Ebay Sales Down

[rwperu34]

Inventory Update;

Overall my inventory is down another 5% from last month. This is a combination of sales, not buying, and lowering prices. I expect the downward trend to continue for most of the summer.

I cleared three more boxes since the last update. That is now 12 of 24 boxes that have turned a profit. I've got another that has $2000 in inventory and is only out $70, so that one could turn any minute. Only one other box is close right now, although that can change in a heartbeat. For example that box that is only down $70 had two $300 sales on back to back days to get that close.

Of the 12 remaining boxes they have an average of $2.51 of inventory for every $1 that I "owe". Most of them are March and April purchases. Only three of them stretch back to February, one of which is the $70 away box. The oldest of those three actually goes back to January 28 and is out of order. One box that is in profit and that $70 box were started after January 28.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Just curious...what are you guys promoting your items at? Below eBay suggestions - going with their suggestions - or above?

Wow really at the suggested rate. Most of those under mine say 9.9% to 18% . Ebay already takes darn near 13% then with the 2% for add rate that is 15% who is gonna give ebay 25%?


When you include USPS in the equation it is around 33% total.


I am at 2.7 and that is about as high as I am willing to go.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

Wow really at the suggested rate. Most of those under mine say 9.9% to 18% . Ebay already takes darn near 13% then with the 2% for add rate that is 15% who is gonna give ebay 25%?


When you include USPS in the equation it is around 33% total.


I am at 2.7 and that is about as high as I am willing to go.

So you are gonna ridicule those who are willing to try other things to get sales.

I know a few who use the suggested but they have very high margins. Its about finding what you think works best. In most things to get the ebay reach if you did it yourself costs would be way more. Only about 1/3rd of the items I sell are via promoted rate so if that holds then it's a good counter. In some categories and situations paying higher promotion rates may be viable.. I have a doll right now promoted as an auction which is by many considered a waste but I paid 5.00 for it and should get 300 to 600 for it but since it's been listed I have sold 3 other dolls that I have had listed for a long time. So I think there is something to it on items that are very high profit or even some lower profit it's that the difference will be cents. Would I do everything probably not but it might payoff in other sales by doing it occasionally

I think mant people feel if I lose a bit on item A I am losing money even though item B made them a major return. Case in point I bought several items last week at an estate sale for 72.00. Same day one of the items in that lot i paid 5.00 for sold for 250. Yesterday I sold another item from that buy for an 8.00 offer I paid 10 for it.(was a mistake buy) I lost on that one item but am still up overall on the buy and most importantly I have cash in hand that I can roll into more inventory and profit.

As far as postage goes you need to find a way to pass that to the buyer.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Just curious...what are you guys promoting your items at? Below eBay suggestions - going with their suggestions - or above?

I was at 3, now I think 3.5% and just have it going until cancelled. I did it as a monthly thing but now just letting it ride. Have seen a slight uptick in sales (not all promoted) since going up 0.5% but could be just more interest in the newer stuff I listed vs being promoted.

[shrevecity]

I think with the ese items I plan on listing tonight I may try a suggested promotion and up the price a little and see what happens. But generally I am a 2%

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by paulcarlcards

1868 sold listings in the past 31 days. I spend about 1.5-2 hours per day on shipping in the morning before I start working for my main gig. Thermal printer, bulk shipping, sort orders by buyer username, pick all cards in order, print all labels/invoices in same order, then it’s just stuffing envelopes in an assembly line style.

Interesting and efficient method. Have you factored your true profit margin? You prices are so low and with free shipping, I would assume the margins aren't great, but the volume of sales are. And with your volume, I'm sure it generates substantial profits as a whole. Nice operation you have. I hope to get to your level someday. Thanks for sharing.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Just curious...what are you guys promoting your items at? Below eBay suggestions - going with their suggestions - or above?

6 to 15% depending on the item and how long I've had it

[paulcarlcards]

Originally Posted by paparoke

Interesting and efficient method. Have you factored your true profit margin? You prices are so low and with free shipping, I would assume the margins aren't great, but the volume of sales are. And with your volume, I'm sure it generates substantial profits as a whole. Nice operation you have. I hope to get to your level someday. Thanks for sharing.

So far this year it’s around 40% overall after all expenses and before taxes. I do really well with repeat customers making large orders and with people using the coupons. Repeat customers is really the key for keeping AOV high because once they trust/like you they will be more comfortable making larger orders or buying more expensive cards.

Last time I crunched the numbers, 15% of my orders came from repeat customers and those customers were responsible for almost 80% of my revenue.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by smanzari

6 to 15% depending on the item and how long I've had it

I have thought about a variable rate, but it just gets too confusing since I'll use a live listing as a template for a new card quite often. If I were to do a variable rate it would be something like this;

2.5% for new items or items that just sold.
5% for older items (say a couple of months old and no upside)
10% on the items I really want to get rid of (the final push to get a box in the profit zone, for example).

Instead of promoting at that level I've been sending a bigger discount on my offers. That is much easier for me to manage.

[jamcas997]

And just like that a week can turn.

In the last 2 hours 18 sales over $340 this morning after only 4 sales since Thursday morning with a total of $25. Crazy how this happens.

[Budler]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

And just like that a week can turn.

In the last 2 hours 18 sales over $340 this morning after only 4 sales since Thursday morning with a total of $25. Crazy how this happens.

There are a lot of guys like me. I do not look at E-Bay but a few times a month. Sometimes I find no cards I want and other time I will find a good number of cards I want.

Call it luck if you want to.
You have cards listed when people are looking for those cards. Then there are times you have the cards listed and people are not looking for those cards. There are a lot of times people are looking for cards, but no one has listed them yet.

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by paulcarlcards

Last time I crunched the numbers, 15% of my orders came from repeat customers and those customers were responsible for almost 80% of my revenue.

I've gotten into the habit of promoting all my listings at 2%. I think I may start exploring promotions and coupons to entice repeat customers. Sounds like you've built a nice customer base, congrats on making it happen.

Originally Posted by Budler

Call it luck if you want to.
You have cards listed when people are looking for those cards. Then there are times you have the cards listed and people are not looking for those cards. There are a lot of times people are looking for cards, but no one has listed them yet.

This is why I think volume is key. You might have a card listed that no one has or cares to list because it doesn't seem valuable, but the truth is, you never know what anyone is looking for at any given time. In the end, it can't sell if it isn't listed.

[hammerva]

Curious what is your strategy when doing buy it now? Do you have a high asking price with a reasonable minimum offer value or do you keep the asking price closer to the min offer. I am guessing that people who have extremely dumb asking price get fewer offers.

I saw someone who had a Bowman Inception Nicco Marichol auto 1/1 with a price around $15,000 Maybe someone gets lucky on these types of listings

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Curious what is your strategy when doing buy it now? Do you have a high asking price with a reasonable minimum offer value or do you keep the asking price closer to the min offer. I am guessing that people who have extremely dumb asking price get fewer offers.

I saw someone who had a Bowman Inception Nicco Marichol auto 1/1 with a price around $15,000 Maybe someone gets lucky on these types of listings

So.e people will list items they really don't want to sell at a high price. They will sell it but buyer is going to pay. In the case of some items there is no way to price it
I have an item that was made in 1901 there were only 50 sets made then and it was gifted to the eventual first CEO of Sun oil company(now SUNOCO) have never found a record of this book set being sold. The original unsigned version go for 400 to 700 each volume when they do show up for sale. I have a high price on the set because it's a niche item that is truly one of a kind. So they can be used to evaluate a market as well. Last reason is attention but that could be counterproductive knowing what most know and understand about how the algorithm counts views and watchers.

As far as min offers go I rarely use them. Anything I list under 5.00 I rarely even put best offer on it. There are times I may consider lower offers. Remember best offer is not always the best price. There are times where if you have multiple offers on the table the lowest could be the best

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Curious what is your strategy when doing buy it now? Do you have a high asking price with a reasonable minimum offer value or do you keep the asking price closer to the min offer. I am guessing that people who have extremely dumb asking price get fewer offers.

I saw someone who had a Bowman Inception Nicco Marichol auto 1/1 with a price around $15,000 Maybe someone gets lucky on these types of listings

Depends on how much I have in it and my feelings about it…if I think it’s nice/rare, the higher the price. I like to mix it up though as I may put the auto-accept at different percentages for items priced the same.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Curious what is your strategy when doing buy it now? Do you have a high asking price with a reasonable minimum offer value or do you keep the asking price closer to the min offer. I am guessing that people who have extremely dumb asking price get fewer offers.

I saw someone who had a Bowman Inception Nicco Marichol auto 1/1 with a price around $15,000 Maybe someone gets lucky on these types of listings

I don't even bother with best offer. I just set the price I want. Maybe a little higher to account for various discounts.

[beauspencer]

I have offers open on every listing.

I am a volume seller, so even on $1.50 free shipping listings because I'll absolutely accept 0.99 or 1.00 offers if someone wants to buy 25+ cards.

Many products I list on release and the BIN is listed at release week premiums. Some don't sell, so it's easier to have offers open to adjust pricing that way by accepting offers.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

I have offers open on every listing.

I am a volume seller, so even on $1.50 free shipping listings because I'll absolutely accept 0.99 or 1.00 offers if someone wants to buy 25+ cards.

Many products I list on release and the BIN is listed at release week premiums. Some don't sell, so it's easier to have offers open to adjust pricing that way by accepting offers.

You do know all those neutrals for slow shipping or the one for not delivered is easily removed with a single push of a button. Usually you do not have to call or anything. ESE and those where the item was shipped on time and show delays were USPS issues and where the item shows delivered are typically automatically removed.

go to help and contact and click on request to remove feedback.

[beauspencer]

You do know all those neutrals for slow shipping or the one for not delivered is easily removed with a single push of a button. Usually you do not have to call or anything. ESE and those where the item was shipped on time and show delays were USPS issues and where the item shows delivered are typically automatically removed.

It's hit or miss. I've had about 50% success rate on it, but I do submit them monthly. If it's not removed automatically, I don't bother escalating it to customer service because it's a time suck.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

It's hit or miss. I've had about 50% success rate on it, but I do submit them monthly. If it's not removed automatically, I don't bother escalating it to customer service because it's a time suck.

I have never had one not removed in those cases by the automatic system

[beauspencer]

I have never had one not removed in those cases by the automatic system

I just went in and submitted removal for 8 eligible neutrals. Ebay only removed 2 of the 8.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

I just went in and submitted removal for 8 eligible neutrals. Ebay only removed 2 of the 8.

Odd considering the 6 clearly say it was the shippers fault not yours

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

I have offers open on every listing.

I am a volume seller, so even on $1.50 free shipping listings because I'll absolutely accept 0.99 or 1.00 offers if someone wants to buy 25+ cards.

Many products I list on release and the BIN is listed at release week premiums. Some don't sell, so it's easier to have offers open to adjust pricing that way by accepting offers.

Same way on all this. Offers on everything (except auctions) and would do cheaper if they buy in bulk but hard to determine it unless I see multiple offers from same buyer.

[thenightman]

It’s always funny on eBay. Sent out about 30, or so, offers on some cards that had been sitting for quite awhile. Two in particular had been sitting for well over a year. Out of the blue somebody buys them both at full price.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by thenightman

It’s always funny on eBay. Sent out about 30, or so, offers on some cards that had been sitting for quite awhile. Two in particular had been sitting for well over a year. Out of the blue somebody buys them both at full price.

I find if you get offers and sit on them as long as you can the item will often sell at full price. The open offer boosts that items search ranking