posted on November 30, 2000 04:51:54 PM new
It has been rumored that on Thanksgiving weekend a giant turkey shaped U.F.O. swooped
down over unsupecting bidders and beamed them up and away from their computers. It is for this reason that eBay bidding is down! Keep an ever vigilant eye out for pods with humanoid forms developing inside. They are not the real thing and are evolving into newbie bidders wearing shades.
I don't know about you, but I'm rushing outside with my laser sword in hand, screaming skyward, "Lets get it on, scumbag aliens!"
"Humanity is proof that God has a sense of humor."
posted on November 30, 2000 05:07:00 PM new
Really...where is everybody? Worse week I have ever had. Not even very many looks? What exactly IS selling on ebay? Anybody know?
posted on November 30, 2000 05:30:16 PM new
Items selling are at 1/2 retail, with allot of looky lou's, and reluctant to pay for postage. Raise your margins at this time of year to avoid the low period upcoming, after the holidays.
posted on November 30, 2000 05:50:43 PM new
Yup the bidders are out there they are looking at the new Items at or near wholesale price christmas gift shopping is in full swing.
If you are one of the wise sellers who bought in to whole items over the summer like CDs ,DVDs, DVD players, software VHS tapes,VRC players computer hardware wayches cameras video games and gameware then you now have the windows shoppers and many bids.
This would also make you one of the lucky sellers dealing with a new game buyers like to play called haggle your shipping rates.
Some buyers I have sent EOAs to have the odd Idea that anything at any weight can be sent $1.25 book rate even over sized packages of 15 lbs and more.
posted on November 30, 2000 06:05:19 PM new
Sold one of the most expensive pieces I've had in 4 years last week on ebay. Well up into the 4 figure range Guess it depends on what you're selling, and how many others are selling the same thing Just my 2 cents.
posted on November 30, 2000 06:11:01 PM new
Yep, it's been really slow in my categories the last couple of weeks. I have an auction ending monday and that's going to be my last one until things get going again next year. Lots of fun, but not worth the headaches.
posted on November 30, 2000 06:52:16 PM new
I let all my auctions run out for now it was so bad. Will try again later and make some changes including reformating my hard drive and reloading everything which I have been putting off not wanting to take a chance on being down a couple days.
posted on November 30, 2000 07:13:55 PM new
I hesitate to get into this discussion, but are you seriously asking what happened to the bidders or just making good, interesting conversation?
The reason I ask is that I've noticed in various threads from time to time that when bidders actually explain why they aren't bidding, (yeah, some are nice - some are hostile - as in every thread), they kinda get trounced by a few sellers telling them they are unreasonable, don't understand selling, want everything for free, etc. (Pumpkinhead's thread comes to mind).
I don't know the answer, but perhaps a calm discussion without name-calling and arguments might actually shed some light on this problem.
posted on November 30, 2000 08:14:00 PM new
Wow, and I was patting myself on the back for having far more bidders than I did last week. Relisted three items and two have bids. About half of the new items have bids with almost three days to go. I was doing the happy dance...maybe I stole your bidders?
posted on November 30, 2000 08:55:07 PM new
Stealing bidders? Yikes! And I thought they were just being abducted. Hey, this may not be my day job but I do work hard at making it fun. Please don't take this stuff to heart, it's cholesterol rich. I'm just looking for some alternative viewpoints with a twist of humor. You don't have to be a mental Lilliputian to enjoy a chuckle. And my
goodness, those who are egghead endowed, you
ought to have some pointers for the rest of us.
posted on November 30, 2000 09:02:49 PM newI don't know about you, but I'm rushing outside with my laser sword in hand, screaming skyward, "Lets get it on, scumbag aliens!"
posted on November 30, 2000 09:05:07 PM new
Last holiday season, I noticed that women's dressy dresses, formals, cocktail, etc., were flying off of eBay for great prices. So I patiently waited until the end of the season and bought up a number of these garments at very reduced prices...so low, I could virtually guarantee that I would make a nice profit. I also found several similar items at local thrift stores. I cleaned and pressed and waited patiently...and now I can hardly GIVE the darned things away! Maybe it's still too early to be discouraged, but I am getting the feeling that these dresses will be spending a very long winter in MY closet instead of somebody else's.
OTOH, plus-size business clothing is doing extra-well right now for me. Silverplate collectibles are way off, but I'm also way overinvested in them due to my own collecting penchant. I was hoping to finance a little fun for myself by selling what I also love to buy, but it may take longer than I had hoped.
The short answer is...I guess it's mostly in what you sell, as to whether or not you're doing great or tanking this holiday season.
posted on December 1, 2000 05:31:15 AM new
As an occasional bidder here is my take on the holiday situation.
I am currently bidding on a sewing collectible that I would love to give to my mother for Christmas. Today is the 1st, the auction ends on the 8th. IF I win and speed off my payment (fortunately this seller accepts paypal)I will then wait for them to get around to shipping the item.
I live in FL, my mother is in MI, so the item still has to be shipped again once I receive it. I am sure that I could get it to MI in time for Christmas if they send it to me pronto. Until then I would be precariously perched on my front porch waiting for the postman.
OTOH if I DON'T win the auction I'm back to square one racking my brain trying to think of what to buy my virtually Impossible-to-buy-for mother....
posted on December 1, 2000 06:34:03 AM new
geminspector: thanks for posting this, because I think your thoughts are an important clue. I THOUGHT I would shop ebay for Christmas...but I'm not. I did put bids on a few things, but was outbid, so I was back to square one. I didn't find anything on my list with BIN option, though I did email one seller to suggest it for next time. Also, I was looking for toys, and frankly, by the time you add shipping, it's no longer a deal compared to buying locally. This was esp. true for train components.
What has worked for me is buying toys throughout the year and putting them aside for the holidays. I DO have lovely ebay gifts to give this year, but I didn't buy them right now.
I expect that for my stuff [used books] people are too busy spending their $$$ on gifts and aren't as inclined to buy a book for themselves. I am getting hits, but fewer bids. Many of my sales are BIN, though.
posted on December 1, 2000 11:41:36 PM new
Plus size clothing always does well. I just don't buy anything to resale if it isn't plus sized, except for really expensive designer clothing - that always sells. And vintage always sells if the price is right.
Since I only sell clothing, I believe sales are down for Christmas becaause usually women buy clothing for themselves and they aren't buying things right now for themselves, they are buying Christmas presents for other people.
Anyway, what the heck, even if sales are down, if you have nice vintage clothing, it will always sell eventually.
Guess it depends on what you're selling, and how many others are selling the same thing 
