e-Business-Formula Internet Marketing Discussion Forum

Kevin Robb · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject: Does eBay Still Work For You?

Has eBay lost it's appeal for potential purchasers Question

It seems as a seller that you need to be more creative than ever with you advertising to ensure that your auction is successful.

As a buyer what does it take to attract your interest assuming the type of product you are seeking is listed by many sellers ?

Is it strong text or is good graphics or something else?

Cheers Wink

Kevin Robb

Steve MacLellan · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 206 Location: Canada

Hi Kevin,

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. The last thing I bought was a backplate for a Fender Super Twin Reverb amplifier that a friend is restoring for me.

I didn't buy the part on the eBay auction, but the advertisement I was looking at said their site had a catalog of any Fender parts I could possibly want, so I followed the link to the main site. It was from there that I made my purchase.

What I looked for in this case was a seller that was relatively close where the shipping charges would be the cheapest.

Although I wasn't expecting to see the part I wanted on eBay, I was hoping to find some sites that offered Fender parts on their sites. So auction pages that thought far enough ahead to add the text "we have any and all parts listed and cataloged on our site" was the kicker there.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Lynn Terry · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 66 Location: TN, USA

As a seller, it lost its appeal for me a couple of years ago - mainly because of fee increases which coincided with increased rates at USPS. At the time I was selling low-priced items in bulk, so it was too much "work" compared to the profit (that they ate into substantially).

That's just my personal experience, of course. Physical products mean packing & shipping, and those types of sales require customer service, correspondence with bidders, etc etc.

I do still buy from ebay almost weekly. Things seem to be selling a lot cheaper than they used to - so we'll buy through eBay and then resell locally (especially darts & dart supplies we buy worldwide... as Albert plays tournaments with large groups... and there is nowhere to shop locally).

geline · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 25

eBay still works for me, problem is, I just have less time for it.

Anyway, ebay is still the best auction site for items.

Kevin Robb · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject:

Hi Geline,

So what sort of things have you been selling on eBay?

Cheers Wink

Kevin Robb

crassus · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 19

As far as purchasing, Ebay has not driven me away. I really do not care about the way an auction page looks. The only things I care about in the end, are the product and the price. As far as description, a simple picture and a description works for me. A person with a product for fifteen dollars less at the end of an auction, on a plain descriptive page, has my bid. I continue to purchase regularly on Ebay.

destiny · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 13

From personal experience I'd have to say that I *am* a bit put off by eBay lately. And there's a very noticeable reason and time frame. It's when so many sellers started charging such high shipping. I sat here one day looking for a Thomas Kinkade print... a light weight to ship, right? And of course I'd want to insure it, no problem. But EIGHTY NINE DOLLARS for shipping? I looked about six times to see where the problem was but unfortunately that *is* what they meant. It has become rather widespread. Sad

Bottom line... what it boils down to is having to look through a LOT of that stuff sometimes to find an honest seller who will charge reasonable shipping. I really don't want to pay $20 shipping for something that cost half that amount! So it suddenly becomes easier to shop elsewhere.

- Des Smile

Peter2 · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 58

Destiny,

You make a valid point but I can't help thinking that there are obviously people that are willing to pay...If they weren't you would expect the seller would have to change his auction terms to achieve a sale.

I imagine it comes down to what each and everyone sees as value in their eyes.

Regards

Peter2

destiny · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 13

Good thought, Peter... and I agree if the buyer just overlooks the "cleverness" (although that's not what I see it as!) and realizes that their art print isn't *really* five bucks, but $89 (the cost of "shipping") then I suppose the sellers would keep the gimmick.

BUT I can't help but wondering how many people forget to look at the shipping cost and get trapped into having to pay $20 to mail a package that costs about $5 to mail Question

- Des

crassus · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 19

I do not know what Thomas Kinkade prints go for in the stores, but the other thing you have to think about is what the total cost is after shipping and everything else. Compare that, then, with the store total. A lot of times, sellars will jack up the shipping cost, scare many potential buyers off, cause the auction to end low, and in the end, the product costs less than what the store charges.

destiny · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 13

Yes, that's what I'm saying... the item may end up still being a good purchase price, but buyers are generally going to see and say "Eighty Nine DOLLARS for shipping???!!!!" So yes, I think it scares people off before they have a chance to realize that it still may come out to a decent price.

I'd think it might be better for business in many cases to jack up the starting bid a couple of dollars and advertise "Free Shipping on this order!!" But that's just me... Laughing

- Des

Shell78 · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 6

I would have to agree with others that the shipping is what deters me from many auctions. I feel like buying on eBay should be a really good deal. So if I end up paying an arm and a leg for shipping what's the point? A perfect example recently is a cake pan I'm looking to buy. Many of the auctions on eBay for the item would cost me more than buying a brand new one at the local craft store. However, there are also some very great deals even when shipping is factored in. Sometimes weeding through the "deals" can be tedious and turns me away. Obviously sellers should charge enough to cover shipping costs and maybe a dollar or two to cover packaging. But sometimes it's obvious that the seller is charging a lot more than that! Overall though I would say eBay is still a good site to find deals.

Thumperfive · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 70

it all comes down to truth in advertising, to a degree - I can't fathom how anyone with a straight face can charge twice, three times for shipping anything to anywhere and NOT put it in the ad.

if you don't get any takers, that may be part of the problem - people don't like to have just a blank window when looking at the shipping cost - too many jerks out there making their profit off of outrageous costs!

star123 · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Well as a seller eBay is still working fine and i sold lots of goods and items.I sell more than $500 per month.

But as a buyer i have lots bad experience so i closed buying from eBay.

Thumperfive · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 70

what sort of bad experiences did you have as a buyer? And how have you used that to make you a better seller on eBay?