Buying Patterns - Market Research

Hi everyone, As the total number in my subcategory on eBay has reached the 50,000 listings range, and visibility is vital, I'm doing some research on buying patterns, and would love some help from the eBay Buying Community.

SCENARIO – You’re wanting to buy knitting yarn (or whatever) on eBay, so how do you go about it? 
Do you MOSTLY:
1) Search for a specific brand, model, fibre?  Y/N,  Or just type the words “Knitting Yarn”? Y/N

2) Choose a category and just scroll from the top until you’ve found something you like?  Y/N

3) Sort your listings?  Y/N , (i.e. Default=Best Match first, I use Price+Post: Lowest first)

4) Filter by Australian Sellers only?  Y/N
5) Filter by “Free Post”? - Y/N

6) Use other search filters (bin/auction, new/used, price range, etc)?  Y/N, If yes, how many filters do you usually use? – 1,  2-5,  5+

7) Look at a seller’s other items before finishing your purchase?  Y/N, If yes, do you click through to seller’s store (if they have one)? Y/N or just view the list of their items?  Y/N

😎 Look at the first photo only? Y/N or view all photos? Y/N

9) Read the listing heading only? Y/N or view the item description as well? Y/N

10) Use a mobile device with the eBay App?  Y/N  Or computer with the eBay website?  Y/N

If anyone has a few minutes to give me some feedback, I would be most grateful, thank you.  Jan Woman Happy

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Buying Patterns - Market Research


@janz-patch wrote:

 

SCENARIO – You’re wanting to buy knitting yarn (or whatever) on eBay, so how do you go about it? 
Do you MOSTLY:
1) Search for a specific brand, model, fibre?  Y/N,  Or just type the words “Knitting Yarn”? Y/N

2) Choose a category and just scroll from the top until you’ve found something you like?  Y/N

3) Sort your listings?  Y/N , (i.e. Default=Best Match first, I use Price+Post: Lowest first)

4) Filter by Australian Sellers only?  Y/N
5) Filter by “Free Post”? - Y/N

6) Use other search filters (bin/auction, new/used, price range, etc)?  Y/N, If yes, how many filters do you usually use? – 1,  2-5,  5+

7) Look at a seller’s other items before finishing your purchase?  Y/N, If yes, do you click through to seller’s store (if they have one)? Y/N or just view the list of their items?  Y/N

😎 Look at the first photo only? Y/N or view all photos? Y/N

9) Read the listing heading only? Y/N or view the item description as well? Y/N

10) Use a mobile device with the eBay App?  Y/N  Or computer with the eBay website?  Y/N

If anyone has a few minutes to give me some feedback, I would be most grateful, thank you.  Jan Woman Happy


janz, more than happy to try and help.  I won't respond with the way I buy on this account as that would be useless, but another couple we have, but to be honest we don't buy very often on eBay and we buy a variety of items, not one specific thing (eg. ipad & phone covers, solar lights, clothing & so the specifics may vary).  Also, being predominantly a Seller, I'm probably not very representative of the average predominant buyer 

 

1.)  NO - Mostly just a general item description (But for clothing my daughter usually shops by Brand)

2.)  NO

3.)  Yes - Price + Postage - lowest first

4.)  NO

5.)  NO - lol, never !!

6.)  YES - almost always - NEW and BIN  (That's cause I'm a bit impatient at times Smiley Very Happy )

7.)  YES and YES go to Store

8.)  NO - YES - view all photos

9.)  NO - YES - view the listing description

10.)  NO, never.  Always use lap or desktop

 

Hope that is some help and that you get lots of useful responses

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Buying Patterns - Market Research


@janz-patch wrote:

Hi everyone, As the total number in my subcategory on eBay has reached the 50,000 listings range, and visibility is vital, I'm doing some research on buying patterns, and would love some help from the eBay Buying Community.

SCENARIO – You’re wanting to buy knitting yarn (or whatever) on eBay, so how do you go about it? 
Do you MOSTLY:
1) Search for a specific brand, model, fibre?  Y/N - NO,  Or just type the words “Knitting Yarn”? Y/N - YES

2) Choose a category and just scroll from the top until you’ve found something you like?  Y/N - NO

3) Sort your listings?  Y/N , (i.e. Default=Best Match first, I use Price+Post: Lowest first) - YES

4) Filter by Australian Sellers only?  Y/N - NO
5) Filter by “Free Post”? - Y/N - NO

6) Use other search filters (bin/auction, new/used, price range, etc)?  Y/N, If yes, how many filters do you usually use? – 1,  2-5,  5+ - YES (MOSTLY 1 FILTER)

7) Look at a seller’s other items before finishing your purchase?  Y/N - YES, If yes, do you click through to seller’s store (if they have one)? Y/N - NO or just view the list of their items?  Y/N - YES

😎 Look at the first photo only? Y/N - NO or view all photos? Y/N - YES

9) Read the listing heading only? Y/N - NO or view the item description as well? Y/N - YES

10) Use a mobile device with the eBay App?  Y/N  - NO Or computer with the eBay website?  Y/N - YES

If anyone has a few minutes to give me some feedback, I would be most grateful, thank you.  Jan Woman Happy


Have answered your survey above in red - I'm only a very occassional ebay buyer though!

 

Good luck with it all.

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Buying Patterns - Market Research


@janz-patch wrote:

Hi everyone, As the total number in my subcategory on eBay has reached the 50,000 listings range, and visibility is vital, I'm doing some research on buying patterns, and would love some help from the eBay Buying Community.

SCENARIO – You’re wanting to buy knitting yarn (or whatever) on eBay, so how do you go about it? 
Do you MOSTLY:
1) Search for a specific brand, model, fibre?  Y/NOr just type the words “Knitting Yarn”? Y/N Yes

2) Choose a category and just scroll from the top until you’ve found something you like?  Y/N I don't pick categories, only search words

3) Sort your listings?  Y/N , (i.e. Default=Best Match first, I use Price+Post: Lowest first) No

4) Filter by Australian Sellers only?  Y/N Sometimes
5) Filter by “Free Post”? - Y/N Never

6) Use other search filters (bin/auction, new/used, price range, etc)?  Y/N, If yes, how many filters do you usually use? – 1,  2-5,  5+ Yes, occasionally. Depends on what I am looking for. Sometimes use the price range filter to try to get rid of the cheap Chinese listings. Never use bib or auction filter, sometimes new/used and more often price range.

7) Look at a seller’s other items before finishing your purchase?  Y/N, If yes, do you click through to seller’s store (if they have one)? Y/N or just view the list of their items?  Y/N Not usually but very occasionally.

😎 Look at the first photo only? Y/N or view all photos? Y/N View all photos only if interested.

9) Read the listing heading only? Y/N or view the item description as well? Y/N Heading and first photo are what i look at. If they don't appeal, I rarely look further. If I have any interest in buying though, I open the whole ad and read it all and look at photos carefully. But you won't get me that far unless your heading and leading photo appeal.

10) Use a mobile device with the eBay App?  Y/N   Or computer with the eBay website?  Y/N Yes, on computer. Never on phone.

If anyone has a few minutes to give me some feedback, I would be most grateful, thank you.  Jan Woman Happy


 

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Buying Patterns - Market Research

I usually - 

 

1. Type in a very specific model colour etc. in search. Have usually researched what I want.

2. Aus only.

3. Size if relevant.

4. Then cheapest first or dearest first if there are a lot of other peripherals in that category and work backwards. To find a good condition item for a reasonable price.

5. Check photos, description and postage then feedback.

6. If all ok, purchase or bid.

 

If a pick up item I will use nearest to my postcode in refinements.

 

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Buying Patterns - Market Research


@janz-patch wrote:

Hi everyone, As the total number in my subcategory on eBay has reached the 50,000 listings range, and visibility is vital, I'm doing some research on buying patterns, and would love some help from the eBay Buying Community.

SCENARIO – You’re wanting to buy knitting yarn (or whatever) on eBay, so how do you go about it? 
Do you MOSTLY:
1) Search for a specific brand, model, fibre?  Y/N, Depends what I'm buying, but mostly no.  Or just type the words “Knitting Yarn”? Y/N I mostly use keywords

2) Choose a category and just scroll from the top until you’ve found something you like?  Y/N Again, depends what I'm buying. Sometimes I'll select a category, but usually always have a keyword associated with that category. I mostly just use keywords because sometimes people put the item I'm chasing in the wrong category and I'd miss it if I searched via category.

3) Sort your listings?  Y/N , (i.e. Default=Best Match first, I use Price+Post: Lowest first) Sort to time ending soonest if looking at auctions. Price + post if looking for BIN's. Doesn't mean I buy the cheapest though.

4) Filter by Australian Sellers only?  Y/N Not usually but I mostly buy from Australian sellers.
5) Filter by “Free Post”? - Y/N Not usually.

6) Use other search filters (bin/auction, new/used, price range, etc)?  Y/N Yes. Sometimes I'll search just auctions, or just BINs. Yesterday I searched for used because the item I was searching for was a vintage item and was flooded with new vintage look items which I didn't want., If yes, how many filters do you usually use? – 1,  2-5,  5+ Usually only 1 at a time.

7) Look at a seller’s other items before finishing your purchase?  Y/N Usually, If yes, do you click through to seller’s store (if they have one)? Y/N No or just view the list of their items?  Y/N I just look at other items.

😎 Look at the first photo only? Y/N or view all photos? Y/N All photos if I've clicked on the listing.

9) Read the listing heading only? Y/N or view the item description as well? Y/N If I've clicked on the listing I always read the description. I do it on principle because I know how frustrating it is for sellers when buyers don't read it. Plus it often gives me a better idea if the item is one I want.

10) Use a mobile device with the eBay App?  Y/N  Or computer with the eBay website?  Y/N Both

If anyone has a few minutes to give me some feedback, I would be most grateful, thank you.  Jan Woman Happy


 

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Buying Patterns - Market Research

I mostly filter just as Kopenhagen describes (above) Trying for Aus sellers first. I too always do my homework on any major purchase. 

 

If looking for a large item locally I will filter "nearest first" (& sometimes auction first)

 

Occasionally I come a cropper with this function as there are 2 Chinese dropship warehouses near me - that still seem to comply with the Aus only filter. I have accidentally bought from both for PU only items - but strangely they prefer PPal for the transaction. Weird places to visit!

 

I've been wanting PU homewares recently; Which is how I found those dropship warehouses.

 

I do occasionaly use the percentage off buying code offers from ebay - if they can be applied to something I want. As a for instance; The recent  (currrent?) CYBER one I used for a Kogan item from Dick Smith. The % off offer was avail on DS. But not on Kogan for the same item. I could not buy the same / similar item in a B&M store. So went with the DS deal. With sales so slow I'll take any discount I can get on something I want & need. The item wasn't electronic - a kitchen cart trolley. 

 

 

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