posted on May 24, 2003 06:42:39 PM new
Let us put our heads together to see what we can do to get better sales. Or how to attract buyers to our auctions. Put your thoughts on this board.
I have been thinking of free postage. Well not really free but incorporate it with the selling price. I know we will give more to eBay but I think buyers look for something like that. When buyers see free it raises a flag. It can't be done with some items, especially the heavy ones but it's the smaller ones that we can do it to?
I also have an idea for insurance. Maybe self insure, but ofcourse put that in your asking price. I use eDC on all my packages and I haven't lost a one. When you use that I don't think insurance is necessary unless it breaks. I don't ship anything that is breakable.
What are you thinking of doing???? Let's read everyone's and give comments but not diroggeratory ones. Make this a learning thread.
Shipping cost is very important to me when I'm buying. When I research to sell I always check to see what others are charging.
I'm not sure I agree with free shipping on the lightweights - I think lowering the cost for the heavy items is much more important.
I've been shipping anything over a pound or two by FedEx. I quote the Zone 8 price in my auctions. Sometimes on the really heavy stuff I lower it a dollar or two.
There's always a little bit of fluff in the cost and if I underestimate it gets made up on the packages that don't have to go so far.
Example: Singer Featherweight sewing machines. I've seen shipping quotes as high as $58 for these. When I list the one I have, I'll be quoting $12.50, which will cover 15 pounds packed. The thing will likely weigh in just a bit less than that so I'm covered.
Just my thoughts... Will be watching for more ideas.
posted on May 24, 2003 08:24:19 PM new
I've tried the free shipping thing and didn't have much luck. I also tried offering a free item with Buy it Now. Not cheap or cheesy items either. Had a bit of luck with that. Was a way to get rid of things that didn't sell a couple of times around.
More detailed photos seem to help, too. I know that when I'm buying I get frustrated if the photo doesn't show a close up of the item. I've been burned before by a couple of those.
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
posted on May 24, 2003 08:59:43 PM new
I like the brainstorming idea. Free shipping works best on lightweight items as the cost isn't much anyway. Many sellers may be reluctant to do that as they may make a few dollars on the shipping and don't want to lose that extra profit.
The 45 character limit on titles is restrictive and if ebay had a button you could click that would add "Free S/H" near the title then that would be a big help.
posted on May 24, 2003 09:42:30 PM new
A few years back I ordered a video tape from some Ebayer who promised the
tape would be carefully wrapped in a Genuine Hawaiian Shirt. I figured it would
be some kind of Hawaiian Print disposable paper surgical or clean room shirt
since the shipping was normal for a tape. But I was almost as interested in
what this shirt was like as I was the tape.
Turned out he actually shipped his items wrapped in a Real Cloth Hawaiian Shirt.
Didn't fit me since he didn't offer a size choice. But one of my kids liked it and
wore it for a while. The reason he shipped that way was they were cheap and
helped advertised his Hawaiian Shirt Shop's online store.
I often checked his auctions just to see if he had anything I wanted knowing I'd
get another free shirt, too. Maybe you guys could modify this idea.
Wrap items in the local paper if you live somewhere interesting or news worthy.
I could throw in a small pack of "Route 11 Potato Chips" since I live down the
street from their World Famous Store and Kitchen.
Throw in a local souvenir button or post card or something.
Beach Sand. Water from the Lake. A set of pictures you took of a local landmark.
A autographed picture of your local hero, Indian Chief or Grand Poobah or whatever.
Think about it. Try to make it something that might generate another sale either to
get the freebie itself or maybe someone will ask for more items like your freebie.
posted on May 25, 2003 06:39:19 AM new
jnash-The postcard idea is a great one. My packages are usually small. I live in SE wisconsin where we have Trolley Cars. It's a tourist attraction and the Trolley goes nowhere but they are from the 40's 50's and they have a great trolley card. I am going down to purchase some and put them in my packages. Of course we also have the Green Bay Packers and I have many cards of the old Lambeau Field. The cards aren't old but Lambeau Field has been renovated and the old card shows the original one. Great Idea....
The self insure is an excellent idea! It may not help sales but it will put money in your pocket. I have done this for 2 years and have only had to cover one package. I use DC on all packages and this one actually never showed delivered.
Another thing that has boosted my sales is accepting International buyers. Until very recently I would not ship outside the USA. I sell clothing and have many winter items that are now selling very well to buyers in England, Ireland, Canada and Australia.
One last thing, put a very clear and concise customer service statement/policy right in each ad.
I have been selling on eBay for more than 5 years and right now is the best it has ever been.
[ edited by marcn on May 25, 2003 10:23 AM ]
posted on May 25, 2003 11:26:56 AM new
I try to offer free shipping with BIN--but only if the buyer pays with PayPal. Then I can ship immediately. But I try include something extra...usually some extra trading cards of a particular genre. Most buyers are happy to get them as their kids usually love to have them.
I also try to add a little more colorful information on my items (videos, mostly) by adding some information maybe not known about the film. Sometimes I'll preface with, "A blast from the old Creature Feature Days"..and then include the details on the video, a synopsis and then some cool details. But it's a fine line because I don't want to get too wordy and detract from the over all auction.
posted on May 25, 2003 11:45:41 AM new
I have been thinking about postcards. When I went to the postoffice I noticed state postcards. That would be an interesting item to include free with your package. It probably is going to be a good collectible and they really are nice postcards.
posted on May 25, 2003 12:46:12 PM new
Another idea: For gardeners - seeds. just a little packet of home grown
seeds. There's people who trade seeds so offering a free small pack of
your home grown Marigolds or Tomato, or some other unique seed you
might have would be nice. You'd need to check with the post office or
extension service about sending these in the mail but I don't remember
many restrictions on them.
Or a tips sheet of things you learned while gardening. Or a tips sheet of
anything you know a lot about. Update it once a month and you can say
"free" and "newly updated" right in your auction. And any list of tips has
a value. So you could say "a $5.00" Value. Or even ten if your considered
a local authority in your neighborhood.
Libra's looking for ways to attract buyers to our auctions and a lot of good ideas have been shared.
I've been thinking about it and, to me, the auction title and gallery picture are the absolute most important factors.
After all, if they don't look at the auction, it doesn't matter what incentives are being given - free shipping or bonus items, etc.
These things will help get good bids but only AFTER they click on that listing. Of course if there's room to mention them in the title that's great!
Auctionace's "Free S/H" box would be wonderful. Maybe take it a step further and have an option in the red stuff to show shipping amount, not just who pays.
As a buyer, I look for good, clear pictures, a complete and accurate description and reasonable shipping shown in the auction. I seldom take the time to write a seller for a shipping quote. If they're serious they can figure it out in advance.
posted on May 26, 2003 06:38:27 PM new
we used to, for a couple of years, offer buy-3-or-more-items within a week [smalls] and get free shipping ... it really did well to build up a customer base, but it finalllllllllllllly came to a point where it was too much work for me, especially because I started needing to get into selling antiques that weren't so 'small' [therefore needing to exclude so many of the items from this "offer"] ...
I would realllllllllllllllllllly like to hear from many of you as to how to drive the ebay shoppers to our online website, legally, THROUGH ebay channels ..... ME page, thru feedback??????, thru ebay's Checkout end of auction email???????? ... anyone have ideas on this?
posted on May 26, 2003 07:27:09 PM new
Ain't rich,,,,I have seen MANY posts in feed back, Their web sites, and have NEVER seen them NARUED........Thanks for buying from www.whatever.com.........Just DO It, To it!
posted on May 26, 2003 10:33:37 PM new
Every EOA and email correspondence should have the link to your website as well as it being part of the free About Me page on ebay.
The feedback reference to the website is bold but ebay does have an Achilles Heel in the structure of the feedback because it can not remove parts of feedbacks ... it's all or none.
Part of paying ebay fees is using it to get regular buyers to your website. Ebay doesn't see it that way but many sellers certainly do.
posted on May 27, 2003 04:39:04 AM new
I really like the idea of a "free S/H" button through eBay.
Most of my titles are a tight fit. I tried adding "free S/H" before, but I had to compromise the titles too much. You need good titles to show up in searches. If shoppers see a higher bid price without seeing "free S/H", they'll pass you by for a cheaper auction.
[therefore needing to exclude so many of the items from this "offer"] ...
