posted on July 28, 2001 11:00:22 PM new
Since ebay basically gives you no notice of FREE LISTING DAYS, I would like to have a bunch ready to go. For starters I hate spending listing frees on low price items ( spent .35 to list a $3.00 item ). I listed about 102 items on AW's FLD day and have about 47 that did not sell. I am tring to come up with the easiest, least time consuming way to save them for another FLD. I also have about 300 more of this same type of item ( $3.00 opening bid stuff ) that I can write up at my leisure and save for a FLD.
Does anyone preplan for an unknown FLD? What do you do?
posted on July 29, 2001 05:33:14 AM new
I'm not that experienced at planning for a free listing day, but I'm trying to improve so I'll give this one a shot.
The FLD in December and in June both seemed to have been offered for the same reason: a dramatic (in eBay's opinion) drop in listings.
By reading these boards I've learned that some sellers take a vacation from their business in December because they're too busy with holiday stuff and would rather put their energies into that. Also, I've noted that the lines at the post office (and mine typically doesn't have long lines) get extremely long after the 15th of December right on through Christmas. This might also discourage sellers from listing the closer it gets to Christmas. Also, since eBay's fiscal year end appears to be December, it's their last chance to boost numbers for the year. So it's a pretty safe assumption that there will usually be a FLD near the end of December.
And since people talked about it in advance on the boards, I was able to make sure I had some stuff ready to go.
The June one caught me totally by surprise. But the reason for it I think is still pretty much the same. A dramatic drop-off in listings due to slow summer sales, sellers taking vacations, kids being home meaning less time for mom and/or dad to be on the computer listing, etc. June is also the fiscal semi-annual reporting period for eBay. So for those reasons, they probably wanted to try and boost their figures. Did they have one last year? Anyone know? But even if not, it also might become a regular event to prepare for.
How to prepare though?
I usually scan a bunch of pictures, then write up the descriptions and input the information in AuctionTamer. Then everything is ready to go at the touch of a button. This will also work if you're using Auction Manager Pro or whatever other launching software you might be using, Mister Lister, etc. (Believe me, it's best to use the software. In December I wasn't using software, so I had to use eBay's selling form. And if I hadn't just had cable installed 2 days prior to the FLD, it would have been impossible to make any progress.)
But the key is to anticipate. In June, I didn't anticipate and had just launched all the auctions in my software the day before. So I had to bust my a** writing up descriptions (already had some pictures scanned ahead at least) and getting them into the software. Thankfully, my kids behaved themselves and they occupied themselves quite well for a good portion of the day. Miracles sometimes do happen that way. I managed to get 43 up, but in December I'd gotten over 100 up because I'd already had the descriptions written and just needed to fill out the selling form over and over.
So, in future, when my kids get out of school in June, I'm going to continue taking pictures and writing up descriptions and load them into my software. When they let me. But I'm not going to launch until I find out whether FLD will be a go or not. Had I done that this year, I easily could have had a couple hundred go up at the touch of a button and walked away smiling.
Last December, business was great all month. But I'll do much the same thing. Starting about mid-December, I'll quit launching auctions and just keep preparing them. Then when FLD rolls around, I'll be ready.
Even if you can't afford to not have auctions running at all times, you still might be able to hold back on launching all of them during June and December. Then you'll have more available to go during the FLD's.
Unfortunately, the people who are least able to take advantage of FLD are those who launch each auction immediately after writing them up. You never have anything prepared and ready to go that way. And that's got nothing to do with using software vs. using the selling form. )Remember, I used the selling form in December and got 100 up because I didn't have to bother writing up descriptions. But I used software in June and got less than half that number up because I had to take the time to write up the stuff first. The software did make it faster though, even so.)
posted on July 29, 2001 07:03:00 AM new
I am using ChannelFusion, myself, and I'm thinking about organizing myself in late August to have a batch of auctions completely made up, but with a launch date of, say, Sept. 1-5. Then if FLD happens, I could change the launch date or launch immediately.
I am on the East Coast, and my major problem with the June FLD was that I was scheduled to work 6-9 that evening. By the time I got home, the West Coast was "up" and everything shut down on ebay, such as IPix [I was trying to list on ebay directly, with one photo]. I think Channelfusion stopped working, too.
If it happens again, I plan to have auctions launch around 1PM-4PM which I think gives West Coast folks a shot at sniping, without risking that ebay will go down when all my auctions are ending.
Interestingly, I have found that my sell-through on FLD items was better than what I've been getting in the last couple of weeks of July. The good thing about a FLD at the end of August is that perhaps the auctions will end after folks are back from vacations and kids are back in school.
posted on July 29, 2001 01:05:47 PM new
I think the one in June was a first, for June.
I currently do each auction in AW, Create Listing and schedule to whenever. However, you must schedule them for within 10 days.
I appreciate the above responds. I am not asking when there might be another one. I am asking what if anything you do to preplan for one.
I thought about using the AW inventory for this but have discovered that once an auction is closed with no sale you must jump through way to many hoops to get that item to inventory.
I list about 25 auctions on a normal day. In June on FLD I listed 84 and in July for AW's FLD I listed 102. I do not use Auction Pro or any software other then word were I write my discription and copy & paste it to AW's create Listing.
It sounds like you've pretty much got a good system down.
I'm wondering why you don't use AMPro. Before the "fee" days, I switched from AuctionManager to the AMPro software and found it to be a blessing for the most part. Unless the software has got too many glitches or something now, it might make it even easier for you.
If I'm remembering right, you didn't have to launch right away. You could just save the batches of listings and launch to AW when convenient. In the meantime, they'd still reside in the software on your computer.
posted on July 29, 2001 03:47:49 PM new
One of my problems with AW is there are no directions. I no nothing about AMPro. I do not even see much mention of it here.
I like to work in the middle of the night and then when I have a problem no one is here at AW to answer it. So I stick to what I know.
For 3 months now I have been trying to have the time to download, learn and play with Endicia ( I think that is the name of it ) to do postage at home. I am sick of the 1-2 HOURS at the post office twice a week. I am going to have this software and use it my October for sure! With the holidays the wait will double if not triple and I do not have that kind of time.
posted on July 29, 2001 03:50:32 PM new
RichieRich - I messed around with Endicia for several hours (and also kept closing my account out of sheer frustration) but I finally emailed them for help and they helped me set up my labels and everything, and now it works great! I would suggest emailing them for help, because their software is very hard to figure out.
posted on July 29, 2001 10:59:06 PM new
I wasn't prepared for this last FLD but I plan on being a little more prepared in December. I have been taking the dogs that don't sell and going to the ebay page and by clicking on View (at the top of your screen) and then Source and all the html comes up for the page. I've been saving the description portion of the html in a word document. Under the description html I leave a space and then type in the picture name I've labeled the picture.
I am hoping that when the next fld comes around it will be easy to copy and paste my descriptions and pop the pictures in and launch. We will see.
posted on July 30, 2001 12:06:34 AM new
ewora -
do you use AW to launch?
I ask this because I wish there was a "move" choice on the closed listing. Then you could just select "move" to inventory and presto! Once in inventory give it a SKU or any of those fields I never use of FLD and then on FLD just click slect them all and PRESTO however many fit on a page are now schedule to launch.
That is my idea. Now if I could talk AW into do it.
While waiting for FLD the items can sit in your AW store. But the way it is currently setup that means a lot of clicking to get out of the store and scheduled on FLD.
posted on July 30, 2001 12:00:37 PM new
download auctionsubmit (free)
import all your currently running acutions, and, for the next few months, update it often. It keeps all your UNSOLD items in a separate area. When FLD hits, duplicate the items you want to list over to your new listings, hit the button, and they're loaded!!! I am patiently waiting for another FLD....
posted on July 30, 2001 01:04:29 PM newHOW do you do it?
I don't do the listings but I'd do it with "Batches" in Auction Watch Pro. You can set them up at your leisure and then just launch them...whenever.
As for how to use AWPro... there is extensive documentation online and another forum somewhere around here if you can't figure out the tutorial and FAQ.
arttsupplies (owner) got off about 400+ auctions on the FLD. that was without having the "batches" set up. I'm supposed to notify him before the next FLD so he can have the "batches" ready.
arttsupplies (webmaster)
[ edited by arttsupplies on Jul 30, 2001 01:04 PM ]
posted on July 30, 2001 02:39:47 PM new
I do mine via Mister Lister and pretty much same theory is in place. I'll have all my files prepared, pictures taken and on my hard drive, so all I have to do the day of FLD is upload and launch, usually 1-2 files an hour over the coarse of the day (so not EVERYTHING closes at 10pm in a week-10 days).
Depending on what you sell and the size, you could start a FLD box in the garage/closet, whatever, and when you've decided "This is a FLD item", write up the description, take the picture and save it in a file,and put the item in the box. By the time FLD comes about, you'll have your files of auctions ready to go, and know exactly where the items are when its time to start shipping.
My goal is to get all auctions for each set of cards done every two weeks leading up to the December FLD.
Also, I agree with the previous poster, this is the first June FLD I remember. Some speculate there will be anotehr on in late September if listings continue to drop.
posted on July 31, 2001 01:04:14 AM new
Yes I do use Auctionwatch exclusively.
There is an option when you are first creating your auctions to have the item also saved in your inventory. I frequently check that box and if the item ends up selling I go into my inventory and delete it.
I managed to get 43 up, but in December I'd gotten over 100 up because I'd already had the descriptions written and just needed to fill out the selling form over and over.