posted on October 5, 2001 08:14:10 PM
I cannot believe that Packer is considering throwing in the auction towel! Don't go Packer, don't give up!
I'm about 2/3 of the way through a 400 auction run. [I should be writing the last 100+ now!] Sales have been OK. Not fabulous, but decent. I spent approx. $1400 on the items and expect to gross $4500-$5000 when it's over. Not bad?
I posted the following list of [unpopular] tips in a previous thread. It seems to be working for me. Think of it as you wish, I'm just trying to help cut the doom and gloom, if only a bit.
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Dump USPS for a FedEx account and undercut your competition on shipping costs.
Purchase a better camera. Learn to use it to get the best possible pictures. Good, clean images sell. Don't use supersize pictures that have to be scrolled sideways. Or ones that are too small to be effective. 350-450 pixels is a good width.
Write better, more thorough descriptions. For example, saying an item is in mint condition is NOT good enough. Explain WHY it is in mint condition. Talk about chips, cracks, scratches --> use a loupe, mineral build-up, manufacturing flaws, color, etc. Describe your items as if your customer was absolutely blind.
Start your auctions at a reasonable, yet EXCITING/ENTICING level. Under $10. Bidders love to bid! If you run large batches of items [see below] you might lose money on a couple of items, but overall you will win out.
Don't use reserves. Remember, it's fun/challenging to bid against other buyers, but not against the seller.
Run your auctions in large batches instead of fewer continuously. You'll get better prices from multiple purchase bidders. Write-up 200-300 auctions, list them, while they are running add 20-30 more daily until the first ones close. Yes, you will be able to keep up with the packing.
Offer free shipping to repeat dealer customers. They will really latch on to that and you will benefit! I know, I have three repeat dealer bidders that go back 2-4 years, and I can testify that my profit margin has increased due to their patronage. Treat them like eGold!
If you know html, design your own auction template. That is, a "professional" looking template. You know, the kind where less is more. A personalized template can set you apart from the pack, and you gain or improve on a valuable skill.
Keep third party logos and other images out of your auctions. If you must use a PayPal, c2it, bidpay, or etc. logo, store it on your own server. I see lots of auctions that become stalled while waiting for third party servers to kick in!
Don't leave negative feedback for non-paying bidders. What's the point! Let eBay police their site. The last thing you want before starting a 300 item auction run is several nasty negatives [lies] sitting on top of your feedback profile. Do request your FVFs! Much less chance of retalitory feedback and it has a profound effect on deadbeats!
posted on October 5, 2001 08:20:25 PM
I love this idea;
"Offer free shipping to repeat dealer customers. They will really latch on to that and you will benefit! I know, I have three repeat dealer bidders that go back 2-4 years, and I can testify that my profit margin has increased due to their patronage. Treat them like eGold!"
posted on October 5, 2001 08:42:51 PM
If someone deadbeats me, I leave a neg. If they retaliate, they get hoisted on their own petard. The point is they are a deadbeat and my responsibility is to tell the truth when dishonest behavior is evident. I have over 800 positives on my record and I'm not worried about some lying weasel's mudsling before the "Not A Registered User" makes his comments a lasting testimony to his pathetic actions.
If we wimp out before a deadbeat, what kind of people are we becoming? Terrorists make me nervous, but a deadbeat?
I agree, with the things I sell I very rarely get a deadbeat. But when I do I do not hesitate to neg them AFTER I've exausted all avenues to complete the transaction.
Amazingly enough the ones I've neged haven't retailiated. But admittedly they could'nt because of being NARU'ED.
Your descriptions are quite comprehensive, very good! Pictures too! BTW, Nice price on those FK tu... bo..s!
I'd like to see you in a new template. A little less loud, more professional. Shorter, more concise TOS. More emphasis on the gallery link. Must you call your stuff junk?
I see you try to get "NR" in some of the titles. I'd make certain it was in all of them. It can be done, I do it with every single auction and it helps.
Run in large batches.
Try starting your stuff higher, perhaps $5.99 or $6.99. You may be suffering from the perception that "if it starts at $1 it's NFG." If it goes unsold put it back on at a penny! That's what I do anyway. Often items bid above the previous minimum, but some go lower.
Most of all, don't give up. You've got the right idea!
posted on October 5, 2001 09:16:37 PM
Of the items to be found when searching for "jqe"...
I was just wondering, is there any font or color that is not in those listings? Really, it's not necessary. An ad like that really detracts from anything in the listing that really should be highligted. Generally, just use a single font, size, and color. There may be one or two items, such as the link to your gallary, that you'd like to highlight, so use a bigger and/or bolder size font, possibly another color if it doesn't clash too much. The best place to learn about good advertising is to just look in any successful magazine. You don't see the professional advertising firms selling ads to corporations that use 8 different font types, and six different text colors.
posted on October 5, 2001 09:19:23 PM
Will do Packer! It might be a day or two before you hear from me, but I will not forget. I've made several templates for other seller friends, and I'd love to make yours!
posted on October 5, 2001 09:30:51 PM
Morgantown, thanks for starting such an optomistic thread. It was getting tiring reading all the doom-and-gloom and ebay-bashing threads. After awhile it just wears down the morale.
posted on October 5, 2001 09:47:52 PM
Packer ~ Don't give up. I so enjoy your posts. I have never had the success you have had in the past with the dollar auctions..........I know they have always worked for you...........but maybe you should try something different.........
My first suggestion is to start a new id ~ people for some reason buy alot from newbies.......give it a try........and maybe try starting at 9.99 instead of $1.00. If you have an id with under 100 ~ just use it
posted on October 5, 2001 11:10:57 PM
I live 2 hours north of Green Bay Wisconsin and we up here enjoy your Packer Posts so much... Lean on the ones that you have helped.. We will all get through this mess with support and not giving up the things we Love..It may come to pass that it is with ebay but us buyers and sellers grew with the bay and if it is somewhere else so be it. Get up and Go Pack Go...I'll be checking the boards tomorrow and the next day and on and on and I would miss so much not having you there giving me strength when words can't come.
posted on October 6, 2001 04:32:12 AM
Thank you for such a good thread.
Please hang in there Packer. The saying 'it came to pass' is relevant.
Perhaps our advantage is ourselves, those who read and share on boards like this... you've contributed a great deal and inspired many.
Thank you!
posted on October 6, 2001 07:04:53 AM
I am just starting to list my auctions straight through ebay. Eight now, I'm wondering, if you do your own template, how do you list the auctions? Do you list them through ebay? I dont' know alot about html, I'm just starting to dig into it, so maybe this question is stupider than it sounds!
posted on October 6, 2001 07:31:11 AM
I found a free auction template software program if anyone is interested in that. It works like Mister Lister only you can template the auctions and there are multiple ones to choose from, as well as being able to create your own. I dont actually know if I'm allowed to post this so if I have to remove it I will happily email the information but for now here is the link to Auction Submit
I agree about the number of fonts & colors. I use a change in font size or color only when there's a point that needs to be emphasized. I do use a different font size & color when I'm adding a link to my gallery or ebay store..something to grab the eye of the viewer.
My pictures are all hosted on a friend's server so I can't be of much help there.
But you can put your pictures w/in the HTML or continue to use the picture entry on the input page.
I prefer my pictures at the top of my listing so people can see right away if they are interested rather than having to scroll down to see it (it's that dreaded "scroll" issue again).
If you have Microsoft FrontPage or Word, you can build templates in there in HTML and copy them over to the description box on the input page. One of the keys is making sure for every opening "tag", you have an ending "tag". And, make sure your auctions can be viewed in both Netscape and IE. Some codes work in one but not the other.
It all sounds scary but it's really quite simple & you'll get the hang of it very quickly.
posted on October 6, 2001 01:44:25 PM
Packer,
I started using the gallery trick after you raved about it, and it was a great trick!
I list through AW - and it doesn't really work out very expensively. The great advantage is unlimited pictures - people love pics and I get comments and feedback about that all the time, to the point I finally went and bought a Sony Cyber-shot to do an even better job (the one I had made the pics too dark) - even non buyers and bidders email occasionally complimenting us - it works!
Also along the lines of what we can do to make things better, make sure your text sounds friendly and is easy to read. Paragraphs please!!!
I do agree though, I would change my seller ID Packer - junque doesn't sound like it's good stuff, just my 2 cents...
Things are OK for us, but way down compared to August which was our best month yet... but it will get better.
