topic Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers... in Selling

QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:50:27 GMT

This is my first year selling, I was wondering if those experienced Sellers could tell me, do you find that sales improve when peoples tax refunds start to come in? I am considering saving some of my luxury items to list around the end 2nd week of July as I am still restricted with the number of luxury brand names I can list in each month.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.:-)

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:51:17 GMT

oops that should read QUESTION....arrggg typos!

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

zelly888 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:04:06 GMT

What tax refunds? A lot of us owe the the tax man,and no there is no specific time of the year when sales are better.But is has been very slow selling the past few months but good luck in your quest to sell.

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

phorum_junkie* — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:04:55 GMT

If there is one thing on ebay that is totally predictable it is that you simply cannot predict when sales will go up or down. 😉

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:06:19 GMT

Thanks Zelly, however I am assuming that most employed aussies are on PAYG as far as their tax goes so was just considering perhaps around tax refund time things may pick up re sales on ebay.

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

putney32 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:18:24 GMT

when I was on PAYG I never received a refund by the 2nd week of July, if in fact I ever did get much of a refund.

I think yr clutching at straws if you are waiting for 'tax refund' buyers

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:44:04 GMT

Thanks putney, I am not too concerned really, certainly not clutching at straws lol just was wondering if tax refund time made a difference is all. I guess not.:-)

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retrogeekaustralia — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:29:03 GMT

In my opinion i think it does make a difference, i think things usually tend to pick back up late July. It's not necessarily overly busy, but i do think the couple of months leading up to the end of financial year tend to be some of the slowest periods in retail.

I guess it all depends what category of products you are selling though. Some areas do really well around this time, like office expenses etc will tend to go up in sales so people with businesses can then deduct these expenses off their income. For luxury items though i think this time of the year is usually quite dead.

I also work part time in an electronics store as my other job, and the last few months in both my business and my part time job have been ridiculously slow and the only sales that seem to keep the company i work for afloat at this time of the year are the types of products that i think would be claimable in most businesses. (Printers, phones, modems etc) whereas any items that really only provide entertainment, sales have dropped considerably, but usually pick up in the new financial year.

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

dylan11235813 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:36:16 GMT

If there is one thing on ebay that is totally predictable it is that you simply cannot predict when sales will go up or down. 😉

It is strange though isn't it....

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

little*lotus!! — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:40:28 GMT

My sales tend to go down just before the end of financial year & they go up around September..then I'm usually pretty busy till about about a week before Xmas. Just after Xmas it starts to get busy again. That's how it goes for me anyway 😉

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

extra-keen — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:51:51 GMT

Sales are incredibly unpredictable at any time on ebay.

After 30 years of family business involvement I can tell you that overall sales do drop before and around the end of financial year. They tend to return to "normal" during July and August. However for luxury items I think I'd be waiting just a little longer and catch the Christmas buyers. If you have lots of these items to sell, why not experiment a bit.

Good luck!

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 23:07:29 GMT

Thanks for your responses everyone, I am grateful.

Colleen great idea, the Christmas idea, I just want to move the items as they are from a groaning closet, using the funds to make a rather substantial purchase & I am not known for my patience. I do think I will put together a collection to sell around Christmas time though, it will give me another chance to "thin the herd". lol:-D

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

thecatspjs — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:29:27 GMT

If you are selling more individual, less readily available items then listing all year round so that they are available when that buyer comes along IMO is important. To sell that single special piece you only need one buyer.

If you are selling more readily available goods, then seasonal demand will impact more.

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:58:48 GMT

thecatspjs (love the nic) lol I have mainly vintage Chanel, Marc Jacobs & LV handbags & a collection of jewellery I no longer wear, now on a global scale they are readily available but on a national level there really isn't a great deal to choose from ( that isn't fake at least). I am having reasonably good luck with my brand name shoes but the handbags in particular are pricey items, as I don't have an extensive history in selling these items I am limited with the amount of listings. Hence timing I thought would be relevant......thus my post.

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.:-)

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

thecatspjs — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 03:34:07 GMT

Thank-you 🙂

In my experience, authentic vintage items from these brands, Chanel and LV, in particular are sought all year round.

To increase your confidence regarding timing of listing, maybe create and save advanced searches on completed Australian listings for vintage Chanel etc and check out what has sold over previous fortnight and the prices achieved.

Loads of very clear photos are essential for these listings, as more frequent buyers of these items often have an item authenticated from these photos before bidding or buying and there are several fashion communities, discussion forums and blogs with self-taught experts and collectors, who do this at no cost for members.

That being said, my own photography skills are still in development phase :8}

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:33:45 GMT

Thank-you 🙂

In my experience, authentic vintage items from these brands, Chanel and LV, in particular are sought all year round.

To increase your confidence regarding timing of listing, maybe create and save advanced searches on completed Australian listings for vintage Chanel etc and check out what has sold over previous fortnight and the prices achieved.

Loads of very clear photos are essential for these listings, as more frequent buyers of these items often have an item authenticated from these photos before bidding or buying and there are several fashion communities, discussion forums and blogs with self-taught experts and collectors, who do this at no cost for members.

That being said, my own photography skills are still in development phase :8}

That's a wonderful help thecatspjs, thank you so much for taking the time to gimme some pointers! :^O

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

emeraldtarpon — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 01:23:06 GMT

I believe Aussies are going to be "this is mine and you're not getting a cent"(Re:bills) with their returns this year which equates to them actually enjoying their returns by 'treating' themselves and having a spend.

I believe it will be good this year...although sporadic (we don't all get our returns at the same time),if you play your cards right,you will profit-but only if people want your product,of course.

Here's a few things that DO work when trying to attract sales (these are the things that I found have an positive effect on buyers)............................

Be descriptive and add flair to the way you deliver your message (keep the message clear and...include humour,be polite,answer questions ASAP and above all...learn to project enthusiasm in your description (people are drawn to it).

Best of luck....and don't forget to enjoy what you're doing (project that enthusiasm) and don't forget to be positive about your goals and go for it,with gusto : )

There's bucks to be made 😄

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

retailtherapist_8 — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 02:49:36 GMT

Awesome post emerald! Thank you. 😄

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

chezzy — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 04:28:38 GMT

Unless the item has a seasonal theme about it does it really matter when it is listed?

I am thinking if an item isn't listed, then browsers can't see it and buyers can't buy it. Maybe try with a couple of items and if they sell that might spur you on to list more and keep decluttering.

Re: QESTION: To experienced Sellers...

alligator_snapping_turtle — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 04:44:32 GMT

Thats funny. NO. People spend more online when they have less cash and more in stores when they have spare cash.