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Ebay interest
- Thread starter Linam
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ok a few things to think about when listing your auction
1. Is your title good? people don't all call the same thing using the same words, make sure your product comes up in common searches like if you were selling a cell phone right Mobile Cell Phone so that people who search Cell Phone and people who search Mobile Phone both get it.
2. How does your auction look? If you have a professional design people will be more likely to do business with you instead of thinking you're some hobo selling junk. They might also be moer willing to spend more for the security of someone reliable
3. How is your feedback?
4. Most bidding happens in the last day, so you may not get bids till the end?
5. Is the reserve too high?
These are all things to consider
I've never used the feature list on eBay and I've never had a problem selling things. I've probably sold between 3-5,000 $ in merch on eBay.
1. Is your title good? people don't all call the same thing using the same words, make sure your product comes up in common searches like if you were selling a cell phone right Mobile Cell Phone so that people who search Cell Phone and people who search Mobile Phone both get it.
2. How does your auction look? If you have a professional design people will be more likely to do business with you instead of thinking you're some hobo selling junk. They might also be moer willing to spend more for the security of someone reliable
3. How is your feedback?
4. Most bidding happens in the last day, so you may not get bids till the end?
5. Is the reserve too high?
These are all things to consider
I've never used the feature list on eBay and I've never had a problem selling things. I've probably sold between 3-5,000 $ in merch on eBay.
This might sound like really obvious advice, but I'll say it anyway. Think of all the questions people might ask about your item. I sold my second generation iPod on Ebay about eighteen months ago, and in my listing I described my iPod in minutest detail, mentioning things like battery life remaining, visual appearance, intactness of headphone jack. I calculated the cost for shipping by various methods, with and without insurance, and made it quite clear in my listing how I expected to be paid, that I wouldn't accept bids from outside of the country, and that I would not do a deal outside of Ebay.
Take time over your listing, be explicit, and hotlink lots of photos showing the item from every conceivable angle.
Take time over your listing, be explicit, and hotlink lots of photos showing the item from every conceivable angle.
Linam said:
Title is most important, by far. Get really good keywords in your title but don't misrepresent the product. Use up all the characters you're allowed and include any buzzwords associated. Don't use all-caps or that alternating-case BS that turns people off.
Second most important is photos. Include at least 2 or 3 *good* photos of the object and make them high-res and include one in the search results listing.
Lastly, the description. Obviously its important, but just be conservative. Say what you need to and no more, if that. And don't use all those ugly 28pt fonts that stretch on for 4 pages and blinking text/animated gifs/etc.
I've always had great success on eBay following the above formula (although I'm not hardcore ebayer, my "score" is about 25)...except one time I had a poor title and the things got almost no page views, and zero bids.
Linam said:
#1: The Title must be concise, specific and to the point,
#2 listing items in the correct category, which, contrary to popular belief, is not as easy as it sounds for some things.........
Not that it relates soley to "interest" per se, but I have recently found that for some items, especially those which may be of subjective value, using the fixed price option w/ best offers is a good choice. It allows people to buy stuff they REALLY want without going thru the bid, wait, bid again, wait some more game..........
Some people narrow their searches to show only items with BIN prices....
thequicksilver said:
Fine, but at what point is it too much information?
for example: a few minor scratches, vs. two hard to see streaks in thelower right corner, 3 visible vertical scratches on the screen that are barely there, but visible with the backlight on, some circular scratches on the metal back, and a scuff on the bottom
This is a little over the top, and photos go a long way in this example, but the question remainsdo you think that there is such a thing as too much candor while selling on ebay?
For me a well typed title with lots of Keywords and please no spelling mistakes will make a difference, also make sure it is listed in the correct category, and for sure include a gallery picture....
Also dont inlcude problems with the item in the title only put them in the suscription and problems in title will put off many potential customers...
Shadow
Also dont inlcude problems with the item in the title only put them in the suscription and problems in title will put off many potential customers...
Shadow
ibilly said:
In my opinion, there is no such thing as too much candour. With my iPod I mentioned that there were a number of small pits on the screen, but they didn't interfere with navigating the menus. I then put a photo of the screen with and without backlight, proving that it wasn't a problem. Certainly with the iPod, where so many people were/are trying to pull a scam with a fake auction, the more you can prove to the buyer that you're an honest, bona fide seller, the better a chance you have of getting a good price.
The main advice I would give, is:
- Definitely use the gallery option, a lot items that haven't selected a gallery option are just ignored.
- 2/3 good photos, highlight any special features / unique features for your product (i.e. I was selling a PSP on eBay, and I took a photo of the firmware version screen, as that was a key difference that my PSP had.) In my opinion, you should never list an item without a photo of the actual product.
- Mention EVERYTHING, and try to use bullet points whilst doing so, as it makes it much easier to read and navigate than a horrible block of text.
- HTML, if you can brush up on a bit of this, you can set out your auctions all nice and shiny!!
- Definitely use the gallery option, a lot items that haven't selected a gallery option are just ignored.
- 2/3 good photos, highlight any special features / unique features for your product (i.e. I was selling a PSP on eBay, and I took a photo of the firmware version screen, as that was a key difference that my PSP had.) In my opinion, you should never list an item without a photo of the actual product.
- Mention EVERYTHING, and try to use bullet points whilst doing so, as it makes it much easier to read and navigate than a horrible block of text.
- HTML, if you can brush up on a bit of this, you can set out your auctions all nice and shiny!!
In addition to the essential advice already given, I would like to add that if you want the best end price, start your auction at no more than $1, and if you REALLY want a good price, do not use a reserve! [Note that this only works on items with some demand--you don't want to get stuck selling an item worth $100 to one lone bidder who bid $1. To check demand, check completed items for the specific item you are selling]
Next, the time of day and day of week have a lot of bearing. Try to end your auction at a time when many people will be bidding, such as between 4-10 pm Eastern time (you get some of the work people on the west coast and the people at home before bed time on the east coast). Also, ending auctions on the weekends is good, especially Saturday morning or afternoon, and Sunday afternoon or evening.
If you have an item in great demand, use a Buy It Now price that is reasonable, but a little high. You might just get it. If you want a quick sale, make the Buy It Now less than others selling the same items, and less than the completed items price of the same items. A gallery photo is a must. Good feedback is a must.
There are three kinds of ebayers:
1) Honest to a fault, completely committed to the other party's satisfaction. Will pay within minutes or at most hours of auctions end, and if selling, will ship within 24 hours of being paid. Will overpad to protect items being sold. Will answer all emails within one day and will ask all pertinent questions immediately. This is the best kind of ebayer. This is the type of ebayer that I am (user ID: spinne1).
2) Generally honest in that you will get your item and it will generally be as described. Seller may be in no hurry to mail it to you. You may get your item in two-three weeks. The item may have some undisclosed fault that you can live with. Email is often late in coming, but usually does eventually. Often, this seller is either: new and does not understand what is expected, or a "power seller" business dealing in liquidating piles of stuff. These sellers often don't have a good idea of the exact condition of the products they are selling and may not back up their products when there are problems. Emails often go unanswered. I AVOID THESE SELLERS LIKE THE PLAGUE AND YOU SHOULD TOO. To spot them, look at the total number of negative feedbacks. If it is more than two, be suspicious. If it is in the hundreds, run away!!!!
Buyers in the second group delay in paying, or act like they are not obligated to buy. They may ask questions implying that they will buy IF conditions are met.
3) Outright crooks, they use ebay for fraudulent purposes and never intend to deliver any products or cash. Sadly, there are too many of these folks on ebay now. It takes a savvy user to spot many of them. Some dead giveaways are tons of negative feedbacks, big font email addresses in the description that you are asked to use to complete the transaction, and requests to only use Western Union to send the money. Another red flag is a price that is way too low, as in a Buy It Now price.
Being the first type of ebayer will help your items get much more interest. I can't tell you the number of items I have passed on just because I could tell the seller was in category two instead of one.
Next, the time of day and day of week have a lot of bearing. Try to end your auction at a time when many people will be bidding, such as between 4-10 pm Eastern time (you get some of the work people on the west coast and the people at home before bed time on the east coast). Also, ending auctions on the weekends is good, especially Saturday morning or afternoon, and Sunday afternoon or evening.
If you have an item in great demand, use a Buy It Now price that is reasonable, but a little high. You might just get it. If you want a quick sale, make the Buy It Now less than others selling the same items, and less than the completed items price of the same items. A gallery photo is a must. Good feedback is a must.
There are three kinds of ebayers:
1) Honest to a fault, completely committed to the other party's satisfaction. Will pay within minutes or at most hours of auctions end, and if selling, will ship within 24 hours of being paid. Will overpad to protect items being sold. Will answer all emails within one day and will ask all pertinent questions immediately. This is the best kind of ebayer. This is the type of ebayer that I am (user ID: spinne1).
2) Generally honest in that you will get your item and it will generally be as described. Seller may be in no hurry to mail it to you. You may get your item in two-three weeks. The item may have some undisclosed fault that you can live with. Email is often late in coming, but usually does eventually. Often, this seller is either: new and does not understand what is expected, or a "power seller" business dealing in liquidating piles of stuff. These sellers often don't have a good idea of the exact condition of the products they are selling and may not back up their products when there are problems. Emails often go unanswered. I AVOID THESE SELLERS LIKE THE PLAGUE AND YOU SHOULD TOO. To spot them, look at the total number of negative feedbacks. If it is more than two, be suspicious. If it is in the hundreds, run away!!!!
Buyers in the second group delay in paying, or act like they are not obligated to buy. They may ask questions implying that they will buy IF conditions are met.
3) Outright crooks, they use ebay for fraudulent purposes and never intend to deliver any products or cash. Sadly, there are too many of these folks on ebay now. It takes a savvy user to spot many of them. Some dead giveaways are tons of negative feedbacks, big font email addresses in the description that you are asked to use to complete the transaction, and requests to only use Western Union to send the money. Another red flag is a price that is way too low, as in a Buy It Now price.
Being the first type of ebayer will help your items get much more interest. I can't tell you the number of items I have passed on just because I could tell the seller was in category two instead of one.