posted on November 19, 2000 04:31:48 AM
To think that if one person bought two items each that could be reduced so quickly! Think positive!
[ edited by Empires on Nov 19, 2000 04:32 AM ]
posted on November 19, 2000 08:09:02 AM
Bill, I can't commit to your "Stop Listing" request (kids have gotten way to accustomed to eating! LOL)....But I would be inclined to participate in a shared system, where we divide all the sellers into two groups & alternate listing weeks!....Of course holidays & school vacations will have to be decided in advance!
This would help also with seller burnout, as no one would list on two consecutive weeks!!!
posted on November 19, 2000 08:53:00 AM
LOL! I remember Christmas time December 1998 when ebay had 100,000 items listed and I thought "this can't go on".
posted on November 19, 2000 09:13:57 AM
But it's a bidders paradise, if you're willing to look, many bargins to be found.
Ain't Life Grand...
[ edited by twelvepole on Nov 19, 2000 09:14 AM ]
posted on November 19, 2000 09:49:38 AM
Time to separate the serious long term sellers from the "Gosh, Myrtle, Let's put old Aunt Hattie's stuff on ebay" sellers.
posted on November 19, 2000 10:38:05 AM
I am not too worried as a seller. I notice that about 3 million of yesterdays listings were orange crate labels and repo indian and thai items.
posted on November 19, 2000 10:54:34 AMTime to separate the serious long term sellers from the "Gosh, Myrtle, Let's put old Aunt Hattie's stuff on ebay" sellers.
Don't you think these types of sellers could afford to relist time and again, because they don't have to sell to eat?
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on November 19, 2000 11:33:50 AM
It might be interesting to discuss the various categories of sellers.
Two broad categories are people who purchase items for resale and people who have items that are now excess to their wants/needs and they just wish to dispose of them while making some money.
The latter group have a certain advantage because their inventory has a lower and some what uncertain cost/value. They can keep the items, give them away or sell them thru numerous channels (yardsales, auctions, dealers, classified ads or eBay). As long as they feel the price received justifie the personal efforts of online selling this will always supply a continued flow of new listings.
Think of all the people who have excess items, find life circumstances warrant thinning their personal possessions or inherit unwanted goods. There are some parallel ciccumstances with small businesses being in this group but they might take a closer look at the cost of time involved in the selling process.
The people/businesses who purchase items for resale have to view the process in a different light. The bottom line of profit has to be viewed in light of personal preferences and alternative opportunities available for receiving compensation for the time/risk/effort expended.
All sorts of subcatories exist including businesses who see online auctions as primarily advertising for their web site, people involved due to their hobby, sellers who create their own product and part time sellers who are not dependent on the income.
I think the greatest challange will be faced by the full time sellers of preowned items. They encounter ever increasing competition for inventory, have to face final selling price preasure from "amateur" sellers having equal access to the marketplace and professional sellers do not have all the advantage that reputation and networking once provided within a RL community.
Watching yardsales, flea markets, secondhand stores, consignment shops, antique dealers, wholesalers, Goodwill and the likes of Wal-Mart, to name just a few of the players, all selling in the same marketplace is fascinating. How indepentent full time sellers will remain profitable is a major question.
posted on November 19, 2000 12:15:03 PMDon't you think these types of sellers could afford to relist time and again, because they don't have to sell to eat?
For a time, perhaps. But over time, they're going to find out it's actually WORK & they end up either selling it at a garage sale or local pawn shop so they can raise enough money to buy tickets to the Dixie Chicks concert.
posted on November 19, 2000 12:49:06 PM
When I list any item I have to feel that there is at least a potential for a $10 or more profit or it just is not worth my time (hourly wage wise). When I see sellers list the same item over and over that on it's best day can't draw more than $2.99 total I just scratch my head and say how can they afford to do that.
I'm using 2 categories in about 10-15% of my auctions. It's item dependent. Just listed an old Christmas item under both books and seasonable collectibles.
posted on November 20, 2000 12:00:26 AM
There is another broad category of seller, and that's the craftsmen, artisans and artists that sell their own work.
I will put out small items priced low because that draws in new customers. It makes people stop and actually pull up your auction from the list and also, people have a tendency to buy more than one item to save on trouble and shipping, so once you have one bid from them, you are much more likely to get several. You build a customer base - start by making people happy. Happy people come back and make yout auction a habit.
You are so right. I have a multitude of repeat buyers I deal with just about every week. 95% of all my items go in for $9.99 or under with no reserves ever, so my customers know a good deal when they see one. I run 100-150 auctions each and every week on a 10 day set up, so I can have up to 300 auctions showing on my seller's list at any given time. My repeat buyers buy between 4-8 items each ! Mostly to save on shipping, but the catch is when you have buyers that buy 4,5, or 6 items at once it is profitable to have a multitude of items showing on your seller's page that they can choose from. Believe me, there is no rhyme or reason to their purchase habits sometimes. If you offer cool stuff at cheap prices people can't help but buy it. Like the old saying goes, "IT'S TOO CHEAP TO PASS UP, I HAVE TO GET IT !"
My profit margine is also 700-1000% on every item !!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
posted on November 20, 2000 08:14:30 AM
eventer ... "Time to separate the serious long term sellers from the "Gosh, Myrtle, Let's put old Aunt Hattie's stuff on ebay" sellers."
posted on November 20, 2000 09:23:24 AM
..more auctions, but more buyers too! These Holiday buyers may be bidding triple their normal rate. Personally, Ebay has become my #1 stop before buying at the stores or through tv ads. I don't buy on any other internet site except Yahoo auctions. The dilemma therefore isn't keeping up sales, it's keeping up profits. One thing I see happening is many sellers not making a reasonable profit, therefore, they will drop out, and the other sellers will change what they sell for more profitable items. So, although it is a buyers market now, it will evolve into a sellers market.
Much of what I sell does not compete with those who are cleaning out their closets and garages. I also do not sell new items that compete with Walmart. Actually, the marketplace that ebay provides is not duplicated anywhere except possibly the country's largest flea markets, which still can't beat the selection or variety available on ebay. I only see a rosy future ahead.
"If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it."
posted on November 20, 2000 09:16:42 PM
cix, can you add a signature line or email me your auction id name so I can check out some of your auctions? I actually plan to do so not just as a potential buyer, but because I was impressed with your words (yeh, even the markup rate and echoing laughter <g> and have a feeling that you're doing something right that might bear emulating ...
And gee, while I'm at it, does anyone have any words of wisdom for a first-time seller who is about to add some batches to the 6 million already out there?
