posted on September 10, 2000 04:15:01 PM
I am new to selling on ebay and have noticed something strange happening when more than one seller has an identical item in identical condition for sale. This week I watched an item reach over $50 while two of the same item listed the same way by other sellers either had no bids or languished between $7 and $10. Curious, I watched after the first auction ended (there were 6 bidders) and neither of the other two identical items received bids !! What goes on here? Many times I have watched the first item of its kind sell for a high price with multiple bidders, but items just like it close for just a fraction of the price, and they are identical in description and condition. Anyone notice this or have an explanation? Im just trying to figure out the way things work. Thanks !
posted on September 10, 2000 04:21:56 PM
I think a lot of bidders bid on the first item they see - and after they've placed their bid, they become determined to get that one and don't look to see if there are others up for bid.
posted on September 10, 2000 04:24:10 PM
It could also be that there is only one legitimate bidder and the seller is shilling the auction with multiple id's / a couple of pals.
posted on September 10, 2000 04:46:25 PM
Also, you might want to take a look at each seller's feedback. Maybe the one getting bids has good feedback, and buyers are more comfortable buying from him or her.
Another possiblity is that one or more of the bidder has done business with the seller before.
posted on September 10, 2000 05:09:52 PM
When I first started selling laserdiscs I noticed the same thing. I started analyzing the differences and noticed the most obvious one was in the title. The auctions with the most bids had the word "laserdisc" in the title. If it was spelled as two words (laser disc), the auctions had about 25 to 50 percent fewer bids. The auctions that did not have "laserdisc" or "laser disc" in the title or in the item description had even fewer bids, or no bids. It appears that most people search on word that describes the category they are interested in rather than the specific title. It also seems that the majority do not actually go to the specific ebay category -- it is probably too cumbersome.
Since then I've noticed that some of the bidders are not collector's of laserdiscs. Instead they are collecting things that relate to the specific director, actor, screenwriter, or comic book. The reasons for bidding are varied and that is why I put as much information in the item description as possible. For instance, if I know the filming location I will mention it because someone may be looking for things that remind them of home.
posted on September 10, 2000 05:46:33 PM
I am no expert in flukeology, but I think this is a corollary to the "I got almost no hits on this widget last time, let alone bids, but on run #2 everybody and his brother was ready to mortgage the farm to buy it - now I wish I had 50 of 'em to sell" phenomenon.
posted on September 10, 2000 05:58:26 PM
Dwest makes good point. I often list old Life Mags. I've found placing as much info re: content of Mag. as important as condition. Many potential bidders do exactly as described...search by key words, rather than go to specific category.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:24:27 PM
When I was looking for a specific item recently, I saw many for sale. They were described the same, but when I looked at seller's feedback, shipping description or lack thereof, etc., it made a really BIG difference in which one I was willing to bid on. There could be very small differences like that and they make all of the difference!
posted on September 10, 2000 06:25:44 PM
Another trick some use to get bids is put a meta keywords in their templates they use to attract bidders who upon doing a search will not only get items that have a particular word in the title and in the description but also in their templates.
For instance let's say you have 10 people selling 'Little Sambo' book from early 1900's but only one has keywords in his meta tags, title, and description 'little sambo';
that one will always show up first on the list that is brought up.
I've been experimenting with this and it's true. I have put about a dozen books some with the meta tag keyword, title, and in the description; some in the title and descrition only; and the rest in the description only and in the first grouping I got bids on all of them. The second grouping about half and the last none.
Someone mentioned also how a word is spelled in the title and it's true folks will do a search on various spellings of what they are looking for. So if there is room in the title one might put 'laserdisc' and 'laser disc' to get everyone to find them.
I also experimented with a bunch of romance paperbacks. In the title I put half of them with the title of the book; in the other group I put the title and also typed 'romance' and 90% of the ones with the word 'romance' in the title got bids and the ones without only about 25% got bids.
So if nothing else in your title if you can put the category in there also it will bring you more viewers and bids.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:31:12 PM
When I was looking for a specific item recently, I saw many for sale. They were described the same, but when I looked at seller's feedback, shipping description or lack thereof, etc., it made a really BIG difference in which one I was willing to bid on. There could be very small differences like that and they make all of the difference!
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Yep you are right about this. As a buyer that's one of the first things I look at and I hadn't really been putting that much info about shipping fees in my auctions until last couple weeks and I do get more bids now because I state what it will cost the person to get the item; but now I also state that they can save on shipping by winning several auctions(no biggie I know cause many put that);
but I now also state that if winning bidders win a total of $25. or more in my auction(s) shipping is free. I have had a few win free shipping because of there bidding on more than 1 auction and totaling $25 or more. Makes sense why not give them their money to buy more of what they are interested in and ship for free. I really figure the amount in my start bids for free shipping hence I don't really lose out. I still make plenty of money.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:33:42 PM
Has anyone else noticed this? Some sellers, as soon as a question is posed, jumps on "might be shilling", "he's a deadbeat", "Neg him NOW!!". I notice the same sellers saying these things in every thread. Give us a break and lighten UP!!. I personally have noticed that if I have 2 items similar and have one in the gallery, 1 not in the gallery, the gallery one always gets more hits.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:39:13 PM
uh.. rarriffle, when you have something sell for $50 and several same items can't get a $7 bid, the odds that shilling is taking place are significant.
Also, in my defense, I do not recall posting "people are shilling" before, so if you are you referring to me in your comment, I think you are in error. Why do you want to discredit what I wrote? Shilling is a possible explanation for the scenario presented, along with everything else others have written.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:41:53 PM
Has anyone else noticed this? Some sellers, as soon as a question is posed, jumps on "might be shilling", "he's a deadbeat", "Neg him NOW!!". I notice the same sellers saying these things in every thread. Give us a break and lighten UP!!.
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Yeah I was gonna make mention! It does not mean they are shilling and anyway if one thinks that than they can just check the seller and bidders out before bidding. Alot of folks are just so negative all the time, they never think positive about things. It's a wonder they are even selling on the internet with that kind of attitude.
posted on September 10, 2000 06:56:58 PM
Although it's fortunately one of the lesser possibilities, shilling is indeed one of the reasons this sort of skewing would occur. Acknowledging this has nothing to do with being "negative." "That kind of attitude" is a/k/a "considering all possibilities, not just the nice ones," or more commonly "having a bit of business sense."
Hey, there's a nice painting for sale over here. Put on your rose-colored glasses, though:
posted on September 10, 2000 07:05:14 PM
This happens fairly often with some of my things. My item at auction will be doing very well, but I can find an identical item with little interest; the other one closes at perhaps a third of what mine brought.
I think part of this is due to repeat customers- folks I've sold to repeatedly that always check my auctions. Part might be due to the fact that I use gallery. Good title, good detailed description, good feedback, and good photos also probably help.
posted on September 10, 2000 07:24:04 PM
Thank you HCQ.
I thought of all the other explanations but was only in the mood to post a quick response. I was confident that others would expand on the other possibilities. I meant to be contributing to the thread.
posted on September 10, 2000 07:59:23 PM
Guyuellas: "For instance let's say you have 10 people selling 'Little Sambo' book from early 1900's but only one has keywords in his meta tags, title, and description 'little sambo';"
What's a meta tag? When I post an auction on ebay I only see spaces for title and description.
posted on September 10, 2000 10:16:19 PM
I had a fellow e-mail me and say if you are having trouble selling this item again it may be because seller x is selling the identical thing for $19 instead of your $32.
He had just bought one from me and is a good repeat customer so I PayPaled him the difference and told him I did not want him feeling bad about the deal.
Next day he mails me and says I can't believe it! You sold 2 at $32 each and 4 lines down on the same page this other auction closed with no bids at $19 opening. Are you just charming or what? I pointed out the other guy had an ugly hard to see pic. No satisfaction guarantee and sounded just a liitle eager not to say too much. Said something like east coast for location instead of a state and zip. But he did not offer the bucks back.
[ edited by macandjan on Sep 10, 2000 10:16 PM ]
posted on September 11, 2000 12:10:32 AM
could be shilling. easily.
could be he has repeat customers & excellent feedback.
could be that he sells internationally & the other sellers don't. For about 2 weeks straight last month I was getting bids on & selling items that none of my competition was able to. Why? Because I ship internationally. Actually for about 2 weeks straight ALMOST ALL THE SALES I MADE WERE INTERNATIONAL. Food for thought for those of you who don't sell internationally...
Also, could be that the seller guarantees his merchandise. When I'm bidding I'd easily spend a few extra bucks to win the item of the seller who offers to let you return your item & refund you if not satisfied. I've been dis-satisfied enough to have learned that sellers who offer a guarantee are folks you generally want to buy from whenever possible.
posted on September 11, 2000 04:04:03 AM
Timing and first bids are everything. Timing because its a matter of bidders seeing your item first. Then when a bid is placed, most likely bidders will stick with that item and not look for others. Can work in your favor or not. Wonderful when it does!
An example of it not working is an auction I currently have running on a sports book. I had it listed a few weeks ago for $2.50 opening bid. I have almost 400 positive feedbacks, shipping was only $2.00, I have photos of the book and I accept Paypal, money orders or checks. I got views but no bids. I take two weeks off from listing. Come back and notice that the SAME book was listed by a seller who had less than 100 but still positive feedbacks, shipping was $1.80 and there were NO photos. It had bids and then in a battle, it ended just over $10. Nothing high but still, bids are bids. I relisted mine for an opening bid of $1.00 and currently it's sitting at $1.25 with more views than last time. Go figure!
You just never know. It is timing, bids and finding the right bidder at the right time!
posted on September 11, 2000 05:38:17 AM
Often there is just no rational explanation. I've seen cases of this where the high price went to the low feedback, no picture, threatening terms, money order only, higher shipping, poorer description, poorer condtion, odd time, odd category ...
Usually these things do make some difference, but sometimes it seems virtually random chance.
posted on September 11, 2000 03:05:14 PM
I had a piece of pottery that I bought cheap but had no idea of its value. I found one auction for the identical item and watched it. It sold for $125. I then put my item on for sale hoping it would attract the backup bidders. Now I could have put a $125 reserve on the piece and maybe I should have, but I also thought they would think the piece was less of a rarity if two of them came up within a short amount of time and they might rethink their bidding this time. I wanted a quick turnaround, so I set a $75 reserve and that is what the piece went for, to the first backup bidder from the other auction. I was completely happy with that amount. Some people might say I was a dummy for not asking for more but really it is my own business what I want to sell something for. The buyer was thrilled, she just saved 50 bucks. I was thrilled to have some cash. Just one scenario.
