I am a very small bookseller (125 to 175 items on average, right now at about 145). Started selling about a year ago.
I know how to source my inventory at low pricing, so I have met with some success. I average about one sale per day, pretty consistently, between $10 and $100.
I finally decided to try promoting all of my listings, but at a rate that equated to between $.50 and $1.00 per sale - so most of them are promoted at far below the trending rates.
I launched the campaign on October 22, so it has not yet been 3 weeks. I have had 10 extra sales (really, 11 as one of those customers bought a second $20 item I was selling but not through the promoted link, but we won't count that here) equating to an extra $155.48 in sales at a cost of $6.89 to cover the promotions.
Now, that may not sound like much, but keep in mind that I have had 64 sales in the last 60 days for a total of $1193.37 - so those extra 10 sales (really 11) in the last 25 days made a noticeable difference, and I hope the promoted listings continue to perform at these rates.
Note that most of these sales were of items with no watchers and low views - i.e. "stale stock".
So YMMV. I waited 11 months to go for it, as I wanted to maximize my profits on my limited inventory. But I am glad I'm trying it now because most of my desirable stock has sold and I'm left with the dregs - along with a few hidden gems just waiting for the right buyer. Promoting my listings is definitely helping find those buyers, so far.
Just putting a positive experience out there. Promoted listings aren't beneficial to everyone. They happen to be for me, at present.
