Offering Free Shipping & Returns

[goldrushfinds]

Does Ebay give 'extreme' preference to listings which offer both free shipping and free returns? If it is not the case, then they are giving ridiculous preference to certain buyers for unknown reasons. The algorithm is making my head explode. Some sellers are selling loads of particular brand name shirts, for far higher prices than competitors. Also selling shirts with poor sell thru rates like wildfire. This is not a fair playing field. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Have you perhaps answered your own question? 

I don't know the shirt market, but if you are studying your competitors and see those with free shipping and free returns (or whatever) gaining a competitive edge, then perhaps offering those features would help you?  Personally, I would not be asking about ebay's algorithm....that's basically just an enigma....I'd be asking: what are the differences between me and the more successful sellers? What are they doing that I am not? What are they not doing that I am? 

Their prices? The brands they sell? Free Shipping? Free returns? whatever....they must be doing something right.....

[chapeau-noir]

A lot can depend upon sellers bringing traffic to the site, too - those who network a lot and effectively use social media can really bring in a lot of foot traffic and this tends to be pretty loyal.  Yes, we shouldn't have to do a lot of marketing, that's what we pay these fees for, but unfortunately,  eBay is just like the rest of the world - too much stuff and too many sellers. I see little advertising and few search returns for eBay when I search on Google, Bing, etc.  I'll see a ton of others - Poshmark, Etsy, Vestaire, etc.  So, I dunno.

[katzrul15]

I don't know about "extreme" preference, but e-Bay has now fashioned their refined search choices on the left to include Free Shipping, Free 30 day Returns, Free 1 day Shipping, Free 2 day Shipping, etc (you get the idea) ~ so yes, I think it affects searches.

We offer free shipping and free returns.  Honestly have no idea how it positions us in search, but seems when I am searching as a Buyer, those Sellers with those opted are at the top of those search lists, almost every time.  I search for sellers with Free shipping often.

I try to not worry about what others are selling something for.  I usually price at a median range and based on where I need to be on profit, etc.  I just think the site is flooded right now with listings with all the expanded Free listings store owners were given recently.  I personally have a really hard time shopping for clothing on e-Bay - there are SO many listings, even heavily refined, there is a lot to go thru.

Sometimes when I am researching sold/completed listings and I realize hey, I have for sale....why didn't mine sell as I am essentially that price?  I do look at their title, keywords and often go back and tweak mine if I can to see if I can get mine noticed more in search.  However, lately - has made no real difference on certain items as 1 Seller is still selling it a good $10-$12 under us.  

Good luck.  It has been a rocky start to Spring for many Sellers.  Hopefully things will calm down in e-Bay land soon and we'll all be back to selling a  little more regular.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Also, are your more successful competitors using Promoted Listings? Are they running promotions (such as Markdown Manager) or perhaps sending out coded coupons to develop customer loyalty? Using Best offer? Using Seller Initiated Offers? And, as chapeau notes, sellers using Social Media successfully can drive a lot of traffic to ebay...and if they are part of the ebay partner network (affiliate marketing program), they can end up saving big on FVFs. And (probably no easy way to know this) where are they sourcing? They may be paying less in acquisition costs, which gives them more pricing flexibility. 

[goldrushfinds]

Thanks for you input. From now on, I think I will list only very, very few, highly selective items, which are in mammoth demand (you know, Da Vinci & Van Gogh come to mind). I do not like things that sit forever on this site and occupy space in my home.

[goldrushfinds]

Thanks for your suggestions and input.

[goldrushfinds]

My Cottage -

Using combinations of free shipping & returns, best offer, and few discounts. I think I will go broke either way. Will just limit new listings to solid gold items (cream of the crop). 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Also, ebay has a new tool in Seller Hub (it is gradually rolling out, you may not have it) called the Listing Quality Report. It might provide some helpful insights. I haven't had a chance to review it yet, but I hope to get time this week to look it over. You can look for it in Seller Hub, >Performance Tab>Summary Page....if you have it, over on the right near the top there will be a button: Download Listing Quality Report. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@goldrushfinds wrote:

My Cottage -

Using combinations of free shipping & returns, best offer, and few discounts. I think I will go broke either way. Will just limit new listings to solid gold items (cream of the crop). 

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I don't mean to snoop (actually I did - I need some workout clothing and like to purchase from boardies so I'm looking at everybody's stuff)  and see only about 250 listings running - checking your sales, you're doing pretty darned well, particularly for this time of year, for having so few up.  I used to have 600+ running and was still considered a small seller in the crowded categories we list in.  I made a living but couldn't slack at all and had to be selective.

If you want to stay small, the cream of the crop method is the way to go, though - I'm headed there, myself.  

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Selective can be very good. Best of luck!

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, eBay gives Search location preferences for a variety of reasons. Below is a link to eBay Best Practices to improve one's Search rankings.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/listing-tips/optimising-listings-best-match?id=4166

In addition to the above, having strong SEO also improves ones Search ranking on eBay and other search engines. 

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/listing-and-marketing/boost-traffic-with-seo.html

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

All I know is my auctions seem to always get excellent placement at the top or usually very close to the top. Add free shipping with an auction and ebay seems to love that even more. 

[luckythewinner]

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@goldrushfinds wrote:

Does Ebay give 'extreme' preference to listings which offer both free shipping and free returns?

{snip}

This is not a fair playing field. 

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The price, free shipping, and free returns are just three of DOZENS of factors that affect sales. The title, the description,  the item specifics, and the seller also influence sales. 

That aside .... 

You know who DOES gives extreme preference to free shipping and free returns? 

eBay buyers. 

[adrhdi0]

Other sellers give free shipping and free return just because all the costs are in their product price. So if you wanna have more buyers, you can do same with them. Doesn't matter.