Why do people buy just 1 of a inexpensive item?

[inhawaii]

I sell these Hi-Chew candies. They range in price from $2 to $4 each. Shipping is $4 for the first pack and $1 for each additional pack. 

Alot of my sales are people who just order 1 pack.

I am **bleep** about packing.  Each pack gets wrapped in paper, then put in a small padded pouch envelope (i get at work for free), them placed in another larger padded envelope.  I really do put alot of care in packing.

Sometimes it seems silly to do all that for someone ordering just 1 pack.

I have a "disclaimer" on my listings that reads  "you're welcome to buy just 1 pack but shipping is just ONE DOLLAR for each additional pack".

So why do people buy just 1 pack?

[jennzet-0]

It could be a little treat and that is all they can afford to buy.

[18704d]

1 pack is still the lowest risk .. if they want to see how good this item is.

And they can still, at that unprofitable(?) purchase average...

they can still get their full initial payment refunded...

if they choose to go the NAD route.

Right?

Lynn

[kitschy*loot]

Perhaps they just want to taste the product, or maybe they just want one package and don't feel the need to buy more.

[guybemis]

---

@inhawaii wrote:

I sell these Hi-Chew candies. They range in price from $2 to $4 each. Shipping is $4 for the first pack and $1 for each additional pack. 

Alot of my sales are people who just order 1 pack.

I am **bleep** about packing.  Each pack gets wrapped in paper, then put in a small padded pouch envelope (i get at work for free), them placed in another larger padded envelope.  I really do put alot of care in packing.

Sometimes it seems silly to do all that for someone ordering just 1 pack.

I have a "disclaimer" on my listings that reads  "you're welcome to buy just 1 pack but shipping is just ONE DOLLAR for each additional pack".

So why do people buy just 1 pack?

---

More then likely they are not even noticing the discount. Why don't you try volume pricing and free shipping. For the $2 item try this.

$6.00 with Free Shipping
Buy 2 for $5.00 each
Buy 3 for $4.50 each
Buy 4 or more for $3.00 each

[lintbrush*]

Why not create a multi-qty variety offering?

Increase your ASP and drop your selling fees a bit.

$7 for a pack of hi-chews is high.  $12 for 2 packs is a little obscene considering I can buy them locally (Target/Walgreens)

[juststuffisell]

I don't sell variations and the like so I am not knowledgeable about how that works with eBay, but why would you now offer a variation in the form of 1 pack, 2 packs, 3 packs 4 packs based upon a pricing strategy that works for you. That way, when the change to 2 packs, they are shown the new price etc.

I think you would cross sell right into higher qty purchases if you make it clear what it is going to cost via the variations which changes the picture to show what they are getting.


Cheers

[mcdougle4248]

All of the items that I sell are low priced, too.  Shipping for the first item is $2.75 and free for each additional item.  Six or more items has free shipping.  I get orders all of the time for just one item.   It takes just as much packing material and time to ship one item as it does six, so I understand your feelings.

I just assume that the buyer that purchases only one item, only wants one item.  As long as the buyer is happy, I am happy, too.

[loveyourimagination49]

Why would someone buy more of something they don’t need?

[yuzuha]

My guess would be that they're people who have never had that particular thing before and don't want to get a bunch in case they end up not liking it. 

[ifyouloveit]

My first thought was they want to try one and see if they like it. Figuring out buyers is like figuring out the best lottery numbers, it's never going to happen 😞

Maybe that was all the money they had left in their Pay Pal account too, so they grab just one? You will likely never know without some experimentation.

[dinpavent0]

I sell auto parts and some of those parts are clips and retainers. They are very inexpensive. Most times at garage we order 10 or more. I can't remember last time my husband just needed one clip, if ever. I always think that when I sell some. Majority of the time they order one single one. It actually cost me the same to mail one or 20. I don't get it sometimes. I have always had best offer on those only for the instance if someone is buying more than 1, i will give larger discount. I get annoyed when I get an offer on one clip at the price of $4 for example and they put in offer for a $1. It cost me at least $2.66 to ship. I always over pad and package my things too. Oh well, it is what it is.

[rosie247]

They probably want to try the candy so they can buy bigger quantities cheaper somewhere else.  

[castlemagicmemories]

Might come under Murphy's Law.

If you buy more than one of something, you won't like it.

If you buy one of something, you will love it and wish you had bought more.

Either way, you are wrong.

[fuzzyfurball]

I can only speak for myself but when i buy my mom's favorite candy bar, Annabelle's milk chocolate Rocky Road, it's hard to find in bricks & mortars stores and I don't want to buy 24 bars on Ama*on since i know that's unhealthy for her to gobble up in a short time.  Thankfully on ebay, sellers here sell it in smaller packs.

It's like when i go to the supermarket.  Do i want to buy a whole 3-layer 16-inch by 16-inch huge cake for dessert for myself or do i just want 1 slice?? Even if my wallet can take it, my body can't.