posted on September 27, 2000 01:35:39 PM
We all know there are certain items that are sure to sell, and then there are those items that may or may not sell the first time. In dealing with iffy items, I have found a good way to save on relisting fees. If an item fails to sell the first time, and if the number of hits the item received suggests that it probably won't sell the second time, then use this technique. Relist it, but completely change the item being listed. Change the title, category, picture and item description to a different item you want to try selling. I have found that if you are getting a 50% sell rate on iffy items, then by relisting a different item in its place the 2nd time you can increase your sell rate to 75% without listing fees being as high, because if the different items sells the second time you don't have to pay another quarter. Then take the crappy items that don't sell the first time and GET RID OF THEM!
[ edited by mboyko on Sep 27, 2000 01:45 PM ]
posted on September 27, 2000 01:41:24 PM
Why not just sell the items for a penny and charge $10 shipping? Then, don't combine shipping for your buyers, and ship in the cheapest way possible. Use beat up boxes that you get for free from the garbage dumpsters as well, as this will save you a small fortune.
posted on September 27, 2000 01:49:34 PM
I think this is explicitly against ebay rules regarding relist, could probably expect to go a long time before anyone would notice.
posted on September 27, 2000 01:50:03 PM
mboyko,
I'm guessing that someone you've managed to antagonize on AW has already taken a screen shot of this thread and mailed it to EBay. Your nifty relisting technique is fee avoidance, if EBay catches it, you'll be warned and then booted. Good luck.
rca001
In this world there is something called Karma; What goes around, comes around.
How does this apply?
Well, how many times have all of you criticizing mboyco been on this board crying and whining about how you've been unfairly wronged by Ebay?
Mboyco's idea is where you play a little catch up. Nothing wrong with that.....or am I to assume that you people are the same ones who travel 10 miles back to a store to return the 25 cents extra that was mistakenly included in your change? Are you the same people who claim the dollar you found on the sidewalk on your income tax? Are you the same people who insist on sending Ebay their FVF after you work an off the record auction deal?
If so, why don't you grow up and stop acting like a bunch of Pollyannas.
Mboyco, good going! Pay no attention to all the goody-2-shoes. I'll bet you half of them sneak a dollar out of the collection plate at church.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:10:58 PM
I am not aware that this is against eBay rules, but if it is I just thought of a way around it. You could change the item and everything like I said, but mention that as a bonus you are including the original item that didn't sell as an added bonus. The buyer may decline the original item that didn't sell and the s/h fee will be reduced if he or she does so. So technically you have just revised the original auction and included a different item to sell with it. Pretty clever, eh?
posted on September 27, 2000 02:12:46 PMtoolhound:
I have no complaint with the postal service, so why would I steal their boxes? Ebay on the other hand, fudges a lot and deserves the same in return. Dare you argue that, Pollyanna?
stockticker:
All because you're a little goody-2-shoes (who probably does snatch a buck or two from the collection plate) doesn't mean you can pass judgement on what you wrongly percieve as a matter of ethics. I have a just under 3,000 feedback total and only 3 negs. You should be that good at this. My customer service would make yours look like you're running a damn prison!
posted on September 27, 2000 02:15:02 PM
STILL fee avoidance, big time. If you are unaware of the rules, rather than urging other people to commit infractions against the eBay Agreement they signed, and possibly losing their rights to sell on eBay, why don't you just read the eBay Agreement yourself, so that this needlessly inane thread can be terminated.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:18:13 PM
How is that fee avoidance? In fact, eBay encourages you to revise the terms of your auction, change the title, starting bid price and s/h fee, etc. I'm sure they allow you to add an additional bonus item to help another item sell. Plus, eBay is probably happy if it sells the second time because then they'll get a commission, which they didn't get the first time.
DO NOT waste your time arguing with the Pollyannas! My experience is that a lot of these types are just hypocrites. It's easy for them to sit back and preach, but I would bet you anything they have their own little games that they play to cut corners in life---they just don't have the guts to be honest about it!
Seriously mboyco, don't waste your energy. They're not worth it.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:24:56 PM
Paulstar:
Yes, I certainly do pass judgment on what I consider to be ethical behaviour. Only 3 negs? I have none. (BTW - In order to even see a collection plate, I'd have to attend church, which I don't. I'm an atheist.)
posted on September 27, 2000 02:26:13 PM
Ever observe that people who are unethical always assume that everyone else is unethical as well? I guess that's the only way the can justify their own behavior to themselves.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:33:09 PM
Ebay does say that the relisting has to be for the same item. But I think the "bonus" thing might work, technically.
So, you have an item... let's say a pizza cutter. You list if for 1 cent with 3.20 for shipping (which may exceed actual shipping charge.) It doesn't sell.
So in your relist, you include the item that you are pretty sure will sell. For example purposes, let's say its an ant farm.
So the winner of the ant farm/pizza cutter auction has the option of taking either item, or both, but if they choose both, they will be responsible for the auction price, plus $6.20 in shipping. Then you ship them together at the lowest possible cost and clean up on the deal, plus get your 25 cent insertion fee refunded.
What a great idea!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All rights reserved. All wrongs reversed.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Sep 27, 2000 02:35 PM ]
posted on September 27, 2000 02:33:36 PM
I realized a long time ago that this could be done because I almost accidentally did it (sort of-I was adding like items to make the auction more attractive and the thought occured to me that I really wasn't simply relisting). Beyond the feeling that it didn't seem right, I was afraid there was some mechanism Ebay used to match up the relisted descriptions (making allowances for revamped titles) to make sure they were essentially the same item. If not, it is a big loophole, but one I wouldn't be comfortable crawling through-even though I like to hold on to my quarters as much as the next guy.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:33:59 PM
You're just jealous because that my profits are going through the roof and I pay less eBay fees than you do. Minimizing your taxes paid to the federal gov't is NOT illegal, and in my opinion everyone should take advantage of the tax code as much as they can to lower their taxes. Same with eBay, in my opinion. I know eBay won't let me relist an item free if it got a bid the first time and the buyer was a deadbeat. Also, they make it very difficult to get a final value credit. I tried the other day but I filed the non-paying bidder alerts to late (to give the bidders the benefit of the doubt and time to send payment) and when I finally tried to collect I get "sorry auction ended over 60 days ago." I'm out those commissions, but didn't actually sell the items. I think THAT should be illegal!
posted on September 27, 2000 02:35:58 PM
Everyone,
There are entirely too many personal comments in this thread. Please keep the CGs in mind as you post, which require that you discuss the topic, not the individual.
posted on September 27, 2000 02:51:54 PM
Re-listing a non-sale auction with a different item completely instead of the original auction item, is fee avoidance, plain and simple.
Re-listing with an added item, is fee avoidance for the 2nd item, that was not originally listed, plain and simple. Also possibly prohibited as you are not listing that the auction is for 2 items.
Read eBay's rules, plain & simple.
Anyone is welcome to do what they like, no matter how bone-headed their idea or thinking process.
Just don't have the pompous attitude to suggest to others (especially newcomers) that they do something that contravenes the clearly laid-out rules, then strut around praising yourselves like you are some bright light.
By the way, there is nothing Pollyany-ish about this -- it is plain & simply correctly erroneous information by the original threader.
