stonecold613
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posted on January 30, 2006 07:49:17 AM new
Could it be the .99 cent starting price the reason you are not realizing decent ending prices? Bidders are looking for bargains. So once your items get to what they feel is too much in their minds, they stop bidding. Judging by your examples on your original post, that is likely the case. Try listing your item(s) at a more realistic price to see what you realize in your final price.
Otherwise, I don't see anything wrong with any of your examples.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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neglus
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:08:45 AM new
Fluff - I like the green and blue backgrounds in your new challenge.
If you are in the marketing experimentation mode maybe you should try to reach the "BIN" buyers by opening an ebay store with your main id, price things in there on the high side and link in your auctions with "for those of you who want to have this or similar omega slides NOW click here..etc". I find myself not wanting to wait for auctions to end anymore - I will pay more for a BIN..maybe some of your followers are beginning to feel the same way or maybe you will a new audience. Google is crawling ebay stores now and items are also appearing at the bottom of regular searches. Except for the nasty fees, ebay stores are becoming more and more like a web site,
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:29:29 AM new
Hi Neglus,
I've tried an eBay store on three separate occasions. No nibbles. Possibly it works better for postcard buyers than for my jewelry ladies.
I sometimes do get a good response when I put up fixed price items, but that only happens when bidding on regular auctions is strong.
The other reason I can't see opening an eBay store is that while folks might come from Google, eBay is now showing Google arrivals your competitors' items at the top of *your* item page. (There are long threads about this both on OTWA and the eBay Stores boards.)
I'm pretty happy, actually, with ending prices on most of my jewelry and don't plan to change the 99 cent start. The heart assortments have been underperforming, though, thus the reason for this thread.
fLufF
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:48:43 AM new
Something else you could stick in your auctions to try to raise the final price is to add a gift. Would go something like this:
If the closing price of this auction is above $__.__ you will receive a "dodad" as a free gift. Just my way of saying thanks for buying.
You know how people seem to fall all over themselves these day's to get that free "dodad" that they really don't need. Might be a marketing scheme worth trying and a good way to get rid of any inventory you have that you think you would never be able to sell by itself.
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is. 
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:49:21 AM new
Just for you, Mike:
Must be fate. I didn't even know I had a turquoise version of this piece until a moment ago.
fLufF
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:53:24 AM new
Our marketing effort during the doldrums of November and December was to add jewelry to unsold lots.
If a ring didn't sell, we'd add similar earrings. Or somesuch.
If the lot still didn't sell, we'd add another piece. And so on.
It had absolutely NO effect on sales, so I abandoned that initiative at the beginning of the year.
Again, currently I'm pretty pleased with prices realized, but with the acknowledgement that there may be an item or two I'm not marketing as well as I could.
How about someone else posting their widget for the group's wisdom?
fLufF
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on January 30, 2006 09:31:37 AM new
fLuff, you want me to post my widget for the whole world to see. You naughty girl.
I do like the turquoise one you just posted.
Here's my friends the widget frogs. Kind of looks like what I would imagine some ebay buyers look like judging by some of the questions I get sometimes
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is.
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Jan 30, 2006 09:34 AM ]
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classicrock000
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posted on January 30, 2006 10:39:45 AM new
well......I seen my wife do all three of those jestures.
top-no...I dont want to see you naked
middle-no...I dont want to hear you fart
bottom-no...you may not put that in my mouth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beauty is only a light switch away
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stonecold613
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posted on January 30, 2006 12:16:14 PM new
$6.19, $1.54, $2.06, $1.25.
I'm pretty happy, actually, with ending prices on most of my jewelry and don't plan to change the 99 cent start.
What was the reason you started this thread?
Those ending prices are clearly a result of starting auctions at .99 cents.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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bizzycrocheting
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posted on January 30, 2006 12:23:10 PM new
Thanks for the laugh, Classic. While nursing the flu, I really needed the laugh! LOL ...
Diane
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hwahwa
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posted on January 30, 2006 12:24:15 PM new
The problem is not with the pictures,it is the same old same old stuff starting at 99 cents,
but then this would be too much of a marketing challenge for third graders!!
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 01:19:18 PM new
Those ending prices are clearly a result of starting auctions at .99 cents.
I shouldn't take the bait.
I shouldn't.
I really shouldn't.
So I won't.
You're wrong. Those ending prices are clearly the result of poor marketing.
I started this thread to get people thinking about how to sell. I used an underperforming product of mine to elicit ideas.
Four auction results out of FOUR HUNDRED auctions does not indicate a problem with my selling model.
What it indicates is that you've decided 99 cents is not a good place to start an auction.
Whatever. Shrug.
You know, every time one of you self-appointed geniuses decides that I'm doing everything wrong, I say, "Hey! If that's true, then here's a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you to make money doing my job better than I do!"
It's odd, isn't it, that no one ever takes me up on it.
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Jan 30, 2006 01:20 PM ]
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hwahwa
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posted on January 30, 2006 01:22:18 PM new
very simple,we have already decided not to waste our time 'doing your job'.
To be very honest,selling on Ebay is an act of sheer stupidity,not just you or me,but all of us!!
We all have our business problems,like why are we selling on such a venue paying relative high fees for low bids?
/ lets all stop whining !! /
[ edited by hwahwa on Jan 30, 2006 01:25 PM ]
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neglus
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posted on January 30, 2006 01:26:21 PM new
ok hwahwa - I have always been curious..what DO YOU SELL anyway??
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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bizzycrocheting
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posted on January 30, 2006 05:31:22 PM new
I had some hand crocheted doilies up for sale. This one is the more intricately stitched doily and has alot of texture although you can't see it in the picture. Does anyone know how I can take a better picture of it? This one didn't sell.
![]([img src="http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bizzycrocheting/doilyPK1.jpg"])
Now this one sold fairly quickly and doesn't have all of the intricate stitchwork.
![]([img src="http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bizzycrocheting/doilyPK2.jpg"])
Both of them were taken on a sunny day with my back to the sun. Should I take my pictures in the shade? Any help would be appreciated!
Diane
Edited to try to fix my images. Can someone help?!
[ edited by bizzycrocheting on Jan 30, 2006 05:34 PM ]
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 06:06:05 PM new
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pmelcher
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posted on January 30, 2006 06:43:27 PM new
both are absolutely gorgeous but the 2nd one just 'pops' for some reason and looks better.
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agitprop
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posted on January 30, 2006 07:48:45 PM new
Diane,
Both of them were taken on a sunny day with my back to the sun. Should I take my pictures in the shade? Any help would be appreciated!
Avoid taking photos at midday when the sun is strongest. Remember to use Macro (it's the flower symbol on your digital camera) for closeup shots. Use a tripod, and the self-timer on your digital camera to minimize camera shake. Set the ISO to 50 or 100, and if possible step down your aperture to increase depth of field (check the manual to see if possible).
Position the object where it's well lit with no heavy shadows. You can reduce or eliminate shadows by using a bounce board to redirect light into areas of shadow.
fLufF, I forgot to mention a that ring flash is a really useful tool for photographing jewelry. All the pros use them to achieve catalog quality images in film.
Home of the best eBay auction fee & PayPal calculators: http://auctionfeecalculator.com
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cashinyourcloset
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:21:07 PM new
Fluffy, you took the bait  I was so hoping you would hold to your resolve. You KNOW that you should let sleeping dogs believe that a "realistic" opening bid is the only way to run an auction.
It's a good thing that the silverware I started at $1 didn't end at $4. I'm so glad that it ended at $2050
Claude
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stonecold613
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posted on January 30, 2006 08:35:27 PM new
"Hey! If that's true, then here's a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you to make money doing my job better than I do!"
1) I already do.
2) Don't ask if you don't want the truth.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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neglus
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posted on January 30, 2006 09:06:01 PM new
I have been experimenting with using a different description format in listing my postcards. I started using a table (on the left side below) about 2 months ago. My standard format is text description (on the right side below). Which do you think is more effective?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 09:20:09 PM new
The table format, definitely. My eye doesn't have to scan the centered lines back and forth; it can go down each tabular line much more quickly.
As well as being easier to read, I think it looks better. Well done!
fLufF
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 30, 2006 09:24:11 PM new
You KNOW that you should let sleeping dogs believe that a "realistic" opening bid is the only way to run an auction.
I'm sure you meant to say:
realistic opening bid -- with all your expenses and profit already built in -- is the only way to run an auction
I think there are still a few of those folks selling who haven't maxed out their credit cards yet.
fLufF
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cashinyourcloset
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posted on January 31, 2006 04:26:25 AM new
Fluffy, I'm sorry, I thought "realistic" was the secret code word.
Neglus, the table format is clearly better. My personal choice for my auctions, which for a number of reasons don't lend themselves to a table format, is regular paragraph format (i.e., left aligned) on the left side and photos on the right. But, I think your new format works very well for the examples that you posted.
Claude
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cblev65252
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posted on January 31, 2006 04:37:38 AM new
neglus
I've been using a table in my auctions for a while now and I'd have to say it's a big improvement. It's much easier to read and more organized. I hate having to look at an auction that has two or three paragraphs of information and it's scattered about. It's easier to find the information I'm looking for in a table format.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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neglus
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posted on February 7, 2006 05:08:32 PM new
Time for an update - how did the 3 hearts do?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on February 7, 2006 09:12:29 PM new
$11.48. Considering previous results and my cost, that's quite an improvement. I'll take it.
I didn't see any bids from Vendions, just my usual bidders.
fLufF
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LtRay
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posted on February 8, 2006 03:13:51 AM new
Fluff, which photo brought in the higher price?
Neglus, I was suprised to find the table really caught my attention. I think I need to rework my format for new merchandise.
I started doing eBay to clear out my collections, but lately I have been experimenting with listing new merchandise. Boy, it sure is much easier and quicker to sell new items.
Only problem I have encountered so far, there are many more nuts and dead beats attracted to new merchandise vs collectibles.
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dotsart
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posted on February 8, 2006 06:31:26 AM new
I still like the positions of the necklaces in the first group, the third one. What I didn't like about that first group was that the necklace in the front looked sort of "pitted", the lighting must have accentuated it.
The last one with the purple background looks wonderful, but I like the positioning in the the third of group one better, it is more "artistic" I think in the arrangement.
Dot
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on February 8, 2006 07:13:32 AM new
Here's the winning photo:
Dot, you weren't the only one who liked the third picture, so I will probably do a few sets that way, showing more chain.
I think it's time for Marketing Challenge II...anyone got a problem item they need help with?
fLufF
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