posted on May 17, 2001 12:23:03 PM
I'm torn on this question.
For instance (just one example):
You have an item that retails for $30.00 or so normally, and this item is hard to get--not found every day, and definitely in fixed supply.
Furthermore, you get the item extra, extra cheap, say for around .50 cents (a lucky find for sure!) Just to add a little more spice to the scenario, say you have six of these items, and you figured you had around $3.00 into all six.
Would you be happy with the $18.00-$20.00 (each) they are going to (likely) bring on ebay, or would you hold out for a more retail price? Turn it quick for a tidy profit? (although getting a wholesale price), or hold out for a better price because they are hard to get and you know it?
The reason I'm torn on this question is because I'm tired of selling stuff too cheaply, but need the sales now, not next month! Also, we all know that maximum high starting bids seldom work.
[ edited by loosecannon on May 17, 2001 12:26 PM ]
posted on May 17, 2001 12:26:07 PM
I usually try not to think about Retail too much - just decide what profit margin I'M comfortable with, and that's what I aim for.. If its something I really thought would get more money elsewhere, I'd take it elsewhere, but if I need the sale NOW, I'd take what I could get for it and make what profit I can...
If they're not special occasion widgets, I'd pop a couple up a few days apart with a start of 10.00 and let the eBayers set the retail price...
If they do real well, close to retail, then I'd pop up two more after the first ones have closed...
If not, I'd wait until they've expired from your 30 day seller record and then give two more another go...
And so on...
I track a sellers closed auctions very carefully, even using feedback records to find comparables more than 30 days old....I'm sure many buyers do the same and are often reluctant to pay significantly more than the average going price...
posted on May 17, 2001 12:40:57 PM
The name of the game is turnaround ....buy for.50 sell for 18.00 take 17.50 buy gas ,buy food ,buy more to sell.
The peaple who look up a item and finds it books for 30.00 so they figure they can get 35.00 wind up with lot's of stuff and few sales.
Make a little (or a lot ) and move on .....
posted on May 17, 2001 01:07:06 PM
I'd start them out at $9.99 with a Buy It Now price of $25 to $30 and let the bidders decide what route to take. If they jump on the BIN price, great. If they start bidding, that's fine too since sometimes bidders take items above the original BIN price. If it only ends up at the more typical $18 - $20 range, I could certainly live with that given the low investment. I also agree with the others - space them out over a period of several weeks. Even if you only get $18 per item, that's $108 on a $3 investment, less ebay's fees, which ain't a bad turn-around.
posted on May 17, 2001 05:57:07 PM
I'm for the "take the money and run" idea!
Who knows if more of these will show up while you're playing hold out?
or...
Maybe you'll play games and only end up with the same $20 high bid.
There are no guarantees
(not to be a pessimist, but too many fees are on the rise while the fed cuts interest rates ~ it will cut into your profits if postal fees go up, image hosting expense, paypal, eBay, etc!)
IMHO, if you can find $30 widgets for 50 cents, go sell them for $20 and use the cash to find another needle in the haystack!
Great Score, BTW!
Good Luck!
only ZOOMIN here
(schpellin stinkie toonite)
[ edited by zoomin on May 17, 2001 05:59 PM ]
