posted on January 22, 2003 02:37:06 PM new
Most of my items average around the $10-$12 range - fees are pretty steep as it is for this price range.
I have an opportunity to sell a large quantity of items, but about the most they will go for is around $1 each. If a customer gets several, that will work out okay, because my cost is almost nothing. But I am worried about the bidders that will only purchase one, and then pay with PayPal.
I am going to offer each color dutch (up to about 10 per auction) to spread that 30cent listing fee out over several, but there still might only be one or two sold per auction.
Anyone have any suggestions for selling extremely low priced items effectively?
posted on January 22, 2003 03:52:03 PM new
As I understand it momof3boys, your listing fee is based on the total listing price. So, dutch auction that starts at $3.99 for ten items is a listing fee equivalent to $39.99. To save on fees, one could start the dutch listing of ten at $.99 or lower.
Also, instead of listing dutch, you could also starting your bid or a fixed listing of $9.99 for a lot of 10. One bidder takes all. This way you can guarantee moving a large quantity and still pay only $0.35 for listing.
If you browse the categories, there may be a "wholesale lots" subcategory for the area you sell in. If there is more than one relevant category, create a unique listing for each category to maximize your exposure without paying the double category fee for one listing. Makes better sense especially if you list using "fixed priced".
posted on January 22, 2003 04:15:55 PM new
You have to watch out for low priced items that you have a lot of the same thing. The first wave of auctions may look very promising but with each new set of auctions the demand will probably fall and fall. After a while it may be very difficult to sell any items and that's when the listing fees really hurt.
Try to sell buyers, especially in the first wave of auctions, as many of the items off ebay as you can.
posted on January 22, 2003 06:17:03 PM new
As I discovered unfortunately, you cannot list dutch auctions with a starting price under.99 (I had 1600 CBRs for piercings and was hoping to clear them out in a series of dutch auctions but no such luck.)
posted on January 22, 2003 06:42:08 PM new
WHAT ABOUT,,,,,,,,,,,POSTAGE!!!! YEAH! THAT WORKS. SURE DO. ONE DOLLAR AND,,,,,,,,POSTAGE! THINK. JUST AN IDEA OF COURSE....
posted on January 22, 2003 06:56:33 PM new
Now Jack are you saying what I think you are.
Video sellers so it and I think they make out pretty good. What I am talking about is a handling fee for mailing your items. You can have the handling fees cover your fees. It might not be legal but many sellers do that.
posted on January 22, 2003 07:28:40 PM new
I would not waste my time on anything for a buck as the "market" is flooded with low $$ items.
You can try one dollar item and charge $6.50 for S/H
A lot of sellers make the bucks off the s/h and not the item. Volume selling is the key here.
posted on January 22, 2003 07:34:45 PM new
JUST A THOUGHT MA'M,,,,JUST A THOUGHT. AH GEE,,YOU MEAN SOME PEOPLE DO, DO THAT? AS LONG AS IT'S RIGHT IN THE AUCTION,,$6.99 I SEE NUTHIN' WRONG WITH IT....PAPER, POPCORN,NEWSPAPER, TIME, LABOR,BOXES, PLASTIC WRAP, TAPE!!!!!! MILES OF TAPE!! BOUGHT A CASE LATELY,,,,THIS STUFF AIN'T CHEAP,,,,,AND I LOVE THE RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIP SOUND. USE PLENTY,,,,,AFTER ALL THE MORE YOU USE,,,,THE SAFER IT IS.....AND 300 POUND ROLLS OF BROWN WRAPPING PAPER 4 FEET WIDE......BOUGHT ONE OF T H O S E PUPPIES LATELY,,,I MEAN I DON'T PLAY GAMES WHEN IT COME TO PACKAGING....AND I BUY R E A L SUPPLIES....CHARGE E'M! NO PROBLEM,,,DRIVE OVER AND GET IT,,,,CAN DO TOO.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON,,,,,
posted on January 23, 2003 02:13:32 AM new
sun818, some fees are not supposed to be charged to the customer, such as Paypal credit card fees...I don't think anybody was accusing anyone.
posted on January 23, 2003 06:26:15 AM new
Let's not forget about the investment of time you are talking about. I also sell low end items ($3-20) and have stopped offering anything under $5 because it's just not worth the time it takes for responding to email, packing, shipping, etc. Value your time, it's not unlimited or free.
posted on January 23, 2003 10:07:56 AM new
I sell a lot of videos and DVD's. Some videos I sell for 99 cents (cheap cartoon type of videos that I know won't sell for more). I know someone brought this up already, but I do a Fixed price listing and list 10 at a time. They buyer only has to purchase 1 if he wants and your listing fee will still be 30 cents because the total value of the items is under $9.99. I charge $2.00 for shipping (actual cost is $1.42) - enought to cover the cost of the listing, but not too much that I get grumbles from buyers about high shipping amounts.
