How to handle shipping and local pickup
Feb 12, 2025
Getting Started with Shipping and Local Pickup for Resellers
Successfully managing shipping and local pickup options is essential for any reseller looking to grow their business and provide a seamless customer experience. Whether you’re running a small side hustle or aiming to scale up, keeping your inventory, listings, and sales info organized—as well as assigning clear team roles—will save you time, reduce mistakes, and increase customer satisfaction.
1. Centralize Your Inventory and Listings
If you list items on multiple platforms (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, etc.), it’s crucial to keep your inventory and listings in sync. Selling the same item twice by mistake is a quick way to disappoint buyers and rack up negative reviews. Here’s how to keep everything in order:
Choose a Central Inventory System: Use a simple spreadsheet, or try a unified tool like Gavelbase to track your item quantities and where they’re listed.
Update Listings Immediately: When an item sells, mark it as sold or remove it from other marketplaces right away.
Leverage Software Integrations: Some tools sync inventory automatically across platforms; research which ones work with your main selling channels.
2. Assign Clear Team Roles
If you work with others, assign basic roles to streamline your workflow and avoid confusion:
Listings Manager: Handles creating and updating online listings, and removes sold items promptly.
Inventory Manager: Tracks item locations and stock levels.
Shipping/Logistics: Prepares packages, prints labels, and communicates with buyers about shipping or pickup.
Finance Tracker: Monitors sales, fees, and payments.
For solo sellers, create a simple daily checklist for yourself to cover these responsibilities.
3. Track Sales and Fees
Keeping a close eye on your sales and the fees each platform charges is crucial for profitability. Here’s an easy system:
Keep a Sales Log: Use a spreadsheet or your central system to record each sale, the platform, sale price, shipping charges, and fees.
Calculate Net Profit: Subtract all platform fees and shipping costs from your sale price to see your real earnings per item.
Review Regularly: At least once a month, review your sales and adjust pricing or strategy if needed.
4. Handling Shipping
Shipping is often the most complex part of reselling, but these easy steps will help you get it right:
Offer Accurate Shipping Options: Be clear about shipping costs and estimated delivery times in your listings.
Choose Reliable Carriers: USPS, UPS, and FedEx are the most common in the US. Compare rates and delivery speeds.
Package Items Securely: Use appropriate boxes or mailers, and add padding for fragile items. USPS offers packaging tips for free.
Print Shipping Labels: Buy and print labels online through the selling platform or a service like Pirate Ship for discounted rates.
Share Tracking Info: Always upload tracking numbers to the selling platform and notify the buyer.
Set a Shipping Schedule: Ship orders on set days each week to stay organized.
5. Managing Local Pickup
Local pickup can save you shipping costs and attract nearby buyers. To keep it safe and simple:
Specify Pickup Options: Clearly state in your listings if local pickup is available and where (city or neighborhood).
Choose a Safe Meeting Spot: Police stations, busy shopping centers, or designated safe trade locations are best. Avoid sharing your home address if possible.
Confirm Details in Advance: Use platform messaging to arrange time and place. Reconfirm just before meeting.
Accept Secure Payments: Cash is common, but platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Venmo offer secure options. Only mark the item as picked up after payment is received.
Prepare Item and Receipt: Have the item ready to inspect and, if possible, provide a simple receipt.
6. Simple Steps for Beginners
Here’s a quick checklist you can follow to keep things smooth:
Pick one main inventory tracker and update it daily.
Assign or schedule time for each key task (listing, inventory, shipping/pickup, tracking sales).
Always double-check the item and buyer info before shipping or meeting.
Communicate clearly with buyers about what to expect and when.
Regularly review your sales and tweak your process as you learn.
Recommended Tools and Resources
Gavelbase – Syncs listings, tracks inventory, and helps with sales data across platforms.
Pirate Ship – Discounted USPS shipping labels.
SafeTrade Stations – Find secure local pickup locations.
USPS Shipping Tips – Best practices for packaging and shipping.
Conclusion
By following these straightforward steps—centralizing your inventory, assigning roles, tracking sales, and handling shipping or pickup cleanly—you’ll build a more organized and trustworthy reselling operation. Start with simple tools and processes, and adjust as your business grows. Consistency and clear communication are your best friends!