Question
My DW started to sell on eBay 3mo. ago. She's selling inexpensive jewelry (but real) and new clothes she brought back from Thailand when she visited her family. Because the items range from $10 to $50 it doesn't take long to eat up a considerable amount in listing fees every time she re-lists unsold items. A $10 item can have $5 in listing fees when re-listed about 10x.
We're wondering if an eBay store would be more appropriate for these slow moving items. Or eBay in general slow these last few months. I sell in the computer catergory, so I can't compare my sales with hers.
I'm trying to keep her optimistic about her new venture, but it's becoming discouraging.
Answer
Superman,
I don't sell in the jewlery or cloths area.
Looking at our fees last year, and calculating the ebay listing fee increase this year, we decided to "restructure" our relist procedure.
We would not relist 10 times.
We relist one to two times. If it does not sell, I will either lower the price, "save" it for a free listing day, sell by another method, or group together with another item.
After looking at last years sales, I felt relists were adding to our ebay fees and eating up too much profit.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Or eBay in general slow these last few months <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ebay seems to be spotty the last few months for me. One week pretty good, next week pretty bad.
How are your wifes competitors doing?
A store might work very well, but you still need to draw traffic into the store.
Good Luck.
Answer
store is a definte money maker for this type of item, and so easy to maintain too....
won't cost much to try it for a few months ....go for it.
Answer
I relist once, then stick in store. Or save for a 99 cent sale (once or twice a year). If it's low ticket, I might not even do that. ANything under $5 that doesn't make the cut first time around is pretty much history, not worth the time and effort.
Answer
Its just so hard to tell now a days.
I bought 40 of the same type of book.
I sold the first 32 on the first try for a very nice profit.
I'm on the third relist for the last 8 and can't get a sniff.
I used to KNOW if something would sell or not, I just can't say that anymore.
Answer
I might relist twice max and that has to be something I think is worth the effort. Having opened an eBay store, I now take some of the items and park them there. I have been successful of selling some of my relists that way.
I am culling a lot of books that I have relisted twice and are donating many of them. In fact I just donated a whole pick-up full. The ones I feel are worthy of keeping around longer are going in my store. 3¢ a month (I use gallery) can keep an item in the store for almost an entire year as opposed to another 35¢ failed relist.
Answer
I relist only once and then either send it to an auction or save it until I get more items just like it and joblot the whole works.
Answer
I use the store for just what your talking about, but also crosslink my auctions to my store so it can be seen, a definite must, if you have not tried it it is free for 30 days give it a whirl, and crosslink to some off your auctiosn to get exposure, alot of sllers use it that way, I have been myself focusing on my website to wein off of ebay because of the fees and flood of sellers in some of my categories, good luck!
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir
Answer
I have to agree with everyone above. At this point a store is well worth the cost. Run some auctions to lead buyers to the store and park things that didn't do well on auctions along with some regular stock. It seems to work well for me. Maintenance is a breeze.