posted on January 7, 2001 02:44:53 PM
I'm not replying because I consider myself successful.
It's all a guessing game. In the global marketplace there are millions of potential customers with diverse schedules.
I used to shun listing anything on Fridays and Saturdays because those days are usually slow for me bidding-wise. But lately I've had some *hot* Fridays and Saturdays.
I used to not list any 10 day auctions because of the long wait. Lately I've listed a few 10-dayers. Seven days is still probably the best combination of exposure but not having to wait what seems like an eternity for the auction to end.
posted on January 7, 2001 02:54:44 PM
I would say avoid the real late-night and real early-morning to list and have items end. I find anything between noon and 10pm (Eastern time) has done real well. As far as what days is best, my very best day so far was a Saturday. But I've found Wednesdays during the day to be real good too.
I believe depends on what kind of items you are selling. For example, if you are selling items targeted for younger people you would probably want them to end at night time when kids/students are home from school.
I always list my auctions for 10 days. We are paying to have our items listed - so why not get the most out of our money, right? I've always done very well with 10-day auctions. If they offered 14-day auctions I would even go with that.
posted on January 7, 2001 03:05:41 PM
I consider myself successful for the amount of effort I expend. When I feel like it I work hard at it and make money. When I don't work I don't make money! DUH
I like auctions ending Tuesday and Wed evenings--between 4:30 and 7 PM PST. Before the folks sit down to watch TV. Have just started to use 10 day auctions--seems like when I list for 10 days and use BIN my sales are terrific and fast!!
Vintage textiles and sewing collectibles sell very well with ending times in the afternoon any day except Friday. What do they do on Friday??
I am steering clear of Sunday evenings because of the number of problems that arise then. I sell most of my stuff with low opening bids and no reserve so problems cost me dearly.
As one sage commenter remarked you should try to target the audience that is most likely to buy your stuff and then figure out when they are likely to be surfing. It works and shouldn't take long to figure out.
posted on January 7, 2001 07:18:13 PM
I used to think Fridays were great, now I'd say Thursday's and Saturday nights. It really amounts to be a guessing game so it's better to look at other important criteria. The main thing is knowing the bid pattern or demand on an item.
Some items only get bids during "going going gone." These are the items you want to target for a certain end time, and a 3 day auction is fine.
Other items get bids mainly through "Search." A ten day is perfect for this, and end time is less important.
I've had the most success with 5 day auctions. I guess ebay rotates auctions on the main category pages, and it seems to me 5 day gets the most exposure on these pages. I may be mistaken, but like I said, I've had more bids in the in-between days with a five day auction which gets two days exposure, so it seems to me that ebay only does a one time rotation for 7 and 10 day, and 0 for a 3 day.
posted on January 7, 2001 07:31:52 PM
I use 10 day auctions almost exclusively, with much better results than with 7 day auctions.
I try to list one of 2 ways:
1) Launch auction on Thursday and it will end on the 2nd Sunday.
2) Launch auction on Sunday and it will end on the 2nd Wednesday.
When my auctions end on Sunday or Wednesday, they seem to do much better than those ending on other days of the week. And by launching on a Thursday or Sunday with a 10 day auction, the auction covers 2 complete weekends more or less.
Since I started using this formula, I'm getting more total bids while paying less in fees than I did when I was launching 7 day auctions and staggering them throughout the week. It may not work for everyone, but it does for me.
posted on January 7, 2001 11:00:17 PM
I can give you what works for me. However I need to mention that I have a strong repeat customer base and that more of these customers are using esnipe.com.
I live on the West Coast. I put up my auctions late afternoon my time because most of my customers are East Coast or Midwest. Thus the auctions end after the dinner hour of the majority of my customers. I don't worry about my international sales.
I never end my auctions at odd ball hours like 2 a.m. I know some of my customers bid only by sniping. If they can't snipe they won't bid, no matter how desirable and rare the item is. They won't set their alarm to get up at 1:45 a.m. to turn on their computer and snipe an auction.
I always put up my auctions for ten days unless I am working around a holiday, planning on taking off for a buying trip, etc. Ten days allows for maximum exposure.
posted on January 7, 2001 11:30:15 PM
I used to do only 7 day auctions, all ending Sunday evenings (no later than 11pm eastern). I've since become more flexible. I avoid Sundays due to the eBay crashes. I run 10 day auctions when I can afford to wait that long for the money, so I can get the benefit of two weekend's worth of exposure. Plus, I feel compelled to get the most out of the money I'm paying eBay in fees! I only did 3 and 5 day auctions once, before Christmas when I was desperate for quick cash, and they all closed with bids but they did poorly and I lost money.
I time the auction end depending on my target bidder. Mommy stuff (stuff targeted at other moms, housewives, etc.): I try to end those auctions when *I* would be likely to be browsing myself, since I'm also a mommy-type. Fetish-y/weird/bizarre stuff I let run a bit later. I figure some guy buying my vintage stockings might wait to browse til the wife is asleep. Books I end at a "conservative" time, but everything ends after dinner.
I really have found no huge difference between ending an auction on Sunday vs. Monday or Wednesday. Never tried Friday though. Seems like it would be more of a "night out" kind of night and therefore not so good for sales. At least I *hear* that people go out on Friday nights.. myself I wouldn't know. Can't remember that far back.
Fetish-y/weird/bizarre stuff I let run a bit later. I figure some guy buying my vintage stockings might wait to browse til the wife is asleep.