topic Re: They truly have no idea. in Selling

They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 09:40:56 GMT

Received this on a listing that I didn't re-list due to it not being worth it,(it was a BIN at $8.99).

Sell Tip: We recommend changing the selling format to Auction. Similar items in auction format had starting

prices around $6.00 and sold for between $5.00-$10.00

If I started the listing at $6 it would probably sell for $6 and I would lose money on it,(after fees it's a "profit"

of $4.93).

Postage is $5 for a nett loss of 7 cents,(they make money and I lose money is the main reason I don't do a

a lot of auctions anymore).

I'll donate them to the op shop instead,

Re: They truly have no idea.

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 09:48:54 GMT

Yeah, they are only automated marketing lines that randomly rotate.

I was selling a car for 8,000 that didn't sell and the one that came up was - Try starting your auction at 99 cents.

Those tips may work against very naive members but still won't lift the site, if anything only create problems.

And amongst seasoned members, eBay only loses credibility.

Re: They truly have no idea.

cathyjoyjoy — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:00:57 GMT

Yes, it's terrible advice for new sellers.

Sometimes the automated advice comes up to relist the auction item with a starting price of 99c !!!!!!!!!

Re: They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:32:12 GMT

The last time I listed on this account the 99 cent start suggestion used to come up,(so found it strange that

this one said start at $6).

Starting at 99 cents is bad enough and starting a car auction at that is fraught with disappointment,

That's how I started selling on here and it was good in some cases and shocking on other listings.

But in the end I was one of the lucky ones that ended up in front as postage costs were lower and I had some

very good sales that put me well ahead,

I would never start any auction at 99 cents now and I now start them at the minimum price that I want for the

item/s as recommended by the members on these boards,(who know a lot more about selling on this

site than eBay ever will),

Re: They truly have no idea.

digital*ghost — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:36:18 GMT

They tried to tell me "similar" items have sold for less on some of my stuff, too... Only, they're original, one of a kind handcrafted things, my price was was a bit over $40 on one of them, they suggested $6~

They just grab a few keywords / category details and then match it with the cheapest listed, I think.

Re: They truly have no idea.

davidc4430 — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:37:47 GMT

I'm sure there are those on the top floor of ebay who rekon all auctions should start at 99cents. they dont live in the real world.

Re: They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:41:14 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
They tried to tell me "similar" items have sold for less on some of my stuff, too... Only, they're original, one of a kind handcrafted things, my price was was a bit over $40 on one of them, they suggested $6~

They just grab a few keywords / category details and then match it with the cheapest listed, I think.

That sounds about right,(small amount of effort on their part for some return).

After all,they just want the item to sell so that they can collect fees,(they don't care whether you get a fair price

or not,as this way it should sell),

Re: They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:43:58 GMT

@davidc4430 wrote:
I'm sure there are those on the top floor of ebay who rekon all auctions should start at 99cents. they dont live in the real world.

It is the worst advice they can now give a seller as it creates a lot of angst were the buyer thinks they have

bought a cheap item but the seller won't sell as they'll lose money on it,

Re: They truly have no idea.

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 02:59:13 GMT

yep, no idea

Re: They truly have no idea.

ytwo000 — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 03:49:11 GMT

they should rename themselves as "greedbay" !

all they care about is for the seller to sell so they can rip ya off with fees. !

Re: They truly have no idea.

amber-eyed-girl — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 04:45:18 GMT

Tazz, I read something somewhere a while ago from eBay that recommended researching other active listings and recently ended items to give a start price...maybe that is where the relist at six came from.

Re: They truly have no idea.

*tippy*toes* — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 05:04:04 GMT

I played eBay's game one time to see what happened. I can't remember what the actual figures were now, so shall just pluck figures from thin air. Item listed at auction for $16.99 didn't sell, so the recommendation was to lower the price to $13.50 and similar items sold for between $19.99 and $29.99. I lowered the price to $13.50 and again, the item didn't sell. Next recommendation was to reduce it to $9.50 and similar items sold for between $19.99 and $49.99. I reduced the price and it didn't sell again. Next recommendation was to list it for $7.99 and similar items sold for between $19.99 and $199.99.

I relisted it for $18.99 and it sold. I think if I kept relisting it to their recommendation, it would have got to the point where I'd have been recommended to list it for 1c. I am unsure why the price for the similar items kept going up each time, especially the last time where it was a significant jump in price.

I have had some that say to list for 99c and similar items have sold for between $199 and $599. If that's the case, why would any sane person list for 99c? It was those items that made me realise that the recommendations are garbage, because I know for a fact, there is no way on this earth anyone would pay those high prices for those items. Maybe $50 for someone who had no idea of value, but that would be extreme. I'd even checked on external sites and couldn't find any similar items for those outrageous prices.

Re: They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 06:15:59 GMT

@amber-eyed-girl wrote:
Tazz, I read something somewhere a while ago from eBay that recommended researching other active listings and recently ended items to give a start price...maybe that is where the relist at six came from.

That makes a lot more sense than starting at 99 cents and it's what they should've been saying from the

beginning,(it would've saved a lot of angst),

Re: They truly have no idea.

2013tiger1948 — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 06:34:54 GMT

You're right about them having no idea - about anything!!

I usually research similar items before I list them for sale.

I am now receiving emails from ebay headed 'Item you may be Interested in' and showing me my own listings!!! Duh!

Re: They truly have no idea.

go-tazz — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 06:37:22 GMT

@*tippy*toes* wrote:
I played eBay's game one time to see what happened.

I did that a few times when I was listing an auction but decided to just check after re-listing it a few times and

put a price on it that I was happy with,(they've all sold for more than eBay recommendations),

Now I hardly use auctions as they are a waste of time with the items I tend to sell.

I list items at a minimum price that I'm happy with and if they don't sell I put them with a pile which I use to

sell items in bulk lots,