Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 04:58:26 PM new
I, Muriel the buyer, became Muriel the seller today. I just listed my first two auctions on eBay and ... I'm .... verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves...
Now - if I can make a killing on eBay, hubby says I can quit my boring bank job. 
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie 
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xifene
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:07:48 PM new
Groovy!
I'm glad for ya, Muriel -- eBay sales have been the ticket to our dreams for us. May it bring you the same good fortune.
--xifene--
http://www.auctionusers.org
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artdoggy
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:10:11 PM new
Muriel, when I first started selling on ebay, I made money, but I was nearly killed with listing fees. The main reason being I was listing in catagories that were not really appropriate. I would suggest if you really want to win on ebay, you need to spend a good amount of time researching. Look for what is hot, what is not. Start your opening bids low so you want get hit with insertion fees. You can learn so much my watching and seeing what other people are doing. Its not cheating its just learning the lay of the land. You have to realize that its a game and you have to perfect it. I would suggest listing on yahoo too. Its free! Its really slow but I seem to make one sale a week and I it helps cover my cost on Ebay. If you want to get out of your job, get a passion for it. Organize your shipping proceeduers and read the Ebay outlook everyday for tips. The number one best thing you can do to sell is have great pictures. Pictures are worth a thousand words. I know it is expensive, but try to make enough money to invest in a SONY MAVICA digital. I have the 600.00 version. It is the absolute best thing I ever invested in for Ebay. I learned about it on the ebay outlook. It has a 10x zoom that gets really close, other digitals cannot do that. I wish you the best and just keep on trying and you will find your own voice, your own style and your own way of doing ebay. I wish you the best.
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mauimoods
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:22:08 PM new
Muriel! Good for you, girl!
BTW...I got my ebay mag today! The guy that wrote the story sent it to me 
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Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:23:14 PM new
Dear Artdoggy:
Great advice - please explain "insertion fees".
I've been researching for a LONG time before selling. I've been a buyer for a year and a half, and I've been reading eBay Magazine, the "Official eBay Guide", and reading postings on AW until I'm half asleep. I DO have a passion for it! I can hardly sleep because I'm so excited about it. We bought the Sony Mavica - took everyone's advice! And I'm already a very organized person, so I'm ready with all my record keeping devices, etc. I have gone so far as to find out what days/times are the least busy at the post office!
Everything you said is very true. But I'll be stumbling along for awhile. Glad to know you're all out there! 
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie
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stockticker
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:30:16 PM new
Hi Muriel: Congratulations on your move to selling. It can be a lot of fun.
Insertion fees are a listing fee that you pay to eBay, even if your item doesn't sell. If it sells, you also pay a Final Value Fee. This page explains it:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sellerguide/selling-fees.html
You can see, for example, that it is much better to list an item at $9.99 than at $10.00. The listing fee is 25 cents instead of 50 cents.
Irene
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mauimoods
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:32:55 PM new
Muriel...I mostly have all my bids start at 9.99, because if you go over that, then its 50 cents per item you list, plus ebay takes a cut of the final value of the item. If you list at 9.99 (less than 10 bucks) then its only 25 cents, and you can list in gallery if you like for another 25 cents. So, for 50 cents, may as well have it slapped all over ebay, eh? Just my opinion, you understand.
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mauimoods
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:34:11 PM new
Hi Irene...you were saying the same thing I was typing...you beat me, lol.
Hi sbunny!
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Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:34:59 PM new
I wondered why my friend "dsgn" always lists for $9.99. There was method to her madness! You guys are SO informative! Thanks! 
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie
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stockticker
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:35:15 PM new
Maui.
Irene
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kitsch1
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:37:53 PM new
I wish you many sales Muriel. I'm no expert by any means but I'd like to share a selling opinion or two with you. Try not to get fancy with your ads, clutter is not good (IMO) use simple html like <bold <center <font color=
Bold is good, because not everyone can see as well as you can.
I know you'll do well!
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Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:38:27 PM new
So - what else don't I know?? 
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie
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barrybarris
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:48:23 PM new
Muriel,
Good for you...
The best advice I can give you is keep it fun. Don't let it become "work" or a "chore". Have fun with it...
Barry (one item I sold went for 2 cents, I had FUN with that one) Barris
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Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:53:03 PM new
Thanks, Barry! I've been waiting for your "two cents worth". 
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie
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artdoggy
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posted on September 2, 2000 05:57:52 PM new
Muri, take maui's advice on the listing fees. They can rise up an bite you in the butt so fast and it will hurt so bad. I got hit with a 900.00 insertion fee, I thought I would die! Listing low is the best way. I never do reserves anymore. I keep a list of every item that sells really well and try to repeat it or find somthing close. History repeats itself. Good for you on the camera! practice, practice, practice taking good pictures in the right light. If the light isn't right you might as well forget it. Sounds like you are going to do well if you are organized and have the camera. Words are extremely powerful on the internet---read copy on auctions that are getting lots of bids. Words like genuine, antiqued, collectible, unusual, unique - make your copy stand out. Write the absolute best about your item. Remeber in your mind - your item is a precious treasure that you found! someone out there wants it. think precious treasure. part of what they are paying you for is your time to find this so they don't have to - part of what they are paying for is your photgraphing, uploading, editing, packing, tracking. Never underestimate yourself and the work you do on the net you do. Its a timeconsuming job.Make them pay and have fun!
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Muriel
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:03:28 PM new
Artdoggy: How, may I ask, did you get hit with a $900 insertion fee? 'Splain that to me, please?
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artdoggy
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:07:10 PM new
I listed a lot of high priced items. For that much money I only netted about 4500 dollars in sales. But now that I understand the game and the price points that move. I am on my way. I manufacture my product so I can do dutch auction, sell at lower price but move quantity. So far it is working. God, that fee makes me ill
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mauimoods
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:09:07 PM new
Muriel...heres another hint: If you DO have to do a reserve, then in my opinion, at least TELL what that reserve is somewhere in the description. People HATE to have to guess. Here...check this site out...will give you some ideas of what NOT to do, lol.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/8135/ebay.html
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barrybarris
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:14:27 PM new
Maui,
Going off topic for a moment,
I got saronged today...
Barry (Thank You) Barris
Back to the topic...
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mybiddness
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:15:44 PM new
Hi Muriel It's fun to see new enthusiasm for selling on eBay. Great advice here already and I'll throw my two cents in.
When I first started selling I went 90 to nothing and ate, drank and slept the business. The inevitable burn out followed and I came close to walking away. What ever you do - pace yourself.
Research always pays off. Why does one book sell for $30.00 and another sits with no bids at all? Usually it's because it's in the wrong category - bad pictures - or a key word is left out. Last week I was the one with no bids on an item that someone else sold for triple my opening bid. I studied their ad and realized that there was a particular pattern style in the book that they had great enthusiasm for that I hadn't even mentioned in my ad - something as simple as that can make a difference. I've relisted and already have 3 bidders going after it!
Personally, my least favorite part of the business is the packaging. Try to find items that are easy to package if possible. Also, it's great if you can have a base of items that you can purchase in multiples - It's much easier to hit relist than to create new ads every week. Books work for me - find something you enjoy selling.
The eBay Outlook is great - much better advice than I've found on the eBay boards. When I went through my burn out I stayed away from the board - weaning myself from anything that made me think about auctions. I'm sure I missed out on a lot - so Artdoggy is right - visit it often.
You can make a very nice living on eBay - just streamline your business and give yourself the benefit of other peoples experiences.
GOOD LUCK!!!
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mauimoods
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posted on September 2, 2000 06:18:26 PM new
Barry, now you have to take a pic of you IN THE SARONG. Betcha you can take Artdoggys heart away from the "unnamed one"
We all wait to see you wrapped up in that cool sarong
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kiheicat
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posted on September 2, 2000 08:06:44 PM new
Congrats Muriel!
Why not slip a link to your listings here in AW? Then we can all go take a peeky!
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toomanycomics
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posted on September 3, 2000 06:23:11 AM new
 congrats Muriel!
 the one and only toomanycomics on AW!
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Muriel
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posted on September 3, 2000 07:16:38 AM new
[ edited by Muriel on Jan 14, 2001 07:32 AM ]
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stockticker
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posted on September 3, 2000 08:08:38 AM new
Very nice, Muriel. Even though your pictures are big, they loaded very quickly on my computer (that's one of my pet peeves - slow loading pictures).
Irene
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Muriel
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posted on September 3, 2000 08:12:26 AM new
Aw shucks, Irene, I'm speechless.
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mauimoods
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posted on September 3, 2000 08:52:52 AM new
Hi Muriel...to make your pics a bit smaller, look for the EDIT or IMAGE button on the softeware that came with your camera....look for the REDUCE or RESIZE thingy, then click it...then just what that sucker down about 50%, and VOILA!
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kiheicat
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posted on September 3, 2000 10:46:49 AM new
Way cool Muriel! I have you bookmarked!
Party at Muriel's listings!!!
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mybiddness
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posted on September 3, 2000 11:14:49 AM new
I've bookmarked you too - looks like you've already got your first bid - YEAHHH!
Ain't it fun!!!!!!!!!
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macandjan
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posted on September 3, 2000 10:07:27 PM new
Great - we warmly embrace you into our world - unless you are selling the same stuff of course.
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