posted on November 21, 2003 08:32:44 AM new
Hello All... What's your take on listing during Thanksgiving week? I think I may hold off during the week because I would imagine that people are going to be traveling and spending time with family and not paying attention to eBay shopping. Or, do you think buyers will be looking hard and feeling the holiday crunch the day after? I usually end my auctions on Sunday nights around 8:30 p.m. EST. What are your thoughts?
posted on November 21, 2003 09:05:27 AM new
I would think 1 week auctions starting on Sunday night would do very well (don't blame me if I'm wrong)preceded by a three or four day weekend. Travellers will be home by Sunday..but as I've said before--IT'S A CRAP SHOOT!
posted on November 21, 2003 09:44:08 AM new
This is the first time I have listed postcards exclusively during the holidays, but my lps and movie posters always did very good on Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving.
I'm going to schedule 50 to end each of the 3 days so I will be keeping my fingers crossed.
posted on November 21, 2003 11:16:34 AM new
I always find it interesting to see how many people worry about ending auctions during holidays or special events. There has never seemed to really be much of a drop on these occasions in the past - the only consistantly slow day I have ever seen is Christmas day. We sometimes seem to project our own activities or desired activities onto others. We forget that ebay shoppers have already discovered that this one of the best places to find new items below retail, collectible items at below dealer prices and possibly the only place to find the ""it" item of the season (remember Furby or Elmo mania?). With the current economy I would expect to see a lot of people doing a good deal of Christmas shopping on the site and seasoned users know to buy early so that they have everything in time for the holidays (This is a good time to add payment deadlines for holiday delivery to you EOA notices - BTW- Hanukkah starts on the 20th)
I would hope that Ebay will take advantage of people being home and around the TV Thursday to blitz their ads but in any case by the weekend I would expect to see some new users wander on out of curiosity and boredom (or by accident when they google their desired item and find 3 pages of sites that are actually ebay affiliate searches) . The only thing I would consider taking a look at is closing times. I definately would not have daytime or early evening closings since the more masochistic of the lot will hit the malls before running back to our welcoming arms.
For all of the newbie haters - the most important thing to remember is that you are going to have to do some hand holding over the next couple weeks but this is a great opportunity to show people ebays best face and develop new customer bases.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 21, 2003 11:31:47 AM new
I would recommend NOT listing at all during the week of Thanksgiving. In fact, don't list anything between Thanksgiving and Christmas either. That way, I will be the only one listing on Ebay, and all of my items will get sold. lol.
Seriously, it just depends on what you have, and when you list. Whatever you do, I don't recommend having something end at 6am EST on Thanksgiving morning. That is exactly when someone broke into my car two years ago, and stole my stereo and tools. Very bad juju to list at 6am EST.
posted on November 21, 2003 02:10:57 PM new
You know, even Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, there are people who either don't have family, or don't do anything special, so some of those collectibles may sell because of that... just never know, and with ebay being worldwide, heck who knows.
Wanna Take a Ride? Art Bell is Back! Weekends on C2C-www.coasttocoastam.com
posted on November 21, 2003 02:30:41 PM new
I plan on Listing on Sunday night with my auctions ending Sunday night. If you have the right items you may try Fixed Price listings. I have always done well with them on Thanksgiving thru Christmas, people seem to like to find items they don't have to wait for the auction to end. I may run all mine as FP I haven't decided yet.
posted on November 21, 2003 03:41:38 PM new
familybiz... last year we went and looked at a house on the evening of Christmas Eve (we called and made the appt that same day)... the realtor had to get home so we put in our offer the day after Christmas...
posted on November 21, 2003 05:23:32 PM new
I have listed more items this week than ever before. All Xmas related. It is the time of the year to boogie baby.
posted on November 22, 2003 05:17:04 AM new
From now until Christmas, I think you have to decide whether it is a gift and or necessity item, or an impulse/collectr item.
As I only list antiques, I will only list a few items during the next week, and these are either "can't miss" items or else "I want it out of my house no matter what" items". Will use the rest of the time to do prep work for January listings.
I might be tempted to list for between Christmas and New Year's, as when I worked in offices that were dead during that week, no work was done and everyone sat around surfing the web. I used to do a lot of eBay looking then, but found not much listed. Might be an opportunity. Unfortunately, we usually travel during this period.
posted on November 22, 2003 06:11:46 AM new
every year we have this same type thread. not everyone watches football on super bowl day. not everyone spends christmas or thanksgiving with family or friends.
at our house, the kids come and go all day on the holidays. everyone of them has me looking for items on ebay while they are here, so shopping goes on at my house.
this year hubby and I are moving the day after Christmas so we are not doing any listing that week. but I, without thinking, relisted a few items that will end on Thanksgiving night. Wish me luck!
posted on November 22, 2003 09:25:17 AM new
Okay, guess I'm going to give it a try and list holiday type stuff. I have a great looking nativity set with manger that I think would be ideal. So I'll give it a shot and just put the minimum price I'm looking for on it. I can always relist what doesn't sell this week. But you're right...not everyone has family or will be traveling, so what else is there to do between watching football and parades...SHOP EBAY!
posted on November 22, 2003 04:55:16 PM new
Cta, thats what I think. Some will be surfing after eating, etc. (get away from relatives..haha. Maybe not a whole lot but I imagine a nice bit of people will.
Damariscotta: Do people ever buy antiques or collector's item as gifts? I dont know, but you would think that would make a special present - to give somebody something they collect or are interested in? But maybe people are not that thoughtful, and still just buy ties and cologne sets. I guess we will find out.
posted on November 22, 2003 10:28:52 PM new
Nero - I think that that the gift giving of collectibles items depends on the relationship of the giver to the recipient. I have been doing almost all of my gift shopping from my mother on ebay. She has no actual needs, works from her home and when socializes it's in the form of a yearly get together with her online bridge club. I am not going to find the perfect gift for her in a store. Since she collects elephants however I managed to find an antique Steiff baby elephant and just for fun a Japanese Crystal Elephant Pez dispenser for her on ebay. I think that collectiles are second only to jewelry for those that want to give something truly special. They are the kind of gift you give when you want to show the recipient that you really thought about and put some effort into their gift.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 23, 2003 01:56:46 AM new
>>>Damariscotta: Do people ever buy antiques or collector's item as gifts? >>
Not generally. I think the people who do buy good antiques for gifts are people in the business, and/or people who are very involved with collecting. And they don't wait until this season to buy the items. As for more "collectible" items - these can be good for gifts, especially impulse purchases. But then you have to have the right item at the right time. And by the time most people think of buying something like this, time is running out and there you are, another lovely sweater or necktie.
It might be worth a shot; I always try to put out a lot of small impulse items in the group shops this time of year (small silver items, vanity items, perfume bottles, cup and saucer sets) that might make nice gifts, but I have no idea if they sell for gifts or other purposes. And my best week of the year at one shop is by far the week between Christmas and New Year's, so go figure.
Over my many years in the business different groups would plan antique shows in December with the idea that there would be Christmas shoppers. Not many of these made it to a second year.
posted on November 23, 2003 03:23:55 AM new
Fenix, I so agree with you! I've always felt when somebody buys me something that I am fond of (and visa verse for my gift giving) - it says: "I know you. I know what you like, and love, and I want you to be happy."
As a seller that needs the income I am glad people are buying; but deep down, I think the whole Christmas season is so blown out of purportion commercially that all it means anymore is "spend money!" So much of it is just social protocol and seems so fake when its all over.::shrug:: Just my deep thoughts, here! haha
Edit to add: Darmiscotta: I agree also about the 'good' antiques. But even dealers and antique collectors have family and friends, so there must be some buying as gifts going on, but probably not a whole lot as you said.
Collectibles are easier if you know your person. I just had an octopus piece sell. I thought it a not-so-usual piece seen around much, and was just hoping maybe somebody interested in Marine science or something like that might come along and see it. The person told me octopus stuff has been hard for her to find and she was thrilled to get it as a gift for her daughter who is into them. So at least I was glad I made somebody happy with a pick I went out on a limb with my dorky taste! ha!
posted on November 23, 2003 06:35:41 AM new
Hey Lindajean - I picked up a shoe box of postcards at an estate yard sale. Don't know anything about them, except they came from all over the world. Is there a way to tell if they are worth anything. neva
posted on November 23, 2003 01:39:27 PM new
I was looking at some current listings to see what was happening, before listing my items. After looking, I think I will list fewer than planned, but since bidding seemed so anemic, I have been bidding on stuff myself. Might be a good time for some bargains in the antiques.
Pick a few and do a search on Ebay. You never know what people want. Check out closed auctions when you search, to see if the same topics, locations, etc for the same time frame has been successul in getting bids.
Unless they are very old I have not been too successful with international cards but Neglus often does OK. Maybe start a new thread with the question and she or others will pop in with more suggestions.
