Back & need tips on posting

[7654cove]

I started back up on eBay, listing a variety of items.  Some of my posts have only 1 or 2 views, others have up to 100.  How do I promote the posts with barely any interest in them.  Is there something I should look for that I may have listed incorrectly?

[jayjaspersgarage · Accepted solution]

I think some categories just aren't selling like hot cakes.  Trends cycle around from year to year.  I have the same experience but have learned to bundle slow moving items for clearance rather than try to sell every little last item in my 'warehouse'.  

It can help a lot to look up exact or very similar items sold by other sellers.  You can learn so much about how people list in different categories and whether they prefer 'free' shipping or not.

[caldreamer]

You are selling "one of a kind" collectibles it doesn't make sense to pay "extra fees" to promote your listing.  Promoted listings makes sense if you are selling commodity item and 100s people selling the same thing.  Also promoting your listing is no guarantee you will get more sales. 

You cannot force sales...if someone wants your item they will buy it.   Personally, I would not use "auction format" for your listing (that assuming customers are going to be lined up to bid on your item in that "short time span").   All bear in mind...with 99 cent auction....you may be "losing money" if you sell at that price.   EBAY fees based on (purchase price + shipping + sales tax) plus 30 cent handling charge.

Sales are not guaranteed with EBAY...some things sell immediately and some may never sell.   You have to lots of patience.

[donsdetour]

When listing what you do,

list groups of such in order.

Lets folks that see such click on your listings and find them. If scattered through your listings it can be hard to find stuff.

Note this would be form experienced purchasers.  Non experience would be lost due to the best buy stuff...

The would not know to click on other options.

 So far you dont have many listings so it is easy to look.

Buy the way looking good.

[7654cove]

Cal...Thanks for the feedback. I haven’t  been paying any additional fees. I added the .99 & buyer pays shipping In hopes to draw interest. If it doesn’t go over the .99 that’s fine with me. I’ll put it in the mail & it’ll be history.  I have 2 storage unit s & trying to find new homes for stuff. 
I was just curious why I have some things with only 1 or 2 views after being listed for a couple of days.

[coolections]

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@caldreamer wrote:

You are selling "one of a kind" collectibles it doesn't make sense to pay "extra fees" to promote your listing.  Promoted listings makes sense if you are selling commodity item and 100s people selling the same thing. 

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It is funny how some do not understand the need for promoted listings and just waste $$. You are correct, if there are only a few no need for promoting as a buyer  will see them anyway. OK checked the OP's listings. For that low a price even though there are MILLIONS of postcard and jewelry sellers, they would still be wasting $$ IMO.

[coolections]

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The ones that have 100's of views you really need to think about changing something. If that many people saw it and no one bought it, most likely either the condition or price is just not right.

@7654cove wrote:

Some of my posts have only 1 or 2 views, others have up to 100.

[slippinjimmy]

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@coolections wrote:

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@caldreamer wrote:

You are selling "one of a kind" collectibles it doesn't make sense to pay "extra fees" to promote your listing.  Promoted listings makes sense if you are selling commodity item and 100s people selling the same thing. 

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It is funny how some do not understand the need for promoted listings and just waste $$. You are correct, if there are only a few no need for promoting as a buyer  will see them anyway. OK checked the OP's listings. For that low a price even though there are MILLIONS of postcard and jewelry sellers, they would still be wasting $$ IMO.

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How would they be "wasting money" if they use eBay's Promoted Listings? You only pay a fee IF you actually sell the item and it would get the OP some exposure in places other than lost on page 50 in search results.

[slippinjimmy]

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@7654cove wrote:

Cal...Thanks for the feedback. I haven’t  been paying any additional fees. I added the .99 & buyer pays shipping In hopes to draw interest. If it doesn’t go over the .99 that’s fine with me. I’ll put it in the mail & it’ll be history.  I have 2 storage unit s & trying to find new homes for stuff. 
I was just curious why I have some things with only 1 or 2 views after being listed for a couple of days.

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You are selling in extremely crowded categories.

Your Titles could really use some work, Step one, keywords that buyers use in search, Step Two a Title that grabs their attention and provides enough of a tease to get them to actually click on your listing.

Next thing, reconsider Auctions, by that I mean consider dropping them for the most part.

If your 99 cent auctions are not even getting views it's at least in  part because the majority of eBay buyers will not have anything to do with auctions, they might even look at the listing but the odds they will actually win are slim and they are not interested in babysitting an Auction for a week. This is especially true in a category like low value jewellery where there are literally millions of alternatives that are available for instant purchase.

[reallynicestamps]

Forget auctions.

When the current auctions go unsold, relist them as Fixed Price at the price you want to get.

Over 85% of transactions nowadays are Fixed Price.  Even auctions can have Buy It Now or Best Offer options enabled.

Use Free Shipping as much as possible.

DON'T PANIC

Free shipping just means including your shipping costs (packaging and postage) in your selling price.

Which is cheaper a $10 item with $5 shipping or a $15 item with Free Shipping.

While most of eBay's paid options are a waste of money, I quite like Promoted Listings.

First,  because you only pay** if the PL works.

But mostly, they don't work the way you expect.

I found when I started using PL, that all my Views soared.

But the Promoted Listings did not sell any better.

What did happen was that PL drew customers to my Store or my other listings* where apparently they did a little browsing.

So sales increased, but 18 months later I don't think I have spent over $50 in PL fees.

I agree that the low view items may just not have much of a market.

Especially in Collectibles, trends, fashions and interests come and go.

Beanie Babies went, Cabbage Patch Dolls are making a comeback  (those little girls are now in their 40s), trains are almost over.

*I have several accounts, not all of which are Stores.

** You also pay only what you want. I'm cheap enough to go no higher than one percent. YMMV.

[goaldeelocks]

I agree with slippinjimmy - work on your keywords. Look through your jewelry titles and you'll see that there are several words you could add that could help your items pop up in a search. Try to find descriptive words that could matter. LIke - "purple" and "set" for your bracelet and earring set.

jewelry is a hard sell unless it's unique. Perhaps it would meet your goal of clearing it out and finding a good hme if you listed as small lots instead of separate items?

[7654cove]

Thanks for the feedback.  I started with 10 day auction, no offers because I had knee replacement surgery & it was my way of timing auction end to when I’d be able to handle getting things out.  I’m excited to get going again.  I noticed your account name & not sure when, but after I recover I’ll be listening a LOT is stamps. 

[7654cove]

Thanks Dee, I will try & be repetitious. I put key words in “item specifics” & will add them to the description as well. 
I’ve sold lots in the past, usually at least 10 pieces.  I depleted most of my inventory locally. Thanks again!

[7654cove]

Thanks Jimmy.  Just getting back to listening is a learning experience.  Ebay has changed so much over the years.  I’m retired now & have more time to invest in listing.  

[7654cove]

The ones that have more views also have watchers. They are all auctions at this time because I’m unable to handle shipping right now because of surgery.  I’m sure eventually, neat auction end I will have bids on a few things.  I plan to follow through with BIN posts. Now just isn’t a good time.