posted on January 15, 2005 04:19:55 PM new
I notice E-Bay has quit giving any promotions. I have also noticed that the only time my sales got around the $1,000 for the month last year was when they ran a 10 cent listing and I listed several hundred items. Yes I sold a lot out of my store,but then again it was always during a 10 cent promotion. So for me the bottom line is the only time I can afford to list a lot is when the fees are cheap,and that is also the only time I sell well. Otherwise my sales though rate sucks. When there is a ton on E-Bay the buyers buy,when there isn't its dead. I have dropped my store and my listings will be a very few as I have a funny feeling the party is over. Its not worth throwing my money away trying to sell with a terrible sales through rate and Sellers trying to cut each others throat for the sales. Greed-Bay I think you screwed up this time.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on January 15, 2005 04:46:50 PM new
So let me get this straight...
When there are no promotions, your sell thru rate sucks.
When there are promotions your sell thru rate still sucks but because of the shear volume of items that you list your sales total is enough to keep you happy.
You have somehow managed to extrapolate a conclusion that this is because there are more buyers searching during cheap promotions although I have no idea how you manage to support that conclusion.
And at the end of the day, your sell thru rate has nothing to do with your product line and pricing but is in fact somehow ebays fault and ebay attempting to make a profit is a negative and greedy thing but that same intention on your part is noble and good.
Do I have this right?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on January 15, 2005 04:51:53 PM new
Just playing Devil's Advocate here MAH....
I find that my sales increase exponentially with the number of items I have listed. The more items listed, the higher the Sell-through-rate overall (and the more store sales that don't even figure in the sell through rate) EXCEPT during the ebay listing fee promotion when the market is glutted.
My ebay/paypal/vendio fees equal about 20% of my sales - high, but still a money making proposition.
I can understand the hesitancy to spend a lot in listing fees in today's market, but sometimes low sales can be a self fulfilling prophecy. It takes money to make money...the more your name is out there, the more buyers will see your "other items" and hopefully buy.
Just a thought anyway ..instead of throwing in the towel, perhaps you could, as an experiment, try listing MORE than your usual fare - say even the hundreds you list during the promotions (if you can afford it of course) and see if sales increase?
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on January 15, 2005 05:18:54 PM new
Yes I sold a lot out of my store,but then again it was always during a 10 cent promotion
That is the key. You sold more out of your store because you had more auctions listed and drew in more buyers. The only connection to the 10 cent promotion was that was the reason you listed more.
All that business about building your brand is not bull. You have to get your name out there enough that buyers "think" to look for you when they want something.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on January 15, 2005 05:22:48 PM new
I also think it is important to have a 24-7-365 presence on ebay with "new stuff" for the regulars to look at. I know that after I return from a "break" or vacation it takes me a couple of weeks to get the ball rolling again. Buyera 'forget' about you if you aren't around...
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on January 15, 2005 05:35:28 PM new
I have found that whenever there is "promotion" I do worse than any other time. Sure it gives a cheap auction, but instead of 10 competitors, I have 100. Does this make an economic statement? DUH!! I have been around since 1998, so I think I have some type of recognition in china (dinnerware) I sell in small lots so I don't have $1000.00 per month sales, but I make a decent profit on what I sell. That is the really the reason for doing this.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
[ edited by sanmar on Jan 15, 2005 05:41 PM ]
posted on January 15, 2005 07:15:17 PM new
Most of what I am selling is not worth listing at regular fees,it will no longer sell that well,the trick would be to buy something that will and so far the only time the items I'm selling really sell is at Christmas.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on January 16, 2005 07:49:21 AM new
MAH - sounds to me like it isn't ebay's fault at all!! They never promise listing fee promotions - look for them when they need a listing boost for Wall Street (end of Fiscal year 12/31 and perhaps the quarters) - othewrise you'd better shelve the merchandise until next Fall.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on January 16, 2005 10:27:03 AM new
Sales always stink during promotion days. There are always too many items listed to expect any good amount of bids. I skipped eBay's 10-cent Garbage Listing Day, and I am glad I did.
