posted on October 31, 2000 08:56:40 AM
...bid on your item? For me it's verrrry low. I get lots of questions from potential bidders, and I answer them all, but deep down I know they aren't likely to bid, no matter what.
Just one of those things that comes with the business.
A lot of times I tell them if they bid on the thing they might just get a good deal on it, etc., trying to get them to bid. Well, nothing wrong with trying, right?
posted on October 31, 2000 10:01:33 AM
loosecannon: I would say 75% of people that ask me a question bid on my items.
All you can do is answer the customer truthfully as I'm sure you have been.
A few times I thought the questions were from sellers who only needed additional information on an item.
When I ask a seller a question, I like to get straight answers to the question. If they want to tell me more information on the item I am grateful. BUT.... I don't like a "sales pitch" type answer. It makes me feel they are pushing the product a little to much. Know what I mean?
I try to answer my customers questions the same way I would like a seller to answer mine.
posted on October 31, 2000 10:14:19 AM
I get relatively few questions, but those that do either are looking for an excuse not to buy or a reassurance if they do. It indicates a certain amount. I will always answer them even if only 10% bid.
If I query someone, and they don't respond promptly, they won't get my bid. An inquiry is often the door to great sales even if it is 1 out of a 100.
Your hopes must be retroactive! Nothing wrong with my sales, thank you, just wish the time I spent answering question emails were a little more productive.
I understand about the sales pitch thing. I'll try to refrain from doing that and see if it makes a difference. Just trying things, you know.
posted on October 31, 2000 10:22:27 AM
Most of the questions I ask are asking the "US only) sellers if they will ship to Canada. If I don't get an answer, I WON'T BID
posted on October 31, 2000 11:26:43 AM
I always answer, but I've learned to keep it short and to the point, since almost none of my question-askers ever bid. Maybe 1 out of 10 will bid. Of course, for my all time highest selling item ever, the guy who wrote and asked a question was the winner with a final bid of almost 200 dollars. So there are exceptions.
posted on October 31, 2000 12:10:35 PM
If you-all are concluding that "folks who ask questions aren't serious bidders," I think you're missing something in the equation: The answer to their question was critical to their decision whether to bid. Bidder sees a sweater, no fiber content noted. "Is this wool?" she asks. Answer: "No, it's acrylic." Since bidder wants a wool sweater, she doesn't bid on this auction.
posted on October 31, 2000 01:38:46 PM
There are many times I may e-mail sellers with questions using one e-mail address, then bid on it using another. Unless I make a point of saying that I'm one and the same, they would have no way of knowing.
posted on October 31, 2000 04:42:13 PM
I've never gotten a question about shipping, because that's all there in my TOS. But I sell a lot of clothing, and I do get questions about sizing, fabric, etc., even though for the most part my descriptions are very complete. I don't actually keep track of these things, but my guess is that fewer than 25% of those who send a question actually bid on the item.
posted on October 31, 2000 04:46:31 PM
I would say half of my people who have questions end up bidding. Sometimes it surprises me because I thought from their questions my item would not satisfy them. A big part I am sure is that I remind them all my sales for non-unique items are satisfaction guaranteed. Reinforcing that seems to make them say - Why not? I can send it back.
posted on October 31, 2000 05:05:29 PM
I have not kept track, but I think 40-50% of those who ask questions bid on my items.
AND sometimes the questioners turn into ongoing correspondents. I learn from them, they may learn something from me.
Most recently, I had a questioner who had already placed a bid and who bid again, too! She did not win the item, but was next to high bidder with a noticeable gap to #3. She also gave me some valuable insights.
AS A BIDDER, I almost always ask a question before I bid (especially if the seller is fairly new or has low'ish feedback). I won't promise to bid on your auction just because I ask a question and you answer, but I will promise to NOT bid if you don't.
Sometimes the reason I don't bid is that the item has gone out of my range by the time the seller has time to answer and I get back to read. (I DO usually try to acknowledge their taking time and say why if I don't bid for that reason.)
What you said is true, but even so, I've noticed that very few people who ask me questions ever end up bidding even when I know my answer would have pleased them.
For example, I get a lot of: Will you ship to... country?? I always reply in the affirmative and can usually even give them a firm shipping quote which is postage cost only.
Also a lot of "Is it really such and such?" Well, yes, my description is totally accurate.
I answer promptly and politely and don't try to "sell" my item. Still and all, these people rarely show on my bidders list. Unless, as njrazd pointed out, they use a different e-mail address to bid.
posted on October 31, 2000 05:46:47 PM
Guaranteed: If I ask a seller questions about their item and they don't answer, I WON'T bid (except if I found the auction with less than 8 hours to go, I might bid anyway, because I don't know if they'll get to read my email before it ends).
Also, as another person mentioned, I have one email address on my browser and am registered on ebay with a different one (on my email reader). But when I win the bid I then mention to the seller that it was me who was asking about it earlier.
How many people do you think are going to take the time and bother to send the seller an email question if they aren't interested in the item in the auction? I sure don't! The response to their question clarifies whether they are interested enough to bid or whether it's the wrong item (etc.); and your response also helps them know whether they want to do business with you.
But sellers could cut down on the amount of questions they receive if they would always put the dimensions, color, a thorough description of any flaws, and the exact shipping costs (or a method of calculating the costs if they vary due to postal zone) in their auction description. I am amazed at the number of auctions I see that don't tell what color it is (and the photo is vague and its color tone could be off) nor give any measurements.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on October 31, 2000 05:57:47 PM
Well, since I do not sell often, I would say my ratio is pretty high. Normally, it has to do with getting extra pictures, although I usually put as many as possible, including ultra-close-ups.. Just this later part of the month, 3 out of 4 listings required more answers and photos, and resulted in sales.
******************** Shosh
