Okay, this is the final installment of our Closet Clean-out guide. So far, you have read Part 1 and Part 2, right? Awesome. This is the final part and probably the most important. We are going to talk about communication, payments and shipping.
The first thing you might be asking is “Where are my messages?”.
It’s important to note 3 things.
- You’ll receive a notification in your email box with the email address you signed up with that you have a new message.
- Make sure they aren’t in your spam filter AND make sure you have pop-ups enabled on the site because it will pop up a window telling you about a new message.
- If you don’t answer your messages and your inbox gets full. Some messages with either be deleted or new ones will be told your box is full.
At this time, you are receiving messages from eager buyers wanting your items. But before you just start randomly clicking, it’s important to note that the messages in your inbox are listed from newest to oldest. Meaning the messages on the bottom are from buyers who were first “in line” and you should work from the bottom up.
Not only is it fair, but it makes life easier. If you were starting at the top and more messages came in you would have unopened messages above and below what you’ve already answered. You gotta be efficient – going in order helps that process.
Now, this is where it gets tricky. You’ve got your “fair hat” on and your going in order. But your also trying to get your stuff sold and do so at a fast pace.
You’ll have some folks ask questions, some folks haggle (that’s usually me), and just total randomness. It can become overwhelming and confusing.
But don’t let that stop you!
There’s an easy trick to not getting confused – Before you open any messages, get out that pen and paper I mentioned in Part 1.
Open the first message on the bottom of your inbox.
Jot down what they wanted. Make sure it’s something you’ll understand and always add the price.
*No one said handwriting was my expertise 
Respond to their message with a standard message. Mine usually read like this:
As you go through messages, you write down their USER ID (I write down first names as I know of them that way better haha), the items they want and the amounts of items.
You’re going to run into people who want an item already now on hold pending payment.
Simply add into your message that XYZ items are on hold for someone else. If they become available you will let them know. Then add a STAR by their name on your log and the item. I put a ? mark too. I’ll go back and tell them if the item comes off hold.
Typically holds last for 24 hours. But you will find that the sooner you respond, the sooner they pay.
After you do all of your messages.
Go to your thread and edit the items on your log to HOLD.
I leave the prices when I am doing a HOLD because I need to remember my price if it comes off of hold. I only remove the price when it’s been paid for.
Repeat the process above as needed.
Now, payments will start coming in.
I usually will check my email in 30 minutes after I finish up all my messages so that I can pull more from the box at once. As you see the payments, go to your list and put a HEART near everyone who paid.
Double check their payment amount to your list to make sure they didn’t over or under pay.
Don’t forget to write their address down from the Paypal receipt on the paper too!
Take your list to your box and pull out all of the items that were paid for. I wash my hands before pulling the items out, it’s just good manners to have clean hands while you start this process. And not to mention, you don’t want to stain anything or get someone sick!
Get your packing supplies together.
- Packing envelopes
- Stationary
- Pen
- Decor Tape
- Regular Clear Tap (Scotch Tape)
- Scissors
- Clear Plastic Bags
- Business Cards (MOO has a service to use your Flickr photos making little cards. I use them as Thank you or Contact cards)
- Digital Scale (If you are printing labels online)
I start by going down the list and clear bagging the items.
I always bag everything, even if it’s just 1 item. Why? 3 main reasons.
- If someone opens their package with scissors. They are less likely to cut something since they can feel the bag.
- It keeps everything together inside. Hopefully if the package gets ripped, the postal worker will see the bag and keep it together.
- It keeps the items safe from rain or water damage. Since you ship your items in envelopes, the elements can get to the contents inside.
So it’s: clear bag > items in > contact card in > seal baggie (push out air) > put inside envelope.
International deliveries are a little different. I do not put a contact card in, instead I write a letter. My contact cards say “Thank you” and my email address begins with “sales” – I mark their package as a Gift and well.. You get the idea.
You may not have contact cards, so you may decide to hand-write a little note anyhow. I feel it’s important to note to never put the letter in the bag with the dresses. I’ve personally had items arrive with ink on them from someone doing that!
Separate your letter… and ink from the dresses!
Label your envelope. I do all mine by hand… for now. But it’s a risk you have to take into consideration. If you have no tracking of the item and it’s lost, you are going to need to work something out with the buyer. I’ll get into that later.
If you are printing online then just write the persons user ID, first name or a little jot of what’s inside to remind you when you go to print the shipping label.
Get out your digital scale and weigh everything. Always round up to the nearest ounce or pound. Write the weight on the package.
Pack, seal and label all of your packages.
To properly seal your envelope and ensure the contents safety, put a strip of tape across the back. Don’t just use a small piece of regular tape or worse.. lick it. That never works 
I recommend that you use your Paypal account or Endicia to print the labels.
Endicia is not a free service, however it provides first class labels for local and International (something Paypal and USPS.com do not)
In Paypal you just log into your account > go to the “print shipping label” button next to the payment, put in the weight, select first class, always get a tracking number, print, affix to your envelope.
Endicia is similar but a little different. Talking about it.. I think I will go back to using it.
Anyhow, follow these steps for all of your packages.
You’re all packed up now? Great!
Just a few little steps left:
- Delete each Paypal receipt from your email inbox as you print or hand-write your label. This keeps you in order.
- Open your forum inbox and notify each buyer their item is packed and labeled and shipping within (your time frame).
- Delete their message and cross out their name on your list – this completes everything from their transaction and you are done with that deal.
- Go to your sales thread and change the HOLD to SOLD and remove the price.
It’s common to take your packages to the post office within 2 days time. Any longer than that is okay. But I personally feel any longer than that says you didn’t really have the time to dedicate to this and you should wait until you do.
One more subject to touch on is lost packages or unhappy customers. When someone says their package is lost, first check your tracking if it’s a local transaction.
Didn’t get tracking? Then you really need to think about this. Never respond in anger. It’s no ones fault the package is lost. Even if you “suspect” the person is lying, it is what it is and you need to treat everyone the same. I’ve mailed and shipped well over 1000 packages (all around the world!) last year for my online store and clean-outs using USPS. Out of that only 2 were lost. 1 was local and 1 was International.
The local one showed the package as delivered. But the receiver insisted it never arrived. I gave them a “tab” towards my next clean-out and happily shipped them a pair of shoes to replace the lost ones.
You have to remember in these cases you are both out time and money. There is always a compromise you just need to find it. The golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated goes a long way.
International shipping (especially to certain countries) is a little more tricky. If you are afraid to ship Internationally, then either say your sale is your country only OR add a disclaimer that you are not responsible for lost packages. Although I recommend to still try and find some kind of way to help them if it’s lost.
Trading and swapping are also a lot of fun. If you decide to do a trade, I 100% recommend that you know the person, trust them and that you and them both agree to get tracking on the packages. Nothing worse than a lost dolly friendship over bad communication.
So go on you hoarder! Go through your dolly closet. Pick out some things for a clean-out. Start small for your first one. I know we are all anxiously awaiting to trade, swap and buy your stuff!
