@dhbookds wrote:
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.
Well what you are saying may not be the ideal for everyone, but it has no bearing on why I am getting no views. The shipping cost is what it is. Some items are over two centimeters (far higher cost to mail) or are somewhat fragile to be shipped in a simple bubble mailer. If people want a certain item, they are surely going to be willing to wait for it to get to them, as long as it may take. But they have to see the listing to make that choice.
As I see others selling successfully with as high shipping charges in my niche, I am going to assume that is not part of the problem. I do not deny that it has an effect and that it narrows the market--when people actually view my items.
My only thought is to offer more expensive items to justify the $12 shipping cost.......
It is something I had already considered and have begun working on. But as well, most buying crystals are collectors and will veer toward buying more to offset shipping. I offer combined shipping, so they do get a break when they purchase multiple items. This is stated in my description. However, this doesn't have any bearing on why people are not viewing my listings. If and when they do view them it will potentially encourage more to buy. But so will having some less expensive items to encourage them to buy in multiples to offset shipping costs.
...but even that is not going to overcome the delivery time.
Though this is something I cannot change, other sellers are selling successfully despite longer delivery times. As a buyer I purchase from people who have the item I want, and how long shipping may potentially take does not enter into the equation until such time it looks that the item won't arrive at all. Again, it doesn't explain why I'm getting no views. I am getting averagely ten per month per item.
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.
I am currently working on both of these points; I too believe they will help. The shipping promotion is already mentioned, but as you suggest, some may need to be told in a different way. I feel combined shipping as an offer, is pretty clear already though.
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.
I have great reservations about shipping internationally for two reasons. First, there are customs restrictions on certain mineral items sent to some regions. And as well, some of the items I carry are costly, and to stand the chance to lose big due to a customer not bothering to check into customs restrictions, seems too large of a risk to take. Too, I can't take the time to do a global study on what I can ship where to compensate for that. I have a hard enough time finding out what I can and can't bring into Canada.
I appreciate all of these suggestions, and am not countering them per se, but I think it's clear to see from what's now emerged, that the main problem is not that people are seeing my listings and not buying, but rather, that they are not seeing nor buying.
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