Thank you for taking the time to read this page - if you are a regular customer you have probably noticed my listings decreasing rapidly over the past couple of days. Once again, ebay is making it extremely difficult for US sellers to be competitive with pricing and shipping costs. Now they have taken away my "Top Seller" status (because I reduced the items in my store) and are threatening to remove my Powerseller status. At the beginning of April, 2010 they are again changing their fee structure which I find will make it impossible for me to sell my items and realize any kind of profit - which, of course, is why anyone sells on ebay or anywhere. We are in tough economic times and we all need some extra income. I find I am losing money every month after figuring the cost of my goods (I don't get them FREE as I believe some sellers must in order to sell at the prices they are AND give free shipping - but I digress). After figuring the cost of my goods, the fees imposed by ebay to list, then final value fees, then fees for anything additional you want to add - like more pictures, subtitles, etc etc and paypal fees, I am losing money. So, I am once again going to leave ebay or perhaps just keep a handful of items that are good sellers - like the bone and horn beads. However, I am not going away entirely - I am moving all of my inventory to artfire dot com - you can find me there as seller ID bwdesigns. The prices are less since the fees are less and I like passing on savings to my loyal customers. At any rate, if you take the time to read this - I truly do appreciate it! I hope to see you again! Thank you for your purchases and your loyalty to me and the wonderful feedback I have received!! Judith
If you have a minute visit my website and if you see any beads and/or findings you like, please email me for availability.
Feel free to email me at
THEY GET CLOSE TO 37 PERCENT OF MY SALES, OR $1.17 OF THAT $2.99 ITEM. THE 2.9 PERCENT OF PAY PAL ALSO INCLUDES SHIPPING AND ANY VIRGINIA SALES TAX, NOT JUST THE ITEM. I TRY VERY HARD TO KEEP PRICES DOWN AND GIVE YOU A DEAL. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO JUST THAT.
*******INFORMATION ABOUT FREE SHIPPING*******
I HAVE TRIED TO OFFER FREE SHIPPING ON TOP OF THE FEES ABOVE AS EBAY WANTS BUT WITH USPS FIRST CLASS SHIPPING AT A MINIMUM OF $1.35, YOU CAN EASILY SEE I AM LOSING MONEY. I ALSO ALLOW THE COST OF SHIPPING TO PRINT ON MY LABELS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT COST, UNLIKE SOME SELLERS WHO HIDE THE SHIPPING COST AND YOU KNOW IT WAS NOT AS MUCH OR CLOSE TO WHAT YOU PAID. I CHARGE THE FLAT RATE OF $1.35 PER ITEM WITH A 20 CENT CHARGE FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS - EXACTLY WHAT THE POST OFFICE CHARGES ME FOR MAILING MY BUBBLE WRAP MAILERS. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COST OF THE MAILER ITSELF OBVIOUSLY. OFTEN MY BUYERS FIND I DON'T EVEN CHARGE THE EXTRA 20 CENTS PER ITEM WHEN I SEND A COMBINED INVOICE.
IN THE OLD DAYS, BUYERS "FOUGHT" FOR ITEMS ON EBAY AND THE PRICES WERE ENOUGH TO ALLOW SELLERS TO MAKES SOME PROFIT WHICH, OF COURSE, IS WHY WE ARE HERE. WE COULD LIST LOW, EVEN OFFER FREE SHIPPING, AND WE KNEW OVERALL WE COULD EEK OUT SOME PROFIT. HOWEVER, NOW THERE IS USUALLY ONE BUYER FOR EACH ITEM. IF A SELLER KEEPS THEIR PRICES COMPETITIVE BASED ON THE ENORMOUS SELECTION NOW AVAILABLE TO BUYERS, IT IS USUALLY A LOSS SITUATION, AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A PROFIT. SELLERS WHO DO OFFER FREE SHIPPING OFTEN INFLATE THEIR PRICES FOR ITEMS AND THOSE SELLERS WHO LIST AT 99 CENTS, ETC. OFTEN GOUGE CUSTOMERS WITH EXCESSIVE SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS. I WANT TO BE FAIR SO TO MY AWESOME CUSTOMERS AND MYSELF - EVENTUALLY THE FREE SHIPPING I AM NOW OFFERING WILL HAVE TO END. I AM ATTEMPTING TO REBUILD A CUSTOMER BASE OF BUYERS WHO UNDERSTAND MY COSTS AND PRICES AND KNOW I VALUE EXEMPLARY CUSTOMER SERVICE! TO THOSE CUSTOMERS I PROFUSELY THANK YOU!
I HOPE THIS HELPS TO EXPLAIN TO THOSE OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ IT WHY MY PRICE POINTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND THAT IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE I PLACE ON YOUR PATRONAGE! I AM NOT 'CRYING' AT ALL ABOUT ANY OF THIS - I JUST FEEL AN INFORMED CUSTOMER IS A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE! THANK YOU AGAIN! JUDITH
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