Listing Hell

[yespub]

Hello Everyone,

Six months ago, I started selling some of my duplicate books as I often find nicer copies. Unfortunately, my new listings weren't showing up as "newly listed" among nearly ten thousand books in my category. They do list, however, a buyer would have to search with the exact title to find them. Despite calling eBay eight times and speaking to front-line agents and supervisors, there has been no resolution. Even tech support doesn't have an answer. I'm trying to save up some money to go to Thailand to visit an elephant sanctuary. It's been pretty frustrating, so I'm reaching out in the hopes that someone will help me resolve this issue. After this I'm out of options.

Thank you,

Albert

[inhawaii]

I'm not sure what the problem is  or what you're asking.

Hopefully someone smarter than me can figure it out.

[krazzykats]

Newly listed in Books will show up for maybe a split second under newly listed due to the number of other new listings.  It churns so fast, it would be hard to see your own under newly listed.  1000s of books are being listed every minute.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Fixed price listings roll over each month on the same date that they were listed. Your listing that was set up on December 11 rolled over on January 11, February 11, March 11, etc.  

When potential buyers sort their search results by "newest first," the sort is based on each listing's original listing date.  So in a sort by "Newly listed," your book is behind all the books listed since December 11.

You can use up to 80 characters in your listing title. You should at least add the author's name, and perhaps anything distinctive about the edition you are offering such as the year of publication.   

[ebooksdiva]

I found your listing under category Books & Magazines >> Books going from price + shipping highest yours is 8th from the top of the page. 
It wouldn’t be showing up as newly listed since you’ve had to have the listing going since at least May 18th that’s when you first revised it. 

[powell-memorabilia]

There are more than 40 million books listed on eBay.  Let’s assume that it takes one year, on average, to sell a book.  That means that there are over 100,000 books listed every day.  Having a usable “new listings” section isn’t feasible.

[susanb1872]

It might help to change the category from "Books, Movies & Music>Books & Magazine>Books" to  "Books, Movies & Music>Books & Magazines>Antiquarian & Collectible".

[maxine*j]

You are not selling commodity books.  Nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand book-buyers are not looking for the books you list and would not give you a buck apiece if they came across them.   BUT that thousandth buyer will find your listing and he will pay the asking price.  This stuff is for the slow dime, not the fast nickel.  You have to be patient to sell antiquarian books.  If you're trying to raise money fast, find something else to sell.

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[maxine*j]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

... You can use up to 80 characters in your listing title. You should at least add the author's name, and perhaps anything distinctive about the edition you are offering such as the year of publication.   

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Yep.  Here's 80 characters:

Thoreau Week On Concord And Merrimack Rivers 1881 New Revised 5th Edition Scarce

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[ms.rodriguez*]

You only have 1 book listed now.  How else is the buyer supposed to find your book unless they have an exact title?  Is there an author for this book?   I can't figure out the question.   If you want your book on the top, maybe it's there for a few minutes or seconds since this is a very big category and thousands of books are listed every day.

[ms.rodriguez*]

Try selling some other items besides books. I have never bought a book here.  Hopefully you can sell other items to help you get to Thailand quicker.

[chapeau-noir]

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@ms.rodriguez* wrote:

Try selling some other items besides books. I have never bought a book here.  Hopefully you can sell other items to help you get to Thailand quicker.

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That may be, but plenty do.

The problem is the huge booksellers absolutely swamp this site.

Agree with @maxine*j - use better titles.  And stay away from listing mass market paperbacks, book club editions, etc. List your best.

[reallynicestamps]

among nearly ten thousand books

You are a new seller with one listing.

Both of those will work against you.

a buyer would have to search with the exact title to find them.

Yes.

Selling online is not a fast dollar.

I have shipped books that were listed for over 12 years. Most take one or two years to sell.

If you want fast money, call local used book stores and ask if they are buying and what.

[yespub]

Hello,

Thank you for your response. As a collector for five decades in my area of interest, there are usually less than twenty-five new listings a day. I've been advised to wait up to forty-eight hours for it to show as "newly listed" which they never do.  Incidentally, when I sold books on eBay years ago, they always showed up within minutes of posting if that helps. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Albert