What happens when I run an auction on an item?

[randysauto01]

As many of you have read since my post yesterday about my boss closing down the salvage/used auto parts side of the business, I have a question about auctions.

At our other location, the bigger yard that we are selling/consigning parts to, has picked through all the transmissions at that location that they want.

This leaves us with just over 300 left at that location alone.

I've tried running 20 or 30 auctions over the last couple of years, only ever managed to sell a radio.

But the boss wanted to know if there was a way that I could set up an auction for all of them, with them all starting at the same price (my general response was no, no way to bulk auction).

While tedious, I could go in and start an auction for each and every one individually. But my train of thought would be to bump up the promoted listing amount significantly in hopes of boosting visibility. Also lowering the prices at the same time.

If I start an auction on an item that is currently a BIN item, does it disappear from my listings as a BIN item?

Thanks in advance

Travis

[randysauto01]

We are the nearest scrap yard. All junk vehicles, fridges, washers dryers, anything metal comes here.

[randysauto01]

Honestly, the 30 day MBG is going to be an issue that the boss will have to figure out. The same account that the money goes into for used parts sales, is the same account that the money goes into for the towing side, and the towing side will remain active.

We have always maintained a balance of 30k in paypal for instances of having to do refunds, or if purchases had to be made for our store.

What I have left in this particular location (our 2nd store) is 300+ transmissions that a much bigger yard didn't purchase. They already bought 500 of the appx 800 we had there. 

So were trying to do a "fire sale" to get rid of the rest.

All transmissions that are left are fixed price, with immediate payment required.

[randysauto01]

Fixed price, with immediate payment required.

[randysauto01]

Currently everything is and always has been at fixed price, with immediate payment required. Automatic relisting occurs on all items thank the lord. Trying to keep up with what used to be over 30k items with expirations expiring would have driven me to the grave!

I've been working through whats left in that location as we speak. Nearly everything I'm looking at, I double check the price of competitors listings (doesn't do me any good to bump PL to 15% if were $500 more than the competition).

There are some listings that with free flat rate shipping already factored into the listing, I can't go lower on the price, or the PL percentage. Those few so far, I've set up as an auction, with the minimum being what were already asking, and with a BIN price.

Not trying to sell 300 transmissions in one auction, trying to see if we decided to go auction route, how it would affect our fixed-price listing for those items, that are already in place.

I'm doing a small sample, of both options, 3 day auctions, and going up to at least 10% on PL percentage.

[randysauto01]

These 300 tranny's are just the beginning. I will have at least that many  or more to do the same thing with on the engines at that location.

Then we get to move onto our location, which will potentially be every bit as many engines and tranny's as our other location.

Then there will be 800 or so doors...etc etc. 

I hope I can find the most efficient way to do all of this, and try to move as much as we can in the next couple of months.

And then...well then I guess I try and take my services elsewhere.