posted on September 22, 2001 12:46:11 PM new
Hello I am switching to Yahoo. I have done some auctions on Yahoo, but I would like to know if anyone has some tips to selling on Yahoo. Also is there enough traffic going through yahoo? Any insight would help
posted on September 22, 2001 01:51:25 PM new
It depends a great deal on what you sell. There are a great many categories (I won't hazard a guess on the percent of total listings before fees) that are very dead. In these, there's no momentum of buyers increasing from satisfied buyers staying, sellers listing more, and that many more new buyers checking it out. In those groups, if you start listings low, you lose money but of course have very happy buyers. Yea! If you start at a price that gives you a decent profit, the listing and featuring fees eat you alive unless you sell higher ticket items, and maybe even then, too.
There are some other categories that seem to be doing OK. One class of item I sell fits into an area that has a following of buyers and good dealer competition; other than how expensive featuring fees can get I'm very happy with the Yahoo format and image hosting. I've done some price comparisons and think the results there beat eBay's too.
Every month or two I recall the decent cash flow I had before fees from a couple other groups where I have extensive inventory and list some more including featuring things then lose money again with nauseating low sales and page hits.
Do your research! Look through the sold-item history in the categories you want to sell in. Look over your competition.. are they professionals with better material and prices than you'd have? Are there very few sales showing in the categories? Look through the feedback for happy, repeat buying. Are there scams going on like in the laptop computer areas where sellers try to bait-and-switch buyers to send MO's to foreign countries to cheat them? If it looks like there are problems, then be very careful with experimental listings first. Try using reserves, starting at what you paid for the item, at much LESS than is profitable, and by all means use the featuring if the fees are a low percent of whatever you sell.
posted on September 22, 2001 02:06:15 PM new
Thank You so much for your input, I didn't stop to think about checking past sales history. I will check into that.
posted on September 22, 2001 07:24:03 PM new
The only thing tricky about checking closed auctions on Yahoo is you will only see the ones that closed with a WINNING bid. This can be misleading. If you have an item to sell and you check closed auctions you may find one to compare (provided it sold), but just because you don't find one doesn't mean it's never been offered. It MIGHT just mean it didn't sell ! I learned the hard way! I checked closed auctions in my category and didn't find anything in the price range I was going to be "target". I thought I had found a nitch. Turns out, nobody seems to BUY in this price range! It's either got to be a lot cheaper or really highend! I am persistent though, and eventually (through trial and error) I will find what does sell. Just hope I don't run out of money before I do....
posted on September 23, 2001 12:07:23 AM new
I would recommend ALWAYS using a buy price.
I also think it's a good idea to set an opening bid a few dollars below your buy price. It increases your odds of having multiple bidders. In the event that your winner deadbeats (and deadbeats aren't at all unlikely on yahoo) you will at least have an underbidder to fall back on. Plus you are likelier to get better exposure for your item once it has a bid.
(This advice brought to you by someone who is no longer an advocate of "first bid wins".)
[ edited by CAgrrl on Sep 23, 2001 12:08 AM ]
posted on September 23, 2001 03:42:48 AM new
I switched from Ebay over a year ago, and use the 'buy now' feature almost exclusively. Overall, my sell through is pretty good. I have discovered that if they don't sell after the 2 relists, it's time for Goodwill-they love me there!
Don't sell yourself short, but do set reasonable prices, and you'll do fine. I have discovered that I have a lot of multiple item buyers with this 'buy now' feature, and combining to save postage, as well, and a LOT of return buyers. Buyers are so leery of scams that if you establish a good reputation, the buyers will look for you on Yahoo, more so than Ebay.
posted on September 23, 2001 02:45:06 PM new
I agree Bearmom. Yahoo customers are often very very loyal. Much more so than Ebay customers, at least that has been my experience.
I am persistent though, and eventually (through trial and error) I will find what does sell. Just hope I don't run out of money before I do....
