MaryJanesFarm Farmgirl Connection
Join in ... sign up
 
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password        REGISTER
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 General Chat Forum
 Entrepreneurship
 e-Bay Selling Tips
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Entrepreneurship: Previous Topic e-Bay Selling Tips Next Topic  

Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl

1075 Posts

Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts

Posted - Nov 16 2009 :  12:12:47 PM  Show Profile
Got any? I may try selling a few things on e-bay, and any suggestions would be highly appreciated!! :)

Thanks much!

~Jodi

"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

www.jodielyzabeth.blogspot.com

www.patternprincess.blogspot.com

knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl

1140 Posts

Sherrie
Gardena California
USA
1140 Posts

Posted - Nov 20 2009 :  6:20:44 PM  Show Profile
Make sure your opening bid is a bid you'll be content with,as in many cases I win auctions at the opening bid! (and this can be terrible for the seller) don't do the old school of starting the auction at 99¢ that worked well when the economy was really good,but now peeps are looking for the lowest price. Be sure you have your shipping rates correct-nothing worse that losing profit to shipping fees if you didn't charge enough in the listing.

http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com

@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702
Go to Top of Page

Sarahpauline
True Blue Farmgirl

672 Posts

sarah
Ringgold GA
USA
672 Posts

Posted - Nov 20 2009 :  6:43:17 PM  Show Profile
Yeah and always keep something up for sale. People will keep checking back in your shop if you always have new things running.

Not all those who wander are lost...
www.SarahPauline.com
www.AbraxasBaroque.com
Go to Top of Page

knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl

1140 Posts

Sherrie
Gardena California
USA
1140 Posts

Posted - Nov 24 2009 :  6:46:21 PM  Show Profile
Sarahs right! And,I always check to see what the competition is doin-if I'm selling a certain Mel Bay book,I'll see how many of that title are already on eBay & what the prices are. What gets my dander up is to see sellers do a BIN at a price waaay over the pub suggested retail & then have the audacity to say "free shipping". Free my foot-the buyer has paid for it & doesn't know it!

http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com

@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702
Go to Top of Page

countrynmore
True Blue Farmgirl

1975 Posts

Sharon
CA
USA
1975 Posts

Posted - Dec 30 2009 :  4:33:55 PM  Show Profile
One of my pet peeves with sellers is that the shipping is outrageous. I always check as well to see if anyone is selling something similar, or what the item has sold for in the past (closed auctions). I don't list items for 99 cents either because as it was said, the auction usually ends with the highest bid of 99 cents. It does amaze me though that some still seem to do well when starting out an auction at a low price.

www.countrynmore.com
www.countrynmore2.etsy.com

http:// www.qualityfabricsandsupplies.ecrater.com

www.countrynmore.blogspot.com

Go to Top of Page

marjean
True Blue Farmgirl

3851 Posts

Marsha
Deltona FL
USA
3851 Posts

Posted - Jan 02 2010 :  09:41:07 AM  Show Profile
All the above has been my experience as well. I live in FL so for me to ship is very high price. Most of my customers come from out west. Very few on the east coast. So, I have to up my shipping to cover and I've lost many a time because on some items ebay has a set price. I don't know if that has changed now with the new rules or not. Get a scale and weigh things. Mine only goes to 5 pounds and that is where I've been burned.
I only keep things in my store now for 6 months if it doesn't sell I will take it off. I have a note up to that says that for those who are watching an item. I've had things sit a year before selling the item. So, it is a waiting game at best.

Don't lower your price or change the auction when someone asks you to. They are not the only buyers out their. If you list a lot instead of items seperately wait until the auction ends to split it up if you've been asked to.

Farmgirl sister #308
handmade cards, vintage tote bags and more at www.jeanpatchbymk.etsy.com
http://jeanpatch.blogspot.com
www.fullerdirect.com
id#0920150
Go to Top of Page

knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl

1140 Posts

Sherrie
Gardena California
USA
1140 Posts

Posted - Jan 12 2010 :  6:54:28 PM  Show Profile
Marsha's right! I've had potential bidders contact me after the auction is over wanting me to sell the item for mere pennies and I always refuse. The ones that really drive me nuts are the ones that contact you while the auction is on asking you to end it & just sell it to them. No way! Sad how many sellers really rip peeps down on shipping. I always check a sellers shipping rate b4 I bid or buy-and see if they combine shipping.

http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com

@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702
Go to Top of Page

therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl

4439 Posts

Kay
Vancouver WA
USA
4439 Posts

Posted - Jan 13 2010 :  12:44:53 AM  Show Profile
High shipping is a major pet peeve with me. It has always been an issue on eBay as that is how some sellers try to make their profit and pay their fees. If someone is jacking their shipping up I don't bid. I've never noticed extremely high shipping costs on Etsy although they may be there. I do everything I can to ship the cheapest way possible to my customers.



Handmade Soap, Lotion Bars & More! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
Go to Top of Page

JustAnAllAmericanGirl
True Blue Farmgirl

72 Posts

Jamie
Raleigh North Carolina
USA
72 Posts

Posted - Jan 13 2010 :  07:30:50 AM  Show Profile
Ditto to all said above. I sometimes get an complaining email about my shipping being too high. I always charge only what it costs to ship. I think sometimes people forget that the box and packaging weigh also.

My advice to build a good following (I've been selling consistently for over 8 years and have a 100% rating) are these tips:

1. Always try to respond to emails within 24 hours (12 hours is better.)
2. Give a phone number. I receive very few call but it makes people trust you a whole lot more.
3. Ship within 1 business days time. Always. Period.
4. Remember when you place your starting bid to figure in all your fees from eBay and paypal - they add up.
5. For items that will only sell for a few dollars, try grouping them together. You will most often make more money overall because of less fees then listing individually.
6. If something will not cost much to ship, offer free shipping then just figure in the cost of the shipping in your starting bid.
7. I almost always, and I mean always offer "Buy Now". Atleast 40% of the time I can sell something like that and then I get my full asking price.

Hope these help. Jamie

www.JustAnAllAmericanGirl.blogspot.com
Go to Top of Page

simplecomfort
True Blue Farmgirl

60 Posts

Tawnya
Rural Orrick Mo
USA
60 Posts

Posted - Feb 24 2010 :  7:49:22 PM  Show Profile  Send simplecomfort an AOL message
I have done ebay since 1998 when they started. I have seen alot of changes. When you list, start an item out at least $4.99 minimum. that is what it will take to pay the fees if it does sell. offer free shipping on small items under a pound. offer media shipping on books. if i get an item and overpaid shipping, i complain so you dont want that. i dont like using buy it now for my items because most of the time they sell for more than i would of asked. thats antiques and collectables tho. ship asap if you can but if you are snowed in or cant, write them and explain. i tried the store for awhile. dont do it until you have sold some things and have a feedback. thats the hardest is getting started because most dont want to buy from a 0 feedback. so maybe buy some things first and get a feedback going. Beware when listing of the boxes being checked for extras like featured or more photos or gallery. gallery is worth it but the others are costly. i once was listing away and realized featured was checked and had all 20 of my smaller items listed like that at $19.95 a pop.. thank god ebay credited my account. good luck and let us know when you get things on there

"Thank God I'm a country girl"
Go to Top of Page
  Entrepreneurship: Previous Topic e-Bay Selling Tips Next Topic  
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Snitz Forums 2000 Go To Top Of Page