posted on December 11, 2006 03:41:03 PM
Someone else always asks this question around this time of year...I'll be the goat this year. I usually end auctions on Sunday...this year, the 24th and 31st fall on Sundays. Am I being stupid to think that people will be bidding on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve or should I spend my time getting auctions ready for the new year when folks will have gobs of Christmas money to spend?
posted on December 11, 2006 03:58:24 PM
My records show no action on either Christmas Eve or New Years Eve, no matter what day it falls on, with sales picking up the first and second week in January.
But then again my records also show booming sales the first two weeks of December...until this year.
Regards,
Susan
[ edited by wgonzales on Dec 11, 2006 03:58 PM ]
posted on December 11, 2006 04:16:59 PM
I'm going to do a few BIN on Christmas items tonight and then I'm done for the season. Back to listing as normal after the first of the year.
posted on December 11, 2006 11:10:42 PM
I'm starting a small group of auctions on Christmas night (Monday the 25th). I figure people will be full and burping, ready to see what's new on eBay. And there are lots of lonely people out there who don't have such joyous holidays, and I know that they search and buy on eBay.
Between now and the 25th, though, I won't be running any auctions. I'd written myself a note last year not to bother.
posted on December 12, 2006 03:13:04 AM
Am I correct in thinking that Ebay will offer some "deal" on listing fees when the listings drop for the holidays? Does anyone recall if that happened last year? <p> I do agree that there will be some Ebay watchers on the holidays. Who knows, maybe some bidders too!
posted on December 12, 2006 06:19:21 AM
I plan on being away between Christmas and New Years and will probably lug along the things that haven't been paid for or cross my fingers and mail them (I'm planning on listing things that are lighter than one pound that will end the week before Christmas so shipping costs are simple). As I remember from last year, very little sold in that week between. I plan on having the last auction end on the 22 (non-holiday stuff) and start up again with listings that end Jan 1st forward.
posted on December 12, 2006 06:28:40 AM
Maybe - ebay usually has a BIG listing fee sale (used to be FREE) on the day after Christmas or thereabouts (I think last year was the 27th)- gets their listing numbers up BIG TIME for end of year reporting. I would expect the same this year but ebay has not been predictable this year so who knows?
I list during the holidays but probably won't have listings end on Christmas Eve. As Roadsmith pointed out, there are a lot of people who are alone or don't celebrate the season and will be on the computer.
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posted on December 12, 2006 06:44:36 AM
Hey, don't forget our Jewish friends or people of other religions that do not celebrate Christmas. Some of my Jewish friends find Christmas Eve and Christmas 2 of the most boring days of the year. Restaurants, etc are closed.
Last year Ebay had a deal right before or after Christmas. I thought, Bah, humbug, bad timing, but I listed and did quite well. I think people got Christmas money or didn't get exactly what they wanted from Santa or were still in the holiday spirit and wanted to complete a set or get additional things...whatever the reason, people were buying in late December, early January.
posted on December 12, 2006 09:00:41 AM
I have had very few auctions this month and have been squeeking along. Enough money to pay bills! I am going to Portugal on Dec 29 for 2 weeks... I have been spending my time getting ready for the anticipated post Christmas ebay sale. I will list everything I can or have it ready for my husband to push the button if I'm already gone.This years Dec sales have been less than last year and FAR less than 2 years ago for me.Hoping January is back to good sales for all of us!
posted on December 12, 2006 11:29:18 AM
Traditionally, right after Christmas has been very good for us.
But this year, who knows. Sales were strong for about a week after Thanksgiving, then died gruesomely. We are taking December 7 to December 28 off this year; next year it will be at least the whole month of December if not the last week of November as well.
Actually, I'm thinking that might be a great time to have a seasonal business that has nothing whatsoever to do with eBay. I came up with an idea based on a shop on our cruise ship (Celebrity Mercury). It's women's accessories and everything is $10. Before you think "cheap", some of it is quite nice. Pashminas in gorgeous colors, two huge displays of fashion watches in every color of the rainbow, beach totes, evening purses, jewelry, well, you have to see it. There's a lot of value. All the women have shopped there, and I've already received a gift I'm pretty sure came from there. So the cruise line sources this stuff from somewhere (it all has the same label) and I'll find out where, then set up a kiosk or do a short-term lease on a vacant store.
fLufF, Selenium-level PowerSeller, today in Acapulco
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posted on December 12, 2006 12:58:20 PM
Great idea. Do not stop, go directly to go, do not look back. Take this idea and run with it. It is quite possible that you than can and will sell online from your store inventory.
posted on December 12, 2006 01:48:17 PM
Lucky you Fluff!! We took that cruise (I least I think it was the same one, Feb 2005)...if you like lobster, make sure you take the water taxi at Zihuatanejo to the beach and order at one of the beach restaurants (of course I don't remember the name but I think it's the second one from the end as you arrive) very cheap and very good!
I am sooooo jealous!! I can't even feel smug about having snow this Christmas - just brown grass and gray days. Enjoy the fun and sun.
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We usually go away around Christmas, but this year we've had a lot of construction done on our house, and decided to stay and smell the paint and poly drying.
posted on December 13, 2006 07:28:10 AM
OH Fluffy as I watch the freezing rain come down and the roads and trees glaze over with ice... my minds eye is in Acapulco on a cruise ship sailing away... instead of skating away on a river if ice! Thanks for the breath of warm air. As for the $10 keyosk... good idea!Sounds like the price point we all want to be at right now. People love that $10.00 price tag.Walmart made itself the biggest market in the world on volume!
posted on December 13, 2006 12:02:37 PM
Right after Christmas up until mid-April has always been good for me. You get people spending Christmas cash and tax refunds. I hope it's as good this year as it has been in the past. I've all but quit selling on eBay for the moment. I still have my web site and that's doing fairly well right now. I think the reason for that is that shipping is free on the site. I don't have any fees so I can afford to offer the free shipping.
Enjoy the fun and sun.