Ebay- anything to take away from views and watchers?

[diggummup]

This is good advice. Ebay is strange though. I have one particular item that I have right about $40 invested in. I started at $75 which is more than fair for what it is. I have dropped to $60, then $50, and now $40 and been relisting it every week for 3 months. Every single time it ends with no bids and over 10 "watchers". I refuse to go any lower. I will keep relisting it until the end of time... lol

Here is how strange ebay is... I found a bracelet yesterday. In researching the sold listings I found the same identical bracelet has sold in a price range of $36 w/free shipping all the way up to $510 plus shipping. Only 2 of the listings were BIN. Figure that one out.
spencer turquoise bear bracelet | eBay

 

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[CladSpends2]

Someone with only $36, well, really only about $27.15 after eBay and Paypal fees and shipping charges, is very bummed out.

T.

P.S. Took every little bit of my self control not to post he is really in the hole, cuz if he is honest he paid full blown retail, $510 dollars for it on a yard sale in Arizona, even though the person running the yard sale had it marked for 50 cents.

 

[Iron Patch]

Here is how strange ebay is... I found a bracelet yesterday. In researching the sold listings I found the same identical bracelet has sold in a price range of $36 w/free shipping all the way up to $510 plus shipping. Only 2 of the listings were BIN. Figure that one out.
spencer turquoise bear bracelet | eBay

Yep, doesn't get much more insane than that.

I think it comes down to some people who have money to burn don't really care a whole lot about the price... if they like it, they buy it. There was a thread on recently about comparing, the one with the jerseys, and in one of my posts there I said the seller was giving the buyers too much credit because I think a good % don't compare shop or spend a whole lot of time trying to figure out if it's a decent price. In a way it's like collectibles, a lot of the time it comes down to just liking something and it being in the range of what you're willing to pay. If the person who paid $510 makes a million $ a year, and the $36 buyer 25k, it was actually a bigger purchase for the lower income person. That's why you always try to get what you think someone might actually pay, and not what you feel it's likely worth, because that guy with the $510 sale is looking like an ebay master. I didn't check, but he very well might have been the seller on some of the others too. The last thing that has to be said is we can never be sure if that higher deal was actually followed through with. If you're a seller who believes buyers do research items, it would be in your best interest to put a couple of fake high priced ones in the history. They would also be some pretty awesome bargaining tools for your future buyers. I'm sure there's things like this that probably happen to try and manipulate the market.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Here is how strange ebay is... I found a bracelet yesterday. In researching the sold listings I found the same identical bracelet has sold in a price range of $36 w/free shipping all the way up to $510 plus shipping. Only 2 of the listings were BIN. Figure that one out.
spencer turquoise bear bracelet | eBay

Yep, doesn't get much more insane than that.

I think it comes down to some people who have money to burn don't really care a whole lot about the price... if they like it, they buy it. There was a thread on recently about comparing, the one with the jerseys, and in one of my posts there I said the seller was giving the buyers too much credit because I think a good % don't compare shop or spend a whole lot of time trying to figure out if it's a decent price. In a way it's like collectibles, a lot of the time it comes down to just liking something and it being in the range of what you're willing to pay. If the person who paid $510 makes a million $ a year, and the $36 buyer 25k, it was actually a bigger purchase for the lower income person. That's why you always try to get what you think someone might actually pay, and not what you feel it's likely worth, because that guy with the $510 sale is looking like an ebay master. I didn't check, but he very well might have been the seller on some of the others too. The last thing that has to be said is we can never be sure if that higher deal was actually followed through with. If you're a seller who believes buyers do research items, it would be in your best interest to put a couple of fake high priced ones in the history. They would also be some pretty awesome bargaining tools for your future buyers. I'm sure there's things like this that probably happen to try and manipulate the market.

Ever think the market might get these high BIN pieces listed by sellers who then use a 2nd account or other peoples accounts to bid or buy the items at that high price but then later agree to cancel the transaction so the sale really never happened but eBay still shows it as a sold item & the price it sold for. If people buy into it from seeing others pay that much it could influence the market especially with those who are not damn near experts on the item. Just a thought but I would bet money it does go on! Don't ever underestimate the mind of a marketing genius.

 

[Iron Patch]

Ever think the market might get these high BIN pieces listed by sellers who then use a 2nd account or other peoples accounts to bid or buy the items at that high price but then later agree to cancel the transaction so the sale really never happened but eBay still shows it as a sold item & the price it sold for. If people buy into it from seeing others pay that much it could influence the market especially with those who are not damn near experts on the item. Just a thought but I would bet money it does go on! Don't ever underestimate the mind of a marketing genius.

I've never taken things to that extent, but something I do along the same lines is when I have a fixed price item I'm going to send to auction, just before I end the listing I raise the price a lot so that is seen if anyone searches back.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I've never taken things to that extent, but something I do along the same lines is when I have a fixed price item I'm going to send to auction, just before I end the listing I raise the price a lot so that is seen if anyone searches back.

Pretty smart thinking & planning!

 

[Iron Patch]

Pretty smart thinking & planning!

Would you expect anything less from a marketing genius?

 

[vwayne1]

2 things. Inspector, just curious. In one of your posts, you say you aren't trying to get 100% top dollar. Why Do you think it would make you look or sound greedy? It wouldn't. I bet if you were a ball player, you wouldn't run base to base at 75% speed just to look like you were giving the other team a chance. You put in the work, so you should reap the rewards. All of it!

2nd thing, iron patch, brilliant ! Simple yet elegant idea. Not dishonest, yet increases perceived value. I will use this idea.

 

[Iron Patch]

2 things. Inspector, just curious. In one of your posts, you say you aren't trying to get 100% top dollar. Why Do you think it would make you look or sound greedy? It wouldn't. I bet if you were a ball player, you wouldn't run base to base at 75% speed just to look like you were giving the other team a chance. You put in the work, so you should reap the rewards. All of it!

2nd thing, iron patch, brilliant ! Simple yet elegant idea. Not dishonest, yet increases perceived value. I will use this idea.

Even after about 13 years of selling on ebay the odd thing still jumps in my head that's a good idea. Most times it's to be more efficient, but once in a while it's more towards the selling side.

 

[palidin20603]

Even after about 13 years of selling on ebay the odd thing still jumps in my head that's a good idea. Most times it's to be more efficient, but once in a while it's more towards the selling side.

When should you end a BIN and send to online auction?

 

[Iron Patch]

When should you end a BIN and send to online auction?

For me it's usually when I just want to clear some stuff out, and those fixed price items have been around a while and I no longer care if I make anything on them. In the new year I'll probably just drop a fixed price a little and not go to auction.... but I think it's always good to do a big sale here and there to move some slow stuff.

 

[NHBandit]

Here is how strange ebay is... I found a bracelet yesterday. In researching the sold listings I found the same identical bracelet has sold in a price range of $36 w/free shipping all the way up to $510 plus shipping. Only 2 of the listings were BIN. Figure that one out.
spencer turquoise bear bracelet | eBay

Every week is different and you never know what will happen. This is why I start my stuff right at the bare minimum I would sell it for is someone knocked on my front door and I never have a reserve. You can have a rare item that someone absolutely HAS to have and it will sell cheap. Why ? Because it requires a minimum of TWO people who have to have it to get the big bucks and they both need to be looking for that item that day.

 

[famous turtle treasures]

Does this really mean anything as far as sales?

Ebay's search algorithms pay attention to how many watchers an item has ( along with a bunch of other criteria ). The more watchers you have on an item, the better you could be ranked when someone is searching for your product type.

 

[inspectorgadget]

2 things. Inspector, just curious. In one of your posts, you say you aren't trying to get 100% top dollar. Why Do you think it would make you look or sound greedy? It wouldn't. I bet if you were a ball player, you wouldn't run base to base at 75% speed just to look like you were giving the other team a chance. You put in the work, so you should reap the rewards. All of it!

Because if you knew how we operate & the volume in which we buy & sell things, getting top dollar out of everything is IMPOSSIBLE! I cherry pick things that I do want top or as close to top dollar as I can get out of it! But we have WAY to many ($10-$50) items to think we are going to get top dollar on each & every one of them. We need the stuff gone much worse than we need top dollar because next week we get a new load of 500-700 items for $200 or less. We are 6 months behind in selling right now. Volume over top dollar is where it's at at for us tho I'd take top dollar for every single item if I could always get it!

I'm as greedy as anybody & I admit it! So I'm not trying to not look greedy. Every business model isn't the same & everyone doesn't have the same resources that everyone else has. We have a great gig with cheap but pretty darn good pallets at a local auction, we buy a LOT of stuff! So much that often we pack up & run boxes of cheaper items thru other auction houses to sell as a boxed lot & we are happy to get $5 per box for this stuff. It's all cheaper stuff & we just need it gone! If it's rare or very valuable then you better believe I want top dollar or as close as I can get to top dollar!

 

[Nickleanddime]

I always try and leave a little on the bone for the next guy. When someone buys something they want to feel like they got a good deal, and also if times get tough itll sell back off. Well some do. I didnt get great money on some items. but i have had other that go way above what i was expecting to get. If i sell something for 75 and its worth 100 oh well it would have been nice to have that 25 bucks,but the next item i buy it might go 25 above what i figured. Basically you cant win them all.

 

[vwayne1]

Because if you knew how we operate & the volume in which we buy & sell things, getting top dollar out of everything is IMPOSSIBLE! I cherry pick things that I do want top or as close to top dollar as I can get out of it! But we have WAY to many ($10-$50) items to think we are going to get top dollar on each & every one of them. We need the stuff gone much worse than we need top dollar because next week we get a new load of 500-700 items for $200 or less. We are 6 months behind in selling right now. Volume over top dollar is where it's at at for us tho I'd take top dollar for every single item if I could always get it! I'm as greedy as anybody & I admit it! So I'm not trying to not look greedy. Every business model isn't the same & everyone doesn't have the same resources that everyone else has. We have a great gig with cheap but pretty darn good pallets at a local auction, we buy a LOT of stuff! So much that often we pack up & run boxes of cheaper items thru other auction houses to sell as a boxed lot & we are happy to get $5 per box for this stuff. It's all cheaper stuff & we just need it gone! If it's rare or very valuable then you better believe I want top dollar or as close as I can get to top dollar!

. Thanks. Good info

 

[inspectorgadget]

. Thanks. Good info

Your welcome!

In bulk eBay always seem to average it's self out... Like we should have gotten $60 for this item but we only got $40. But this other item should have sold for maybe $25 & it sold for a whooping $40 & was one of the highest to have sold recently & way above the average price they bring.

Can't count the times I was disappointed about a sale just to have another sale that same night blow my mind in how high it went. Way to many examples to list! Ebay is like a market & it always seems to even out in the end, so much so it's very weird! And I'm talking auctions only & lots of times .99 cent starting price auctions not BIN with best offers or anything. Matter of fact when I first started on eBay in late 02 I always averaged out in the end even just selling 10 items a week. All totaled up I got the typical price that lot of things averaged just so happens some things went higher & some went lower than the norm so they just averaged each other out.

 

[Iron Patch]

Your welcome!

In bulk eBay always seem to average it's self out... Like we should have gotten $60 for this item but we only got $40. But this other item should have sold for maybe $25 & it sold for a whooping $40 & was one of the highest to have sold recently & way above the average price they bring.

Can't count the times I was disappointed about a sale just to have another sale that same night blow my mind in how high it went. Way to many examples to list! Ebay is like a market & it always seems to even out in the end, so much so it's very weird! And I'm talking auctions only & lots of times .99 cent starting price auctions not BIN with best offers or anything. Matter of fact when I first started on eBay in late 02 I always averaged out in the end even just selling 10 items a week. All totaled up I got the typical price that lot of things averaged just so happens some things went higher & some went lower than the norm so they just averaged each other out.

I totally agree with that and always look at my sales as a whole and not item by item. I sell the same type of stuff, list it the same way, and hell, sell to a lot of the same people.... but never know how any particular item will end up. I'm the type that thinks and thinks and thinks to try and find ways to do things better, but after so much thought the final conclusion I had was.... What you're doing is working, so just keep doing a lot of it. In a way it makes it a little hard on the head feeling like the market has the control, but it's it's something that's impossible to predict so you just find a system that works and like you say averages out for you. We deal in much different type of stuff, but I do see the similarities because I also agree with doing volume it's not possible to hold out for the absolute best price you think you could get. To someone who just does it part time, maybe 10 items a week it's probably hard to understand how stuff builds up and well as cash gets tied up. My base income from many sales per week is the only reason I can continue on to the next.... it's almost like a game for me that I try and sell so much that I can't spend the money on new items... which I always can so it works out very well.