posted on July 9, 2005 06:28:46 AM
Is anyone even bothering to list anything? Seems like all the customers are gone... seems like it would be a good time for a sales day (10 cent fixed or FLD) right?
posted on July 9, 2005 06:32:09 AM
I only have a few things up right now and when they're gone I'm taking a break. What I'm selling right now just isn't worth listing. It's time to enjoy the summer. A $.10 listing day is all well and good, but all that does is bring all the sellers back. It doesn't attract bidders.
posted on July 9, 2005 07:00:51 AM
Auction sales are AWFUL - store sales not so bad. I have sold 169 items since July 1st but only 45 of them are auction sales (I usually run 2/3rds auction sales- 1/3 store sales). I did not have any auctions running july 1-4 but that might have been a mistake-my store sales were very good during the holiday weekend.
Auctions are just not behaving like "normal". Things that would bring multiple bids during prime listing season are going at opening bid. Makes me not want to "waste" my best items now but I have to list to bring in store business. Savvy buyers or ebay diehards are buying now - it's a buyers' market!
And YES!! we need an ebay "listing sale" day!!
-------------------------------------
posted on July 9, 2005 08:01:19 AM
Sales have been fine for us. I do think it depends on what you're selling, that's for sure. We're at about a 90% sell-through rate on the consignment business we're doing.
I don't think we want to have a FLD to flood the market with more items to compete against, do we? I think we need something that brings more buyers back.
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on July 9, 2005 09:48:27 AM
I am keeping a few things listed in order to send people to my store, but few things are selling, and if they do, it's at the starting price. Personally, I would love a FLD!
posted on July 9, 2005 02:22:08 PM
i'm with familybiz - all free listing days do is flood the market...with sellers. i cringe when i see announcements about FLDs.
posted on July 9, 2005 03:10:47 PM
Family - I'n curious about youir consignment policies.... how much of a cut do you take? How much do you add to shipping. I have been shocked at some of the pricing on shipping from some of the iSoldIt sellers. I wonder if their customers realize that they are getting screwed? I occasionally bid on something being listed by iSoldIt but I never bid what I normally would on the item because the shipping prices almost always represent a $10 to $15 mark up. Great for the business but the owner of the item is not getting what they should.
BTW - anyone notice how many knock off or straight out falsely advertised items they sell under the cover of "Our client tells us it's such and such?".
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on July 9, 2005 03:27:43 PM
Actually, I don't think we need a FLD. I think we need some Ebay commercials to draw the bidders. I don't watch much television, so maybe someone else can tell me if they have seen any advertisements. On the rare occasion that I sit and watch television, I haven't seen any.
posted on July 9, 2005 03:31:11 PM
Don't get me started on ISoldIt. They sell franchises for roughly $15k, provide very little training, and let well-intentioned but unprepared franchisees loose on the public.
Gouging on shipping is unethical when you're selling on consignment. You're not sharing the shipping proceeds with the consignor, and are thus "shielding" some of the revenue from him. Having said that, it is especially important not to go the other way and subsidize your shipping via your commission. So, while my shipping often looks "high" to some, I have to recover my employee's time spent retrieving an item, preparing it for shipping, the rent consumed (by the peanut chute, the packing table, the supplies), the transportion, etc.
As for claiming authenticity by saying "our client tells us its x" that is somewhat of a gray area. If it's a Louis Vuitton, well, you can authenticate that yourself. However, Chanel and many other stores won't authenticate. So, there are times when you really have to question the consignor about the item, preferably have sold other things for them, take a careful look at the item, etc. My standard contract has a clause that I always point out stating that they are responsible for any liability, direct or indirect, that ensues from having given a fake or knock-off. For what it's worth, I've only gotten a couple of fakes brought in, and they were "busted." Watches I have a jeweler check out, but even the jeweler with whom I have a relationship won't give me 100% assurances on some watches; there are some fake Rolex works that require a considerable amount of investigation; sometimes the works are authentic but the case/band are high-quality fakes (i.e., they're real gold/diamonds, but not manufactured by Rolex).
I guess it might be obvious that I take shoddy consignment shops personally. People lump us together, and I don't want my efforts to be honest and ethical undermined by somebody who thinks that purchasing a franchise and attending a week's training is all that it takes.
posted on July 9, 2005 03:40:15 PM
Yes, eBay is very quite right now. I've listed a few items with free shipping, and still can't get many bids or even watchers.
posted on July 9, 2005 03:42:25 PM
bizzy, i never thought of that. you have a great point! i remember seeing some eBay TV ads last fall or winter, but none since then. the "big O" advertises on TV more than ebay does, rofl.
posted on July 9, 2005 04:22:41 PM
5????? ebay commercial and COUNTLESS Big O's here in the L.A. area...But they come acroess like a Fredricks of Hollywood advertisement....Sexy teaser Woman and NO ACTION!!!!!!
Space is Valuable. Dump it ALL at the Swap and start over.
posted on July 9, 2005 04:36:30 PM
yeah, i don't know about you but i'm really sick of that brunette on the big o ads. as usual, you put it better than me though! they don't have much going for them, do they? which makes me wonder all the more why ebay doesn't advertise, since they do have something to offer. but i don't know, maybe they're happy with their cash cow, paypal.
posted on July 9, 2005 04:42:44 PM
I'm only listing a few auctions a week and most of those get bids. My store sales are steady so no complaints right now. Of course that could all change tomorrow, you never know.
posted on July 9, 2005 11:13:35 PM
Cash...
:As for claiming authenticity by saying "our client tells us its x" that is somewhat of a gray area.::
There are some incidents where that is true but I can recall two straight off the bat of items that they were claiming were Tiffany (not jewelery) but when asked to show or describe the marks they stated that there were none. At least three bidders informed them that with no marks whatsoever, these were not Tiffany pieces. Irregardless, they relisted after not selling still making the claim that the pieces were authentic Tiffany.
By the way - I think their franchise fees are a bit higher than 15K. From their website...
Low Cost Operation Our store investment is designed to be low. It costs as little as $79,500 for a fully operational store, plus working capital.
(I am trying to help my mother find a retirement business so I looked out of curiosity)
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
The last time I looked (a year ago), they charged $15k fee, and a percentage of gross (I think it was 2%, but I'm not sure). The other money is probably for brochures, signage, PCs, office equipment, lease, and working capital. Or perhaps they have raised their fees. In any case, I have not been impressed with most ISoldIt stores.
Obviously, anyone intentionally selling a Tiffany fake is a crook.
For another example: I got an email once implying that the piece of Fenton carnival glass I listed wasn't Fenton because it had no Fenton mark. Well, I have sold 200+ pieces of glass for that particular consignor, he was a serious collector who knows his glass, he said it was Fenton, I've seen Fenton without marks, it doesn't "feel" new, and the books identify the pattern exactly. As far as I'm concerned, it's Fenton, and anyone who doesn't think so doesn't have to bid. That's the gray area. Fake Tiffany is black and white.
posted on July 10, 2005 10:22:38 AM
I don't think she has a wide enough base of knowledge on collectibles and such to run that type of business. I think I finally came up with an idea she really likes (and if she changes her mind - I'm doing it myself, it's too good to pass on). I just have to figure out how do the initial marketing.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on July 10, 2005 08:17:02 PM
I redid my E-Bay store today and listed most of my items there. I am getting more views there than I am on auctions. As slow as it is,I don't want to pay the auction listing fees. They are're throwing us any bones so I guess its time to enjoy the summer.
**********************************
Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on July 11, 2005 09:47:07 AM
All probably a good reason Ebay is throwing so much effort and money into it's China operation. There is not all that much growth in the U.S. anymore. Listing now is a crap shoot and a lot of sellers are not gamblers.
buyhigh
posted on July 11, 2005 10:46:40 AM
Ebay China has its fair share of fakes and repros ,lots of junks and shipping is high for overseas buyers.
As for Chinese buying from fellow Chinese,i dont know if they are into collecting antiques,most of the new stuff they can buy in dept store or off the street from street peddlers.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on July 11, 2005 11:46:28 AM
Buyhigh,,,,I got a laugh out of yer line,,, crap shoot. Yup it is,,,Got a question from buyer (QFB) Is it NEW or used. New it's $700.00-900.00. I started it $200.00....used.
I replied, I would never put a NEW one in a crap shoot on e bay.
Space is Valuable. Dump it ALL at the Swap and start over.
posted on July 11, 2005 12:18:05 PM
stopwhining: Have no idea what Ebay expects in listings in their China operation. Only ebay knows and they would not be pouring all that time and money into it if they did not expect results. I am certain that they must have done considerable research within the country itself.
buyhigh
posted on July 11, 2005 08:59:03 PM
I laughed when I got the email for the 1 cent subtitle sale. They are banking on unsold items being relisted later and the seller forgetting to remove the subtitle. WHAM...they gottcha for the full price of the subtitle. From what I recall from an earlier thread, it's a tricky matter to remove that subtitle before you relist.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 11, 2005 09:02:14 PM
You are right sparks - what a nightmare!! I don't think I was able to remove the subtitle on the relists. It was a bad enough experience that I am NEVER using subtitles again except for items bound for the store on relist.
I was hoping for something more...oh well!
-------------------------------------
posted on July 12, 2005 08:30:12 AM
I never use that or their borders. Like that is really going to help you sell your item.
**********************************
Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on July 12, 2005 01:14:23 PM
Past 30 days have done over $1100 selling about 50 different items. Prices could have gone higher in a less slow period, but they did okay overall.
------ "Bend over backward for the customer. Don't bend forward."
