posted on July 13, 2003 06:33:57 PM newSometimes it not even the pictures, but all the other garbage that is in there.
No one is suggesting that no one ever backs out of an auction posting.
However, what you're saying is pretty much irrelevant in this thread since CeeCee does not put any of the nonsense you're complaining about in her auctions.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
posted on July 13, 2003 06:40:00 PM new
My absolute, without exception, biggest pet auction peeve is music. Most of the time I am peacefully working late at night and whamo, I get blasted out of my chair with someone's cutesy digital version of It's a Small World or something. AAAAAA! Startles the crap out of me, which in turn makes me grumpy, and I wouldn't bid on that auction just for spite.
The only time I have included music in my auction was when I added a clickable link to a wave file that I had made of the tune for the music box I was selling. I could not place the tune and it was all I could think of. At least the buyer has fair warning before getting musically goosed.
I pretty much agree with Fluffy. I looked at the ones that are still open. Some of your shipping charges do seem awfully high, some don't.
Re the travel brochures, you could send SEVEN POUNDS of them via media mail for $3.94, three pounds or more priority for $8.55. IMHO, insurance on a low-cost, non-breakable item should be optional.
As far as the bowl, you can send 18 pounds FedEx Ground for $14.00. That includes insurance up to $100.
The Lefton teapot. Properly packed it might go over 2 pounds which would cost $8.55 for priority postage. Insurance would add $1.30 unless it goes for more than $50, total $9.85, leaving your handling charge at $0.15. Seems reasonable to me.
The pen and flashlight. Sending them first class for $1.00 S/H? I'm puzzled on that one...
posted on July 13, 2003 06:52:30 PM new
The size of the pictures is a GOOD size. I like to make them about 800 wide. I figure that is the average screen resolution people use.
Since there is a small version on the main auction page with the description it works for people with dial-up too. Making the picture 400 wide is very pointless. I really hat it when I click to enlarge a picture and nothing happens. But the file-size is too big. If you compress it around 35 to 40 times, it make very little difference in the picture quality and the file size is usually less that 100k
posted on July 13, 2003 07:08:02 PM new
I suspect that FedEx isn't really an option for me since I'm not near a FedEx location other than drop off boxes. I'm guessing if something is small enough to fit in a drop off box I might as well send it USPS.
posted on July 13, 2003 07:32:32 PM new
Hi Ceecee,
Your listings look good!
How do you figure out shipping costs ( on everything) before you have a destination?
You have fixed handling fee, right? Why don't you just say in your description
"Buyer pays actual shipping plus fixed handling fee of ___ and insurance" based on destination. If they want an exact amount they can email you.
You should definately accept Paypal.
I buy alot on Ebay, I pay for 90% of my wins with Paypal. If Paypal is not an option, I have to REALLY want the item.
Hang in there, the summer slow down will be over soon!
posted on July 13, 2003 08:06:00 PM new
Saying to email would be a bad idea. besides waisting a lot of time, it also will chase people away. If the shipping listed is too high for it to get any bids then the starting is too high.
I make up a price for shipping when I list the auction. If it is low or high, it doesn't matter. That is what they pay.
The only things I would say to change would be to compress the pictures and try to keep them under 800 wide. (The software you use might have the compression option. Usually under options on the part where you name it.)
posted on July 13, 2003 08:55:39 PM new
"Saying to email would be a bad idea. besides waisting a lot of time, it also will chase people away. If the shipping listed is too high for it to get any bids then the starting is too high. I make up a price for shipping when I list the auction. If it is low or high, it doesn't matter. That is what they pay. "
Really? I have to disagree. I don't think it's a bad idea. I state that I will quote shipping costs in every auction. I have a 98% or better sell through rate. What turns me off of an auction I am considering bidding on is
disproportionate shipping.Also, I don't consider giving the 1 or 2 weekly customers who have the foresight to question shipping charges the personal attention of a quick reply a "waist" of time.
Obviously something IS chasing customers away, it could be "made up" shipping prices. "If it is low or high, it does'nt matter. That is what they will pay"...or not.
posted on July 14, 2003 06:35:44 AM new
inot - No I don't have a fixed handling fee. I'm just using a plan I got from another board. Preweigh the item and charge zone 8 shipping costs. Then I just round it up to the next .50 or 1.00 increment. I admit it works better with lower weight items because there isn't as much of a cost difference between zone 1 and zone 8. The pros are fewer e-mails and people know up front what their total costs will be. The cons are of course that I could be scaring off customers who live close to me. As for insurance, most of what I've been selling so far I expec to go for under $50 so I've been adding $1.30 for insurance. I figure if something were to surprise me and go higher then I could afford to pay the extra insurance costs. The required insurance was also advice from an Ebay board - but after reading some of the comments on this board, it sounds like I need to rethink that.
BTW I did get a last minute bidder on one of the items that sold yesterday, so I actually ended up selling 2 of the 3 auctions that ended yesterday.
I better get back to the work my boss is paying me for (LOL). I may check back in later.
