posted on February 20, 2003 02:14:32 PM new
In the past, we usually sold everything that we listed the first time. Lately, we are having many auctions end without a bid. We are trying to do some evaluations on our stock. What is an average sell through rate?
When is it not profitable to keep relisting? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
posted on February 20, 2003 03:39:24 PM new
It's really difficult to answer, because there are so many factors. I think starting bid is certainly a factor, also postage costs are a lot higher than they were a year or two ago. That again is a factor I think. I know that it certainly has reduced the amount of bidding I do. Combine that with the fact I live in a state with no sales tax, a lot of times it makes no sense to buy online. When I lived in California (8.25% sales tax) and shipping was more reasonable $3.20 for 2 pounds, as opposed to $5.75 now) I would buy a lot more online...
posted on February 20, 2003 04:31:42 PM new
Here are a few things that stop me from bidding on an auction:
1. Seller only accepts MO or Cashier's check.
2. Blurry Ipix pictures...LOTS of those out there.
3. Inflated shipping charges.
4. L-O-N-G TOS....short description or no description.
5. Snotty tone to TOS.
6. Too many negs.
posted on February 20, 2003 04:34:27 PM new
I average about a 93% sell through rate and it has been steady for a couple years now. Have not really noticed any change because of the economy so Iconsider myself to be lucky but some times you help to make your own luck so I am also proud of my positive customer service outlook
posted on February 20, 2003 05:47:23 PM new
diannf, Can you post some of the No description ones? Thanks. I just did a very close to no desc. myself...Nice, it works. postage is $5.95. It was some do nothing thing. picture told the story. I get a pay pal, fetish sorry I could not find the postage rate ANYWHERE! so I guess $4.00 is fine. AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! whhhhhhhiiiiipppppp,SSSSSSSSnnnnnnnaaaaappppp!!!!!! CCCCCCCRRRRRRRaaaaaaaaaCCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!SSSnap SnnnnaP SSSSSnapppppp!!!!!!
Proof!!!!!! they READ NOTHING!!!!!!!! So why write a bunch of B.S. about something at all. That was one!!!! Lousy line....
posted on February 20, 2003 06:21:50 PM new
there is an uk dealer who listed many prints and the ipix is so blurred few people bid on them.
i asked her why cant she fix the pictures?she said most of them cannot justify supersize feature,what an extra 25 cents ??
anyway she must not have her own webspace to upload the pictures,as this is where it helps to show a better picture.
posted on February 20, 2003 09:40:11 PM new
January-February sellthrough has been 98%.
Anything that doesn't sell the first time I just scrap. No point in wasting good money.
I really enjoy not having to relist. I think the audience gets bored seeing the same items over and over again, too.
--
Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more. --George W. Bush, 02/01/03
posted on February 20, 2003 11:29:28 PM new
My sell-rate is around 99%, close to 100%. I have only one or two items a month that don't get a bid. I rarely bother to relist. Instead I consign to the antique auction gallery.
However I did relist an auction in January. I hardly ever use a reserve, only when I know something is very rare. In November I listed a rare piece, started it at $25 and had a modest reserve of $125. Bidding reached about $110. I waited until January, relisted it starting at $25 with no reserve, and this time it sold for $435.
I have a high sell-rate because I list only what I am confident will sell. I spend a lot of time studying my customers' buying patterns. I keep my acquisition costs low so that my starting prices will cover all of my average costs.
Where a lot of sellers make mistakes is acquiring inventory that they know will sell, but they pay too much. How many sellers have we noticed on eBay who seem unaware of the existence of The Law of Diminishing Returns? A widget is getting a current price of $100 on eBay. Other sellers see that price, find the same widget or similar widgets, buy in bulk and paying $50 each in acquisition costs, but before they have even sold one-quarter of their inventory the widget is selling for less than $50 due to saturation of supply and diminishing customer demand.
posted on February 21, 2003 06:29:33 AM newHow many sellers have we noticed on eBay who seem unaware of the existence of The Law of Diminishing Returns?
Yeah, like those idiots who are buying those huge lots of fashion leotards on ***********.com and flogging them to death on eBay. They're having to undercut each other on price constantly because they've oversaturated the market. It's a $34 item and these geniuses have currently driven the price down to $5.99.
Geez, market research anyone?
The odd thing is that this merchandise actually represents a good opportunity...just not on eBay. Some people get their heads so wedged into eBaying that they can't conceive of anything else.
--
Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more. --George W. Bush, 02/01/03
posted on February 21, 2003 07:11:55 AM new
I usually get 60% sell through the first time, 50% sales on the remainder with relisting, and 25% sales on the second relist. Mostly books. Relisting is essential for me.
