Ebay Sales Down

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by fungi2510

So you are saying sell some commons at auction and your BIN will increase?

Auctions always get more views more views increases views on other items hence more sales opportunities. Many times auction winners will buy items at full fixed price to offset shipping costs

[beauspencer]

I ran 200 auctions a couple months ago. Items varied from hot sellers to stale inventory. My views and impressions over that 7-day span were worse than the previous four 7-day periods running no auctions.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by fungi2510

So you are saying sell some commons at auction and your BIN will increase?

Not just commons, Brand New Products - go buy a pack of Cosmic Chrome or Elite or Prizm Draft and list what you pull; not saying go buy a box or anything, just get a stack of something you know will be searched for. If you do like 2020 Topps, you won't notice much

Originally Posted by beauspencer

I ran 200 auctions a couple months ago. Items varied from hot sellers to stale inventory. My views and impressions over that 7-day span were worse than the previous four 7-day periods running no auctions.

Yea, if it was previously listed, probably won't do much - If it is new (or newly listed/rare) it will though. 2023 Cosmic Chrome would move the needle; 2021 Topps Chrome Probably not. Rare 1961 Jello would also see an uptick, whereas 1974 Topps would probably be flat

[beauspencer]

2023 Cosmic Chrome would move the needle

Also moves the needle on BIN. I did over $1,500 in gross sales on $300 worth of Bowman blasters this year. Would have been very, very lucky to get to $1,000 if I ran them at auction.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

Also moves the needle on BIN. I did over $1,500 in gross sales on $300 worth of Bowman blasters this year. Would have been very, very lucky to get to $1,000 if I ran them at auction.

No, I agree but the impact is greater to your other listings with Auctions than those BINs but they'll both get views; eBay likes you best when you utilize the WHOLE System - BINs, Auctions, etc.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by fungi2510

So you are saying sell some commons at auction and your BIN will increase?

I think this is true. The only auctions I run a recycled listings with a start price the same as my BIN price. I definitely see a slowdown in traffic and sales when I don't run these auctions (usually due to an upcoming vacation).

[beauspencer]

eBay likes you best when you utilize the WHOLE System - BINs, Auctions, etc.

This is something I wonder. Does it really??? Or does the algorithm just want you to be active regardless of the activity? Because the consensus is you have to list items daily to trigger the algorithm. It leads to more sales...but in reality it's listing the actual new inventory that is leading to sales.

Just thinking out loud here, I know nothing about how algorithms work, etc. But in my experience, running auctions has not lifted my traffic within my ebay store.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

This is something I wonder. Does it really??? Or does the algorithm just want you to be active regardless of the activity? Because the consensus is you have to list items daily to trigger the algorithm. It leads to more sales...but in reality it's listing the actual new inventory that is leading to sales.

Just thinking out loud here, I know nothing about how algorithms work, etc. But in my experience, running auctions has not lifted my traffic within my ebay store.

Algorithms pretty much work how their architect wants them to, so we're figuring out things by eBay or that dude's design -- I Definitely think so in this case though - I also help with the LCS's eBay as a little side gig (to a side gig) and we've noticed it on that account as well. TBF I do list about 200-250+ items a day, 5 days a week on my personal as well so it could be a coincidental correlation but seems pretty correlated TBH (and have 2 fairly large/established accounts of "data"). Try it with a Brand New product and see

[beauspencer]

Try it with a Brand New product and see

I'm not gonna screw with success. I can't keep brand new product in my store at BIN. Not gonna risk lower dollar sales on auctions on that. I just haven't seen results on auctions with my account, and keeping plenty busy with BIN sales...but always looking for more (but auctions suck haha, so I'm sticking to BIN).

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

This is something I wonder. Does it really??? Or does the algorithm just want you to be active regardless of the activity? Because the consensus is you have to list items daily to trigger the algorithm. It leads to more sales...but in reality it's listing the actual new inventory that is leading to sales.

Just thinking out loud here, I know nothing about how algorithms work, etc. But in my experience, running auctions has not lifted my traffic within my ebay store.

This is 100% true, but when you list new inventory it is that new inventory that is selling. What I'm concerned with is what I can do to help move the other inventory?

While my vacation sample size is small, keep in mind I used to run all 250 of my auctions at the end of the month. In all three vacation instances that last week was slower than the week before, which itself was slower than the week before that. When I used to run the true "month end" I would see a very clear spike in sales, even controlling for how much new inventory was coming in. In the case of all three of this year's vacations, that level was $0, because I hardly spent anything on inventory this summer.

For boosting sales, this is how I would rank it;

1) Adding new, quality, appropriately priced inventory.
2) Getting stuff sold.
3) Sending out offers.
4) Running a sale.
5) Recycling listings, limiting stale inventory.

All can have an effect, and I do all five in one form or another, including #3 and #5 every single day (of the things that are completely within my control).

[rwperu34]

August sales were up 32% in $ and 60% in items compared to 2022. Average daily sales were below my average for the year with only May and January lower. Only May was lower in total sales. It's not surprising that the two months where I had 10 day store shutdowns were my lowest in total sales.

One major factor to consider though...August 1st accounted for 36% of my August sales. For the 20 days I was open between the 2nd and 31st, daily average sales were down 38% vs my daily average for the year and 60% vs my daily average for July (my best month).

September is off to a very strong start. I had a huge day on the 1st (for the 2nd consecutive month) at almost 4x my daily average for the year. Today's number puts me at 50% of Sept. 2022 sales already!!!

For the year my sales are up 92% vs 2022 despite taking two extra shut-down-the-store vacations compared to last year. Items sold are up over 4x.

I am 61.5% of the way towards my cash goal for the offseason (already counting today's big day). It is going to be a tough road to get all the way there. I have enough inventory (169% of my goal), but I think to get enough of it sold I will have to discount heavily.

[TheOneRingKing]

I'm wondering if anyone recently has purchased trading cards with Ebay gift cards? I know they used to limit it to $400 and collectible coins or bullion was a no go but just checking. Thank you

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by prospectorgems

Auctions are horrid. X people need to be watching for that auction and get into a bidding war most likely to drive up prices but still will most likely not come close to comps unless it is a super sought after item. I feel as though i am pretty active on ebay but see a lot of items I missed out on that went for dirt cheap via auction. Due to that, we never run auctions anymore, always play the long game with BIN/BO.

Half the auctions I watch are either a) I have the same card. b) actually wanting to bid on it c) curious to see where it goes, and will bid if it is way below value

Most of the time I end up forgetting about it or something else and miss the auction or goes for higher than I think it should.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by beauspencer

Also moves the needle on BIN. I did over $1,500 in gross sales on $300 worth of Bowman blasters this year. Would have been very, very lucky to get to $1,000 if I ran them at auction.

Did you get big hits, sell complete base sets or just lucky on what you hit? I did $100 worth of blasters and made money, but it was a struggle to get to it. Still have a decent amount left along with random base cards/starter set (one with a Mookie card)

[beauspencer]

Did you get big hits, sell complete base sets or just lucky on what you hit?

Most expensive card I sold was $40. I got lucky by receiving my order on the Saturday before the Wednesday release and listed everything immediately.

[rwperu34]

What do you think of buy 5, get 5 free?

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

What do you think of buy 5, get 5 free?

It is hard to say, depending on if there are limits to what you can get and the diversity of your store.


I did a buy 1 get 1 50% off and had someone buy almost 70 cards from me. I had a few other random promotions too like free shipping after a certain threshold. Not sure they cared about that or not.

I have a current on going buy 2 get 3 65% off. Plan on later in the month to have a similar promotion with buy 1 get 3 75% off and send it to the subscribers to my store. I tend to do better deals for people that follow my store vs. people who purchase and not follow.

Also most of them are on select items. Either $0.99 items or $4.99 and below.

[fungi2510]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

What do you think of buy 5, get 5 free?

Like how would they work? The 5 that you get free have to be lower than the lowest card you bought? I guess that could almost work as a 50% off sale right?

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

It is hard to say, depending on if there are limits to what you can get and the diversity of your store.


I did a buy 1 get 1 50% off and had someone buy almost 70 cards from me. I had a few other random promotions too like free shipping after a certain threshold. Not sure they cared about that or not.

I have a current on going buy 2 get 3 65% off. Plan on later in the month to have a similar promotion with buy 1 get 3 75% off and send it to the subscribers to my store. I tend to do better deals for people that follow my store vs. people who purchase and not follow.

Also most of them are on select items. Either $0.99 items or $4.99 and below.

I currently have all items under $20 listed with free ESE shipping.

I'm debating updating my listings to charge a flat shipping rate to encourage multiple card purchases (in addition to the sales I run).

Note I'd lower the price of my lowest-dollar items as I currently have ESE shipping calculated into the price, so I'm able to offer "free" shipping.

My idea is to charge a flat ESE rate for up to 4 cards, then a flat USPS Ground Advantage Rate for anything over 4 cards (or cards that didn't meet criteria for ESE). I would upgrade to USPS Priority Small Box for free if a buyer purchased enough cards they didn't fit in a bubble mailer.

Obviously, the ESE portion would only apply to cards under $20 and would only apply to up to 4 cards. This is the majority of my current inventory.

Does eBay have smart enough shipping logic to allow sellers to put something like this in place?

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I currently have all items under $20 listed with free ESE shipping.

I'm debating updating my listings to charge a flat shipping rate to encourage multiple card purchases (in addition to the sales I run).

Note I'd lower the price of my lowest-dollar items as I currently have ESE shipping calculated into the price, so I'm able to offer "free" shipping.

My idea is to charge a flat ESE rate for up to 4 cards, then a flat USPS Ground Advantage Rate for anything over 4 cards (or cards that didn't meet criteria for ESE). I would upgrade to USPS Priority Small Box for free if a buyer purchased enough cards they didn't fit in a bubble mailer.

Obviously, the ESE portion would only apply to cards under $20 and would only apply to up to 4 cards. This is the majority of my current inventory.

Does eBay have smart enough shipping logic to allow sellers to put something like this in place?

I wish I had some smart logic in mine. When I get bulk purchases I either pay a little out of pocket for shipping because it calculated to little or I refund some of the shipping cost because it doubled the actual cost.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I wish I had some smart logic in mine. When I get bulk purchases I either pay a little out of pocket for shipping because it calculated to little or I refund some of the shipping cost because it doubled the actual cost.

I charge 1.50 shipping no matter the method I ship the card. Over 10.00 I upgrade to padded shipping over 50 priority.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by shrevecity

I charge 1.50 shipping no matter the method I ship the card. Over 10.00 I upgrade to padded shipping over 50 priority.

I have either $0.80 or $1 shipping with $0.20 each item after. I did have $0.50 or $1 but changed it when the price went up on shipping. May just put everything at the same shipping price in the near future. Then for padded I have $5 with cheaper item add on. Still can get wonky with shipping costs depending on what they buy.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I currently have all items under $20 listed with free ESE shipping.

I'm debating updating my listings to charge a flat shipping rate to encourage multiple card purchases (in addition to the sales I run).

Note I'd lower the price of my lowest-dollar items as I currently have ESE shipping calculated into the price, so I'm able to offer "free" shipping.

My idea is to charge a flat ESE rate for up to 4 cards, then a flat USPS Ground Advantage Rate for anything over 4 cards (or cards that didn't meet criteria for ESE). I would upgrade to USPS Priority Small Box for free if a buyer purchased enough cards they didn't fit in a bubble mailer.

Obviously, the ESE portion would only apply to cards under $20 and would only apply to up to 4 cards. This is the majority of my current inventory.

Does eBay have smart enough shipping logic to allow sellers to put something like this in place?

No.

I'm at $1 flat rate shipping on ESE items for singles and two card lots. I have shipped over 2800 packages this year and I'd say I was unhappy with the shipping maybe three times. It just doesn't happen often enough to worry about it. Most times if you get someone who buys multiple items you will be happy even if you have to upgrade to a bubble mailer out of your own pocket.

[Swipe79]

I have all almost all of my sub $20 stuff with free shipping.

Instead of moving to paid shipping (I believe there are benefits to having free shipping on your listings) I would use the promotions manager to offer promotional discounts when more are purchased.

I do 10% off of 2 all the way up to 50% at 9 cards.

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I currently have all items under $20 listed with free ESE shipping.

I'm debating updating my listings to charge a flat shipping rate to encourage multiple card purchases (in addition to the sales I run).

Note I'd lower the price of my lowest-dollar items as I currently have ESE shipping calculated into the price, so I'm able to offer "free" shipping.

My idea is to charge a flat ESE rate for up to 4 cards, then a flat USPS Ground Advantage Rate for anything over 4 cards (or cards that didn't meet criteria for ESE). I would upgrade to USPS Priority Small Box for free if a buyer purchased enough cards they didn't fit in a bubble mailer.

Obviously, the ESE portion would only apply to cards under $20 and would only apply to up to 4 cards. This is the majority of my current inventory.

Does eBay have smart enough shipping logic to allow sellers to put something like this in place?

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by fungi2510

Like how would they work? The 5 that you get free have to be lower than the lowest card you bought? I guess that could almost work as a 50% off sale right?

Exactly.

This is for 3+ card lots where the $1 shipping is baked in. Most of these items are at $1.99 or $2.99. What I'm hoping is someone comes in a scoops 30-40 cards for $10. I suppose I could have gone Buy 4 Get 4. That would be a minimum of $8, leaving me at least $2.25 after fees, shipping, and supplies.