Disappointing sale result - winning bid less than scrap silver value

[edsuniqueemporium]

I sold three bracelets with a silver melt value of $36 for $28. How disappointing. Ebay wants you to start auctions low, but then you take the chance of receiving a paltry amount. A seven-day auction only generated 52 views with ebay's worldwide reach. Again disappointed. 

[luckythewinner]

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@edsuniqueemporium wrote:

I sold three bracelets with a silver melt value of $36 for $28. How disappointing. Ebay wants you to start auctions low, but then you take the chance of receiving a paltry amount

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Why did you start the auction below scrap and take the chance of receiving a paltry amount?

The choice was entirely yours, not eBay's.  

[campanaelia]

I would recommend turning off the new auto-pay requirement at the bottom of the page in the link below. Ebay opted all sellers into it w/o even letting them know. Many regular bidders are not bidding or making offers because of this.

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements

[chapeau-noir]

The problem was listing it on auction - not a popular format for easily valuated items. That you got $28 for silver melt value of $36 was actually quite good, given how auctions often end. Next time, unless you have something rare, just name your price.

ETA: When I'm looking for stuff to flip, I look at auctions because they almost always end cheap.

[ladyindecadence]

Once you add in the shipping and the sales tax the buyer paid close to scrap. If I was buying scrap silver on eBay I know I would consider the shipping and sales tax in my bid.

[robbie31415]

The start of an auction needs to be the lowest you will accept.

You can start auctions at .99 but you have to understand that the winner might win at .99.

[new_spin_boutique]

A few months ago, I put up auctions on some very highly desirable antique Coca-Cola items and after 5 days I had, literally, zero view and zero watchers, so I pulled them. That experience was a very clear indicator that something is wrong with the search and the save searches. I don't think it's safe to run auctions, currently. 

[mam98031]

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@edsuniqueemporium wrote:

I sold three bracelets with a silver melt value of $36 for $28. How disappointing. Ebay wants you to start auctions low, but then you take the chance of receiving a paltry amount. A seven-day auction only generated 52 views with ebay's worldwide reach. Again disappointed. 

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You will find that Ebay suggests all kinds of things on all kinds of subjects.  What is important to understand is that they are just that SUGGESTIONS.  They don't see what you are selling and don't have any ability to value the actual thing you are selling.  You need to remember that YOU are in control of your pricing.  You should never start an auction for an amount less than you are willing to accept for the item.  No matter what anyone suggests.  And certainly NEVER below your cost.  

Now you have sold the item, when the buyer pays, you need to ship it out.  This at least was not an expensive lesson.  Many of us here made much more expensive errors when we started selling.  So learn from it and move on.

[inhawaii]

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@edsuniqueemporium wrote:

Ebay wants you to start auctions low

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I never knew that.

[hartungcards]

eBay wants me to take out a $36,000 business loan too.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I'm viewing it differently. 

I see it as bidders or buyers need to register and be verified. 

[maxine*j]

I'm sorry this happened.  Yes, eBay's so-called advice to new sellers is to sell at auction and start the auctions at a low bid.  That was fine advice maybe 20 years ago.  With a few exceptions, that advice is now worse than nonsense, as you learned.

Nowadays, fewer than 15% of sales on eBay are through auctions.  And many auctions get only one bid, and if that opening bid is low the seller is sunk.

So, think about it and decide if you want to sell at auction at all.  If you do, be sure to make the opening bid the least amount you can take and still make money.  Otherwise, use a fixed pricing listing for the amount you'd like to get, remembering that you can lower it on re-list if it does not sell.

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[brados2112]

Check into what eBay is requiring bidders to do before placing bids and you'll probably have your answer. I used to bid on many items and typically had a page full of bids to keep track of. After requiring me to list my payment before placing a bid and losing any chance of combined shipping... I have ZERO bid items on my page currently. I don't even look at items anymore when I see auction. Another eBay "improvement" resulting in failure and probably cost you some $$ on your bracelets. I'm sure they'll be right there to take your fees though. Maybe even offer you some pointers to "improve" listings and make more $$. Ya... right.

[brados2112]

ABSOLUTELY! I don't even look at auction items anymore after being forced into eBay's test "improvement"

[brados2112]

I used to have a page of "Bidding" items but since enrolled in their test "improvement" program, I have not even looked at an auction item. I love how they package this up and market it as some great program and make everything easier. Looks more like another joe biden failure. Time to jump ship.

Stay tuned for eBay's next improvement!