posted on May 2, 2001 08:03:41 AM new
Yahoo!Auctions listings:
DATE:
04/19 - 04/24 - 05/02
Antiques, Art, & Collectibles > Miscellaneous > Postcards:
1,256 - 1,242 - 1,038
Antiques, Art, & Collectibles > Miscellaneous > Maps:
18 - 33 - 13
Coins, Paper Money, & Stamps > Coins > United States:
8,846 - 8,236 - 8,678
Coins, Paper Money, & Stamps > Stamps > United States:
1,767 - 1,881 - 1,766
Computers > Hardware > PC:
4,112 - 4,240 - 4,183
Computers > Software > PC:
2,805 - 2,975 - 2,738
Entertainment > Books > Antique and Rare:
694 - 755 - 680
Entertainment > Movies > DVD:
1,740 - 1,291 - 1,066
Entertainment > Movies > Video Tapes:
6,729 - 5,141 - 4,732
Entertainment > Music > CDs:
2,417 - 2,163 - 2,277
Since the collapse of Yahoo!Auctions has been well documented ad nauseum, I'm changing the presentation to reflect current trends. I went back and picked up the counts for the past two weeks to give some immediate perspective.
posted on May 2, 2001 11:59:00 AM new
still dropping. what a surprise. thanks for posting, dimview.
I don't have a single thing listed on Yahoo. I was really hopefull after my last round of listings on Yahoo, because initially the sell through seemed great. Unfortunately I had a lot of deadbeats, and some buyers that are turning out to be problematic- deadbeats that are insisting they sent payment and that I'm trying to rip them off by not sending their item. (I have 2 of these Yahoos at the moment.) Yahoo has never been THIS bad before.
I wouldn't even consider using my credit card to list auctions with them right now. In the future I might reconsider as I like keeping my options open, and I still think an ebay monopoly is not in anyone's best interests. However, I am pulling out of the online auction game for now anyway so it is no skin off my back either way at this time.
posted on May 2, 2001 12:52:11 PM new
I feel like a traitor returning eBay. Not a Yahoo traitor. Yahoo can kiss my #%@$.
But I can't survive on a handful of sales on Bidville every week. 3 months on Bidville and my sales are showing little improvement.
I had an Aikman card listed on Bidville for 3 months with a buy price of $25. I moved it to eBay and it closed at $43 in 3 days (Great commercial for eBay). I received payment via PayPal the same day the auction closed. Not a single deadbeat after two weeks of listing with eBay.
I'm looking into the Pay Per Click search engines as another alternative. Paying 1 to 5 cents per visitor, for all the items listed on your website sounds like a pretty good deal.
I'm not sure if AW considers these search engines as competition so I won't name any.
I would recommend that AW jump on the bandwagon and offer the same service.
Most internet users have heard of the most popular one (5 cents minimum per click/hit), but there are quite a few where you can list for a penny per click and they seem to be gaining a lot of momentum. Easy to find if you do a search for > pay per click < .
posted on May 2, 2001 01:25:06 PM new
As dimview's numbers show the site is still declining overall in listings. Some might think this means more exposure for their items, thus maybe better sell-throughs. Well, I decided to track one category to see if I could see an improvement in sales/prices for those who are still listing.
I tracked Jewelry & Watches>Fine which has now been broken down into subcategories (that happened end of March). Those subcategories are: Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets, Pendants & Charms, Pins & Brooches, Designer & Signed and Other. To save on space, although I keep track of each subcategory seperately, I lump the numbers all together for a grand total for the CATEGORY.
I started tracking 4/28. Although that is not a long time, it already shows a clear pattern.
4/28/01 1946 Items 257 with Bids = 13%
4/29/01 1709 Items 204 with Bids = 12%
5/01/01 1912 Items 225 with Bids = 12%
It is important to note that the bid totals do not reflect the auctions that will close with a winner, because many of these are high-end items with reserves that will not be met.
As you can see, if you do sell in this category and if you have a sell-through rate higher than 13% you are beating the average!
From personal experience (I may be alone in this, but strongly doubt it) closing prices are below where they were in February.
posted on May 2, 2001 01:57:24 PM new
I just sold a Teletubbies video...but not a Patricia Cornwell audiobook. I didn't get much for the video, but OTOH, there are no listing and FVF's. I might end up using Yahoo for low-price items. Most of what I've tried selling haven't gone.
posted on May 2, 2001 03:08:50 PM new
Thanks for the updates you people. With the numbers declining how can Yahoo auctions still fail to see the big picture. With a sell through percentage of 12% it is costing sellers a minimum of about $2.00 for a week long auction or less if it sells. This is assuming they start out with a bid price of less than $9.99.
If it does not sell, a seller can only list it a few times before they have no chance of making any money on the item.
Items priced at less than $20 to start are not worth the trouble anymore if they are not a quick selling item. With the listing fees, deadbeat bidders, etc. is it worth it to make a couple of dollars on an item?
If Yahoo went to a monthly fee like Amazon, there would be at least be some hope for the sellers that used to use Yahoo.
posted on May 2, 2001 03:20:12 PM new
The best-kept secret is: Amazon Marketplace!
Since I say farewell (me Monopoly moola ran out!) to YooHoo last month, I moved all my BooHoo junk over to A-M and I'm selling like I'm giving the stuff away! At very HIGH PRICES!!
Amazon may have massive auction problems, but the Marketplace has been a real nice surprise for me!
posted on May 4, 2001 04:56:13 PM new
I think it's past time Yahoo dropped some sub-categories. I browsed a few where there were about 10-12 subs with 0-15 ads in each for a total of 50-60 between all 10. I don't understand why they don't roll them back into 1 page instead of making bidders click all 10 links to see everything. Especially when the majority of ads always seem to be in one called 'other'. All the empty spaces look stupid at this point, it's not like they are going to round up any new sellers to list in them.
posted on May 7, 2001 07:51:36 AM new
I too returned to eBay after Yahoo got so totally ridiculous. At first paying eBay fees once again was a shock, but the sales and the prices we are getting only put a smile on my face.
I did a test last week of one item on Yahoo, same item on eBay - my eBay item is sold, but the Yahoo is still languishing, and it is featured.
No YAHELL for me - they can keep their ridiculous site, and their prideful attitude.
Regarding Amazon MarketPlace
I don’t know what you are selling, but since Amazon committed suicide a year or so ago, I have been able to give anything away on their auction. At one time I had one of their shops (whatever they were calling them at that time) and didn’t find it worked either.
