One of the things that most directly effects how customers will leave you feedback is how you pack and ship their items. Even if you are a new seller, a lot of customers don't take that into account when they get a poorly packaged item. This is one area where you don't want to skimp if you expect to be in business for a long time.

As a rule of thumb, pack your items as you would like to receive them had you purchased them from someone else. Use the correct size envelope, mailer, or box when available. Wrap breakable items in bubble wrap to prevent them from getting damaged. If you have to ship something in an oversized box, make sure to use plenty of packing peanuts or other soft packing material to cushion the item.

Sometimes the post office isn't so gentle when shipping your items. It's a good idea to offer shipping insurance in case all of your protective measures aren't enough to combat the treatment your package receives during the shipping process. Plus, offering shipping insurance gives you an extra source of income. The customer benefits by knowing that their item will be replaced or refunded if damaged in shipping, and you benefit by making a few extra dollars. Plus, if you pack your items correctly, the odds of having to replace a broken item are almost nil, leaving you with a few extra dollars for your effort of packing your items properly in the first place.

Follow up with your customers to make sure that their packages have arrived safely. This is also a great way to make sure that people leave you positive feedback. Plus, doing this will give the buyer a sense that you actually care whether or not they were pleased with their purchase. This simple gesture can lead to repeat business again and again.

If you package your items correctly and ship them on time, you should have little to worry about as far as your feedback rating is concerned. As long as you're honest about your product and take care to make sure that your customers receive it in tact, you should have a long successful future in eBay business.