The price is right?!

[zanbarrage]

Hi Everyone, In my continued effort to try and understand the eBay ACEO market, I would love to hear your opinion about pricing. Where to start and what to expect. So far I am getting single bid purchases on some of my work. Some I am getting watched, but not bid. I am a bit confused by al this. Help??!!!

[art-by-darla-h]

There has been alot of discussion about pricing and the bottom line is price what you feel you can live with. Right now it is slow so if you are getting bids that is a good thing. Watchers in ACEOs I have found only mean that someone has noticed your art wich is a good thing but I never pay attention to watchers anymore because they dont mean a bid. Alot of people including myself watch artwork because they like it and either want to see what happens as far as sale or just like to window shop.

[artistjillian]

What you think will sell, doesn't. What you think won't sell, does. What you think will go for a high price, doesn't. What you think will go for a low price, doesn't. Always list at a price you won't cry over or be upset over if it sells at that price. Sales have not picked up sufficiently since pre-Xmas the way I see it, so I'm sure it's not your work. I believe there IS a buyer for every work - if your work is unsold, it's just that that buyer hasn't come along. Watchers do NOT = bids. I like to get at least one watcher, but other than that I don't take too much notice at all. I'm not in favor of listing at absurdly low prices - you pay more for a mass-produced greeting card! Or where you are paying people to take your art from you.

[indooryardsales]

Personally, I price my work compared to gift cards. The cr#ppiest gift card goes for at least 2-3 bucks these days. Admittedly, you get an envelope and a little bad poem and the card is for the purpose of going to Aunt Sadie as a get well wish after her colonoscopy but still; MY work is worth more than a gift card so I price at just under 10 bucks and if it doesn't sell, then the hell wid it.

[inanire]

eBay is VERY hard to predict; at least that has been my experience. Some things you think will go for huge amounts don't even end up getting one bid; and then sometimes something you're not even sure is worth listing gets bid way up. My best advice is to go with whatever you really want to do. Seriously, if you feel ripped off at pricing under $5 - then don't price under $5. I've just started selling ACEO and my very first one went for $25. That was extremely unexpected! But, then some of my other ones went for about $5 and that's with free shipping. It's not easy to predict what will do what; That's why I just do whatever I really want to do. An example: Two weeks ago I listed an ACEO for $9.99 and no one bid. I relisted the same ACEO at $6.99 this last week and it got bid up to $10.51. I was surprised, since it was higher than I had originally listed it. And, that's just one example. I wouldn't worry myself too much about any of it. You never know when the mood will strike someone and you never know when it won't. I find that when I pay too much attention to selling, I make myself miserable; and that, to me, defeats the whole purpose of creating art anyway. Just have fun with whatever you end up doing. I guess that's my really long-winded way of saying to "follow your heart". (Super-cliche saying, I know. But its real significance is often missed.) Whatever you end up doing, I wish you the best!!! -Jendria

[cricketdiane]

I kinda thought that some listings are in the .50 range because when people use the search function for the lowest bid items, their work would be seen and lead potential buyers into their other work. Maybe in the top ranges too. There are some aceos listed for $150 that started at that price and whether they sold or not - may have made other sales. -Cricket

[drawdog5]

I just made my own rule never to price an ACEO below $9.99. Some I price higher, if they took a bit more time (like the scratchboard ones). I think Jillian's rule is a very good one - "always list at a price you won't cry over or be upset over if it sells at that price." -Ann

[mistylakes]

So it's still slow on ebay? I'm glad to know it isn't just me. I did list some aceos at a penny each. At least it gets it started and I'm happy with whatever I get. Sometimes happier than other times. 🙂