@dhbookds wrote:
What's the aim, Commerce? you think people are going to bid higher than they would buy a f/p item for?
If I have several/many similar items to sell, I should get the best price for each of them, but how is this accomplished? I could list the items in an auction format one after the other which may take forever an a day to accomplish (disadvantageous). I could sell my items in a fixed-price listing with variations in one listing (consolidating my items into one listing is advantageous, but not knowing what is the highest price buyers are willing to pay for each item; disadvantageous)?
By kicking-off an auction at $0.99 for each item (no matter what the variation), I have a better chance to sell my wares in an auction with variations because buyers benefit from being able to determine the value (that they are willing and able to pay for them) of each item and not have to settle for the seller's fixed price.
In summation, the benefits include:
- Bidders who value variations differently can bid based on the value they place on a particular variation.
- Sellers are more likely to get top dollar for each variation because of the auction format.
- Sellers are more likely to sell more items in a consolidated listing because all items would be found easily within one auction, as opposed to searching for the variations elsewhere.
- Sellers could easily offer consolidated shipping (discounts) from one auction for multiple items purchased by one bidder.
It is a zero sum gain.
Problem to me with that is that there is ceiling on commodity things because of them also being offered as f/p.
Generally I only use auctions for highly desirable items because such items are much more likely to attract a frenzy of bidding then with something less desirable or common.
The only value ceiling on something is usually the price one could get that same article for elsewhere and may balk at paying more for it unnecessarily; for this reason it may be foolhardy to place ubiquitous items in an auction or fixed-price listing unless the seller is willing and able to greatly discount them.
Auctions are generally considered successful in getting numerous bids IF the item is scarce and desirable....you are defining scarce as low quantities offered in the auction, but don't you think that buyers are going to search outside the auction?
This discussion is off-topic, but some items that are/were produced in large quantities such as Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch dolls and Red Stripe Hot Wheels were so successful that the manufacturers could not keep up with demand...desirable, yes...scarce, no.
I can't really see an advantage in using the auction format????
The advantage is clear, if an item has variations that people value differently, they may be willing and able to bid for it, especially if it is scarce and/or desirable.
This is not an issue about commodities or uncommon items, it is simply an auction format where one person who values one aspect of an item such as size or color, more than another. If another person also places greater value on a particular variation, then they can bid up that variation until the end of the auction.
I think ebay does not support such listings because it may be difficult to design a manageable auction format for such a complex means of selling; and such a (financial) risk may be too great for an uncertain outcome.
Remember, if it benefits sellers and/or buyers, but not "necessarily" ebay share-holders, is probably going to be passed-up by ebay management.
I have made my point and it is time to move on.
