About a month ago I started adding the two paragraphs below to the message I send to buyers as soon as they respond to my EOA e-mail (so it's fresh in their minds).
So far, NO ONE has gone to a category first! Keywords are doing it for the folks in collectibles, at least. And I just today added the bit about gallery pictures, so I don't have anything to report on that.
It's been quite enlightening. Do you have anything to add to these questions?
Here it is, then:
I wonder if you could give me some information. I'm continually trying to refine my
selling methods on eBay to minimize their fees, but I often list in more than one
category. Do you recall how you first came upon this auction of mine?
Were you generally searching in a CATEGORY? Or were you doing a
KEYWORD SEARCH? (Many sellers feel that most everyone searches via
keywords these days.) Did you just stumble upon it? Or did you go to
"GALLERY" first - or at all? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this!
posted on June 18, 2003 06:39:11 PM new
Thanks for sharing.
I always wondered. Some say I shouldn't list everything to end and begin on the same day since people searching by category could see my auctions daily if I spread them out.
If they are not searching that way then it really wouldn't matter. I did start listing three days a week but may go back to only one. It is certainly easier on me that way.
I buy as well as sell, and when I buy I always search by title and description. I have never searched by category.
Because.... Too many sellers list in the wrong category. Also ebay has too many categories in which an item could be placed. A keyword search is the only way to go.
posted on June 18, 2003 07:19:28 PM new
To search by category only has to be pure folly as there are almost 2,000 categories on ebay and people often put items in questionable categories.
posted on June 18, 2003 08:38:41 PM new
First I search by title. Then I search by Title and description. You would be surprised how many more auctions you get with title and description.
I don't know if asking to do a survey if your buyers would do it. You know how it is to get feedback well I think surveys are the same. When I put on a auction and I have two auctions that are about the same I list one in one catagory and the other in another catagory and then at the end of my description I put "While your here check my other auctions as I have another item like this one". I think this helps. Of course Keywords are the way to go but you know how eBay likes Keywords....
posted on June 18, 2003 10:42:40 PM new
I never used to use the catagories but since ebay added it on the side, I click on the catagory I want if there are too many results. It really helps a lot.
posted on June 18, 2003 11:48:46 PM new
I have Sports/Equestrian in my favorites...and Jewelry/loose Beads.
When I am on the hunt, I will go to all encompassing searches. Misspells (was that one???), dyslexics, wrong catagories, yield results, but not often.
I like catagories. Try typing in "alexandrite" or something like that in a broad catagory and you will waste too much time when you are looking for swarovski crystal beads or czech knock offs.
Or when you are looking for a halter...for your horse!
J
(spell check is your friend....)
[ edited by Japerton on Jun 18, 2003 11:49 PM ]
posted on June 19, 2003 12:48:37 AM new
I search by title, then title and description, then I spell things wrong.
As an example, I used to collected Budweiser stuff. So, I'd always look up Bud and Budweiser. Then I'd look for Budwieser, Budwiser, Bud Wei Ser. I found some great deals that way!
I will occasionally do category look ups if the item I'm looking for crosses over many categories. Like Bud, the Simpsons, etc.
posted on June 19, 2003 03:48:54 AM new
Roadsmith - I think that was pretty clever of you to survey your customers! I have to agree with the consensus here. I do not search by category. Too much to wade through! I will use category to whittle down the results from a title & description search.
posted on June 19, 2003 05:15:55 AM new
I do like sapington and click on the side to get a better search after using keyword. I do this mostly when I a researching items. If I am looking for good buys on say pretty jewelry - I use the category. New auctions with a BIN or ending auctions that are sleepers. But then again I'm mostly a seller.
I feel like I really do very well with double listing items. If it's an item I think will get multi bids - I start it low and double it up.
Thanks for the post.
posted on June 19, 2003 10:33:57 AM new
Adele, you sell a lot of glass and porcelain. I can respond to your questions.
Yes I search by category, as do my customers. I search by title and description within the categories.
For example, I buy a fair amount of 19th century art glass on eBay. I click on Browse, and find my way to the glass categories. I do searches from the main header for Glass and from sub headers. I then click over to Antiques and Glass, and do the same thing over there.
I am not interested in finding sellers who misspell, or who put antique glass in odd categories. Such sellers are low-rung, because if they lack the knowledge to even recognize the value of what they are selling, then usually they are a problem seller for me, lacking in professionalism and causing difficulties in concluding the transaction. I want to avoid having a transaction with difficulties, and for me, saving some pennies in hopes of gaining a bargain is not worth my time. I prefer to buy from sellers who know what they are selling, identify the piece correctly and who are able to identify any flaws.
I should say the majority of my customers (collectors not dealers) search in the same manner. I sell a lot in the Haviland and Limoges categories. The collectors who are looking for the Meadow Visitor pattern, a 19th century Haviland pattern with birds, butterflies or insects, will go directly to the Haviland category and type in "Haviland Meadow Visitor" or "Haviland bird" and so on. The most fanatically obsessed collectors will do major searches, those collectors who are retired and have the time to wade through thousands of listings each day, but the majority of the collectors go to the category, type in what they are looking for, look at the search list with the gallery photos, and start clicking in at that point.
posted on June 19, 2003 11:21:15 AM new
I rarely buy, but do research certain items to see if there is a market. I always go by title. If I went byu category, I wouldbe searching all day long. If I preview a local auction or estate sale & find a set of china or a really nice old plate etc. I will check out what is available on eBay before I decide to buy.
posted on June 19, 2003 11:26:03 AM new
It depends on the item the search method that I'll use. If there looks to be a lot of the item I'll start off with a title search only but if only a few hits appear I'll expand to a title and description search. If researching an item to sell I'll place much more importance on the closed auction searches than the current listings.
