Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

[TheNeedMachine]

You guys ever feel bad about how much something is selling for?

Yes, in the same way casino pit bosses feel bad when I spend too much money at the tables...they feel so bad about it that they give me free alcohol all night. Nice chaps, they.

 

[capnwes]

You guys ever feel bad about how much something is selling for? I almost didn't even list these because they were in worse shape than i thought once I got them home. I tried to accurately describe the condition and give accurate pictures but I just have a bad feeling this is going to turn into a return or complaint.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/13103490575...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1304wt_1170

I wouldn't worry. You have clean crisp photos, and haven't hidden anything. Who knows, maybe the buyers late father had the same pair and he is buying for nostalgic reasons. There is often no logical explanation for why folks pay too much for stuff. Just go with it, and hope for the best.

I try not to use Cordovan in my title unless it is Shell. I use burgundy instead.

 

[Tweets]

Well it does say cordovan in title and buyer may think he is getting shell

Thanks everyone for the advice, I usually don't use cordovan unless its shell but J Crew sold these originally as "Cordovan" for the color so I went with it. If the bidders think they are getting shell, they obviously don't know what shell is or didn't look at the pictures.

 

[Fueco]



Yes, in the same way casino pit bosses feel bad when I spend too much money at the tables...they feel so bad about it that they give me free alcohol all night.  Nice chaps, they.

This...

 

[capnwes]

This excerpt was included in my listing from the Black Jack website.
" Black Jack Boots takes great pride in presenting the finest in hand-made boot, belts and accessories. The process of making Black Jack Boots begins with the selection of only the best leathers and findings around the world to ensure the best in fit, comfort and durability. Making a pair of Black Jack Boots involves over 100 steps."

He claims I misrepresented them because they did not fit as the listing said they would. They were too small.

I offered a full refund, but he wanted the refund and the boots.

He waited too long to open an ebay claim, so he did it through paypal. They told him the same thing I did. Now he is even more pissed.

He only has 6 more days to return them.

So, either the guy just gave up, or he hit the wrong button. I just received an email from Paypal saying that the case is closed "buyer stated that the situation has been resolved amicably"

Called paypal to verify. It's all good, no refund for the buyer. Case closed

 

[Fueco]

I'm beginning to convert my older listings to auctions... This could be an interesting 10 day cycle starting tomorrow! I have more than 80 listings that will be starting tomorrow night.

My plan is to do BIN for 1-3 months on new listings and then convert them to Auction. For really hot items, I will go straight to auction. First up is the pair of Frye boots I just scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully I can create a quicker turnover on my inventory!

 

[Snoogz]

I'm beginning to convert my older listings to auctions... This could be an interesting 10 day cycle starting tomorrow! I have more than 80 listings that will be starting tomorrow night.

My plan is to do BIN for 1-3 months on new listings and then convert them to Auction. For really hot items, I will go straight to auction. First up is the pair of Frye boots I just scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully I can create a quicker turnover on my inventory!

I've been thinking of tinkering with a similar idea. What price point are you starting your auctions at? If you have waited 3 months for a BIN, I cannot imagine you exceeding the BIN through auction on a regular basis...

 

[Shoeluv]

I've been thinking of tinkering with a similar idea. What price point are you starting your auctions at? If you have waited 3 months for a BIN, I cannot imagine you exceeding the BIN through auction on a regular basis...

Brian and I were chatting about the opposite through PMs the other day. I had quite a few things that didn't get a single bid when I had them in auction. I got the free BIN listings from eBay, raised the price up on most of the items and several sold. For instance I ran this one through auction two or three times with not a single bid. I then almost doubled the price BIN and it sold in less than a week. But I really appreciate the discussion, it gives all of us ideas and lets us see the results of different experiments. It is amusing that the 3 biggest sellers on the thrift thread and this thread all do it different.

Spoo is 9.99 auctions although I noticed he is getting into BIN for returns or non-sellers.
Brian is mainly BIN/OBO now getting into auctions for lower priced stuff.
Capn Wes mainly BIN but adds auction to most of his listings.

The main thing these 3 have in common is they work their asses off and are fairly successful. So while we may all tweak our methodologies, I think we can all agree that to be successful at this requires busting your ass.

 

[capnwes]

Brian and I were chatting about the opposite through PMs the other day. I had quite a few things that didn't get a single bid when I had them in auction. I got the free BIN listings from eBay, raised the price up on most of the items and several sold. For instance I ran this one through auction two or three times with not a single bid. I then almost doubled the price BIN and it sold in less than a week. But I really appreciate the discussion, it gives all of us ideas and lets us see the results of different experiments. It is amusing that the 3 biggest sellers on the thrift thread and this thread all do it different.

Spoo is 9.99 auctions although I noticed he is getting into BIN for returns or non-sellers.
Brian is mainly BIN/OBO now getting into auctions for lower priced stuff.
Capn Wes mainly BIN but adds auction to most of his listings.

The main thing these 3 have in common is they work their asses off and are fairly successful. So while we may all tweak our methodologies, I think we can all agree that to be successful at this requires busting your ass.

According to the ebay seller outreach team, the best way to sell is to have a mix of all types of listings. Supposedly, doing it that way will give you the maximum exposure in searches. Don't know how true it is, but I take their word for it. I like it when a item goes for an outrageous BIN on day two of a listing, but I still prefer the thrill of an auction in the final seconds. The BIN/OBO is nice too, "set it and forget it". Works well for the small stuff i sell like cufflinks and such, stuff I am not worried about moving in order to create space for more inventory.

 

[Brianpore]

Quote:
+1 funny we were just talking about this. I find high priced items do best as BIN OBO and lower end / middle of the road items "CAN" do better at auction but usually don't.

PS - The auctions arent just for low priced items. A good mix is key (so I'm told, I read what Wes read just the other day).

 

[capnwes]

+1 funny we were just talking about this. I find high priced items do best as BIN OBO and lower end / middle of the road items "CAN" do better at auction but usually don't.

PS - The auctions arent just for low priced items. A good mix is key (so I'm told, I read what Wes read just the other day).

What did you read? They told me on the phone a while back during my monthly support call.

 

[Snoogz]

I've been preferring the BIN OBO because of the "set it and forget it" feeling. My home / work life limit eBay at this moment, and knowing I don't have to relist half my auctions every week gives me breathing room. Also allows me to focus on new listings while the others sit there. What I've implemented to release some older listings is a store SALE. I'll usually mark down certain items 20-30 percent, and wait for em to leave. Its still a profit in my book, its always substantial enough to warrant the sale.

But hearing others approach is still good advice. When I can get into eBay full time, I certainly will implement a mixture of listings, once I feel I have a decent following if users to view these 10 days auctions and make the most of em.

 

[Fueco]

I've been thinking of tinkering with a similar idea. What price point are you starting your auctions at? If you have waited 3 months for a BIN, I cannot imagine you exceeding the BIN through auction on a regular basis...

I'm planning to tinker with it a bit, but for now, shirts are mostly starting at $14.99 (this is 1.5-2X my purchase price). Other things, I'm starting at about the same price point with relation to what I paid. It has to be enough to make it worth my time even if I only get one bid. A lot of the stuff I have up has been languishing on Ebay for months with multiple watchers. I'm hoping that by moving to auction, I can get rid of some of this crap inventory. Come tomorrow night, I'll have probably 280+ items on Ebay.

For REALLY hot items, I might start at 99 cents with a reserve; or start high and see what happens (I'm starting the Fryes at $49.99).

 

[Shoeluv]

I'm planning to tinker with it a bit, but for now, shirts are mostly starting at $14.99 (this is 1.5-2X my purchase price). Other things, I'm starting at about the same price point with relation to what I paid. It has to be enough to make it worth my time even if I only get one bid. A lot of the stuff I have up has been languishing on Ebay for months with multiple watchers. I'm hoping that by moving to auction, I can get rid of some of this crap inventory. Come tomorrow night, I'll have probably 280+ items on Ebay.

For REALLY hot items, I might start at 99 cents with a reserve; or start high and see what happens (I'm starting the Fryes at $49.99).

I hate reserves with a passion and absolutely refuse to bid on any auction that has one nowadays. I much prefer someone to start it with a higher starting bid that at least I know I have a chance of winning. When I first started on eBay, I bid $50 on a pair of pants to find out the guy had a reserve of $60 than after the auction ended without meeting the minimum he offered them to me at the lower price. I refused mainly because I was butt hurt about putting a good bid out and getting it rejected by a reserve. This happened several times, and since than I haven't bid on an item with a reserve.

This is why I love Spoo's auctions, I know I can win stuff for 9.99. It has even happened a couple of times, but it also encourages me to place lots of bids. If you look at my history, I probably bid on 10 - 15 items every week of Spoo's. I have only won 2 items so far but not for lack of trying. I am also not just sniping cheap stuff (although that comes into play), since I am looking for bargains sometimes I find things I really want like a Dsquared jacket for my wife that I put a large bid on but was way under the ending bid. Usually I am too cheap to pay what is required to win them but because I know it is possible I could win it; I bid.This raises the price on many auctions for Spoo because there are a lot of other people out there with the same idea but a less tight fist on their money.

 

[marc roberto]

^^+1
Another big pro in BIN vs. auction is that you get 30 days and you only have 50 free listings you can have 50 items listed the entire month for free.
When I have something good that I know will get good bids I like to start it at a low auction to attract customers, and I have in my description Please see my other... etc.
and this brings in more views.