make a difference in postage.
To Raburruss… not sure what you mean… If you have a 1 ounce “large envelope” meaning between 1/4″ and 3/4″ thickness.. the postage is 88¢. And you cannot do delivery confirmation.But if you have a 1 ounce ‘parcel/package’, meaning over 3/4″ thick… then the postage alone is $1.71 (already twice the postage), and then if you add DC to it, it’s almost $3!!! That’s WAY too much for me to spend… and to me anyway, that’s a HUGE difference in postage between the two.
You’re absolutely correct. The cheapest was to send anything with a DC would be $2.51. I was talking about mailing something like a cd that doesn’t meet the 3/4 inch min to qualify for DC. I never mail any thing from from listia without a DC. It’s for both the buyers and sellers protection.
Yah, I can see that on something like a CD… but for me, a lot of times, it’s a small keychain or something similar, that isn’t even worth more than $1-2… so I won’t pay that much to mail it… it’s not even worth the postage. But I have complained to USPS that they SHOULD allow us to buy DC on envelopes and large envelopes. I would do it… but I won’t pay the bigger package price PLUS the DC also.
These are all great suggestion! I do wish that Listia and Paypal would come some some agreement that would get rid of the fees for us. I don’t understand why we aren’t able to qualify for DC for all size and correspondence. Maybe fewer mail would be “misplaced”-postage is expensive enough!
I have a good tip, how about DOING SOMETHING about all the FRAUD, SCAMS, and FAKE AUCTIONS on this site. Other then suspending buyers, and letting the sellers continue on with the fraud. Ill stick to ebay, at least there i have SOME protection, and not moderators with their heads up their u know what.
i dont get it!! im new to lisita, and i just won an auction. nothing shows up, no post auction page, nothing. and also, one of my auctions just ended, and nothing pops up and i cant message the winner. what do i do??
Whats the cheapest way (and how much is it) to send small items such as mascara?
whats a dc?
Delivery Confirmation (provided by the post office / USPS)
How do you confirm if they PICK IT up versus having it shipped where you can purchase the Delivery Confirmation? We just started offering to pick it up but I know even Paypal and Ebay don’t recognize anything other than delivery confirmation/tracking numbers.
How do sellers protect themselves on this? I’m thinking to have them sign a DETAILED receipt that they picked it up on such and such a date.
If Listia is ‘free’ how are people saving money by eating the shipping costs?
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Sooo Im new here and I just won an auction and the thing came up to tell the person i got the item and to transferr the credits…do I do that right away or like litterally wait till I get the item in the mail?
Wait!, the transfer of credits should be dependent on whether or not their is a tracking number if their is then yes right away on simple items, if the item is lets say electronic wait for it to come in then make sure the quality of the item is as posted. For instance a Pokemon Card sent to you would be considered untrustworthy unless tracking were applied. But like most a “leap of faith” can be done. Hope this helps cheers!
I know that one rule of Listia is that if the buyer does not reply or provide a shipping address within 7 days you keep there credits and relist but how do you get there credits because its been like 9 days now and I haven’t got the credits and she has not replied, I value my buyers I always keep them up to date and I’m fare when it comes to bidding price. This girl is just getting on my nerves. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!?!
i just won something and i have no idea how to pay for the shipping. please help!! i have a pay pal, and i also just sold a belly ring, and didnt use a tracking number because it was small enough to just put in a small envelope. and i work over nights and sleep all day so i cant make it to the post office any way.
ok so I just started using listia. and I’m confused. The only stuff I get is free shipping, but on stuff im auctioning off, I put that they have to pay exact cost. and I’m really confused. I guess I should’ve asked this before auctioning it lol. anyways could someone please explain to me, how exactly to use paypal (ive never used it before), and how, I guess, to know when someone puts it in my account? I know I’ve got to tell them how much it is first, since it’s exact cost, but do I mail it first, then tell them how much it is, or do I see how much it is, tell them so they can put it in my account, then mail it? im confused.
Can anyone tell me if there is a direct link to ship with USPS (United States Post Office) once the Listia Auction has ended and the buyer has paid with credits. I offered free shipping on the item. Thank you so much for any advice. I am use to Ebay… you just have a few clicks to create a shipping label.
I have a person not paying for their shipment, what do I do. I have sent them the package already in good faith. Guess I will never do that again.
i have received several white business envelopes with jewelry almost falling out and one with nothing in it with hole in end , item was long gone . also had to pay to pick up packages with postage due , and one with a tracking slip i had to pay charge for that was on package when sent , not sure how that happened lol . when are sellers going to realize a white business envelope is not made for shipping items like jewelry and watches . some one needs to put up on site itself that items are getting lost in the mail because of improper shipping habits . you can make your own packages by taking large mailers and cutting them down to size needed or make your own with 2 pieces of cardboard stapled together and tape over them so as not to catch in sorting machines @ post office .
thank you
evilaunt
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ok so i know this probably do not go hear so i won an auction i gave my address and all but i ac decadently click on the get it button and it put me on the sellers feedback page will i still revive my my item just to let you now i am new and do i need to tell the seller that i won or when i give the my address this how they know i won can you help me
When someone wins my auction Am I post to get the credits instantly or wait until I send the package and they give me feedback
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