posted on July 31, 2005 06:59:09 PM
So last month I went on a tear and got irritated at my ebay bill. Between two of my accounts it was in the $1600 and with it being a slower season and an upcoming $20K in dental expenses I got mad and frustrated so for a week or so I decided to do a little experimenting.
I have five major lines of merchandise with about 500 different styles/colors between them. Rahter than continuing to run 25 auctions per day, since my store listing outnumber my auction listings I decided to see if I could drop the aucions listings and increase the store sales. I buyilt different templates for each different style which each contain a graphic ad for that particular line that shows a collection of the more intesting pieces in it and made that a link to that catagory in the store. (I had to drop the custom search in each ad for the US site, since I just got the first shut down for keyword spamming. No problems yet on the UK site). For a week I dropped the daily listing numbers from 25 to 15 and at the end of the week...I had the same sales volume but dropped my listing fees by 40%. Since it worked for the week I have been letting it run and today I look at my ebay bills and overal, I have about the same sales total as last month but am paying ebay about a third less than I did last month.
Not a method that would work for one off item sellers but for those that have a consistant inventory and are looking for ways to cut expenses right now it might be a way to help get thru the leaner months or at least increase profit margins. Just thought I would pass it along.
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on July 31, 2005 08:42:54 PM
Great fenix!! BTW I remember reading a thread on the store sellers board awhile back that suggested you use a graphic file for your "see other items" link - it will not be picked up in keyword search and therefore is not keyword spamming...you might have to put a tiny note to that effect so that ebay and your competitors can see that and not shut you down again.
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posted on July 31, 2005 09:20:39 PM
Neglus - my custom search actually hit about 20 different searches...it had searches for different styles and searches for different themes. Works like a charm in the UK but apparently their sellers are more welcoming to competition that US sellers or their regulations are just not as tight. Still trying to figure out a way to include the searches in my US listings without including 20 additional graphics to each listing making them way to slow for dial up connections, In the meantime I'm sticking with directed advertising just hitting people that look a one style with others in that style they may be interested in.
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
