Would you consider this a odd seller strategy?

[inhawaii]

I wanted to buy maybe 10 of an item. I found a seller selling 2 of them. I bought the 2 thinking that hopefully i can find and buy 8 later.

Immediately after the sale the seller posted a new listing for 2 more.  I'm going to buy those 2 also but decided to message the seller first to see if he will divulge how many he has left.

Is this some kind of seller strategy? Perhaps the seller is thinking that 2 is the "sweet spot" that will bring him the most sales even though he has several in stock?

Has anyone heard of this strategy or use this strategy?

[popblox]

Every once in a while I list a set of 2 (even if I have 4) because the weight is just right (usually under 1 lb.) for the price. I don't want to sell just 1 by itself because the shipping is too high, but if I sell 2, it comes out just right so the margin is good and the weight is good. 

Not sure if that's the case with your seller, but if someone messaged me and said they wanted 10, I definitely be thrilled to sell them all I had left.

[inhawaii]

That actually makes sense. I never thought of that.  Thank you!

[alcoforever]

I had 12 of a high end English bone china dinner plate once.   I listed them one at a time, not wishing to saturate the market with all 12 at once.   I sold 4 at a very good price and then got a message from a user wanting to buy all I had left, however many that was.   We came to a deal for the last 8, still at a very good price, for me at least.

[popblox]

[collectfest]

Yes,

I have done this quite often. I sell antiques. I have lucked into New old stock before that were very collectible. 

If I did not list them one at a time and over time I would be punishing myself. I have done it before. The first sells for 250.00, then 200.00 then 150 etc.

If I was selling new items, no I would not use this strategy.

So, did you get the 8 you wanted!?

[katzrul15]

Perhaps they have inventory on more than 1 platform at a time and it is a way to not over-sell somewhere?

[fern*wood]

I've definitely done this before and almost every time it was due to the shipping.

[wastingtime101]

Sometimes I do this when I'm testing out the price the market will tolerate. I list 2 and see how quickly it sells. If they sell fast, I'll add more quantity to the listing and increase my price, then see how fast that sells.

Other times I've done it when something is hard to find. If I landed on a great score and listed them all at once, I couldn't command the same price as listing only 1 or 2 at a time.

[chapeau-noir]

When I was selling new old stock vintage curling papers I did that.  I had 24 boxes once, and so listed two at a time.   They sold so fast that I started listing two listings of 2.  I had just not wanted to saturate the market, etc.  Yeah, I know, how do you saturate the market for NOS vintage curling papers, it's pretty small lol.  Also, though, it kept the pot boiling.

[ybgood]

Sometimes when they see only 2 left, impulse buying kicks in, so they don't miss a deal.

I have an item that I have sold for years.  when listing shows more than 10 avail, my sales slow down

when listing shows 4 left and the listing shows 90% sold, I tend to sell more.

[sin-n-dex]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I wanted to buy maybe 10 of an item. I found a seller selling 2 of them. I bought the 2 thinking that hopefully i can find and buy 8 later.

Immediately after the sale the seller posted a new listing for 2 more.  I'm going to buy those 2 also but decided to message the seller first to see if he will divulge how many he has left.

Is this some kind of seller strategy? Perhaps the seller is thinking that 2 is the "sweet spot" that will bring him the most sales even though he has several in stock?

Has anyone heard of this strategy or use this strategy?

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They guy that just bought my Greek coin is hoping I'll list more. He contacted me a few days ago to ask how he can buy 10 when only one was listed. Tonight he bought the one. I guess he's figured out he will have to acquire these from more than one seller. (They are old, there's more around, but it's unlikely anyone will have multiples).

C.

[sin-n-dex]

Having read the messages, I have another point of view...

I recently acquired quantity of some items to sell, but I'm uncertain about how well they'll do and what price they'll go for. I plan to list them one at a time so they don't all sell at once leaving me with zero when I should be increasing the price with subsequent listings.

It's happened with some things when I had more than one and listed them, and then they all sold right away to one buyer. Makes me think the price was too low.

If I slow the listings to one at a time, then I can adjust my selling strategy when I figure out what the market is doing.

C.

[cashmeredelight]

one reason is that 2 left for sale instead of a large amount encourages sales because the buyer thinks the item will be gone shortly

[shop4animals]

This selling strategy also can protect you from buyers who always try to get a partial refund or full refund by returning a different item or claiming Not As Described.  As a seller, I would rather get ripped off on two items than four.  I have some expensive glasses that I am selling one at a time right now.  If someone claims Not As Described I've only lost one glass and I can block that buyer.