We understand that the success or failure of the Sewing Palette ultimately depends on how well we serve the people who choose to sell with us. True, none of us can succeed without customers to buy the items offered for sale. But you are our customer every bit as much as they are.

Selling here should be easy and comfortable. The minimum standards and basic rules are in place so that one careless or inexperienced seller doesn't give everyone here a black eye -- not to stifle your individuality as a seller.

Because we have much more flexibility than most online sales sites, it's possible for us to tailor solutions you could only dream about before now. Wish the listing form was different so your items appear just right? Not only can we build you a custom listing form, we will build you one.

That's just one example of the many ways you'll find the Sewing Palette a very different place to sell. You'll find others as you go through the handbook, and we encourage your suggestions.

Thank you for giving us a chance to serve you!

Clicking the Open a Seller Account link brings you to a form you with two checkboxes, a couple of blanks to fill in, and a submit button. Let's get the legal stuff out of the way:

The first checkbox

confirms that you have read and agreed to the Sewing Palette's terms and conditions for sellers. Our terms are mercifully short and written in English. Take a moment to read them now and you'll be ready to go later.

The second checkbox

confirms that you have read and agreed to follow our Best Practices. You've probably already read them, and they're covered in detail in this Handbook.

There! That wasn't so bad, was it? Now you can fill in the blanks.

Choose a seller name.

This is the name that customers will see on the site and use to email you @sewingpalette.com. It's also your login name. Keep in mind that your seller name is case-sensitive: myname is not the same as MyName.

Spaces and special characters like @ % & or * are not allowed. You'll get an error message if you try to use "forbidden" characters or if the name you choose is already registered.

Password.

You know the drill. Type your password into the first box, then type it again into the second box. Six characters minimum, 15 characters maximum. The best passwords include a mix of letters, numbers and characters.

Click the submit button

and you've got yourself a seller account on the Sewing Palette. Welcome! Of course, you can't do anything until we get a bit more information, and that comes next.

Adding your personal information, payment method and account settings

Contact info.

We'll use your contact info to set up and send your payments, so keep that in mind as you're filling out this section -- and be sure your information is up to date at all times.

If you use a business checking account, enter the business name as your Primary Name and enter your own name under Contact Name. If you're selling under your own name, put your name in the Primary Name space and leave the Contact Name blank.

Next is your mailing address, phone number, and email address. If you get paper checks, we'll use this mailing address. We won't call you unless there's an urgent situation (or we're returning your call) -- promise. All emails will go to your Primary Email Address.

Give us a backup email address if you often use different emails and want us to recognize you right away, or if you're concerned about outages with your main email account. It's entirely optional.

Payment method.

Choose whether you want paper checks or direct deposit. If you chose direct deposit, provide your bank name, routing number and account number. (We'll send a small test deposit when your first item sells.) You can change your payment method at any time; changes take effect on Sundays.

Payment for items you ship each calendar week (Monday through Saturday) are sent the following Wednesday. How long it will be before a direct deposit is credited to your account depends entirely on your bank. (The test deposit should give you a general idea.) Paper checks are sent by first class mail.

Sales Tax.

Tell us whether you need to collect sales tax on items shipped to your home state and if you are, provide the correct sales tax percentage. You MUST send us a copy of your certificate of authority to collect sales tax for our records. (The lawyers say so.)

Listing Status.

You don't need to do anything here, but you'll use this feature to put all your items on hold whenever you're on vacation or otherwise unavailable for a short time. Your status is locked on Hold until the grand opening on May 25, 2011, when it will flip over to Active automatically.

Listing Form.

This sets the default form you'll see for listing items. It's automatically set to Standard, where you list one item at a time. The Multiple option lets you enter up to 10 patterns on a single spreadsheet-style form. A Custom option will show if we've set up a special listing form for you.

Speaking of listing,

hit the submit button on this part of the sign-up form so you can get started!

Sign in first,

then use the links on your account page or the Sell page to bring up the listing form. You'll get the Standard (single item) form by default, so we'll cover that first.

Identify the item

using the fields for manufacturer, pattern or booklet number, year and size. Be sure to enter the 4-digit year -- we may have patterns from 1910 as well as 2010. Not sure of the year? Take your best guess on the decade (enter as 1920 or 1940) and we'll look it up. The size should match what's printed on the envelope (use one size for most transfers and booklets). You do not need to include body measurements (they're in the database).

Price.

Enter the selling price using two decimal points. (You'll be able to add a special sale price on your account page, but that option isn't needed now.)

Shipping.

The default is Counts as 1 item for shipping. If your item weighs more than 4 ounces, you may change this to Counts as 2 items for shipping. See the FAQ page for more information.

Status.

Choose Active if you want your item to post right away. Choose Hold if you just want to get in the basics and add details later, or if you're waiting for an item listing to end on another site. Remember, items you list at the Sewing Palette must be sold exclusively at the Sewing Palette.

Condition.

Since you're following Best Practices, you've already checked the item over carefully. Grade your item using drop-down list, then review and check off any condition issues. (These options are fixed, deliberately short, and required. You can add more about the condition later -- and you must if there are issues.)

• Patterns and transfers can be graded:
  
  
  • Factory folded. If there's even a single loose piece, it's not factory folded. Unless you're positive, choose Used.
  • Unused. For patterns that have been taken apart but obviously not used, and transfers that have been refolded but not cut.
  • Partly Used. For patterns, where one piece or one outfit has been used but the rest is still bundled. For transfers, where 1/3 or less of the pieces have been cut out.
  • Used. For everything else.

• Booklets, leaflets and catalogs can be graded:
  
  
  • Above average, with very minimal shelf wear, bright pages and no major issues.
  • Average for vintage items with noticeable shelf wear, creases or yellowed pages and one or two minor issues.
  • Below average for items with loose covers, heavy foxing, any water damage, or more than two other condition issues.

For the condition issue checkboxes:

Verified Complete and Not Complete. You must check one of these for all items.

• For sewing patterns, check Verified Complete if it's factory folded or your count of the pieces matches the number shown on the envelope or instruction sheet. If a pattern is partly used, you usually only need to count the unfolded pieces (for example, check that you have all the blouse pieces, but leave the folded pants and skirts pieces as-is.)
  
  
• For transfer patterns, check Verified Complete if you have unfolded the entire sheet and found no cut-outs; or if you have counted cut motifs and they're all there.
  
  
• For booklets, check Verified Complete if you have turned each and every page in the booklet and found no cut-outs or missing pages.
  
  
• Check Not Complete if you find cut-outs or missing pieces. You'll tell the buyer what the problem is in the Comments section.

If any of these other conditions

issues apply to your item, check the appropriate box.

• Water (or other liquid) damage causes wavy areas on the paper and often a discolored area with a darker, irregular border (tide mark). This a serious flaw.
• Stains or foxing. Considered minor unless it's a large stain or there's very heavy foxing (tiny brown or rust colored spots). If your pattern has black mold or mildew, don't list it.
• Tape repairs anywhere are a serious flaw to vintage pattern collectors. It's often hard to see tape repairs in the photos, so be sure to mention it.
• Tears longer than 1/2 inch. You don't have to measure down to the centimeter, but provide a reasonable estimate in Comments (i.e., about 3 inches long). The longer the tear, the more serious the flaw.
• Odors and treatments. Check this box if your item has a particularly musty smell, or if you've sprayed it with Febreze or a similar product.
• Other damage if there's something else that can't be seen in the photos, such as envelopes edges that have split apart, loose covers on booklets, or writing somewhere.

Comments

is where you explain condition issues and add other information for buyers. If you're going with a basic listing, just type your comments in here -- your listing will look like the one on our Sample page. If you want to customize your listing, see Chapter 4.

Upload your photo.

You must include at least one photo showing the edges of your item. If you're going with a basic listing, use this box to locate the photo file on your computer and upload it. The Bulk Photo Widget lets you upload extra photos. See Chapter 3 for photo requirements and details about adding extra photos to your listing.

Listing multiple patterns, transfers and booklets

The multiple item listing form asks for exactly the same information as the standard form, but it's laid out like a spreadsheet. There's a link to it at the top of the standard form -- and you can set is as your default listing form in your account preferences.

Listing a bunch of items that you already have entered into your own spreadsheet? Using a listing program that allows you to export in comma delimited or tab delimited files? We may be able to import your information. Email help@sewingpalette.com with details about what you're using.

Listing lots and other needlework items

Lots:

You can list four or more items together as a single-price lot. The listing form is stripped down to a title, price, description and shipping amount (you'll need to enter custom information each time). Again, there's a link to it at the top of the standard listing form.

You don't have to check lot items to the same degree as individual listings, but provide enough information to avoid problems. If a pattern envelope is nearly empty or the pieces are all crumpled, say so. Don't use the phrase guaranteed complete unless you've actually checked.

Enter a flat shipping rate on your lot, and specify whether you'll be shipping first class, priority, parcel post, UPS ground or Fedex ground. (Patterns and transfers, and booklets that contain any advertising, do not qualify for media mail rate.) Keep in mind that we will add a small amount (about 3%) to your shipping charge to get the final rate buyers are charged.

Buyers can find your lots in the Quickshop area and with Search. If all the items in your lot are pre-1960, we may include it on one of the catalog pages also -- at our discretion.

Some other needlework items

use this listing form too, and pre-1960 items in good condition will be added to the appropriate catalog page. You can set a flat shipping rate for other needlework items, but we recommend that you use the Counts as 1 item (2 items) for shipping on all lightweight items.

The Other Items page

is reserved for pre-approved items and only open to regular sellers. Please email us with a photo of the item you'd like to list.

A basic listing

needs to include one photo showing the edges of the actual item you're selling (see the box below about the grace period after sign-up). Why include the edges? Because people evaluate condition differently -- so show your potential customers the ragged edges and let them make the call.

You can include as many other photos as you want -- there's no charge. (If you're doing a very basic listing with one photo, skip ahead to Photo types and sizing.)

To add more photos

to your listing, first decide where you want to store them. There's no charge to store your photos on our server, and you can easily upload them using the bulk photo upload widget on the listing form.

Unless you customize your layout (see Chapter 4), your photos will appear one on top of the other in the same order you uploaded them. Photos go on the left and your comments go on the right.

All your photos are stored in your individual directory. The server path name is: http://www.sewingpalette.com/sell/images/yoursellername/yourphotoname.jpg

So a seller using the name XYZpatterns would link to a photo this way:
<img src="http://www.sewingpalette.com/sell/images/XYZpatterns/vogue1234.jpg">

If your photos are hosted at another site, you'll use the path they've specified.

Photo types and sizing

Generally, photos hosted with the Sewing Palette must be in jpg format. (You may include small gif or png files on custom pages.) If your photos are in a different format and you have a specific reason not to use jpg, please email us.

The edge photo

must be at least the same size as our stock photos (200 pixels wide for vertical photos or 200 pixels high for horizontal photos). If you scan your patterns at 75 dpi, a standard vertical pattern is about 400 pixels wide. Visit our Sample page to see both size.

The maximum width

of any photo is 700 pixels.

Compress (optimize) your photos

to get the smallest possible file size. Please. Huge photos files take longer to load and many of your (potential) customers will be using a dial-up connection. Computer monitors display graphics at a low resolution, so your high-resolution photos won't look any better. They'll just be slow.

If you're scanning your items, select the lowest possible resolution on your scanner (typically 75 to 100 dpi). If you're using a camera or a scan at a high resolution for other reasons, resize the files before you upload them.

You probably have one or two programs right on your computer that can compress your files -- and there's no need to spend big bucks if you don't.

• Irfanview is free, installs in seconds, and takes up very little disc space. It's not the most intuitive program we've ever used, but the batch conversion feature lets you compress, resize and tweak hundreds of photo files in just seconds -- and gets smaller file sizes than most programs. Visit the plug-ins page for the iv_formats.zip plug-in and you'll get a Save For Web option to preview how your file will look online.
  
  
• Easy Thumbnails is free, small program and a great option if you've already cropped your photos. It concentrates on resizing your photos and adjusting just 4 other settings, so it's very simple to use. You can do files in batches or one at a time. It's probably the easiest solution for reducing high-resolution image files.
  
  
• Pixl Editor is one of many online photo processing sites that are free to use and include advanced editing features comparable to Photoshop Elements. With lots of filters and special effects available, you can design even a custom logo or add text to your photos.

Ok! Now that you've got a grasp of the photos, let's move on to the text.

Unless you have an item condition issue to explain, you don't actually need to add any comments to your listings. But you're welcome to add as much information as you like and give your listings a special look or feel that your customers will come to recognize.

Basic comments

are simply typed into the comments space of the listing form. (We'll add your seller name at the top automatically.) Request a See my other items button for your listing (go to Listing Management when you sign in) and we'll add that automatically, too.

More the do-it-yourself type?

Go right ahead. You have an effective 705 pixel width and unlimited length to work with. Use HTML and styles to add a logo, photos arranged your way, text in alternate fonts, and whatever you can accomplish with the layout. We'll even set up a custom style sheet for your listings -- just ask.

HTML and CSS challenged?

We'll be happy to work out a template for your listings (and custom listing form) so you can get the look you want without all the coding hassles. Be prepared to clearly describe what you want and/or point us to some example pages on the web that you'd like to use as a guide.

If you want to learn HTML, check out the w3schools online tutorials. They start with the very basics and you'll love the Try it Yourself feature on most sections. You can change the HTML and immediately see the result.

Exceptions.

There are a few things you cannot add to your item listings:

• Nothing blinks at the Sewing Palette.
  
  
• Javascript is discouraged (and needs pre-approval).
  
  
• No links to outside sites. If you sell at other sites and want to link to your items there, put the link on your Seller Page (coming up next!)
  
  
• Don't contradict Sewing Palette policies. For example, don't say that buyers can return patterns.
  
  
• No keyword spam (adding a list of popular search terms) or search interference, which is when you include a word or phrase that buyers are likely to search for, but does not apply to the item actually listed right here and now.
  
  
• No hidden text. Using a text color that's very close to the background color could get the site kicked off Google.
  
  

By the way, did we mention that nothing blinks at the Sewing Palette?

All sellers are welcome to add a Seller Page to tell customers a bit more about themselves. You create and edit your page from the Listing Management area (available when you sign in). A special icon appears after your seller name to link to your page.

Like customized item listings

, you can use a do-it-yourself approach or ask us for help designing and setting up your page.

Javascript

need pre-approval and hidden text is a no-no, but you are free to include links to other sites and descriptions of the types of items you sell. (You can even have something blink if you must -- but we wish you wouldn't.)

Seller pages are entirely optional, and you set the tone. Some sellers prefer to emphasize their business practices, while others inject a personal note. Choose the style that's comfortable for you. As long as a customer isn't less likely to buy from you after reading your Seller page, you've done it right.

Email addresses

posted on your page will be used by spammers as well as customers. Please don't write out your full Sewing Palette email address on this page. Don't use a favorite personal email address unless you're willing to delete dozens of pesky offers every day. And don't be surprised to learn that spammers are forging your email address on their campaigns.

A popular work-around is to tell people to email "me" at "whatever.com" (replace the at with @). Some of your customers will have trouble with that. It's probably easier all around to set up a free email account that you can check regularly, and change the email address if spam becomes a major problem.

Sorry folks, that's life on the internet.

Search notes:

Seller pages do not show up on Sewing Palette site searches, but they will be picked up by Google, Yahoo, and other search engines.

Ok -- now that you're all set up, let's get those orders out the door.

As soon as a customer pays, we'll email a packing list to your primary email address. You've agreed to ship packages out within two business days. Once you do, go to your account and enter the date that you shipped the items (so you can get paid).

The packing list

is printable as is, but if you'd rather create and print your own packing list, feel free. We'll notify customers when their orders are complete; email customers directly that you've shipped your part if you like.

Shipping delays:

Check your primary email address every day and put your account "on vacation" if you'll be unavailable for more than two days. If an emergency comes up and you can't meet the two-business-day timeframe, let us know right away.

Packing standards:

Waterproof packaging means a poly mailer or a paper mailer with the patterns enclosed in a plastic bag (or mylar envelopes if you use them). Bubble mailers are not waterproof unless they're made of poly. Use a cardboard backer unless the package is so thick that it can't be bent (and don't underestimate a mail carrier's determination to cram a package into a too-small mailbox).

We have two favorite envelope suppliers. UpakNShip sells a variety of sizes and lets you buy 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 or 1000 of each. Mailers from eSupplyStore have a sealing strip that's harder to use peel off, but their 6-1/2 x 9 inch poly mailers are a perfect fit for most patterns and the ones we use most often.

Any clean cardboard can be cut to use for a backer, or you can buy backers (search for cardboard pads). We usually get a case of the 17-1/2 x 25 cardboard sheets bakeries use to support full sheet cakes. They're lightweight but sturdy, have one white glossy side, and you'll get 8 standard or 4 oversize backers from each sheet.

Shipping services.

Delivery confirmation is never a bad idea, and if you have a postage account online it's inexpensive. We intend to offer online postage later in the year, but it won't be set up for Grand Opening. Insurance is up to you, and you'll have to pay for it.

Shipping allowance.

Buyers pay a single shipping rate on their order of patterns, transfers and leaflets of $3.00 for the first 2 items and 40 cents for each additional. We deduct 10 cents to cover our handling costs and the remainder is paid out proportionately to the sellers whose items were ordered. For example:

The buyer orders:	Buyer pays	Seller A gets	Seller B gets	Seller C gets
1 pattern	3.00	2.90	-	-
2 patterns (from the same seller)	3.00	2.90	-	-
2 patterns (from 2 different sellers)	3.00	1.45	1.45	-
3 patterns (from 3 different sellers)	3.40	1.13	1.13	1.13
3 patterns (2 are from the same seller)	3.40	2.26	1.13	-
2 patterns (from 2 different sellers, 1 pattern counts as 2)	3.40	2.26	1.13	-

Now that you've done your part, it's time to get paid.

You've already chosen paper checks or direct deposit. Each Wednesday we'll send your payment for the items shipped the previous Monday through Saturday -- if you marked them shipped in your account by 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Your payment includes:

• Item sales prices, minus our 10% commission
• Your postage allowance on all patterns, transfers and booklets
• Your flat rate postage amount on other items
• Sales tax charged (if applicable)

We'll subtract any customer refunds made -- but you'll know about those in advance because we'll have worked together on it. We'll also subtract postage purchases if you use our system when it's ready.

Look for an email late Wednesday or early Thursday telling you the amount of your payment and including an item-by-item breakdown of what's included. How long it takes you to actually receive your payment depends on the post office or your bank. If you don't receive it within 5 days, give us a call.

By January 31 of each year

you'll receive a statement summarizing your payments the previous year. It's not a 1099 form. The summary is for your convenience and will help you accurately report your sales and expenses when doing your income taxes.

You can always get summaries of your sales and payments on your account page.

Providing good customer service is largely a matter of common sense. You've already shown good sense by deciding to sell at the Sewing Palette, so we won't expect any problems :-)

Customers can reach you simply by sending an email addressed to your seller name @sewingpalette.com. Our server will automatically forward the email to your primary email address. (We don't see or get a copy of the email and can't retrieve it if you delete it.)

You don't actually have an email account at the Sewing Palette, so you'll use your own email account to reply. We'll also forward emails about your items that are addressed to us, and you can add your own email address to your item listings and/or seller page.

Please do not advertise your Sewing Palette address -- it creates spam problems for us.

Always acknowledge

customer emails within one business day, even if you don't have an answer ready. Just let the customer know that you got the email and you're working on it.

Grit your teeth when necessary, and keep your emails courteous (if not cheerful). Some customers deliberately ask a question that's been answered in your listing to test your commitment to customer service before buying. Assume that at least half of all customers won't read your listing details.

Ask for help

if you're having trouble dealing with a customer. And always let us know if you've gotten abusive emails. You're not going to call a customer a liar or a cheat, and no customer should treat you that way either.

Disputes and chargebacks

go against the Sewing Palette's accounts. Never send a full or partial refund to a customer -- we need to do any refunds. And remember that you can't make promises on our behalf. It's appropriate to say that you'll ask us to do a refund as soon as possible. It's not appropriate to tell a customer that the Sewing Palette will refund the money tomorrow.

If a dispute is filed, we'll be in touch to get more information. We have the inclination to investigate thoroughly, and we'll make the time. It may not prevent losing a dispute, but it will help us keep the Sewing Palette a good place for buyers and sellers alike.

Please let us know about problems, even if there is no formal dispute. If a customer didn't get a package, not only do we need to address that problem, we need to alert other sellers to use delivery confirmation. If the complaint involves an item being not as described, we may have the item returned here so we can get a firsthand view of the problem.

Like customer service, seller standards are largely a matter of common sense. If you follow Best Practices, you'll be doing fine.

Feedback.

There's no formal feedback system here. We hope to get happy emails from your customers, and we'll ask for permission to post them on your Seller page or elsewhere on the site. We'll be working together to resolve problems. If a buyer has special needs, we'll make all affected sellers aware of it. If a buyer is impossible on a regular basis, we'll decline their orders.

Policy violations.

We won't get all worked up about the occasional glitch that's quickly corrected, but we do need to consider that your actions may affect all the other sellers here, too. We'll handle problems individually if -- and when -- they come up. One size fits all rarely works for patterns, and we don't think it works for Sellers, either.

We're working on the basics for Grand Opening, but there are other features on the way. Some of the major things in the works:

• Custom search to replace the current clunky system (if it's not done in time).
• Online postage so you can buy and print shipping labels right from your account here.
• Lightbox to show supersized photos right on the item listing page.
• Historical pricing of items sold here and elsewhere online, to help you price your items.
• Suggestion box in your account panel so you can easily add thing to our to-do list.

We've designed the site backwards. Usually an ecommerce site is programmed, and then the designers get to make the results look pretty. We started with how the site should look and act, and are writing the programs to make it happen. If you want or need a feature, let us know. If we can do it, we will!