posted on January 23, 2001 09:49:21 PM
It all depends on the price you start the auction at and people that want your merchandise. You could start your auctions at .01 and people would bid, not because they really want the item, but because it is very cheap.
I currently run about 190 to 230 auctions per month. Every day, I usually (sometimes I forget to list) run the same 7 auctions and sometimes I have a new auction here and there. In the past 30 days, I have had 194 auction close with 113 successfull bidders. I have a selling ratio of 58% selling ratio. Some people boast about having 98% successfull, but for the majority of sellers, the ratio is much lower.
posted on January 23, 2001 11:37:19 PM
My succes ratio is overal 95%.
If the item doesn't sell the first time I list istarting at $.99.
I can afford to do this because I sell vintage jewelry.
Most comes from estate sales and auctions so individual items cost very little.
I'm sure if you sell higher end items it is much less
Joe B
EBAY SELLER JRB3
posted on January 24, 2001 04:25:54 AM
I average 90% successful auctions. I research closed auctions for every item I am going to run. I do not run items that are not selling. Why pay eBay listing fees on items that don't sell?
posted on January 24, 2001 04:36:07 AM
If I was selling only 10% of my books, I wouldn't be doing it. Is it worth doing that even as a side-line?
I don't have statistics on my percentages, but it's fairly rare that I don't get at least my minimum bid.
Sales are good right now. Very good. I am hoping to switch from fulltime to part-time in my job soon, and have more time to list [though I am doing that for child-care reasons, too, not just to sell more on ebay]
posted on January 24, 2001 04:53:26 AM
Average is 30-40%. However, with BIN it's much higher, faster turnaround and more profit at this time. Goal this year is to raise margins, reduce fees. We currently sell product warehoused for over 25 years, costs were way less 25 years ago, some prices much higher, as much as 1,000 % so we average.
posted on January 24, 2001 05:26:47 AM
I agree, keziak. A 10% sales-to-listings ratio on anything, let alone books, seems close to futile. Speaking now only of books, I’ve tried things both ways, listing stuff en masse (100+ titles per week) at low minimums and selling virtually everything and also doing it with much greater discretion (10 to 15 titles a week) at much higher minimums—and again, selling virtually everything. I do better financially using the latter method and find the whole process more gratifying in other respects as well. It forces me to research things carefully, for example, hunt in deeper and darker corners, and also gives me the time and inclination to interact with customers. In general, the work is more human. Who needs to be neck deep in mindless labor? By the way, if you’ll permit me some editorializing, I admire your decision to spend more time with your offspring.
posted on January 24, 2001 08:49:06 AM
Estimates by categories:
Individual trading cards (foils & special cards) - 10%
Sets of trading cards (non-foils) - 40-50%
Plush toys - 95%+
By diversifying a bit within the Pokemon category, my excellent sales in the plush toys make up for my lack of sales in the trading cards.... although my listings of trading cards will go down a bit with the higher fees, or they'll be put together into more sets.
Still haven't found a place to list my single non-foil cards - I was using Yahoo.
posted on January 24, 2001 09:07:04 AM
bibliofile: thank you, how kind of you to say that. I never considered converting to part-time until this past year when I saw how viable ebay bookselling is. It won't offset my loss in salary, but that's OK, it will be an added cushion.
I am experimenting with various methods as you describe: low prices/high volume or fewer listings/higher prices. I am currently tried to find a happy medium...more than the one or two a day I did most of last year, but less than the all-out listing I did during Free Listing promotions.
I also do a lot with half.com and Amazon, which adds to the income stream.
BTW, the other day I had a long chat with the owner of our local used/rare bookstore and his assistant. He only lists on Bibliofind and she said she thought of running an auction business, but gave up when she decided there was too much competition from book scouts in the area. And she works in a used bookstore, on top of the loot so to speak! This made me feel proud that I have put the work and gumption into making this a [modest] success.
I average 65% successful auctions and my average closing prices have gone up (not dramatically, but steadily). I found an excellent litte niche that fits well into my interests and that I am going to focus on as much as possible. The results are always 100% success. Its the other dogs I listed that brought my averages and profits down.
Good luck to everyone in this new year. I think It will be good one despite the fears some have expressed.
posted on January 24, 2001 10:56:07 AM
Previously it was 65% successful. I've got it up to 85% since usig BIN, and Pics. I have to note most everything I sell currently were weak or unsalable last year so it's been an unbelievable sales period for me.
posted on January 24, 2001 11:04:13 AM
Hi again, keziak. I too know of several brick & mortar booksellers in my area who perceive the eBay thing as just too much work--or too much competition. Besides, in many ways it's a different animal, and they'd be at least partially handicapped by their "knowledge" of the business. It never ceases to amaze me how I can walk into a used book store, locate an armful of titles that will go for $40 to $75 or more on eBay and walk out paying only several dollars apiece for them. The criteria for pricing is different in some ways because certain obscure titles in a store, no matter how valuable and quickly sold in the crowded, virtual market we sell in, simply won't find a home because the odds of that obscure buyer walking through the door are scant.
Best of luck with your newly elevated status as a mother!
