posted on January 16, 2001 08:46:17 PM
I am considering adopting what I like to call Value Oriented Auctions.
This is in response to the recent postal rate hikes and now the increase in ebay insertion fees.
I'm thinking of only listing coordinating lot of items--no singles. I am able to clear away some of my stuff at a faster pace.
Combined shipping is usually always cheaper than shipping individually.
For instance, instead of listing 4 items seperately, I list them as a group and pay just one fee. I only have one discription to write and one bidder to keep track of instead of 4.
Listing things individually normally has a bigger payoff than listing things in lots. I'm not looking to make a ton of money, I basically just want to get rid of some stuff that's too nice to sell at a yard sale.
posted on January 16, 2001 08:58:07 PM
I think I understand what you are saying. You have ten tea cups and saucers, but each set is from a different manufacturer.
As a dealer buying inventory in a specific category, I will look at such an auction, perhaps see one or two of the cups in my area that I can resell for a nice profit because I recognize something special about it, but I don't bid because I don't want to get the other 8 cups and saucers.
What I would like to see sellers say in their auction is that the buyer doesn't have to take each little thing that is described in the auction. Let me bid to win on the two I want, you keep the other eight and sell them later.
posted on January 16, 2001 09:03:26 PM
I have thought about that on other lot auctions AND have bought like that at Goodwill and Salvation Army. I buy the lot, keep what I want - then hand the stuff I do not want back to the clerk.
They can sell it again - and I get my widget. AND less stuff for hubby to see me carry in the house!
posted on January 16, 2001 09:17:25 PM
Depends on how you put the lots together. Ten cup-and-saucer sets, each from a different manufacturer? I'd probably pass. I only collect one pattern. A cup and saucer, two salad plates, a soup bowl and a salt shaker all from the same set - I'd probably bid if I needed just the salt shaker.
Unfortunately eBay doesn't allow the "pick any 2 of these 10 items"-type auctions that others have mentioned:
A Choice Listing occurs when a seller allows bidders to choose from a selection of items. Choice Listings can be problematic because the item agreed upon is negotiated offline and can lead to either misrepresentation or fraud.
Policy: Choice Auctions are not allowed and will be ended. The insertion fee will be automatically credited for that listing.
posted on January 16, 2001 09:24:43 PM
I believe a choice auction is when a seller states the auction is for two out of ten items, your choice of any two.
What was discussed in this post was having the buyer bid on all of the items listed in the auction and the seller allowing the buyer to refuse some items if so desired. The winning bidder might very well want all ten cups and saucers.
posted on January 16, 2001 09:35:20 PM
Great idea Cassie....we have picked up some GREAT bargains from this type of auction (for our resale)...just make sure you know what you have, and the value of EACH item before you list.
Our best results have come from those who list a large "group" of items, and have not taken the time to research them first. (Easy to do if you are unfamiliar with the items/category).
All of our sellers have been extremely pleased when we got in a minor bidding war for the listed "crap"(in the seller's mind), and are prolly still wondering what the heck was so valuable in that lot!
IOW...DO YOUR RESEARCH, and best of luck!
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on January 16, 2001 09:35:33 PMdarcyw -- Yes. Well, I would think a buyer would always have the option of saying "just send me the Blue Heaven cup and saucer -- throw the others in the trash or re-sell them, I don't care, I don't want to pay for the shipping on them." Why would a seller not allow this? Why would he need to even mention this in his listing, unless he was offering the buyer a choice of the items?
[ edited by triplesnack on Jan 16, 2001 09:42 PM ]
posted on January 16, 2001 09:45:01 PM triplesnack Why would a seller not allow this, or need to even mention this in his listing?
I used to email the sellers, ask if I won the auction if I could just have such and such mailed to me. I was refused. The two reasons I was given the most often was 1)items are on consignment and everything gets shipped (i.e. seller would have too hard of a time explaining the request to the little old lady consignor) and 2)we are an antique mall and it is against our rules.
I stopped asking sellers. Now I just skip those auctions, don't bother, unless I spot something that is real valuable.
That is why I made the suggestion. I would bid if the seller says the buyer can refuse some items.
posted on January 17, 2001 05:41:13 AMcassie, I think you're right on the money with coordinated lots. Even a lot of 2 items cuts your listing fees and administrative costs in half.
Administrative costs include the time to find the item, clean it up, take, prepare and upload pix, prepare the listing, deal with email correspondence, and label and pack the item/lot; and a share of the time I take going to/waiting at the PO, researching the market, doing business paperwork (including banking and IRS), processing returned goods, and attempting to collect from deadbeats. (There's also a share of bounced check fees, gas/wear and tear on my vehicle, my computer, ISP, stationery, and other business supplies; and of anticipated losses, including items that just won't sell, breakage, and bonus gifts sent to regular customers.) I've figured out that the time alone works out to about 30 minutes per listing.
Say I buy an item for $3; sells for $9. Listing/FVFs are $.70. My "take" is now down to $5.30. For 30 minutes' work, I'm paid $5.30, or $10.60 an hour, with no benefits.
OTOH, if I sell two items in a lot, even at a lower per-piece amount - say $15 for the lot rather than $18 - even adding an extra 7 minutes of extra pic and "hunting/gathering" time, I still get an hourly rate of $22.70. Even if I have to relist the item, I'm still way ahead.
As a buyer, I'll bid on a boxlot even if it's got only one or two items in it I actually want. I base my bid on (a) what I'd pay for the pieces I want plus (b) the max I could pay for the pieces I don't want and still make a profit reselling them.
posted on January 17, 2001 06:29:27 AM
SElling in lots has worked out GREAT for me when it comes to clothing ~ as long as it is consistent with brand and size (ie Tommy Hilfiger womens sz6/8 lot of tops and bottoms or with kids, a lot that they can grow with ie GAP size XS,S,6,8). I end up doing much better on the final value, ship to only one winner, saved tons of time, and have had awesome response from bidders who get not just one new treasure but a Christmas extravaganza any time of the year! BTW, it bugs me when a seller calls 2 pieces a "LOT" ~ IMHO lots should be at least 4 pieces ~ I do about 4-10 pieces and shipping usually ends up at $1 or less per piece so the bidder spends more on the auction, less on the shipping. Pretty cool! OTOH, the LOT strategy didn't work for me with my collections ~ stamps, beanies, comic books, antiques ~ hope this helps someone.....
