posted on October 31, 2000 09:40:40 PM new
Help! Are my descriptions not good? does nobody want these items? I sell a variety of things. I just need to sell!! I need money so bad. Our baby passed away and we have SOOOOO many bills overdue. Please tell me what I am doing wrong.
PS- the bids that are there are from my grandmother that said that if no one else bids on them she will buy and give as gifts- but she dosent count- i want customers.
You guys have been great. I am glad I found Auction Watch!!
PSS- she isnt a shrill bidder either- she plans on buying the items!!
Thanks in advance!!
(I use this name for e-bay too)
Part of your problem is going to be your feedback. Some of those items are rather pricey for a seller with low feedback. I'd be hesitant myself. You need to offer lower priced items or offer a payment where the buyer is protected from fraud, BillPoint for instance.
Its a "Catch 22" situation, you can't sell things because you've got a low feedback, and you can get a higher feedback because you can't sell things.
posted on October 31, 2000 09:50:55 PM new
First I am very sorry about the passing of your baby. Your descriptions seem ok, it may be due to the high starting bids. I have taken things that didn't get bids and re-listed them with a lower starting bid (maybe even a reserve) and they will surpass my expectations. You might try it!
Good Luck & God Bless!
Aside from lack of feedback, I see other reasons you might not be getting bids (aside from ebay's outages, functionality problems, and an economic slump that has almost every seller wondering what they're doing wrong).
Some have opening prices too high. You can't expect to get $65.00 plus shipping for skin care products that retail for $74.00, or $200 plus $8 shipping for Fuller Brush products retailing for $266.00. Bidders are looking for half-price or less on *most* new products (with exceptions like computers and electronics, etc.), so you have to buy your new items very cheaply to sell online and make a profit.
What is the retail value of the grandfather clock, and where/how is it serviced under the warranty? What kind of wood is the case?
What brand/style name is the silverplated flatware? What does it look like UP CLOSE? Where/how is the "90 day warranty" upheld? Does the buyer return it to you, and do you reimburse return postage?
I can't view all the description on the two candles auctions because they're too wide, and the bottom "scroll sideways" bar doesn't come up.
Are you in Dallas or Kansas? You have three locations listed, and people would question that if a seller has no feedback record. If you're in Dallas and want to ask questions over the phone, post it here and I'll email you with my phone number.
posted on November 1, 2000 04:08:18 AM new
While all the above points are good, you should also consider proofing your descriptions. Stating "Ass you can see" on the fuller products probably doesn't help.
posted on November 1, 2000 06:51:53 AM new
You've gotten some good ideas here already. I had a couple of thoughts as I looked through your items. It seems a bit odd to me, from a buyers perspective, to see the only items with bids are from the same person. You both have low feedback, which also could be cause for concern to many buyers. It could be seen as "shilling", and you do admit in your post that this buyer is your Grandmother. If she is willing to buy your stuff, why bother listing it at all?
Can you really ship that large of a clock safely for $25? How will you ship it? What about insurance?
The candle auctions are vague, what exactly do I get for my $25? Do I get to choose the scents? How many containers are in each one? How tall and wide are the containers? The pages don't load correctly, they are too wide and there is no scroll bar. This could be a glitch with AW, but either way it's confusing.
Maybe include some measurements with the Piggy Bank. How big is he?
The Fuller Brush listing isn't showing correctly either, there seems to be more to the page on the right hand side that you can't see.
The starting prices on all of them are too high I think. Even if that price is a "good" price, too many buyers won't bother to bid that high right off. They want a bargain, and even if they might be willing to pay that much, they want to be able to work their way up to it. That is why auctions are so much fun in the first place, the thrill of the "bid" war.
posted on November 1, 2000 07:07:32 AM new
Regarding High Openings - Regardless of your feedback - many folks like the "gamble" of the auction, and high opening bids, take the "fun" out of it. They want to see bids add up, and it is rather like gambling to see who can win - high openings remove this element of risk, and gamble - it may sound silly but psychologically it does effect many people.
Regarding a comment by another person, I agree SPELL CHECK YOUR ADS, I am terribly turned off by a seller who cares so little that they don't even bother to spell check their ads.
Beyond that the eBay outages have been a major problem recently for many folks.
posted on November 1, 2000 07:47:17 AM new
First of all, I'm very sorry about the loss of your baby. This is never an easy thing to deal with but you seem to be doing pretty well.
There are actually several things working against you that wouldn't really be a problem by themselves, but together they can spell trouble from the standpoint of drawing bids.
First of all, if you're going to sell high-end items ($100 and up), you're going to have to get your feedback up. I know this is a tough one. A fast way to do it is bid on 20 or so auctions that are very cheap. You can go to the jewelry section and pick up items for $.25 (literally). Bid on items like this and pay for them immediately, leave feedback immediately (even before you get the item). You can always re-sell these items yourself later. At this point don't even worry too much about not receiving the items. You will. Your point here is to build fast feedback. Also, don't bid on more than one auction from the same seller as this won't really help your feedback rating. If you do this, most sellers will leave feedback quickly for you as well. I know that you need money right now so you might have to put this step off for a while.
Second, your starting bids (IMO) are way too high. Much better to start them off pretty low and use a reserve.
Third, your grandmother bidding on all of your auctions is (again IMO) killing you. I know that her intentions are above reproach. But look at it from the standpoint of a potential bidder. Here is a brand spanking new seller with a feedback of 1. She is selling expensive items with very high starting bids. And the only bids on all of her auctions were placed by the same bidder. I would immediately think you were either a scam artist or a blatant shiller. I'm not saying you are either one. I know better but your potential bidders won't.
Everyone who responded here has given what I feel is good advice. Please don't take any of it as criticism or an attempt to put you down. Quite to the contrary. I wish you the very best and I'm sure that everyone else here does as well. And of course, everything I've just said is just my opinion...
posted on November 1, 2000 07:58:20 AM new
I've sat at this screen for several minutes trying to phrase this. Nothing, no words, seem adequate. My sympathies on the loss of your baby.
I looked at several of your auctions and I agree with some of the suggestions.
1. Fix the misspellings, even your "me" page has several mistakes.
2. furiously bid on cheap items to build up your FB.
posted on November 1, 2000 08:29:38 AM new
I don't know about anyone else but the items you are offering just scream "Drop Shipment". Meaning you really don't have these items in hand but are selling them for another company at a small mark-up? People like to see real life pictures of the items and not catalogue pictures.
Selling new items on ebay is just the kiss of the death these days unless you are buying them wholesale and can afford to sell for 50% off retail.
If you are in need of cash, drop the new stuff, scrounge around through your house and put your junk up for sale. Believe me, I've seen junk way out-do new stuff on ebay.
Also, if Granny is going to bid or wants to buy your items why not cancel her bids and let her buy it outright? Why pay ebay end of auction fees on a family purchase? Seems to me like you are taking 2 steps back for every 1 step forward in selling and you surely won't be making any money selling to relatives.
[ edited by anggellene on Nov 1, 2000 08:32 AM ]
posted on November 1, 2000 08:36:32 AM new
Here's a couple more suggestions:
On your candle listings, I have a hard time seeing the text at the bottom, which is showing up as blue on blue on my monitor.
On the skin care items, I did not see a shipping charge.
On your "me" page, I found this paragraph a little confusing:
"I accept check, money order, credit cards, pay pal, and money transfers. I can only ship once I receive payment due to the cost of shipping. I aploigise for this. Once I receive your payment I shall ship immediately. I can take anywhere from 3 days to 7 days. (Usually 4) "
It is not necessary to apologise for waiting for payment to ship, as this is the norm. That last sentence is what throws me--do you mean that the items will take 3-7 days to arrive or that you will take 3-7 days to ship? Either way, it is unnecessary. I would just say something more along the lines of "I ship your items the day after payment arrives. I strive for quick turnaround!"
You may also want to spell out exactly what your return policy is. I use something like "Bid with confidence--items are guaranteed to be as described." and on my "me" page I let people know that if I have misrepresented an item I will refund their purchase price in full with shipping both ways as long as item is returned in the same condition.
Also---look around your house for inexpensive items to sell--things that you can start at really low bids to help build your feedback. Pick up some things at garage sales or thrift stores to sell cheaply if you can.
Best of luck to you! I really want you to be successful
My condolences on the loss of your sweet baby...
posted on November 1, 2000 08:42:03 AM newkirbybunch
All of these people above have given you excellent advice.
I second anggellene's suggestion about dropping the "new" type of merchandise. You have to get that kind of merchandise extra cheap to make a profit in this kind of venue.
Here's what does better: Quality used goods of almost any kind, or, antiques and collectibles.
[ edited by loosecannon on Nov 1, 2000 08:44 AM ]
posted on November 1, 2000 08:42:28 AM new
Yes- i do drop ship everything. Thank you for all your help everyone! I will do a scavenger hunt around the house.
PS I am in KS, but some of the items are drop shipped from Dallas.
[ edited by kirbybunch on Nov 1, 2000 08:45 AM ]
[ edited by kirbybunch on Nov 1, 2000 09:09 AM ]
posted on November 1, 2000 09:00:38 AM newKirbybunch: About that drop-shipment thing, there are a couple of requirements that you must meet in those auctions:
posted on November 1, 2000 09:09:56 AM newKirbybunch: And, about those candle auctions - eBay doesn't allow "choice" auctions. You'll need to put up separate auctions for each scent.
posted on November 1, 2000 09:31:25 AM new
Hi Eve, my deepest sympathy on the loss of your beautiful baby.
Ditto what everyone else has said regarding your auctions. (New items, bad spelling, which can be achieved through fast typing, low feedback, grandma trying to help out by bidding, catalogue photos, etc.)
Good idea to list some items found around your home. You'd be surprised what people will buy - and pay good money for. What you think is trash can bring you a hefty amount of money. ie: old car manuals, old wooden bowls, postcards, outdated calendars (advertising/graphics), any kind of kitchen items (even those well worn), shabby chic (old worn rugs, flowery plates, etc.), even items chipped and cracked will sell to the right person if you are sure to mention the damage in your TOS, garden items (flower pots, planters, tools, benches, chairs, etc.) are hot, old lamps (no matter how ugly), books, old tins, baby clothes, anything you can think of will more than likely sell. List it all, you'll be pleasantly surprised what it will bring you. Good luck my friend!
posted on November 1, 2000 03:13:22 PM new
I am very sorry to hear about your baby... The main problem that I find with your auctions is that your starting price is too high...maybe start it at a low price and add a reserve..this would probably get more bids...high prices right off the bat scare customers. Also, I would not have grandma bid on your items....you just end up paying unnecessary fees. Hope this helps a little...Good Luck!
posted on November 1, 2000 08:39:11 PM newthey put Machinery's handbooks out there and I sell them for $20 to $40.
I wish my library did this. I looked for a Machinery's Handbook for nearly a year before I found one in a used book store. I did make one good book find last year, though- I happened upon an architect's office which was closing and selling off all their supplies and furniture, and I was able to pick up a new Architectural Graphic Standards + Supplements for $10.
