posted on February 1, 2001 10:39:36 AM new
The current feedback system on ebaY is COMPLETELY worthless. Many sellers are afraid to leave negs for bidders because of the real threat of getting underved negs. This makes the seller's feedback rating less accurate than it should be (in a negative light).
On the other hand, sellers who do leave negs and take the resulting lumps are having negs attached to their feedback profiles when they are undeserved. Again, the seller's feedback isn't accurate.
What to do? I'm with those who don't leave the negs. I'm not about to sacrifice part of my living to support a system (community? yeah right!) that is completely unreliable no matter which path is taken. To those sellers who do leave negs on moral grounds, I say that it is no more immoral to refuse to support a system that is completely broken than it it to support it for the good of the (non-existant) community.
When ebaY fixes this glaring problem with feedback (allowing deadbeats to leave retaliatory negs), I will gladly do my part to help the community. Until then, no way!
posted on February 1, 2001 10:46:43 AM new
ahwahneeliz:
I can't answer for other sellers, but I use a different username here because my Ebay business is just that. A Business. What I say here on AW is my personal opinion and not a representation of the opinions of the company. The other reason is that I don't need more competition than I already have. Others will also add that instances of auction interference have resulted from little spats here on AW.
quickdraw:
I have never cancelled a bid in 3 years of selling on Ebay. I do not have time to go through my auction and choose who is good enough to bid on my auction. We also allow anyone to come into our retail store without filling out any forms or going through any type of screening process.
[i]So you're saying I should allow you to have all my deadbeats, without any warning? [/]
Absolutely. Why should you care about my business. I don't care about yours, and I can assure you that nobody else does either. In case you didn't know, those other sellers in your category would just as soon see you quit so they could have more business. That is the reality of the Ebay "community", and also the way things work in the real world.
Nearly every major retailer monitors every move of their competitors. They visit there stores to check prices. They attempt to buy them out and if that doesn't work, they open a store next to them and try to run them out of business. Do you think they call each other to exchange info about customers that bounce checks or try to shoplift or buy stuff and return it after they wore it to that special event. Probably not.
In a nutshell, my feedback rating is more important to me than warning you about deadbeats. My responsibility is to my customers, my business, and my family. Not to the other sellers on Ebay.
posted on February 1, 2001 11:35:38 AM new
Hi Packer:
Both you and Toke asked about lighting, I'll give it my best shot!
I converted an old record album case over to a photography stand. A square hole was cut out of the top center, approx. 12" x 12". A sheet of textured glass was placed into the hole and fastened from below. A common household spot or area light was put in the first shelf and pointed upward through the glass. A blue plant growing bulb is used. The textured glass does a fairly good job of reducing "hot spots." I'm checking into purchasing a "polarizing" sheet to place on top of the glass. I've been told with would work well.
For overhead lighting I use a photo corrective 250 watt bulb in a metal reflector with sturdy ceramic socket. Don't use one of those plastic reflectors, the bulbs get very hot! If you can't find the bulbs locally, or if they are two expensive, go to "bulbman.com," they have a large inventory with low prices.
Crystal glass was the most difficult for me to photograph. One day I held a piece up to a window and photographed it. It came out excellent! I put a small shelf across the midpoint of a window, I use if for all clear glass.
I've also noticed that the Auctiva Showcases take too long opening up. It seems they have a lot of Java stuff going on. I like the idea of "free" or at least "free for now," but using eBay's Gallery gives on thumbprint images right on the search pages. The others do not.
You said "I too have great success on eBay selling my wares of vintage and collectables. I start at $1.00 No Reserve, I'm tellin ya, a person loves the THRILL of a REAL auction."
Right On!
I begin auctions at $5.00, no rsv [I'm not as brave as you! ]. Bidders like to bid, it's fun, it's exciting! Starting an item at book value or slightly below is boring. I believe it hurts sales too.
Recently I had some auctions close, and I was pleasantly shocked! Very, very good prices were realized. I know if those auctions had begin at what I hoped to get, they would not have done well. Have I ever lost money on an item, you bet! But it is not common.
I know that my comment regarding feedback got under some peoples skins! Want to her the phrase that bugs the petunias out of me? Here goes: "Just build it into your opening bid"!Yikes that one gets to me. How can anything be "build" into an opening bid if one runs true auctions? Yikes Yikes Yikes.
Packer, best of luck with your auctions!
ahwahneeliz I don't reveal my seller ID on message boards for various reasons. I, or anyone else that posts anonymous cannot prove or justify comments based on performance. Read the posts and use the information as you see fit. The good, the bad, and the ugly!
posted on February 1, 2001 12:20:52 PM newmorgantown...
Thanks...great idea! I have a wrought iron and glass-top coffee table I think I can adapt. Then maybe just lay a piece of frosted or textured glass on top.
What is the "polarizing" sheet made of...glass? What does the blue bulb accomplish as opposed to a regular white one? In other words...duh...
Morgantown also talked about using photocorrected lighting above. I do that too because I use (old fashioned) daylight film. Those lights are bluish to balance the colour more like natural light.
I suspect that the blue plant growing bulb has a similar effect.
posted on February 1, 2001 01:10:27 PM new
Hi Toke, yup Bill is right about the blue bulbs.
Also, take some Saran Wrap, form it in approx. 1/16" layer, and cut it to fit over your camera's flash spot. That helps cut down hot spots when/if you use flash.
Mtown
edited to say, attach the Saran Wrap to your camera with tiny pieces of tape on the corners...
posted on February 1, 2001 01:12:54 PM new
From what I understand a Polarizing sheet works like a Polarizing filter that would be attached to a camera's lens. It comes in thin sheets in varied sizes. It cuts out hot spots and glare.
posted on February 1, 2001 01:47:54 PM new
Thanks, Mtown. I'm going to go to the camera shop and ask them if they have such a thing.
I just posted in the Great Pictures thread...asking how the heck to get rid of glare on silver. Seems like I've tried everything...to no avail...
posted on February 1, 2001 02:01:22 PM new
This is an excellent thread. I agree with morgantown
and MrJim The facts were well stated by both, in fact well enough to also change my thinking.
posted on February 1, 2001 02:17:15 PM new
One of the best threads I've read in a loooong time.
Positive...conversational (except for a few negative personal attacks) and real informative.
Like a community should be...sure we compete with each other...still we face the same challenges...
posted on February 1, 2001 02:49:41 PM newMorgantown wrote:
Run auctions in batches. You will get better sales if you run various items in batches of 100-300 over a ten day period monthly; rather than, 20-30 auctions per week.
This is the only one of your tips, Morgantown, that doesn't immediately make sense to me. What makes sales better when you list more auctions?
Thanks!
rarebourbon
edited to fix html mistakes...
[ edited by rarebourbon on Feb 1, 2001 02:51 PM ]
posted on February 1, 2001 03:02:29 PM new
rarebourbon:
We do the same. In the past we used to spread our auctions out. We would list several each day, throughout the day. We figured this would give us better exposure. Our goal was to have one or two auction on each of the pages of the search results. What we found was that the little bit of cross-selling that we did (multiple bids on multiple items from the same bidder) slowed down our cash flow. An auction ending today would have to wait for an auction ending next week to combine shipping. We were doing more waiting than selling.
We then started listing in batches. All auctions for Widgets started and ended the same time on the same day. All auctions for Wudgets started and ended together. All items that might appeal to the same person were listed at the same time. Some in one category, some in another. What we found was that a cluster of consecutive auctions attracted more attention than one or two here and there. We also found that the number of bidders winning multiple items increase over two-fold. And...no more waiting for that other auction to end. Faster cash flow means we can buy more merchandise faster and sell more in the long run.
posted on February 1, 2001 03:33:16 PM new
Again, MrJim is correct.
Although, I don't list all my auctions on the same day - don't dare to due to eBay system stability issues. My auctions, up to 500+ per "run," are listed over several days. Perhaps 1/3 on Wednesday night, 1/3 Thursday night, 1/3 on Sunday night.
I have a link to my personal Gallery prominently placed on the auction pages. I can tell you the Gallery gets heavy use. It is very important.
Anyway, I belive that having so many auctions of unique items running entices bidders to purchase more than one item. I have packed orders for dealers InXs of 100 items! I love my dealers!
posted on February 1, 2001 04:51:31 PM new
Morgantown,
I for one totally agree with you. Leaving negative feedback won't accomplish anything except reducing your sales.
I have 1 negative out of 300, totally retalitory...left feedback, "won't buy from again"...they never paid me, never mind bought anything.
Who is to say even that one feedback doesn't hurt my sales? I've got plenty of auctions with bids, but how many viewed the ads and left?
I got a book for Xmas...I won't mention the title, but it was something like "Ebay for so and so's." The author RECOMMENDED NOT BIDDING ON ANY SELLER WITH MORE THAN TWO NEGATIVES!!
I still can't get over that someone could put that kind of vague reference in print! My point is, if that kind of message is out there, why risk getting a negative?
posted on February 1, 2001 08:28:35 PM new
Well I finally got the courage to post some auctions at 1.00 no reserve on some items that I know I could sell for about $40 -50. So far they have been listed for a couple days and they are up to 1.25. Will be interesting to see if they increase. I am nervous watching a .25 cent bid on a 30 -40 item.
posted on February 1, 2001 08:28:47 PM new
Well I finally got the courage to post some auctions at 1.00 no reserve on some items that I know I could sell for about $40 -50. So far they have been listed for a couple days and they are up to 1.25. Will be interesting to see if they increase. I am nervous watching a .25 cent bid on a $30 -$40 item.
posted on February 2, 2001 01:33:24 AM new
Just wanted to add my comments here. My perspective may be a bit different because I do feel more of a "community" with my so-called "competition". I sell MOSTLY Barbie and fashion dolls, and the sellers in my category all buy from each other regularly. Why? Well, say I buy a vintage Barbie outfit at a flea market. Seller A has one piece of the outfit I need, so I buy it from her. Seller B has the doll that goes with the outfit, so I buy it from her. Then I sell the complete outfit for a whopping profit, because you get a lot more for a complete set than you do for bits n' pieces.
(Aside from the fact that I buy from them) I NEED those other sellers to be there. Face it, my customers WOULD NOT be shopping ebay if ALL of us weren't listing there. Eliminate my competition, and you eliminate me too. Think I'm kidding? ask any seller who's left on Yahoo. Ebay has critical mass, and without you AND your competitors, that critical mass just wouldn't be there.
With that in mind, I think a sense of "community" is important. True, the community is not perfect. Niether is the world we live in. But I don't mind doing what I feel is my part to take care of the community. I leave negs when I feel it is justified. Don't get me wrong- I'm not neg-happy. I am much more patient than most sellers, I think- I leave positive feedback if a customer pays, even if it is a month and a half later. Face it, I need my customers more than they need me, and it takes a lot to get a neg from me. But those who get negs, really do deserve them. And I have yet to even get negged on any auction site I sell on, so you won't really convince me that leaving them is such a danger to my business.
On that note, I'd also like to point out that I do have separate accounts for buying and selling. I think that is crucial if you do a lot of both. It takes a lot of the stress out of negging a seller you've recieved poor service from.
I'd also like to point out that as a buyer I do carefully read feedback profiles, and I totally ignore negs left by blithering idiots. It's usually relatively easy to spot a retaliatory.
posted on February 4, 2001 11:35:20 AM new
Hi all,
Very interesting thread. There is nothing constant in life except that everything changes, and nobody likes change except cashiers and babies. I have been messing with home computers ever since the Timex-Sinclair days and with the internet since it was command line only, no pictures. Wow, lots of change, in a relatively short time, and I like most of it, its better.
I grew up with a family business, my dad had a run down motel/gas station in a small town. We had competitors, all friends/close aquaintances like everybody else in town. When a gas war started, do you think we all had the best interests of the community in mind? Nope, we were all just trying to keep our doors open and food on the table. If my friend down the street charged a penney less than I did do you think all my customers, my friends stuck with me rather than go down the street? Some did, some didn't, but that penney difference could sure make a difference in sales. If someone was running a credit account and didn't pay, did I post that fact on the wall for everyone to see for the good of the community? (neg) Not on your life, that was between me, the customer, and maybe the authorities. Did we have problems running a storefront? You bet. Lots, of all kinds, even a few fistfights in the office. And, like I said, we barely survived, I learned that I never wanted to own a storefront. I also learned a lot about business and a lot about life, and I am glad for the experience. I think online auctions are a great business. I mostly use ebay because that is where I get the most bidders and make the most money overall. I have tried other sites, I will continue to, and if I consistently get better sales and make better money on other sites, then those sites will get my listings rather than ebay. I am running a business, I am not on a crusade. This is captalism. The invisible hand really does tend to work to bring the greatest benefits to the most people on all sides of the transactions. I wish there was a better way to organize society that was not based on greed and selfishness (mutual self interest), but other systems have been tried, and in my opinion, no system works as well to provide the most benefit for the most people, and the most personal freedom as does free enterprise, and the auction market really is about as close to pure capitalism as one can get. If our little business that I grew up with failed, if we had to close the doors, if we didn't make enough money to survive, our customers, our competetors, who were all friends and aquaintances, might feel sorry for us, they might even help us out some way, but if we failed in our business, if we couldn't keep the doors opened, then we would simply have closed them and tried to find another way to make a living, pure and simple. Thats that. I care a lot about my customers and my fellow ebayers, although I will meet very few, or get to know very many. But I am running a business, I am living a life, and first of all, I have to look out for me. After 50 years of living, I have learned that with few exceptions, like family, nobody else will. Thats life, nothing more, nothing less, not good, not bad. Its just the way it is. If we take care of ourselves, we have done our job in life, we have kept ourselves from being a burden to others, and that is an accomplishment. And if we are really successful at it, we may have enough time, resources, and energy to help others. Take care of yourself and yours first, thats your job in life. Everything else follows from that.
posted on February 4, 2001 06:20:23 PM new
Good advice.
I've frequently looked at the differences between different seller's results on the same item. There is always some unpredictability and exceptions, but a nice presentation and good pictures make the biggest difference.
posted on February 4, 2001 06:47:56 PM new
Looking at closed items on an item recently I noticed that the worst results were both with "Buy it now" - approximately 30 closed auctions for the item showed. The 2 worst results were -
A successfull BIN at $20 (too low).
No bids at $30 open with no reserve and BIN at $100 (unrealistic BIN scared off bidders, even with a very good presentation and picture).
All other closed auctions showed success at prices ranging from $35 to $55 (the $55 had excellent picture and very good presentation).
Another item results showed 8 auctions results:
102.50 result
105
122.50
122.50
122.50
122.50
132.50
152.50
- the 132.50 & 152.50 had better picture and good presentations.
The 102.50 result had no pic, brief ALL CAPS description; poor result despite good TOS & flawless medium quantity feedback.
The 105 had a lousy picture, minimal description, S&H unstated, PC MO only.
The 4 122.50 - varied, low fb, high fb, ... one even had no picture and one MO only, one was identical resub of the 1 which fetched 132.50.
