Visibility & Pricing
Summary: cageyanemone007 asked why higher-priced or higher-shipping items often sell faster, wondering if sellers are offsetting promotion costs. shire123 and others explained that factors like seller reputation, item description, pictures, and return policies can influence buying decisions. Some participants pointed out that delivery date, shipping calculations, and customer loyalty to specific sellers also play roles. Discussions included the impact of promotion strategies and listing descriptions, with advice given on improving sales tactics. Additionally, jahmayka shared a personal experience about fluctuating prices, receiving advice about seller practices and buyer interactions.
As a buyer, I frequently see items priced at $45 sell instead of the same item listed at $36, or items with $12 shipping sell over identical ones with $7 shipping. Same title, same condition.
Are people pricing much higher to offset promoted listing costs, and focusing on buyers who don't scroll to the bottom?
Apologies on posting in the wrong forum, but was looking for insight from a buyer's perspective about why higher priced or higher shipping listings often sell faster, but also curious about the promotion feature as a seller. I sell 4x as much elsewhere, and was just curious if anyone felt the promotion option was worth it.
luckythewinner
·1 week ago · EditedYou seem to be assuming that:
buyers who do not buy the lowest priced listing are lazy and do not scroll; and
sellers who do not have the lowest price are intentionalyl deciding not to be competitive.
Those two assumptions are both incredibly simplistic and simply do not reflect reality.
In the first case, you are completely ignoring that the buyer:
May not be searching well
May have included search terms that are not in the title of the lowest priced option
That the seller of the lowest priced option hasn't included enough information to be easily found
Has not excluded the lowest priced listing due to
- lack of a return policy
- poor listing quality
- onerous 'seller terms'
- poor seller cvommunication
- poor or limited seller feedback
- etc.
In the second case, it could be
the seller was the lowest at one time but other sellers have listed or repriced since
the seller's costs were high and he does not want to sell at a loss
the seller values maximizing price over a quick sale
the seller is a hobbyist and not a ruthless businessman
the seller has multiple slightly different ones for sale and the higher priced one is a decoy to make the lower priced ones more attractive
jahmayka
·1 week agoI looking to buy a jacket on this particular sellers platform.
Over the past THREE weeks the garment has gone up in price Three Times. From $170 to $240 with ZERO reasons.
I've tried to contact the seller but his response was to BLOCK me.
Is this normal?
Has anyone else experienced this?
Eagerly awaiting your responses.
Many thanks.
pickapaper
·1 week ago@jahmayka
You aren't supposed to use another poster's thread to ask your own question, but I'll go ahead and answer. Yes, a seller can block a buyer for ANY reason. This includes a buyer contacting them too many times. If you have been blocked, this seller doesn't want your business, so you need to find another seller.
mam98031
·3 weeks ago@cageyanemone007 Pretty easy for buyers to sort their searches. Just select Low to High and the lowest prices will be at the top of the search. Most buyers likely use this type of search when shopping. I certainly know I do.
As for shipping at $12 or $7, it is likely the seller at the lower price simply has not caught up to recent USPS increases and they will lose money on the $7 shipping price. Then they will learn to pay attention and make the appropriate adjustments.
As for increasing the price of a product to allow for Promoted Listings fees, the answer should be YES. Sellers need to do that. They need to price things so that ALL their costs are covered and a realistic profit. Doubtful there are many sellers here willing to pay buyers to buy their stuff after all.
steve_stuff
·3 weeks ago"As for shipping at $12 or $7, it is likely the seller at the lower price simply has not caught up to recent USPS increases"
OR
the $12 one ships by priority only but the $7 uses ground adv.
redlinear
·3 weeks ago@cageyanemone007
Best I can tell.
You have a lot of eBay users that think they can find the best deal. Usually that's the best Quality for the best Price (not always, but usually). These are people very familiar with eBay, and know where all the buttons are, and which ones to push.
So, best price usually gets the sale.
AND, you have many newer buyers that don't know the in's and out's of this mess, and purchase their "best deal" as they see it. Not knowing there are much better deals out there. Visibility is the key here.
Those are the two BIG groups of buyers. So a seller can attempt to target either group. Be cheap and don't Promote much or Be higher and Promote much.
For the remaining thousand types of buyers? They have their own way of thinking and it's not possible to target them all.
I've tried both the main methods and at the end of the day (or month), it all seems to work out about the same.
steve_stuff
·3 weeks ago"...buyers who don't scroll to the bottom?"
I would thing that most buyers have their search set to show cheaper first.
"priced at $45 sell ... $36 "
You do know that ebay says that any item might not be visible to everyone at all times -
Depending on what you search for, when you search, what you type, how your search is set to display, your location, how many are for sale ...
We have found something, left the search, redid later and 'that' wasn't on the active or complete list. But a different cheaper one that was active at the time but not shown on first search had been added. Went to our search history, found the original listing [which we had opened] and it was still active.
So they most likely bought the $45 one because they never saw the $36 one.
mozartbach1971
·3 weeks agoI remember hearing awhile ago that most use the Best Match search the most. I could be wrong though. I know that is the default search method.
inhawaii
·3 weeks agoWho can explain why people do the things they do.
It's impossible.
pickapaper
·3 weeks agoThere are many factors that determine who I buy from. One of the biggest is "no returns". If I look at a listing that has "no returns", I move on. I don't want the hassle of dealing with a seller who does not stand behind their products, especially if there is a problem with the product.
One comment: I looked at a few of your listings. You have the IT concealer listed as Media Mail; it does not qualify to be shipped via MM. Also, that concealer says "New Condition" but you said you squeezed it to show color so actually, who knows if it was squeezed before, and that takes away the "newness" of it. You have some other makeup that you list as new but you said the seal is not tight and the outside of the tube is dirty; that also would not say "new" to me.
adamcartwright
·3 weeks agoEvery seller here stands behind his listings, as all listings have the MBG.
pickapaper
·3 weeks ago@adamcartwright Yes, you are correct, but what I was referring to are those sellers who argue with a customer claiming the buyer is a crook or scammer or that they damaged the item themself or whatever else they can think of. I went through that once with a seller from hades and I won't do that again. If a listing says "no returns", I don't even bother.
luckythewinner
·3 weeks ago · EditedBlaming this on "promotion" and buyers who "don't bother to look" is dismissing the real fact that buyers shop based on more than just price alone.
For instance, here is one thing about your listings that would discourage me from buying from you even if your price was lower:
Returns: No returns accepted
How I translate this: "I do not stand by my items"
Here is another thing about your listings that would discourage me from buying from you even if your price was lower:
eBay is NOT my preferred choice. I have this and all other items listed elsewhere at a better price. As this is crossposted it is likely to sell there first!
How I translate this: "I may be wasting your time and might cancel your order"
cageyanemone007
OP3 weeks agoI was mostly asking as a buyer, because I see it so often, but that’s a fair point. A gamble, but it actually increased my sales elsewhere, which was the intent, as the shipping there is drastically less expensive.
soh.maryl
·3 weeks agoI have no words. I guess, if these tactics work for you, who am I to criticize?
soh.maryl
·3 weeks agoThere are certain items that I buy fairly frequently, so I usually buy from a seller I've bought from before if possible, even if the price is a little higher. Being assured of a good experience is worth paying a little more, IMHO.
annadryl
·3 weeks agoThe more expensive listing might have a much better item description and detailed pics, which matters. Some listings might have lower prices but it's not clear what we're really getting.
Prices can vary, but a better made listing (honest, detailed) can get the sale in the end.
dhbookds
·3 weeks agoShipping can vary......you are possibly looking at calculated shipping...that $12 could be cheaper/$7 could be more...........
eburtonlab
·3 weeks agoIn addition to shipping price varying by buyer location, buyers may be buying multiple items. Some sellers may combine shipping in various ways that make that seller preferable to another, or one seller may have all the items a buyer wants to buy, making that seller's items a better deal than buying from multiple individual sellers with lower shipping.
shire123
·3 weeks agoLots of variables to consider. Just to name a few;
seller reputation
item location
better item description
better pictures (more complete)
seller response to questions.
return policies
Price alone while important is not always the major driver in purchases.
cageyanemone007
OP3 weeks agoI’m seeing mostly generic AI descriptions lately, but that’s a fair point, as I’m more likely to buy from someone that takes the time to write their own, however short.
Most of the time though, the photos and description are pretty equal, and I’ve often wondered why they’d spend $20-30 more.
shire123
·3 weeks ago · Edited@cageyanemone007 Totally agree. AI descriptions are a real turnoff.
as pointed out by someone else. Having no returns is a major turnoff. In all my selling over the years I can count on one hand the number of returns I have had. If you don't have problematic items (electronics, clothing) then there is little risk in allowing returns.
And as far as my buying is concerned I can't remember the last time I returned an item.
cageyanemone007
OP3 weeks agoI’ll take that into consideration. I’ve had two return cases. One the buyer damaged the items to return, and the second it didn’t fit. Since they removed the tags and tried them on, it wasn’t new anymore, which was a large price difference resale wise. eBay just refunded them and let them keep it. I never look at the return policy myself, because I’m used to buying on M where there are no returns, but I understand that we live in an Amazon influenced world
jonathanbrightlight
·3 weeks agoOffering returns, even if they're buyer-paid, can remove the incentive for buyers to feel like they need to either damage them or claim they're damaged in order to open a return. It's a win-win usually.
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoMercari?
soh.maryl
·1 week agoYou "never look at the return policy"? Why not? There may be a time in the future where you wish you had taken a moment to do so.
soh.maryl
·3 weeks agoAnd, of course, Estimated Delivery Date.