labelle
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posted on January 30, 2004 11:15:47 AM new
Hi!
Cool things happening at iOffer!! You know you get a free shop and shopping cart, can make deals and can make offers on anything you want to buy.
You should also know--you CAN sell there. My 4th try--I am stubborn--but am also selling--finally I am in the search engines!
We are getting a lot of great quality merchandise being added by feePay sellers that are now listing at iOffer as a second or third venue! Free beats listing fees! Best is we are getting buyers from feePay that like the idea of prices being negotiable and instant buy with bundled offers getting breaks. About 25% of my sales are from store negotiations.
New thing coming out next week is a sister site-- iOffer Lite--all listings under $4.99!!!Still no listing fees. 4% FVF on items under $4.99 or bundled groups under $4.99 too and NO FVF during Feb and March to kick it off. Same shopping cart, offers and bundling. Bargains are going to be found! And I am going to list those smalls that are nice--but with fees-not worth it. Buttons, craft supplies, advertising smalls, postcards--etc.
These are shops. Not an auction. Web site rules apply for getting ahead--not auction savy. New way to think for sellers. BUT IT WORKS. Slowly but surely.
I post here now --because it was posts on this board that made me try and try again and again. I am grateful to timetravelers posts and am passing the message on.
Need help or info?--just ask!!
Cathy
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auctionACE
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posted on January 30, 2004 02:18:34 PM new
I like the idea of ioffer-lite as that minimum 50 cent selling fee on regular ioffer is a killer on low priced items.
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labelle
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posted on January 30, 2004 02:47:20 PM new
AuctionACE
In ways the 4% FVF is a response to feePays hike. They also don't mind small sales because really few people buy one $.50 widget when perhaps for the same shipping they can group a widget, thingamabob, 4 whatzits and make an offer on the whole bundle.
The theory is no one will buy just one--but will pick out things into a bundle--making a bigger sale for the shop --giving the buyer a deal and iOffer still makes money even at 4% or higher--depending on final value of the sale.
And eventually the widget guy is also going list his 1999 Hickeyjig for $100 and they make money on larger items in inventory too. Think of it as an online flea market --or someplace to go where EVERYTHING is under $4.99 and you know that going into the site!
How did feepay grow? From small sellers. IO Guys look to the future. So, postcard and button and card sellers have a place--free--2 months no FVF til they get rolling, then 4%. Some people see this as generous. Yes--but also wise investment business wise for iOffer.
You know what are signs of health? Those small sellers cleaning out the garage are now listing on iOffer--for free not feePay like they used to. So you know those deals you used to get over there on feePay--guess where I am finding them now?
It's a fun site! Nice people! Growing every day. I think they had about as many listings as Yahoo--not a little guy anymore. Alexa has their traffic around 4,000--not bad!
The secret to sales there is longevity on the search engines. The entire programming is built around internet search engines --their ease of spidering and emphasis on key word usage just as buyers would use them.
People that say I'll try them someday--have to know it takes about 4-6 weeks to get onto the next search engine indexings. So Smart Thing is to get a presence there and key your work to the searches and spiders.Take your time--get it right from the start.
Sorry--I always was long winded. But I think feePay is going to finally have valid competition in a non-auction arena!!!
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auctionACE
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posted on January 30, 2004 03:33:27 PM new
I'm one of the few ioffer cheerleaders here at Vendio and usually get crucified every time I mention the site so I keep my personal success on the site to myself these days.
I have sold a LOT of stuff of ioffer but have only had a few 'store negotiation' sales of multiple items. It sounds plausible for people to select a bunch of stuff and negotiate a price on the whole smear but in reality I've found that very few people actually do that.
Tell me, has ioffer dropped it's policy of mandatory modification of the auction title after 2 relists? I've noticed lately that they may have seemed to dropped that rule? ( a dumb rule in my book )
Also, about six months ago I got a phone call from an ioffer staffer that asked me about my expierences with selling on the site. Overall, it was a very pleasant and informative conversation but I got a few tibits of info that were slightly worrisome and reminded me a bit of bargainandhaggle.com . One such remark was that the site had enough funded capital for another two years of operation. That timeframe would now be down to eighteen months. The staffer did not imply the conditions of the funding but I got the feeling that for continued funding the site would have to be fairly successful.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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labelle
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posted on January 30, 2004 04:31:46 PM new
AuctionACE
I won't call myself a cheerleader of IOffer-Ah--uh--I have been known to disagree with them--but I am straightforward about it.But, I am a big supporter.Why? Because I honest to God believe they are going to take feePay on and win.I believe that setting up shop there is the most intelligent, cost effective and easy way to have a shop online. JMHO--and when I actually opened a shop I had done weeks of research to create a web site for myself.
Negotiations--people are still new to the idea. Know who negotiates? The regular ebay buyers, who we are getting more and more of. They are more online buying savy. Other sellers do too or people used to buying in flea markets or antique shops . Or repeat buyers after you explain.The back and forth of negotiation is fun for all. It is funny to watch people offer 50 cents less than asking and be thrilled with a bargain!
I will also say I think negotiating comes with the kind of merchandise you have. Costume jewellery--they want 4 pins--sure they will ask for a better price. They read John Grisham--they don't care how many other authors you have --that is all they will buy.
One complaint among sellers is people buying 3 things -3 transaction-3 fees . iOffer Guys are coming out with automatic bundling--showing buyers the cart they automatically use. Shopping carts are not an easy concept to get people to use.Sounds dumb-but not all realize we even have them!! They are used to one bid for one auction.Or buying just the one item they are lookig for. The ones coming in off of online searches don't see a shop--often they see the item they want and buy and not look around. This is something as a shop owner that is a challenge.
Yes, after 2 relists you have to alter your listing. But smart people use 60 day listing. That let's the item online long enough to be indexed by the search engines. After 2 relists--6 MONTHS of free space online--I just think iOffer has a right to say--take a look and see if you can change something to get this item to sell. Price--up or down, title change --description change. It is good for the shop and good for them for things to sell.They have bulk relists so the occasion when you have to change an item is twice a year. It makes sense to "rotate stock" in a shop anyway..
I've talked to probably the same IO Guy several times.Yep--they got VC. It meant these guys were not underfunded so aren't worried about every little sale being made. It means they have the freedom not to be pressured into fees when they know the site is not good enough to be worth fees.It means they can get the hardware they need. It lets them offer upgrades, shops, low fees, no fees--because they don't have to worry about paying bills.It does put them in a timeframe to produce a viable site that is not just as good, but better, than what is available.
Imagine having no financal pressures and the talent and ability to shape an entire new selling concept online. You see something you like programmed somewhere and have the ability to just take the idea, reprogramming and adding to your own site. Taking the cream of what is developed--modifying to suit.They are streamlined. feePay takes 2 years to develop a thought and impliment. These guys do it in a month. They seem to eat, sleep and drink their site.They have the drive to succeed and listen to site users as they do it. That alone makes them unique.They truly march to the beat of a different drummer. It is going to take something different to take on feePay!
I wouldn't worry about VC running out. JMHO.
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auctionACE
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posted on January 30, 2004 07:24:36 PM new
I wish I could share you optimism about ioffer taking on the Mighty Ebay. To tell the truth I see a bargainandhaggle.com scenario coming to pass. A good site with lots of innovations not pleasing the VC folks and the plug being pulled.
I will eagerly await the openning of the ioffer lite settup so that I can move my sub $5 items there. That is great news.
One of the great frustrations for me at ioffer is that I can not find a simple new announcement link, seems like every site has one.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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labelle
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posted on February 1, 2004 09:32:34 AM new
AuctionACE
I just lost a post to you!!LOL!!So you'll get the-- wellll-- somewhhat shorter answer.
I wouldn't worry about iOffer and the VC situation. They only have to worry if they don't make enough money and I think they are doing just fine. Their traffic is at 8,000 or so on Alexa. I worry they will do so well and sell the site and we won't have the responsive owners these guys are.
One thing--every promise of change and upgrade they have made--they kept the promises. They have listened to the community and incorporated these suggestions and requests as best as they can.
You know,I have 2 sales for Feb already!!This AM -I made 2 small sales. They were both under $4.99--so no fees were taken out at all! This is the reality of iOffer Lite when it opens this week. No fees at all on sales under $4.99 for 2 months. Thse of us with old shops have an edge because we are in the search engines--but I am willing to bet there will be a lot of browsing of categories for bargains.
iOffer is not yet a place for a main income. But as a second source online--you can't beat it. You just have to treat your listings as an online shop and cater to search engine spiders.
People that complain and won't do something and actually work at it--not just Grabber their listings--they won't do well. This is like learning a new way to build a web site--but it is working for those who are following the old timers advice--I did. You can sell on iOffer and frequently!
Boycotting eBay is a good thought--but they don't care. Take their income somewhere else--and they have to care.
iOffer Lite Opens this week! Come over and look!
Cathy
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parklane64
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posted on February 1, 2004 02:34:01 PM new
Ok, I'll come take a look. Since I just don't make a very good national socialist for eBay, I am researching other auction sites and their potential, Ioffer sounds good, so far.
Any detractors?
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labelle
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posted on February 1, 2004 04:13:44 PM new
parklane64
Actually I would like to hear detractors too.
Fact is you will not have instant sales. For fact you need more than 20 losers listings moved from eBay and not even reworked for your shop to have a fair trial . For fact--they are now adding on iOffer Lite and have site glitches.For fact if what you are selling is not desirable anywhere--it priobably won't be at iOffer either. For fact--you will have to remodel your aucion listings and auction thinking to web shop standards for spidering so there is work involved.
I am not saying it is instant success--just the very best chance online to sell outside of feePay!! With the millions of users, sell through at feePay isn't the best anymore either. I am not sayng leave feePay--just don't put your eggs all in one basket and find the Very Best alternative you can.
Cathy
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auctionACE
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posted on February 1, 2004 05:23:50 PM new
A few personal observations on ioffer. About half of my sales are from international buyers. About half the actual offers are very low and insulting. ( I always mention the hefty 50 cents selling fee when I respond with a no thanks )
It appears that the staff at ioffer are wizards at getting the ioffer items onto search engines. The ioffer staffer that I talked to on the phone laughed when I mentioned Froogle and said it was a worthless joke, so the ioffer team uses other search engines very effectively.
I still find ioffer very confusing in most aspects such as leaving feedback and the negotiation process.
Sales tend to come in bunches with periods of no activity followed by a flurry of offers and/or sales.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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sc0ut
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posted on February 1, 2004 07:34:59 PM new
AuctionDOOFUS froogle is in beta! Why would you expect them to focus on something that isn't ready and released yet. it's just like everything else you say it's either inaccurate or false.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 1, 2004 11:46:20 PM new
Spout knows how to get tossed off ioffer. 
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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labelle
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posted on February 2, 2004 07:07:48 AM new
AuctionACE--it is interesting that you have so may international sales!! I havn't had international sales yet--but I hope to! Them finding you is a super indicator that internet searches for sales is working.
I have to say I have had low-ball offers as well. Some are funny or insulting--depending on whether I have had my morning cup of tea yet. IO Guys have said-never walk away from a deal--counter offer. Talk to the person offering as if they were there in front of you, is my advice . Ever done in-person sales such as antique shows or even flea markets? You get ALL kinds of buyers.Same on IO. I have come back with "I wish I could do that but it cost me more than that. can do$XX". "Can you meet me in the middle?" "That's a wee bit low--how about $XXX"? Some people are just unknowing of value--some are testing. Some are indeed fools!!
BTW--iOffer now has a "Are you sure you want to offer so little?" type of question that shows when buyers offer a really low, unrealistic amount. Main thing is--you have a live one on the hook who is interested!This when you have to make the effort to SELL your item at your price.I never walk away --I always have an offer on the table and have never had anyone not buy.It will happen eventually--but that is selling life. What is the song?". ..You got to know when to hold them , know when to fold them, know when to walk away--know when to run." iOffer in some cases is like in person selling. Then a lot just pay your price,Paypal and you mail.
Feedback--on your Sold Items page where all of your Sales are listed--there is a "+/_" icon toward the end of the listing when you haven't left feedback. Click on it and leave feedback. It goes away. They have one great thing--you have the ability to "add to the story" --if you have bad/wonderful feedback and people can see your response. It is on the history of the sale along with negotiations.
You are very right about sales activity coming in bursts--I had a string of 8 days in January--I had 1-2 sales a day--then nothing for I think 5 days. Real B&M retail life in small independent specialty shops is like that as well.
Hope you continue to make sales!!
Froogle has not become what I hoped. We are indexed there though.
iOffer Lite is still not up and running --but since all sales under $4.99 are free for Feb-March no matter where you list --IO or IO Lite--I am going to start listing my low priced collectibles! Probably just a pic ands very short description. Individy ually not worth tons of time, but I am shooting for $4.99 bundles.
Cathy
http://www.ioffer.com/shops/labelle
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katiyana
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posted on February 2, 2004 08:11:30 AM new
I'm looking forward to the Iofferlite because the majority of my items are under $4.99 - should be a great system for me. I will need to "move" everything over eventually because right now they're listed as "make an offers" instead of at a starting price.
But I just had my biggest Ioffer sale ever last month and am getting good traffic... I think with the lower FVF on low $ items, I'll be able to do more business there.
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stonecold613
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posted on February 2, 2004 09:39:06 PM new
I like the idea of ioffer-lite as that minimum 50 cent selling fee on regular ioffer is a killer on low priced items
Only problem doofus is if you actually sold anything of value, 50 cents would be spit in a bucket. Time to move on from worthless sports cards.
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timetravelers
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posted on February 3, 2004 03:50:24 AM new
To clarify a previous comment.."Yes, after 2 relists you have to alter your listing"
there is *** NO requirement to do anything to relist at ioffer***
there was a requirement to add a new word to title OR change (raise or lower price)OR change one letter in the description etc.
this is not a requirement anymore.
re:iofferlite After the free 2 months of free listing and NO final fees items 4.99 and under..
there will be NO LISTING FEE AND ONLY 4% final sales fee.
this site is snowballing now check alexa compare to other sites
Many ebay powersellers knocking down the doors to get in too
** TO THINK A POSTER HERE SAID ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO iOffer WOULD BE GONE IN SIX MONTHS**
well guess they sure were quite mistaken
as mentioned,you need to do certain things differently to be successful.Keywords of what you have listed in your store and profile will bring up your sales quite a bit.
good luck
[ edited by timetravelers on Feb 3, 2004 03:52 AM ]
[ edited by timetravelers on Feb 3, 2004 07:26 AM ]
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auctionACE
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posted on February 3, 2004 09:44:53 AM new
To clarify a previous comment.."Yes, after 2 relists you have to alter your listing"
[i]there is *** NO requirement to do anything to relist at ioffer***
there was a requirement to add a new word to title OR change (raise or lower price)OR change one letter in the description etc.
this is not a requirement anymore.[/i]
I thought so because I haven't had to add a blank character to a title in a while while relisting. I was going to suggest to ioffer that if they were adamant on retaining that labor intensive rule that they make that requirement only for listings that got a lot of hits or at least a certain number of hits.
I found the annoucement page link the other day and didn't bookmark it and now I can not find it. This is the only site that doesn't seem to want their announcement page to be found.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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labelle
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posted on February 3, 2004 01:10:59 PM new
Hi
I couldn't find the Announcements either. I did hit the Suggestion Box button and said they should have a prominant one.
I honestly missed the announcement of no fixing relists! timetravelers keeps their fingers on the pulse--so I am sure it is true. I haven't a clue where it was made. This has to be only a week or so old. I had to fix-I think last week! Not since!!LOL--It will make me lose track of older tiems.
I liked changing items and the reminder.It is like stock rotation in a B&M store. But the IO Guy said there is a new part of the Message Center coming with statistical tools for your inventory.These will help in making decisions on listings!
Sorry I was incorrect about the relists--but the correct news was good news for lots of people.
Still no IO Lite-www.iofferlite.com -but I am listing under $4.99 things in my shop. Anything in your iOffer shop will be mirrored in iOffer Lite for a few months, so doesn't matter where it is listed and no fees no matter where it is listed.
Cathy
Cathy
http://www.ioffer.com/shops/labelle
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auctionACE
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posted on February 3, 2004 01:34:02 PM new
If you had 700 listings you would not say it was a good idea to force sellers to spend hours per month to revise offerings that got very few hits.
A few offerings might be fun but for sellers with many listings that rule was a repellent. Ioffer sneaked in the rule without any announcement ( maybe they don't have an announcement page? ) and that was an underhanded thing to do to major sellers. Of course they have abandoned the same rule without any fanfare or announcement either.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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labelle
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posted on February 3, 2004 01:49:19 PM new
AuctionACE--
I have 609 listings at last count.But 700 is my next goal. You probably Grabbed several hundred at once--so they end at one time. I have manually listed mine.This means most relists in a day might be 20-30.Perhaps the iOffer Guys were responding to the fact that they have so many mass listers.
But relisting only 20 means an almost daily group relist--but it puts my items near the top on iOffers categories lists and I have a presence in the first few pages people will see that day.
I tried Grabber a long time ago--and found that with making all the changes of feePay wording--it was easier to use a template to plug descriptions into and list singly.I could also alter Titles to suit spiders at the same time.
Cathy
http://www.ioffer.com/shops/labelle
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timetravelers
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posted on February 3, 2004 05:50:47 PM new
lABELLE give it up girl it is never and never will be good enough does not matter what site or what issue just what the whim is of the week
after years of enjoying auctionwatch chat i cannot beleive there is zero appreciation for anything no more upbeat sellers exchanging tips like the old days,a lot of support at this chat then.Fun to visit here
i only came to correct an error that whoever may be reading here would see and be misinformed
this place needs a shot of adrenalin or something
scout seems to one of the few with a heartbeat and a pulse
go somewhere with a large group of people, ones that care and appreciate it beleive me i tried and the negativity here is stiffling
PS HERE IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT LINK
http://www.ioffer.com/company/announcements.jsp
they also announce to us personally on chat often on the very ACTIVE BOARDS.They just made boards especially for THE NEW iOFFERLITE questions.
[ edited by timetravelers on Feb 3, 2004 05:53 PM ]
[ edited by timetravelers on Feb 3, 2004 10:39 PM ]
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auctionACE
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posted on February 4, 2004 01:42:52 AM new
I used the ioffer grabber only to grab my feedback. I manually list almost 700 offers.
I know what you mean about wasting time praising ioffer on these Vendio boards. Like I said in an earlier post, I'm one of the few ioffer chearleaders and every time I posted a pro ioffer post I got crucified by detractors so I decided to keep ioffer to myself rather than throw pearls before swine.
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giftsforall
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posted on February 5, 2004 02:46:29 PM new
I manually list almost 700 offers.
Ace and how many sales? How much profit did you make in 2003 from Ioffer? IOffer is a sorry little site.
I love it Ioffer Lite. That's because 95% of the offers you get our $1 -$5. It's a joke!
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sc0ut
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posted on February 5, 2004 11:43:17 PM new
giftsforall - How much profit did you make in 2003? Let's hear it big shot. How much did you make selling your over-priced dropship/wholesale/SMC. Don't come on here like you are some big swinging d, when you sell that crap. You want to see who’s is bigger than whip it out or shut the f up. You want to know why you are not selling check this out
http://shop.vendio.com/guylknee/item/545209522/index.html?s=1075979085
http://froogle.collectablesandmore.com/store.pl?searchstring=31547
http://www.ioffer.com/i/2293819
It took 30 seconds to look that up. Atleast AuctionDOOFUS has the yearbook market by the b*lls. While you out checking prices and finding a new distributor you might want to take a few tips on how to take a picture.
http://www.ioffer.com/wholeStory.do?subject=seller&txnID=27066
you should rename yourself to giftsforallidiots.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 6, 2004 01:31:50 AM new
giftsforall has proven my case. Your honor, I rest my case. Now where did I put that large wooden cross?
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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giftsforall
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posted on February 6, 2004 09:37:48 AM new
Scout-You have no idea what items I sell. It has nothing to do with SMC!
I never claimed to be a bigshot.I just wondered how Ace could make money on Ioffer.
I guess your a big fan of Ioffer like Ace. I guess both of you know so much more then I if you can make money there!This thread is about Ioffer not me.
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sc0ut
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posted on February 6, 2004 05:30:12 PM new
giftsforallidiots - you are right I do not know what you sell. I do know what you don't sell, and won't sell. You “TRY” and sell wholesale/dropship/commonly available items at 2 to 3 times what the item is selling for across the internet. When you come on a public message board and make a dumb comment you make yourself the topic. My advice to you - go learn the basics of merchandising then come back here and flap your lips when you are all “grow’d up” and have something important and intelligent to say.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 6, 2004 10:07:48 PM new
Where's the scoop on the ioffer Lite ( sounds like a beer? ) on their site? I checked the elusive announcement page but no news about 'Lite'?
http://www.ioffer.com/company/announcements.jsp
I did manually relist a $4.95 item tonight and ioffer gave me the option to chose ioffer-lite ( and leave the bottle barkeep! ) which I did but mow I fear the ioffer item may be lost in the cosmos with Carl Sagan's unusual wardrobe.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
[ edited by auctionACE on Feb 6, 2004 10:08 PM ]
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sc0ut
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posted on February 7, 2004 12:04:03 AM new
what? AuctionDOOFUS you want to get into carl sagan's underpants. Eeeew you're sick.
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giftsforall
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posted on February 7, 2004 11:07:44 AM new
sc0ut-
As I said you have no idea what your talking about.
I have run my business online full time since 2001. And no it is not with SMC dropship items.
I did not make a dumb comment! The Ioffer bidders are a joke. EXP: 1) you have a new xbox video game listed. It sells in the store for $50. some bozo offers $10. Exp: 2) you have a brand new cordless phone sells for $150 in the stores Ioffer bozo offers $60.
Enough said!
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