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Steves Stuff,
I think most buyers already realize that , for one off type items, someone could buy the item out from under them, so if they are really interested, they aren’t going to sit on their hands indefinitely waiting for the seller to reduce the price.
Thanks Hemstitch….that makes sense. Good point about trying some local interest stuff on Social Media. I know if I hunt around here I have local stuff that could be attractive on Social Media. Going to have to start digging…..you are an inspiration!
Do you think most stuff needs to be professionally framed to sell well? I have quite a few empty frames here that I have always thought I would use to frame various items, but I’ve been hesitant to frame stuff because it can add to the shipping cost on ebay, and because it wouldn’t really be a professionsal job. (Some ebay stuff I actually unframe to sell because it makes the packing easier and shipping more affordable.)
Hemstitch, Great idea! I’m one of the co-managers of our Friends of the Library Facebook group, and we recently had our annual Raffle/Auction fundraiser. I posted a new photo each day for a few days before the event, of item we’d be offering. I also sent it to about 6 local “yard sale” FB groups….got way more total views than we ever get, that was a real eye opener. We don’t have an Instagram account, but I may look into that. I’ve always thought that social media would be good for generating this kind of buzz, and it sure looks like it worked for you. Did you already have a pretty large following on Instagram, before you started posting?
AtomicStar,
On the surface, that sounds logical, but I don’t think so. Buyers don’t want to be bombarded with these offers, so ebay needs to walk a fine line here. Yes, ebay wants to make sales, but ebay doesn’t want to drive customers away.
Sharyn, you say
“I’ve had it for a while, but I noticed something new today. My iMac updated software and had to restart. When it came back up, eBay had new functionality where I can now filter my listings to show those eligible for promotions or for making offers to watchers. I’m not sure that the software update had anything to do with it, but maybe the restart caused the eBay website to renew or something like that.”
The iMac update and the ebay Seller Hub change is purely coincidence. eBay is rolling out the change you are talking about (the filters) and everyone should have it by the end of the month (per todays ebay for Business podcast.
Atomic Star, Not all listings with watchers are eligible for SAOs (Seller Activated Offers), ebay uses an algorithm to determine eligibility of listings, and also has an algo to determine eligibility of the watchers. I know of no upper limit to the number of eligible listings per account. It is available for some very recent listings, but again, it depends on the algo (the details of which, of course, ebay does not disclose). As new watchers come onto a listing, that listing can become eligible again (but it may or may not, again, depending on the algo) And, as Sharyn notes, buyers can opt out of such notifications.
The whole thing, just like promoted listings and some other tools, is constantly being fiddled with by ebay. At some point later this year, buyers with items in carts (as opposed to just watchers) will be added to the eligibility mix.
Personally, I’ve had very limited success with SAOs, but it’s free and it doesn’t take much time (and the new filters make it even easier), so I will continue to use it for items I’m willing to discount. I suspect (but have no proof) that it is more effective for sellers of new UPC type stuff, because those buyers put stuff on their watch list with an intent to buy, whereas many of my watchers are probably fellow researchers researching their own items for sale, and they have no intention of buying regardless of any discount I offer. But, as I say, if I get even a few sales from it, I’m happy….
Welcome Christine! I’m in Pennsylvania too, though much further east. I find its a great state for sourcing. I would think the Pittsburgh area would be as good or even better than where I am. My advice is: just keep plugging away…and listening to the podcasts! J & R: Informative, Inspiring, and Entertaining!
I’m with Jay on this. I don’t worry about whether the sob story is true or BS. It’s the dollar amount being offered that will (or will not) sway me. IF I accept the offer, because the price is right, I’m always happy to include some sort of note (because the story MIGHT be true). So, I might say: Hope this brings a smile to your little granddaughter as she recovers from her accident) But otherwise, I never refer to the sob story. I just decline, or counter offer without comment.
Sometimes, it IS tempting to be snarky, especially when my BS meter is going off like crazy, but I refrain. I’ve written some dandy responses ion my head though!
05/14/2019 at 4:53 pm in reply to: Could anyone with a Worthpoint account help me out for a moment? #61907ChristineK, I’ve got a few of those, but the ones I’ve received always say something like “with free shipping” in the notes. On items for which I do not offer free shipping.
Just to be clear: ebay is fine with drop shipping. You have a deal with a wholesaler, for example, and have the wholesaler ship to your buyer? That’s fine, and that is conventional drop shipping. What eBay prohibits is the sort of thing where I list an item I do not have, buyer buys it, and I then buy it on, let’s say Amazon, and have Amazon ship it to my buyer. In the first situation, I did not have the item in my possession, but I had an existing deal with the item’s possessor. In the second situation, I did not have the item in my possession, and I had no control over it when I listed it.
05/01/2019 at 9:37 am in reply to: Well… full-time it is! My eBay Journey goes full throttle. New Journal #61023As Jay says, there’s no one way to success on ebay, and I think you have a pretty sound strategy. Looking forward to reading more as you progress, and you are definitely in the right place if you have questions….lots of helpful, knowledgeable people here.
I’m with Julie B. I count it as a pretty big nothing burger when the section that will probably impact me the most is the section about changes to categories and item specifics. Granted, I only did one quick read through, and I might have missed something, but most of this just doesn’t mean much to me. Things I was hoping to see, such as coded coupons and employee limited access to accounts, are not there…no changes to store layouts, no additional store tiers….
“eBay should have started managed payments when they first split from PayPal. I have no clue why it’s taken them this long.”
It’s taken this long because when ebay and PayPal split, they entered into an agreement that didn’t permit ebay to offer its own Managed Payments for several years, and even now—until June or July of next year, eBay can’t open it to everyone….Up to 5% through this June/July, and 10% after that. In mid 2020, ebay can go to all sellers. So, in other words, ebay is going about as fast as they can.
Also, as to PayPal’s fees…..while I’m not in Managed Payments, I’m pretty sure putting PayPal into ebay’s Managed Payments is no different than adding ApplePay or GooglePay or credit cards. The seller doesn’t pay fees to any of them, nor would the seller pay to PP. Because PP won’t be managing the seller side of payments, PP will be there only for buyers to pay. PP won’t be doing the processing, that will be ebay’s job.
Absolutely. Scavenging on ebay can be profitable, but getting out and scavenging in the real world is what we really enjoy doing. It’s also why we can’t motivate ourselves to buy from wholesalers or even do much in the way of retail arbitrage. I need a T shirt that says: “I’d rather be scavenging.”
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