posted on January 24, 2001 09:26:16 AM new
Hi -- Before I ask my question, please note that I am a 40something mom, still learning how to use the computer (self taught by trial and error, not classes), have only listed items on Yahoo (because it was free) after paying ebay and amazon to list things that didn't sell, and am now trying to decide where to sell my books. My question-- 'what is a fairmarket auction'? I know I must sound ignorant to you pros, but I'm hoping someone can help clear this up for me!
(P.S. I posted this same thread--is that the correct word? under auctionwatch's fairmarket topic...)
posted on January 24, 2001 09:43:44 AM new
FairMarket is a conglomerate shared by Lycos, Excite, MSC, Boston Globe, etc. etc.
If you post at one, your item apears on all of the others.
Sounds like a great thing at first, but I don't like the organziation of the sites. You might want to try a few listings just for the heck of it.
Regardless of the "portal," or service you use to acces the auction (Lycos, Excite, MSC, Boston Globe, etc. etc.), the posting is pretty much the same. I don't know if the fees differ with each portal. Maybe someone else here can answer that.
If you just want to keep stuff up for awhile for free, try Pootah (pootah.com) which is new.
Also, this wouldn't be a bad time to establish a web site if you don't have one, as it can take up to six months for some search engines to spider you.
I think one auction dealers are a thing of the past now. Most will be posting on three or four now, plus maintaining at least a basic web site or home page.
posted on January 24, 2001 09:59:58 AM new
Lycos is free for basic listings at this point. I don't use features, etc., so I can't speak to those fees. Their individual listing interface is OK, but their "mass listing" tool is a real booger. DutchBid is free for basic listings (no FVF, either) with charges for banners (subtitles in the category/search listings) and a few other goodies, but not features, etc.. I don't know what their book market is like, though.
always pickersangel everywhere http://homepage.netspaceonline.com/~twobar/pickers.htm
posted on January 24, 2001 01:13:39 PM new...have only listed items on Yahoo (because it was free) after paying ebay and amazon to list things that didn't sell, and am now trying to decide where to sell my books.
I haven't tried the Fairmarket Auctions yet and am not sure I will after reading the posts regarding not being able to log on. After all, if people can't log on, they can't list or bid, so what's the point.
But aside from that, you don't say how long you tried to sell your books on the other auction sites. I specialize in books, so I have some experience in this area. For me, sales were dismal on Yahoo, maybe 1 every 10 days or so. Definitely not worth paying listing fees for. I tried Amazon for about 6 weeks and didn't sell a thing. Listed the same items on eBay (that sat at Amazon), and several sold within 24 hrs. I've been with eBay since I started selling books last year and they are my first choice.
I do this in my spare time when my 2 young children, 6 and 3 1/2 are not demanding my constant attention. And I've managed to pull in several hundred dollars a month in sales. Just stating the facts as a bit of encouragement here. I've seen many posts about how people can't be bothered with selling low-ticket items or can't manage to pay the PayPal or Billpoint fees on items under $10, or now that postage has gone up, or listing fees have gone up, or whatever....
I don't like additional fees, or fee increases either, but I'm adapting. It's either that or give up, and that's something I've never done quite easily. Even with the credit card fees, listing fees, FVF fees, cost of the mailing materials, my profit is still hundreds of dollars per month.
So I will continue to sell my books, listing them on eBay as my first choice. I'm trying AuXpal right now and am getting better hits than I got on Yahoo, no bids yet. And yes, I think that for lower ticket items, having a free site or a FVF only site makes sense, because that soon-to-be 30 cents adds up and eats away all the profit if you have to list 5 or 6 times to sell. At least there is the hope of making a sale so the stuff isn't sitting around taking up space waiting for the free listing day in December.
BTW, as others have already stated, just because something doesn't sell this month or the next, doesn't mean there is no market for it. I had stuff I couldn't give away over the summer, put it up on free listing day, sold it for an amazing amount of money! Just a matter of timing...
Sorry to ramble on so...
But it is possible to make a go of books on eBay anyway and I'm doing very well, as I'm sure others are.
Now we just need someone who is successfully selling books on Amazon to stand up and take a bow for us and share their POV.
posted on January 25, 2001 06:42:03 AM new
don't forget Amazon Marketplace and half.com as alternatives to Ebay. You have to know what you are doing - don't list on half.com if they already have 50 copies listed for 1 cent.
I also make several hundred a month selling books and hope to increase that this year.
posted on January 25, 2001 01:45:21 PM new
opinions will vary on what site you might pick for free listings...I've tracked and observed a LOT of info myself. If you're not already deadset on a site, I'd suggest www.AuXpal.com - They don't allow easy upload of picture-copies for more than one yet, but that is in the works. I also use www.BidBay.com - They are great, because they allow 9, yes 9 pictures uploaded at one time and provide HTML-code for you to copy and paste into any site's auction form. Some will say that Lycos and the FreeMarket group is great, but it is a pain and doesn't really get as many views - despite its "existing" flow of users.
