eBay

ignatia · ‎11-03-2018

I have had listings live on eBay for three consecutive months now, and have had only one sale. I recently followed a number of suggestions I received here on the forum to get more views and sales, and am working on them. However, with the listing adjustments I am working on aside, my listings are not bad at all and are very much in line with other listings I see in the same category.

Is it "normal" at three months, to have had only one sale? Surely it can't be or no one would be left here to sell.

ignatia · ‎11-03-2018

I do see one thing that they standardly do that I am not doing, they start some auctions really, really low. It would be fine if I had any sales at all to counter the costs, but no. I suppose I must wait until I get some sales and some feedback before trying that, then I will, as it seems like a good way to advertise cheaply. My fear in doing that too early, is the fear of training people to expect cheap pricing from me across the board.

I see there are a few big sellers using their seller or store IDs in their product title. I suppose that if one begins doing it too soon it could be problematic. I may experiment as time goes on to see if it is in fact a hindrance. Thanks for your opinion and insight.

saleencobra · ‎11-03-2018

"You can't be serious about this. That's like comparing McDonalds to a fine dining restaurant. There are high ends and low ends in every industry. Your own preferences are but one example of people's preferences. I see one seller with very similar pricing to mine, that on a bad day has 22 sales and her shipping is higher. I see one seller that sells run of the mill crystals for averagely 22 dollars US a piece, shipping extra and the shipping is in line with mine. Pricing seems to have little to do with what people are looking for. I am talking about two of the busiest sellers in my niche."

Did any of these sellers put their user ID in their title? I doubt it. You can't think of more keywords to fill the line? Really?

ignatia · ‎11-03-2018

@saleencobra wrote:
"You can't be serious about this. That's like comparing McDonalds to a fine dining restaurant. There are high ends and low ends in every industry. Your own preferences are but one example of people's preferences. I see one seller with very similar pricing to mine, that on a bad day has 22 sales and her shipping is higher. I see one seller that sells run of the mill crystals for averagely 22 dollars US a piece, shipping extra and the shipping is in line with mine. Pricing seems to have little to do with what people are looking for. I am talking about two of the busiest sellers in my niche."

Did any of these sellers put their user ID in their title? I doubt it. You can't think of more keywords to fill the line? Really?

One does, one does not. The one who does not fills the rest of their title with near irrelevant keywords, just as I would be doing if I did not have that there. The next level of keywords is ultra irrelevant, such as Natural, and such the like. That's a given on a mineral, the alternative, a reconstituted or fake one would not be. But that's just one example.

Initially I was using terms for example, like "lightning strike" and similar, because these things happen to stones and leave an imprint. However, when mentioned in the titles they certainly did not bring more viewers. Nor did removing them.

saleencobra · ‎11-03-2018

"It's been slower than the usual "slow". The type of "something is broken" slow, not "buyer's aren't buying" type of slow. "

There are those that just complain about slow sales, and those that figure out why and make changes. Be the latter.

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-03-2018

@ignatia wrote:
I do see one thing that they standardly do that I am not doing, they start some auctions really, really low. It would be fine if I had any sales at all to counter the costs, but no. I suppose I must wait until I get some sales and some feedback before trying that, then I will, as it seems like a good way to advertise cheaply. My fear in doing that too early, is the fear of training people to expect cheap pricing from me across the board.

I see there are a few big sellers using their seller or store IDs in their product title. I suppose that if one begins doing it too soon it could be problematic. I may experiment as time goes on to see if it is in fact a hindrance. Thanks for your opinion and insight.

They are established and as you say, probably have other sales to offset those listings, so you are right to hold off on that. They use those really, really low auction listings to draw people to their listings, so you are right, a good way to advertise. You are very well aware of what goes on in your niche~I have rarely seen anyone use a store id in their titles, but apparently some do in your niche. It may be that they went to that after they were established, though. You could do some low priced listings to try to get some sales momentum going. They say that sales beget sales and increased visibility and momentum, which is crucial for you.

You're welcome and I wish you many, many good sales!

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-03-2018

@saleencobra wrote:
"It's been slower than the usual "slow". The type of "something is broken" slow, not "buyer's aren't buying" type of slow. "

There are those that just complain about slow sales, and those that figure out why and make changes. Be the latter.

Great points, but the OP IS trying to figure out why and make changes~so he already is the latter.

Anonymous · ‎11-03-2018

Well I have been selling on Ebay over 10 years on this ID, I have always had about 30 + sales a month or more. Not bad for Have been a power Seller as long as I can remember, My sales have dropped to maybe 5 a month for the last 3 months and as of right now, I have had NO SALES in over 3 weeks... Thats NO SALES and I am no Longer a Power seller.... 100% Feed back is Great, I have about 180 listings as a small seller ,The most I have ever had listed.. Top rate as well... NO SALES IN 3 WEEKS........ So Yes I Guess it can happen.....

fashunu4eeuh · ‎11-03-2018

Hi, your crystal titles do not incude keywords for the healing property of each, or relevance to those body parts affected, or chakras involved, for example. I don’t know much about it but i do know people might search for the healing property, not knowing the right crystal that corresponds to it possibly. Or vice-versa. I would also suggest the keywords chakras and healing be included.

Since you are in Canada, your mailing costs are very high and shipping times are very long, compared to your competition, who has fast free shipping and free returns. So, what sets you apart from these other crystal sellers? Whatever that is, needs to be highlighted in your listings.

Ebay is a brand-centric platform. It is very difficult to sell non-branded items here. Just the nature of the venue, but wish you only the best moving forward. Good luck and much abundance.

ignatia · ‎11-03-2018

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:
Hi, your crystal titles do not incude keywords for the healing property of each, or relevance to those body parts affected, or chakras involved, for example. I don’t know much about it but i do know people might search for the healing property, not knowing the right crystal that corresponds to it possibly. Or vice-versa. I would also suggest the keywords chakras and healing be included.

I was doing that initially and was advised against it. The nature of the disclaimers you need to have live when you are selling crystals with healing properties, for buyers create a situation where on one hand you are telling them that the stones have properties, and on the other, to cover themself legally a seller needs to have a disclaimer cautioning people that they do not sell stones to be part of a healing regimen.

So though it is typically done in standard crystal stores online to sell with that contrast present, with eBay promising to cover buyer's purchases, such contrasts ideally should not present. For this reason I pulled this type of information. It was that or the disclaimer that would have to go. The disclaimer though isn't really necessary without the healing info. But the popular ones don't bother with healing info at all, and I see why if it comes down to a choice.

I have the feeling that others have faced this same dilemma, as the fact that their disclaimers are present without healing information live, is evidence of that.

Since you are in Canada, your mailing costs are very high and shipping times are very long, compared to your competition, who has fast free shipping and free returns. So, what sets you apart from these other crystal sellers? Whatever that is, needs to be highlighted in your listings.
ersa. I would also suggest the keywords chakras and healing be included.

Nods. Good point.

Ebay is a brand-centric platform. It is very difficult to sell non-branded items here. Just the nature of the venue, but wish you only the best moving forward. Good luck and much abundance.

Hoiy. Yah, well, all I can do is do my best. It's odd what people will buy though. My aunt now passed, became a wealthy lady in the 80s buying and reselling beanie babies. Who in the haich E double hockey sticks needs beanie babies?

Thank you for your kind wishes, and I wish the same for you as well.

ignatia · ‎11-03-2018

@Anonymous wrote:
Well I have been selling on Ebay over 10 years on this ID, I have always had about 30 + sales a month or more. Not bad for Have been a power Seller as long as I can remember, My sales have dropped to maybe 5 a month for the last 3 months and as of right now, I have had NO SALES in over 3 weeks... Thats NO SALES and I am no Longer a Power seller.... 100% Feed back is Great, I have about 180 listings as a small seller ,The most I have ever had listed.. Top rate as well... NO SALES IN 3 WEEKS........ So Yes I Guess it can happen.....

Yes, I sensed things were this bad. I am hoping they rectify, it's all I can do besides work to create improvements in the way that I can.

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-03-2018

Try to stay positive. You have a great knowledge of what is going on in your niche. That is an advantage. Some don't put that kind of effort into it.

castlemagicmemories · ‎11-04-2018

And you seem to be very smart, analytical, and reasonable, all of which will stand you in good stead.

dhbookds · ‎11-04-2018

I echo those that say it's the shipping cost and time. Delivery to me in PA, if bought today would be Nov 26-Dec 12, at a cost of $12 for an $8 item. I just don't think you can compete with US sellers with free shipping delivered within a wk or so.

My only thought is to offer more expensive items to justify the $12 shipping cost.......but even that is not going to overcome the delivery time.

If it doesn't raise the cost.........since you have a store, I would sure put up a shipping promotion to encourage multiple sales to one buyer, I would also completely use all the listings available for the store......you only have 41 up now.

But to be blunt........it's going to be very difficult to compete in the US, and you only ship to US and Canada. Don't know how high shipping to other countries might be, but you might consider international shipping if it would seem competitive.

futuretomorrow · ‎11-04-2018

@ignatia

Search "crystals" and then filter by "completed listings". eBay does not appear to be the best avenue for your category niche/products.

The truth has few friends but many enemies.
No one is perfect, though a mirror and the right clothes may make some think otherwise.

luckythewinner · ‎11-04-2018

Is it "normal" at three months, to have had only one sale? Surely it can't be or no one would be left here to sell.

No, it it is not "normal". But that does not mean there is anything wrong - it could be an issue with pricing, descriptions, photographs, demand, or overall appeal.

A search for quartz tangerine point shows 150 results. Under Best Match, yours start showing up on the top third.

But sorting them by cost, most everything of the same size, weight and quality as yours is substantially less expensive; ex .$8 rather than $26.