eBay PowerSeller Increases Customer Satisfaction with ShipRush

eBay PowerSeller soldbymarriott, has improved customer satisfaction and reduced the amount of time they spend on printing out shipping labels with ShipRush.

"The nice thing about ShipRush is that we ship faster. Before we used ShipRush, we were cutting and pasting addresses and names...took us three times as long." - Jim Marriott, soldbymarriott.

ShipRush is able to integrate with eBay, the seller's database and FedEx for a seamless and easy handling of shipping and buyer notifications.



eBay sellers will find ShipRush can speed up their shipping processes by -

• Print shipping labels with just a click or two
• Auto print packing lists
• Tracking numbers automatically uploaded to Buyer's My eBay
• Tracking numbers automatically uploaded to Seller's My eBay
• Automatic email to the buyer with tracking number

ShipRush is free! Check out ShipRush today.

Founded in 1992, Z-Firm has been making ShipRush since 1998. The ShipRush mission is to bring big-warehouse shipment automation to small businesses. ShipRush is "FedEx Compatible," "UPS Ready," "UPS OnLine Compatible," and DHL Certified.

eBay Workshop March 18th - "Hybrid Mailing Services: Can they help your shipping?

eBay Workshop: "Hybrid Mailing Services: Can they help your shipping?"

Host: ShipRush

Date: Thursday, March 18th

Time: 11a.m. to Noon PST

Location: eBay Workshop Board

Description: More choices in shipping: Are you ready?

Formerly only for high volume warehouses, new "hybrid" shipping services are available to lower volume sites, home based shippers and small businesses. If you are an active seller, you probably qualify. These services give the benefits of a full service carrier (like end to end tracking, accessible customer service, weekly net terms billing) at costs similar to the Postal Service (no residential fees, no extended area fees, free Saturday delivery, etc.).

In other words: If you ship, pay attention, because this is interesting.

Attend the eBay Workshop hosted by ShipRush to learn about "hybrid" shipping services--what the benefits are, what it costs, and how you can get started.

Hope you can join us on March 18th!

Visit http://certifiedprovider.ebay.com/ to learn more about eBay Certified Providers and the services and solutions they offer to help an eBay seller grow their business.

ShipRush v7 Allows for Faster Processing of eBay Shipping Orders

ShipRush v7 introduces the new online, web portal My.ShipRush. eBay sellers currently using ShipRush will find new features available in My.ShipRush.

What's new with My.ShipRush

• Share shipping history with users who do not have ShipRush such as customer service staff
• Network ShipRush history across multiple sites
• Serves as a backup of ShipRush history in case of PC loss
• ShipRush Endicia free for 30 days
• New, faster eBay downloading
• Print more international label types on 4x6 thermal printers

eBay sellers can also use ShipRush to speed up their shipping processes by -

• Print shipping labels with just a click or two
• Auto print packing lists
• Tracking numbers automatically uploaded to Buyer's My eBay
• Tracking numbers automatically uploaded to Seller's My eBay
• Automatic email to the buyer with tracking number
• Automatic buyer feedback posted

You can use ShipRush and My.ShipRush together at no cost. ShipRush is free! Check out ShipRush today.

Founded in 1992, Z-Firm has been making ShipRush since 1998. The ShipRush mission is to bring big-warehouse shipment automation to small businesses. ShipRush is "FedEx Compatible," "UPS Ready," "UPS OnLine Compatible," and DHL Certified.

5 Best Practices for Handling Online Returns

5 Best Practices for Handling Online Returns

When it comes to allowing customers to return items, some online retailers and eBay sellers find it difficult to manage returns and accurately keep track of their inventory. Below are 5 Best Practices eBay sellers can use in order to increase customer satisfaction and reduce customer support inquiries around returning an item.

Best Practices:

1. Clearly display the returns policy for buyers
   It can make a big difference in the buyer’s mind when contemplating which seller to purchase from. If a buyer is unsure about how an item will look, fit, etc…, then an easy and clearly displayed returns policy, can clinch the sale.
   *note: All eBay sellers are now required to specify a return policy and handling time when they list items on eBay. If the seller's return policy is not to accept returns, it must be specified in the Return Policy drop down menu.*


2. Option of returning to a local store
   For multi-channel sellers with retail stores, customers may find it more convenient to return items at the store.


3. Include return and pre-paid shipping label in the package
   Enclosing instructions on how to return an item along with a pre-paid shipping label reduces customer contacts while increasing customer satisfaction.


4. Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
   Buyer contacts the seller and arranges to return items in order to have the item repaired, replaced or refunded. Seller will send a shipping label to the buyer with a specific number on the label for their shipping department. When the item is returned the seller’s shipping department can then accurately record the item’s receipt, evaluate and repair the item and potentially re-sell the item and account for the next sale.


5. Keep customers in the loop
   Save customers the hassle having to contact the seller. Sellers can save time spent dealing with questions about returns by providing confirmation when items have been received, when replacement items are sent out, and when refunds have been processed.

Benefits:

• Edit and update all listings to include current returns policy
• Track and record returned items for accurate inventory management and profit and loss accounting
• Easily create pre-paid shipping labels to include in package or email shipping label
• Create and manage RMAs for larger sellers and their shipping departments
• Automate buyer communication with confirmation of shipment emails

While some of the above best practices for handling returns require a change in the seller’s policy, most can be easily implemented with a solution from an eBay Certified Provider.

Certified Providers

ShipRush – shipping solution
ShipWorks – shipping solution
Infopia – listing solution with RMA feature
Kyozou – listing solution with RMA feature
Mercent - listing solution with RMA feature
Vendio - listing solution with buyer communication features to stay on top of returns

eBay Workshop Oct 22nd - Save Time on Shipping: For Bulk and One Off Printing! Right from My eBay!

Workshop: New Selling Manager Applications - "Save Time on Shipping: For Bulk and One Off Printing! Right from My eBay!"

Host: ShipRush

Date: October 22nd, Thursday

Time: 11AM - Noon PST

Location: eBay Workshop Board

Description:

After the buyer checks out, the seller's work starts! Reliable post-sale order processing is a must-have. It can be quite exhausting managing the information, getting packing lists and shipping labels dealt with, etc.

My.ShipRush streamlines the whole post-sale process from shipping to communication. Saving eBay sellers a lot of time (and time is money!). Please join Rafael Zimberoff, ShipRush Product Manager for Z-Firm to learn how My.ShipRush can help eBay sellers easily manage all shipments and communications.

New to the eBay Selling Manager Applications, or commonly referred to as eBay's App Store, is My.ShipRush. My.ShipRush was created by the folks at Z-Firm and is a new version of ShipRush, embedded in My eBay or Selling Manager.

ShipRush is an eBay Certified Solution Provider and one of the third party providers included in the new Selling Manager Applications feature. To learn more, visit Selling Manager Applications.

Visit http://certifiedprovider.ebay.com/ to learn more about eBay Certified Providers and the services and solutions they offer to help eBay sellers.

eBay Certified Provider Fair - Helps Build eBay Customer Support Awareness of 3rd Party Services and Solutions

eBay held its sixth Certified Provider Fair at the eBay Customer Support center in Salt Lake City, UT. The purpose of the event is to expose Customer Support employees at eBay to the software and services available to the eBay Community from external eBay partners qualified to be an eBay Certified Provider.

Over 300 eBay employees attended and viewed product demos, discussed each solution and relayed ideas and feedback on what their eBay sellers needs are. Lots of interest at the Certified Provider Fair on how Certified Providers support SR2 and help sellers adapt and succeed with the new changes.

• Selling Manager Applications
• Bulk revising of all listings to include Return Policy & Handling Time
• Shipping and tracking automation in My eBay

eBay Customer Support teams were impressed at the range of software and services available to help eBay sellers be more efficient and successful -

• business and strategy consulting
• shipping automation for multiple carriers
• customer relationship management
• market research
• listing solutions
• and more!

Certified Providers in attendance:

1. Vendio
2. ShipWorks
3. Auctiva
4. Seller Sourcebook
5. Worldwide Brands
6. Terapeak
7. inkFrog
8. ShipRush
9. Monsoon
10. Selling Manager Applications from eBay Developers Program Team

To learn more about the tools and services from eBay Certified Providers, check out the Certified Provider website.

Click here to view photos from the Certified Provider Fair.

My.ShipRush on eBay Radio - Save Time Shipping Across Mutiple Channels within My eBay

Listen on eBay Radio as ShipRush discusses how their new My.ShipRush for eBay Selling Manager Applications helps eBay sellers save time handling shipping and communications.

Benefits:

• When used in eBay Selling Manager Applications, My.ShipRush is automatically configured to interact with your eBay account
• Supports shipping for multiple carriers
• Print shipping labels (with free shipping plugin)
• Email notifications to the buyer with shipment status and tracking #
• Use existing shipping accounts (in most cases)
• Monitor and manage which items have shipped and which have not
• Look up sales and shipment information from My eBay
• See all ecommerce sales activity across multiple channels in one place, My eBay
• My.ShipRush is free to try and free to use

eBay sellers interested in My.ShipRush or other apps in the "eBay App Store" known as Selling Manager Applications will need to be subscribed to Selling Manager (for free!) or Selling Manager Pro.

Founded in 1992, Z-Firm has been making ShipRush since 1998. The ShipRush mission is to bring big-warehouse shipment automation to small businesses. ShipRush is "FedEx Compatible," "UPS Ready," "UPS OnLine Compatible," and DHL Certified.

My.ShipRush Streamlines Shipping Tasks Within My eBay - Part of Selling Manager Applications

New to the eBay Selling Manager Applications, or commonly referred to as eBay's App Store, is My.ShipRush. My.ShipRush was created by the folks at Z-Firm and is a new version of ShipRush, embedded in My eBay or Selling Manager.

eBay Sellers need a reliable, easy-to-use and efficient system for handling sales once the buyer has completed checkout. It can be quite exhausting spending a large amount of time manually typing in shipping addresses, printing shipping labels one-at-a-time and communicating with each individual buyer on their order and shipment.

My.ShipRush has streamlined the whole post-sale process from shipping to communication. Saving eBay sellers a lot of time and money! Access My.ShipRush from your eBay Account.

My.ShipRush Will:

• Automatically retrieve sales from eBay
• Print shipping labels (with free shipping plugin)
• Post tracking numbers and set the “shipped” flag on eBay
• Email notifications to the buyer with shipment status and tracking #
• When used in eBay Selling Manager Applications, My.ShipRush is automatically configured to interact with your eBay account
• Electronic scale support
• Supports shipping for multiple carriers

For every shipment, address data flows from your core software into ShipRush. There is no cut-and-paste, no import-export, and no hand-keying. It is automatic and instant. Tracking numbers, cost, and tracking URL's flow from ShipRush back into your core application. Again, this is automatic and effortless.

Below are screenshots of My.ShipRush within eBay. Take a look.

Founded in 1992, Z-Firm has been making ShipRush since 1998. The ShipRush mission is to bring big-warehouse shipment automation to small businesses. ShipRush is "FedEx Compatible," "UPS Ready," "UPS OnLine Compatible," and DHL Certified.

Z-Firm now brings us My.ShipRush as part of the Selling Manager Applications.

New Selling Manager Applications for eBay Sellers from Certified Providers

If you currently use Selling Manager or Selling Manager Pro to manage your inventory on eBay, you may find adding an additional application from our eBay Certified Providers is just what you need for robust inventory management, sales tracking, communication management and more.

Benefits:

• Market Research & Reporting
• Customer Service
• Shipping & Payments
• Listing
• Inventory Management
• Marketing & Merchandising
• Product Sourcing
• Accounting
• and more...

All sellers can take advantage of these new tools – all you need is a subscription to Selling Manager (Free) or Selling Manager Pro. From within Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro, any new applications you subscribe to will appear under the Applications tab.

Every application is available with a free trial (usually between one week and 30 days) – so you can try it out before you subscribe. Most Selling Manager Applications charge a subscription fee. Just log into Selling Manager and check out the application catalog tab. Or, subscribe to Selling Manager today.

Certified Providers:

Hosted Support
MyStoreRewards
Terapeak
ShipRush
Worldwide Brands

eBay Workshops Past, Present and Future Contain Information You Need to Save Money, Save Time and Grow

eBay Workshops are a great learning experience for sellers to learn about the different opportunities available to them to help their eBay business grow and at the same time streamline their manual processes to be more efficient.

In the eBay workshops, we invite a Certified Provider to host a workshop on a topic they are well versed and experienced with. Certified Providers are third party companies, partnered with eBay, and have the expertise and experience to assist an eBay seller in growing their eBay business.

Upcoming Workshop:

• Save Time & Money Shipping and Increase Repeat Purchases August 13th- hosted by ShipWorks

Past Workshops: *review the workshops at any time, even after the scheduled timeslot*

• Save Time Listing and Gain Insightful Understanding into Your Buyers - hosted by Auctiva
• 5 Easy Steps to Increase Your eBay Profits w/Market Research - hosted by Terapeak
• Easy Listing Revisions - Edit LIVE eBay Listings in Bulk - hosted by inkFrog
• Selling on eBay using Drop Shippers: How to Make a Profit - hosted by Worldwide Brands
• Turn Your Household Items Into Cash on eBay - hosted by The Queen of Auctions
• Product Trends for 2009 and Beyond- hosted by WhatDoISell
• Keeping Up With the Latest eBay Strategies - hosted by As Was
• Saving $ When Shipping - Are you getting the most out of First Class Mail? - hosted by ShipRush

If you have questions about the past workshops in 2009, post your questions in our Certified Provider Discussion Board.

eBay Certified Providers Win 4 out of 5 Star Developer Awards

Congratulations to our eBay Certified Providers winning in 4 of the 5 eBay Star Developer Award categories!

The following eBay developers and Certified Providers are recognized for building applications on the eBay API platform and for their achievements in enabling sellers to improve customer service and help sellers keep pace with our dynamic marketplace.

2009 eBay Star Developer Award Winners:

• DSR Rockstar - Seller Machine CRM by Bengal One
• Most Innovative - Dynamic Pricing feature by Monsoon
• Early Adopter - Mercent Retail for eBay by Mercent
• Rapid Evolution - Sales Manager by inkFrog

2009 Runner-Ups:

• Most Innovative - Vendio Research by Vendio
• Rapid Evolution - ShipRush by Z-Firm

Congratulations again to our Certified Providers for their hard work, innovation and focus on helping eBay sellers grow and improve their business through efficiency.

Read the full eBay Developers Program blog post here.

The eBay Certified Provider Program recognizes third party companies excelling at providing the tools or services an eBay seller needs to grow their business and increase efficiency. The Certified Provider designation helps an eBay seller identify providers with the expertise and experience to assist in growing their eBay business.

Easy Shipping Label Printing

eBay sellers will find they need a solution fully supporting automation of bulk shipping label and invoice printing for many carriers. eBay and PayPal may not offer all the support and automation in the shipping workflow a seller needs.

If you need a more complete shipping solution than what eBay and PayPal offer, some of our Certified Providers can help.

Benefits:

• Support multiple carriers
• Endicia and Stamps.com integration
• Bulk label printing
• Bulk invoice printing
• First-Class mail printing
• Support international shipping

Checkout the Certified Providers below for sellers needing a complete shipping tool. Sellers should contact the Certified Provider direct and fully discuss their needs to decide if they offer the right tool for them.

Certified Providers:

ShipRush
ShipWorks

Shipping Solution for eBay Makes Shipping a Breeze!

Don't waste time manually writing shipping address information or even cutting and pasting. Automate your shipping with ShipRush, an eBay Certified Solutions Provider.

ShipRush integrates with eBay and creates shipping labels and postage quickly with the eBay and PayPal shipping address information. Once you ship a package using ShipRush software, your buyer receives an automatic email notifying them of the shipment with the tracking number. The added shipping communication helps increase eBay seller feedback and DSRs!

ShipRush's shipping solution for eBay supports multiple shipping carriers.

Watch ShipRush's video with eBay Seller, Sold By Marriott, as they discuss how ShipRush has helped them to ship faster and increase eBay feedback.

Shipping Made Fast and Easy by eBay Certified Providers

Following up on the topic of Shipping from eBay’s Webinar, we’d like to provide more information on how eBay Certified Providers provide the tools and assistance eBay sellers need.

Our Certified Providers have created tools completely automating the shipping work flow, shipping communication and posting of tracking information into My eBay. Their solutions offer features and options not available through eBay and PayPal.

Benefits:

• Support multiple carriers
• Endicia and Stamps.com integration
• Bulk package tracking
• Bulk label printing
• Bulk invoice printing
• First-Class Mail International printing
• Auto email to buyer with tracking info
• Auto email to buyer and seller confirming package delivery
• Post tracking info into My eBay for seller and buyer
• Support international shipping
• Shipping carrier cost comparison
• Email management
• Package shipment auditing – claim entitled shipping refunds

Certified Providers:

ShipRush
ShipWorks

Please contact the Certified Provider direct and fully discuss your needs to decide if they offer the right tool for you. Or you may post a question on our eBay Certified Provider Discussion Board.

How Fast is Shipping with ShipRush? Watch this Video!

Watch as eBay PowerSeller quickshipelectronics demonstrates how fast and efficient they are at handling eBay sales and shipping thanks to ShipRush, an eBay Certified Provider.

Watch this fun and quick video -

Founded in 1992, Z-Firm has been making ShipRush since 1998. The ShipRush mission is to bring big-warehouse shipment automation to small businesses. ShipRush is "FedEx Compatible," "UPS Ready," "UPS OnLine Compatible," and DHL Certified.

eBay Certified Provider Fair Increases Awareness of Tools and Services for eBay Sellers

eBay held its fifth Certified Provider Fair at the eBay Customer Support center in Salt Lake City, UT, on Thursday, February 26th. The purpose of this event is to expose Customer Support employees at eBay to the software and services available to the eBay Community from external eBay partners qualified to be an eBay Certified Provider.

Over 300 eBay employees attended and viewed product demos, discussed each solution and relayed ideas and feedback on what their eBay sellers needs are. Customer Support teams in attendance included our Top Seller Account Managers, Seller Strategies, Motors, PowerSeller Stores support, Listing Tools and our Top Customer Care teams. These teams are on the phone every day helping eBay sellers. Saving time and increasing profits is the goal of every seller, and helping to pair the right solution with the right seller to accomplish that goal is vital.

eBay Customer Support teams were impressed at the range of software and services available to help eBay sellers become more efficient and effective from our Certified Providers. Certified Providers provide:

• business and strategy consulting
• shipping
• customer relationship management
• accounting and business management
• market research
• listing solutions
• and more!

Feedback from the eBay teams has been extremely positive. “Without the Certified Provider Fair I would not have the awareness and knowledge of their solutions. I am able to recommend Certified Providers to my Store sellers and see the improvements in their sales,” said Randi Williams, PowerSeller Stores Support.

Brain Servatius, Motors P&A Top Seller Account Manager discussed what he saw as a “two-way benefit” of the Certified Provider Fair. “I not only learn how their solution will best fit my sellers’ needs, but we also share ideas on how they can innovate, add new features to their product for our sellers.”

eBay Certified Providers enjoy the opportunity to meet with the key influencers, our Customer Support teams. “It was great to see eBay representatives excited to see what we do and understand how we help eBay sellers,” said Todd Sherman, from Mercent.

Jerad Schempp, Hosted Support said, “It was a fantastic event! The opportunity to fully show how our application enables eBay sellers to reduce communication time and costs to the eBay employees speaking directly to those sellers in need is invaluable.”

Nine Certified Providers were on site to showcase their solutions and services, including:

• As Was
• Auctiva
• Hosted Support
• Mercent
• SageFire
• Seller Machine
• ShipRush
• Terapeak
• Vendio

To learn more about the tools and services from eBay Certified Providers, check out the Certified Provider website.

CP Workshop: Save Time & $ on Shipping 6/4

Save $ and Time on Shipping: Strategies for Packaging & Shipping
This workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 4th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pacific time.

Host: ShipRush (aka Z-Firm)

Shipping your items is labor-intensive, not to mention costs. It’s time to ask yourself: Am I operating efficiently? Thinking ahead can save you hours every week. Learn from a shipping pro how to “think” shipping, from crafting the listing description, printing the labels and shipping the packages. Learn techniques and tools that save eBay sellers tons of time. Please join Rafael Zimberoff, an active eBay seller and ShipRush product manager for an information-packed hour on how to save time on shipping.