Question
... I won't be listing over Easter because of the increased 10 day fee.
In the past, so long as I am home, I have always tried to maintain activity on my eBay listings page. I do believe that those who have a seller bookmarked are more likely to keep looking if they see activity, and ideally variety (or their specific wants) in the listings. I have always tended to list lower end stuff over Christmas and Easter, to maintain the seller list.
Whilst I get the impression from the boards that Easter is not a major holiday in the USA (post offices even open for half of Good Friday? ), here in Australia it is a four day weekend, with an additional day of school holidays in some states. Thus it is the second biggest holiday of the year, and using flexi-time some workers make it into a 6 day weekend. Since eBay has grown in Australia, and many Australians only look for items listed in Australia, even items that I target at the American market now often get competing bidding from Australian bidders - thus a seven day auction listed over a potential 6 day weekend may lose some of the competition it would otherwise get. So, in the past, over Christmas and Easter, I list 10 day auctions - because I do not know who is unavailable because they are on holiday, I also do not list my "best" items - thus I list a couple of runs of $8.00 items, that will only get a percentage of clearance over these periods. It does give those looking something vintage and hopefully somewhat interesting to look at (my searches revealed surprisingly little vintage stock this last Christmas).
Whilst I have never looked at the MedVed figures over Easter, the numbers of listings over Christmas substantially fall. I had thought that my listing practises were not only keeping my own listings active but also helping to keep some interest on the eBay site over the listing slump periods. However, eBay has taken steps to discourage my arrogant listing practices. In two years they have increased the ten day penalty four fold. As of two years ago, I was penalised 10 cents each for creating listings of a ten day duration, because these listings used more resources than 7 day listings - last year the penalty was doubled to 20 cents (while 30 day stores listings were subtantially reduced) - and this year the ten day penalty was again doubled to 40 cents per listing - a 400% increase within 13 months.
I have taken the hint. My arrogant holiday listing practices are not wanted by eBay, unless I am prepared to accept a 5% hit on my listings (more if the unsold percentage is taken into account). It appears that eBay prefers to see a listing slump over Christmas, and prefer those who browse the site not to find anything of interest over these periods. So be it - it is no longer any of my business, since I am no longer going to accommodate being penalised for supporting their business.
So...... is anyone else here so petty as to change their business practices over a 20 cent fee increase?
Kevin
Answer
Originally Posted by Kevin_T
So...... is anyone else here so petty as to change their business practices over a 20 cent fee increase?
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
I stopped using 10 day listings when the 10 day fee went to 20 cents.
I don't think it is petty to change business practices over a fee increase. With clearence percentage constantly falling, it's not just the 10 or 20 cent per item but the total cost that has to be absorbed by the items that sell - and for me those were selling at the opening bid.
CS
Answer
I stopped using 10-day listings when they imposed the first penalty. Have never missed them!
Kevin, I know you like to run auctions only, but given that you are changing your listing practices in this one regard (the 10-day listings), maybe it's time to consider changing your feelings on FPL as well. If you have low-clearance items that you would be content to sell for under $10, throw them up as fixed-price listings over the holiday. It takes only one looker to sell a fixed-price item. If they sell, great. If they don't, you've still accomplished your goal of having items for your buyers to consider over the holiday, but have minimized the risk of giving away the better stuff.
Answer
I don't like ten day auctions, so I never did use them a whole bunch, and on the very odd occaision when I did use them, I am not sure I got any more money just more coverage for my other stuff listed.
BUT.....you should follow your insincts and list a couple of items for over the weekend, even if they close on the holidays, it gives you exposure when the few are cruising around.
I plan for auction closings on holidays, lonely people like to spend money.
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I list. I don't worry about the small stuff.
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MOST of my listings used to be 10 day, but I completely stopped using 10 day when this last increase was announced.
Call me petty, too!
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20 cents per listing is ALOT of $$$$$....No reason you should list and then absorb that fee....
Personally, I like instant gratification, so most of my listing are now 5 days...If they don't sell, I quickly relist for another 5...Basically the same as 10 days (kinda, sorta, in an abstract kinda way! )
Happy (almost) Easter Kevin!
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10-day listings on my long-term listings because it was cheaper long-term to run 10-day listings than 7-day listings - even with a dime surcharge.
When it went to 20 cents I stopped... I can't stop using it anymore now that its 40 cents cuz I don't use it anymore at 20 cents *smile*
I only RARELY use BIN now... eBay's priced many things out of my pocketbooks range these days...
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The interesting part of the instant gratification theme was that a 10 day auction coupled with a Buy It Now was the best of both worlds. Longer exposure, less cost than listing twice, and could be bought instantly. But not with the fees up where they are. Goodbye BIN, gallery, and 10 day. If I owned eBay stock, I'd be selling it too, because I expect price to drop........
Answer
Quote:
"I plan for auction closings on holidays, lonely people like to spend
money."
Totally agree. There's a whole world of people out there who actually USE (and look forward to using) the time off they get on holidays to do the frivolous shopping, browsing and exploring that their otherwise busy lives don't really allow them to do. I think any time off for regular working folks is business time for vendors.
Also, after hanging around the antiques and collectors crowd for half my life my observation is (and for myself as well) that not only do holidays seem to be generally ignored but many holidays are actually counted on as heavy trading days (christmas day excepted!).
I've always taken my vacations as time permits, with no coordination for traditional holidays whatsoever. Except for Xmas, New Years and maybe Thanksgiving, I have no idea what dates any holidays fall on, I never even realize it's my birthday till someone might mention it a few days before!.
Have only used 10-day listings a few times. I reserve them for very special or rare items that benefit most from increased exposure. I've always felt that the longer something is offered the more time it gives potential buyers to find another one, lose interest, lose track of, get discouraged by overbidders, lose patience on and generally just change their minds about buying. That won't happen on a rare or very sought after niche item. I think it might also tend to make a buyer hold off on bidding since they have so much time decide or to see what kind of action it gets, maybe they spend their allowance on another item they find in the meantime..
Oh yeah, and it also gives a seller with a similar (and maybe better condition) item too much time to spot and exploit the interest in your item by putting theirs up in a shorter duration listing that ends before yours. I've done this several times, even got emailed once buy a seller who thought I was being unethical and should have waited till his sold first! (his description belabored how rare they were and may never see another, etc., he he)
Perhaps there's benefits to a 10-day that I just don't see. I've run 5-day auctions almost exclusively for about the last 4+ years. Buyers have never seemed to have a problem finding these and paying prices at or above the expected rate.