posted on September 14, 2004 06:43:13 PM
I have a question
The items I sell are 99% BIN. Would it be cheaper for me (listing fees wise) to list what I sell in quantity of 4 or 5 (whatever) than to sell 1, relist it, etc?
I *think* it makes more sense but I'd like to know if others do this and if it saves money in the long run?
posted on September 14, 2004 07:00:15 PM
Depends on how many and what your starting price is. You might save money on insertion fees, but not on final value fees.
The Insertion Fee is based upon the opening value of the items you list for sale. The opening value is the starting price or the fixed item price multiplied by the quantity of items you offer. The maximum insertion fee for any Multiple Item Listing is $4.80.
Multiple Item Fixed Price Listings: The Final Value Fee is calculated per item sold, based on the final sale price of the item.
Yer welcome.
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[ edited by iareateacher on Sep 14, 2004 07:00 PM ]
posted on September 14, 2004 07:05:35 PM
Lotwise you will almost always realize a lower average price per widget. You will also almost always realize a lower price by offering a fixed price listing with quantity 5 (which can be purchased by five different bidders).
There may be some exceptions to this but they are just that: exceptions.
IMO the selling methods from most desirable to least:
-Offer one at a time low-start no-reserve
-Offer one at a time fixed price
-Offer quantity 5 fixed price
-Offer wholesale lot of 5 fixed price
I believe Dutch auctions should be avoided by people who are not absolutely certain they understand them thoroughly. They are tricky animals.
posted on September 14, 2004 07:13:49 PM
I have an unlimited amount of the widget I sell since I make them. I could have 1 or 100 avaiable. If I put them in a BIN auction of say, 5, where the person could buy 1 or 3 or 5 that's what I mean. I wanted to try and save insertion fees if possible because I sell one, relist, sell it, relist, etc. Between insertion and relisting fees I was wondering is it cheaper?
My item normally costs $.35 to list. Well one does. The other costs $.60 to list.
posted on September 14, 2004 07:43:52 PM
I think this is the part that pertains, then:
The maximum insertion fee for any Multiple Item Listing is $4.80.
At 35 cents each you'd have to list a quantity of 14 (14 x .35 = $4.90) to take advantage of the cap on maximum insertion fee.
I don't do fixed price but my understanding is that if there is quantity 5 a bidder can buy 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The problem with listing quantity 14 or more is that people might get the idea that what you are selling is not exactly hard to find. Perceived scarcity is one factor that fuels sales.
I have the same situation that you do. On certain items I can list 100 as fixed price and sell all of them.
On the other type item I will only sell one, very rarely 2. If I list this item one at a time with a starting bid and BIN, it will go with the BIN the first day. Relist it and it will go the first day again. It is very rare that I get multiple bids. But every once in a while I get a couple of newbies that get in a war. My starting price is the amount I need to pay the expenses and make a reasonable profit. The BIN price gives me a little gravy.
I think it all depends on what you are selling. Why don't try listing one as a fixed price and see how it goes? That would give you a good idea which way will work best for what you sell.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on September 14, 2004 09:01:53 PM
I run roughly 75% FP and have very good success. If you have a hot item, you can actually make more money than on low starting priced auctions. If you have a hot item, people want it now and don't mind paying slightly more to get it now. Same thing on slower items. If you have a FP, you will often get a person to buy it now, where as if it were in auction style, they would tend to wait and see what happens with the bidding. Problem with this, most potential buyers forget to go back and check or bid. Since you have an endless supply, I would go ahead and list them dutch with FB. It will save you money in the long run.
One thing to remember about dutch auctions. They do not qualify for listing fee refunds if they do not sell. So it is also important to be in touch with the market as to when or if they are selling and how many at a time.
posted on September 15, 2004 08:13:23 AM
The cheapest way for you to list those items is in an ebay store - always have some regular listings running to direct buyers to your store with prominent store links and maybe some pics of items listed in your store. Store price is $9.95/month and listing is 2 cents plus 1 cent for gallery view.
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on September 15, 2004 09:53:25 AM
I agree with da PostCard Lady!
My retail items have done much better AT AU CTION than as FIXED PRICE (go figure??) and, rather than swallow MORE relist fees, I've been stashing dem in Ralphie's Emporium -- tis CHEAP
"I hope you leave here and walk out and say, 'What did he say?'" —George W. Bush, Beaverton, Oregon, Aug. 13, 2004
