FrankS
Registered User
So, I may try and sell some items on eBay. Could some of you with experience with this give me some pointers? Like beginning the auction with $1 kind of advice. What works for you? Thanks.
loneranger
Well-known
I follow two principals that have worked for me for the last 5 years.
If selling an item that is not too much in demand, then you need to set a reserve price. You may have to relist several times before you sell it.
If selling something that is in demand, start low with no reserve, even $1 is fine.
If selling an item that is not too much in demand, then you need to set a reserve price. You may have to relist several times before you sell it.
If selling something that is in demand, start low with no reserve, even $1 is fine.
Pablito
coco frío
take plenty of really good, sharp photos. Answer questions promptly. Consider the time the auction ends. A good time to end the auction depends on whether you want European or Asian bidders or not. If you only want to ship to USA , take time zones into consideration and pick a time when gear-o-holic males are likely to be sitting on the sofa with their laptops. End the auction on the hour or half hour. That will make it easy to remember.. "oh the auction for that lens I want ends at 9:00pm.." If you start the bidding too high, fewer folks will bid. If you use too high a reserve bidders will give up.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Keeping time zones in mind is excellent advice. When I first started selling, I couldn't figure out why most of my items were sold to West Coasters. Then I realized that all my auctions were ending around 8 pm on the West Coast. That was around midnight on the East Coast, when most potential customers were already in bed. Now I like to time my auctions to end around 5 or so on the West Coast, making sure the rest of the country is still awake.
Definitely take nice photos.
When you ship, do yourself a favor and pay for signature confirmation on anything you don't want to lose. It offers a bit more security - since the item won't be left on someone's porch. It's a must if your item is worth $250 or more. Shipping without it is just asking for trouble.
Personally, I never feel comfortable selling without either a reserve price or a starting bid that effectively acts as a reserve. I know the minimum I'm willing to sell something for - and I don't like to take chances with that.
Definitely take nice photos.
When you ship, do yourself a favor and pay for signature confirmation on anything you don't want to lose. It offers a bit more security - since the item won't be left on someone's porch. It's a must if your item is worth $250 or more. Shipping without it is just asking for trouble.
Personally, I never feel comfortable selling without either a reserve price or a starting bid that effectively acts as a reserve. I know the minimum I'm willing to sell something for - and I don't like to take chances with that.
ravid905
Established
I have found that avoiding ending on holiday weekends is a good idea. It ensures people are sitting in front of their computers trying to outbid that guy that is beating them by a dollar.
I have always started my auctions at 0.99, I have noticed that a lens which will sell through an auction for $400, if listed with a buy it now, doesn't always sell, but if an auction, almost always does, and at the price it should.
If what you have is rare, try to avoid listing at the same time as another one from another seller, to try to concentrate the bidders on one item.
Good quality pictures is a must. I have seen items listed by a particular seller at a reasonable price, but they use one crappy picture, and it has never sold. I tend to put a few key pictures in my auction, any serious flaw, serious bonus, etc., and then link to my flickr page where there will be many more pictures for them to look at.
At present, I have an item on there, that just doesn't come up too often. In the last week there was another one in similar condition, but I waited until that auction was over. Hopefully my auction will collect a few of the bidders from the previous, while they are still in the mood to spend the money to get it.
The one thing to never forget, sometimes the item that has always sold for $1000, may on occasion only sell for $600. On the other hand, something that by all reasonable measure should only sell for $300, might go for $600. These things happen.
I have always started my auctions at 0.99, I have noticed that a lens which will sell through an auction for $400, if listed with a buy it now, doesn't always sell, but if an auction, almost always does, and at the price it should.
If what you have is rare, try to avoid listing at the same time as another one from another seller, to try to concentrate the bidders on one item.
Good quality pictures is a must. I have seen items listed by a particular seller at a reasonable price, but they use one crappy picture, and it has never sold. I tend to put a few key pictures in my auction, any serious flaw, serious bonus, etc., and then link to my flickr page where there will be many more pictures for them to look at.
At present, I have an item on there, that just doesn't come up too often. In the last week there was another one in similar condition, but I waited until that auction was over. Hopefully my auction will collect a few of the bidders from the previous, while they are still in the mood to spend the money to get it.
The one thing to never forget, sometimes the item that has always sold for $1000, may on occasion only sell for $600. On the other hand, something that by all reasonable measure should only sell for $300, might go for $600. These things happen.
skibeerr
Well-known
Pablito and Loneranger wrote the most important things,
if you are new at Ebay and have a low rating start out with cheaper items to build confidence with potential buyers. A lot of people wont give a rating, remind them to give one. It is very important to get a decent number of positive evaluations to get high bids.
Do not give your auction a professional look, give all the nessecary information with lots of good pictures but do not create the impression you are a bussines. People will expect professional service ( wich you will probably give) and the right to return items etc. Buyers look for private persons to get bargains.
If you have somethig for sale than Arsenal is selling to you are in luck, ask half of their price.
After the sale try to get the money immediatly, send an invoice and remind quickly. If you doubt the buyer and think he might not pay offer to annul the sale in a polite way so you can relist the item, dont waste time in pursuing payement.
Good luck.
if you are new at Ebay and have a low rating start out with cheaper items to build confidence with potential buyers. A lot of people wont give a rating, remind them to give one. It is very important to get a decent number of positive evaluations to get high bids.
Do not give your auction a professional look, give all the nessecary information with lots of good pictures but do not create the impression you are a bussines. People will expect professional service ( wich you will probably give) and the right to return items etc. Buyers look for private persons to get bargains.
If you have somethig for sale than Arsenal is selling to you are in luck, ask half of their price.After the sale try to get the money immediatly, send an invoice and remind quickly. If you doubt the buyer and think he might not pay offer to annul the sale in a polite way so you can relist the item, dont waste time in pursuing payement.
Good luck.
Last edited:
sienarot
Well-known
Without repeating what anyone else has said already, I think it's good to consider selling to people from all countries (my only exception being Africa). I find that some items tend to sell better and higher in European markets than North American. Some items I've sold on eBay ended up closing for twice as much when a European bidder had won it than when a North American would have. If you are going to sell outside of North America, be sure to let people know that surface shipping takes between 4-6 weeks of delivery and air shipping (~7 business days) is highly recommended even if it costs more. I find that most people tend not to care and go with ground shipping as long as you tell them ahead of time.
I also find that shipping prices can be the deal breaker for some people (myself included). So try not to mark up the price of shipping too much if that is your thing. I get more non-North American bidders when I list shipping prices for places such as England, Spain, Russia, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong ahead of time. All other countries can be added afterwards on case by case scenarios.
I also find that shipping prices can be the deal breaker for some people (myself included). So try not to mark up the price of shipping too much if that is your thing. I get more non-North American bidders when I list shipping prices for places such as England, Spain, Russia, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong ahead of time. All other countries can be added afterwards on case by case scenarios.
AzzA
Established
Theres been some realy good advice in this thread so far.
But if all else fails, just do what alot of people seem to do..
List some junk at 99c with a very average photo, and a description saying "it used to belong to my father, I dont know anything about cameras, but evrything seems to work", then watch all the "bargain hunters" come rolling in.
But if all else fails, just do what alot of people seem to do..
List some junk at 99c with a very average photo, and a description saying "it used to belong to my father, I dont know anything about cameras, but evrything seems to work", then watch all the "bargain hunters" come rolling in.
ferider
Veteran
In addition to what's been said already:
- browse for similar auctions, check the ones you like, and use some of what you find attracts you in those auctions.
- good NR sales, that start at $1, usually generate a lot of bidding early (in the first day or two), nothing for a while, and then again activity in the last day or so. If there are not enough watchers, and some bids in the first few days, something is going wrong.
- do not use less than 5 days for an auction. If you want to sell quickly, use BIN and low price.
Good luck,
Roland.
- browse for similar auctions, check the ones you like, and use some of what you find attracts you in those auctions.
- good NR sales, that start at $1, usually generate a lot of bidding early (in the first day or two), nothing for a while, and then again activity in the last day or so. If there are not enough watchers, and some bids in the first few days, something is going wrong.
- do not use less than 5 days for an auction. If you want to sell quickly, use BIN and low price.
Good luck,
Roland.
Last edited:
I agree with the overseas selling, although don't ship surface unless it's a cheap item. Ship priority if under $250 (or EMS if you can) and ship everything above $250 via EMS.
You can get third party insurance which is cheaper than USPS insurance, too.
You can get third party insurance which is cheaper than USPS insurance, too.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
Last time I bid on something like that an extremely rare lens arrived and quite unexpectedly.
back alley
IMAGES
only sell to residents of canada
accept only canadian funds
be sincere but firm if a citizen of another country asks for special dispensation and explain why it is too much of a hassle to stand in line and fill out a form
accept only canadian funds
be sincere but firm if a citizen of another country asks for special dispensation and explain why it is too much of a hassle to stand in line and fill out a form
mackigator
Well-known
You need an actual physical signature confirmation if you want that paypal guarantee.
I only sell to the US, verified Paypal, 100% positive feedback.
I only sell to the US, verified Paypal, 100% positive feedback.
AzzA
Established
Thats very true actually.
I got a nice surprise earlier on in the year aswell.
If I sell something I usually start bidding at 99c and end on a weekend during the evening. I also work out the times so overseas bidders arent inconvenienced too much also.
Paddy C
Unused film collector
Take a look through the completed auctions to get an idea of what your item has sold for lately. You will also be able to see which auctions have sold and which haven't and get an idea of why.
If you have a desirable item and you want to get a fair price, I see no problem with using buy-it-now. Many might disagree with this however.
I think reserve prices are useless and turn off a lot of bidders.
If you have a desirable item and you want to get a fair price, I see no problem with using buy-it-now. Many might disagree with this however.
I think reserve prices are useless and turn off a lot of bidders.
zuikomaniac
Digital ... What?
I agree, many items usually ended at $600 through auction would be quickly sold @$620 via buy it now, lots of people would pay little bit extra for a quick win.
skibeerr
Well-known
If your maximum bid exeeds the reserve price in the US it automaticaly starts at the reserve, I think people who want an item often hunt the reserve price until they get there? An unrealistic reserve price is no good off course.
On Ebay Germany there is no such thing as a, hidden, reserve price. You have the option of a minimum starting bid wich holds people back and you get no bids until the last moment and often end near the minimum price.
The reserve system creates some life in the auction and a lot of bidders also attracts buyers, "If lots of people bid on this item it must be great!" kind of atmosphere. This is why items that start at 1$ often get higher prices than those with fixed prices.