posted on August 7, 2002 02:31:54 AM new
Forgot the mention this my last posting.
Does someone have a text page that they add to auctions and email text that will convince these people that they need to do what the WBN says? I am only getting about 50% response from this right now.
posted on August 7, 2002 07:19:20 AM new
I, all of a sudden, am getting an inordinately large number of peeps not using checkout. It is a real PITA! I didn't mind when it was only a few, but now it's more than 50% who don't.
I finally made a notepad file that I can copy and paste into the response to their email and edit with all the particulars.
And that fatal error in editing a response is now really fatal! Talk about wasting time and duplicate efforts! Geez Louise, what is WRONG with these peeps?
posted on August 7, 2002 04:20:07 PM new
You might want to try this - works for me - at least I can say they were informed before the bid that they had to do it MY WAY!! =)
BEFORE BIDDING PLEASE READ OUR WINNING BIDDER'S POLICY:
Should you have any objections to or cannot comply with the following policies, please do not bid on our items.
BIDS FROM MEMBERS WITH A ZERO OR "PRIVATE" FEEDBACK RATING ARE NOT ACCEPTED & WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY SELLER PRIOR TO BIDDING
*PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF AUCTION CLOSE.
*Upon winning, we will send you a "Winning Bidder's Notice" containing all necessary information. If, for some reason, you do not receive it within 48 hours, please let us know =)
*We require you to complete our "Winning Bidder's Notice" within 3 days.
*Failure to do either will jeopardize your win & result in negative feedback
TEXT says:
CONGRATULATIONS %%Winner%%!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR BID!!!
Simply click on the link provided in blue at the end of this message and complete the required fields (REQUIRED EVEN IF USING PAYPAL OR ANY OTHER ON-LINE PAYMENT SERVICE).
PAYPAL USERS:
*If you have more than 1 item, please wait & pay in 1 single payment when you receive the final Winner's Notice after your last item closes. It will combine all your item totals for you so only 1 single payment is required.
*Please be sure to reference the item #(s) in your payment as many of your Paypal and eBay email addresses are different and we will not be able to apply your payment as we only know of the email address registered with eBay.
PLEASE READ IF YOU ARE BIDDING ON MORE THAN ONE OF OUR ITEMS:
*If you have bids on auctions not yet closed, please let us know immediately in a separate email to "[email protected]"
*If your additional items close later than the 1st item, you will be sent an amended Winner's Notice combining your totals as each one closes.
* We will combine shipping to save you money. Shipping discounts will be reflected in the Winner's Notices.
*You still need to complete the first auction "Winner's Notice" you receive as soon as you get it. Please don't wait until ALL your auctions have closed to do so.You need only complete the first Winner's Notice. Winner's Notices for any additional items later are simply for your records & need not be completed.
**If you have more than 1 item, please wait & pay in 1 single payment when you receive the final Winner's Notice after your last item closes. It will combine all your item totals for you so only 1 single payment is required.
Now, please continue by clicking on the link below to complete this form.
THANKS! =)
Maybe you'll find something helpful here - I tweaked all the above many times over for well over a year and with this final version, I now get about 98% compliance.
Good luck! =)
posted on August 7, 2002 11:39:20 PM new
That's all well and good but how many bidders does it turn away from bidding? And ultimately how does it impact the bottom line? I get a high percentage mostly by being persistent and making it easier to deal with the checkout interface. That most succesful technique I've found is convincing them that the checkout page is something entirely different, I long ago stopped calling it a checkout page as that encourages them to use eBay's even if it is turned off. Not listing BillPoint also increases response rate as well as eliminating PayPal links. State in your description if you take these forms of payment but the links encourage them to pay instantly even if combining multiple auctions in which case they will pay in segments. (If you wish to pay using BillPoint or PayPal there is a link on my contact page a link to this page will be sent shortly after the auctions close)
posted on August 8, 2002 12:59:21 AM new
Hi Dave!
Not sure why you think stating a reasonable & standard business policy would turn people away. I rarely see an auction where policies aren't stated. Remember, my policies don't look like how they look like here in the "Message Center" text, etc. They look very professional, are in an interesting font, in colors, centered and at the bottom of the page, separated from the item info, where all the rest of the "business" side of the auction is.
As for "how many bidders does it turn away from bidding"? Since my sales rate usually ranges between 89%-98% I can say with confidence that it doesn't turn any bidders away. And if it does, then it's the bidders who aren't willing to follow my policies and that's precisely WHO I WANT to be turned away - see how nicely that works? =) Serious bidders who will comply & pay are not going to be affected by a statement of policy at all. I buy alot on eBay myself and am never offended by policies stated - in fact, I like it because I know what is expected of me and the seller also comes off as organized, reputable and knowing what they're doing.
posted on August 8, 2002 02:19:02 AM new
My guess based on the little amount of experience I have is the positioning. If far enough down it probably won't turn off any bidders as it's doubtful that it's read. I say this in all seriousness as research indicates that when presented with written text the majority of viewers read no more than 2 sentences or approximately 25 words. Which is why all advertising banners are above the fold. As to percentages the mid 90's is respectable providing you're not selling $20- bills for $10.-. My take on the low response rate overall is simply that a high percentage of eBay users are either new to computers or are not savvy to computers and haven't the vaguest idea of what the terms, browser, cut and paste or link refer to. I also have noticed a pattern based on the ISP of the user and compliance I find AOL at the bottom of the heap, with webtv and cs a close 2nd & 3rd. I've presented some non responders with a survey to attempt to acertain why they didn't respond and the reasons where interesting but not particularly useful, most boiled down to the belief that thier time was very valuable and mine wasn't. If you've reached this point you are a statistical anomily as you have gone past the 25th word.
posted on August 8, 2002 02:32:26 PM new
Dave is right..and I have mentioned this to AW. The problem with the WBN is that the "call to action", namely the link, is buried.
The conversion rate for WBN's would increase dramatically if the link was at the top of the e-mail; stating clearly"Click here to complete your transaction and to provide crucial shipping information"...something like that.
posted on August 8, 2002 03:11:24 PM new
That is true. Additionally the design of the Checkout page does not give prominent emphasis to insurance (this assumes the customer has clicked on the link) the check box would be better as a radio button in the on position clearly indicating that turning it off releases the seller from any liability caused by delay, loss or damage in the mails or any other policy message the seller might have or conversely off if that is the sellers preferred setting. A check box indicating more auctions pending would also be nice in addition to the message box and ideally within the box. Insurance break points corresponding to USPS would be logical as they are the carrier of choice of over 80% of eBay goods not the other carriers. I won't go on and most of this has been discussed in other threads and will continue to be discussed for some time. Allowing the customer to store their name and address for future transactions would be a plus as well.
posted on August 11, 2002 06:37:14 PM new
I have to agree the the "call to action" link needs to appear near the top. As it is, those with a 'wordy' WBN email will find the clickable link way down there.
Why not have something like .....
Congratulations %%Winner%%! You have a winning bid for %%Site%% Item #%%AuctionId%%, %%Title%%!
<<link here>>
Click the link above to checkout.
Thank you for your bid!
Simply click either of the links provided in blue and complete the required fields. (REQUIRED EVEN IF USING PAYPAL OR ANY OTHER ON-LINE PAYMENT SERVICE).
At checkout, you will be able to purchase additional items similar to your purchase if desired. S&H on any additional purchase is discounted (put your figure or % here).
We appreciate your business!
<<the same link could be repeated here>>
This should be a simple change and it's what your customers (us) and our buyers need.
