Do stores get enough traffic for low Final Value items?? What is PS about??

[keri1128]

Hi there.

I am fairly new to selling on eBay and my items do not have a high final value, therefore they are low profit as well. Fees from eBay and Paypal really eat into any profit I might be making, but I don't know that I could sell enough in a month to warrant opening an eBay store. Particularly with store items not appearing in general search results. The 20c insertion fee is appealing, but it would take a lot of them to make up the $49.95 in store fees per month.

It's a pity that eBay aren't able to offer lower fees for items that are recognised as having a genuine lower end price. It would certainly help me to compete with the sellers in China and Hong Kong who sell identical items at lower prices and with free postage!!

My only real drawcard to buyers is that my items do not take 4-6 weeks to arrive when travelling by regular mail, instead they take 1-7 days. Thankfully I am enjoying the eBay experience at the moment and will continue to test the waters and see if I can make myself some pocket money. But I won't be quitting my day job just yet.....lol.

And what is the real benefit of being a Powerseller? Do you get a reduction in any fees?? More prominent displays in searches?? Surely there is a reward for being a consistently good seller who manages their sales well and looks after their customers. After all, Powersellers are making more money for eBay aren't they?? I would have thought they deserved better discounts than casual sellers. Is Powerseller a name only? Is there any attraction for Buyers??

I'll look forward to any constructive comments that anyone can offer.

Regards, Keri.

[bdstratton]

oh i forgot also to mention

Re some of the comments in this thread.

Made in China doesn't always mean the quality will be low or poor that's a misconception.

Some of the best products are made their so dont always judge by the location.

The iPhone for example.

[keri1128]

Thanks Ladybug-online-sales.

It's interesting you know. Now that someone has suggested that I sell my product as A Grade, if I believe that it is, I checked my suppliers website. And would you believe, I hadn't even realised that they also list their product in various gradings. I only ever looked for the colours I was after. So now I know to make sure I only source the AAA Top Quality product from them.

And you are definitely right. I showed my husband a Swarovski Bead next to a Chinese Bead and he couldn't pick the difference. Just because it is made in China doesn't always mean it is inferior. Just cheap........

[crypsynight]

Keri, one thing I have discovered, that I haven't really worked a way around, is that different people grade the beads differently.

So that whilst beads are 'A' grade from your supplier, and to most people buying them, they are not 'A' grade to someone who makes expensive and high-end jewellery, where they expect the 'A' grade beads to be perfect.

Out of the thousands that I have sold, this has only happened to me twice - in both cases quite justified as it was to do with minor flaws that i had totally missed - so whilst not common, it can still happen.

Just something to bare in mind before giving something an 'A' grade rating.

Hope this helps :-x

[keri1128]

Just an update.

Having spent a lot of time (slow computer) deleting the word Swarovski from my listings and then buying some genuine Swarovski and listing them in the hope of drawing buyers to my non genuine but still top quality items, my sales have dropped right off and thigs which in the past were being watched are not even being viewed at times.

I wonder if it is a general trend in the beading world at the moment, or if my being honest about my products has given an even bigger advantage to the Chinese sellers who do list their products as something they aren't.

And to top it all off, I found out through another discussion, that I am probably also guilty of violating the 'Multiple Listing' Policy. AArrgghhhhhh!!!

I think I'll take a break for a while and just use my 30 free listings. Will certainly save me fees on all those now unsold products! Heck, I might even just use them all myself and crystal bling my house. Crystal light shade anyone????

Thanks again to everyone who provided good honest constructive criticism and advice.

[crypsynight]

Keri, last weekend was okay, but the rest of the week was almost totally dead. I think ebay are playing around with the Best Match search again. X-(

I wouldn't worry over the Chinese Sellers to much. Sure, you'll lose the odd sale to China, but as a whole I think beaders prefer to shop locally.

You look at the Chinese sellers with the multiple listings, broad usage of Swarovki, Murano etc, weird Item Location places - ///, Australia, Sydney VIC etc, or Items from Melbourne being shipped across Australia via International Post - huh? Buyers see this and think if they cant even be truthful in their listing details, there's no guarantee they'll be honest in what they send out.

I've only ever heard favourable things about one Chinese Seller (the weather one) - most of the rest come and go. The biggest threat to your sales is ebay itself, with its continual 'playing around' with searches, and items not being viewable all the time etc.

Read recently that 1st December is the busiest day of the year, according to Mastercard. So maybe see how you go around that date before turning you house into a crystal palace :^O

[keri1128]

Thanks crypsynight. It's disheartening when you have a whole day's listings go unsold. I have been getting good feedback for the items that do sell, so it was weird that all of a sudden they weren't even being looked at anymore. Maybe you are right and eBay are messing around with search results.

I'll see how we go with your prediction (or Mastercards' anyway) for the 1st of December.

At least crystal beads don't take up much room and won't go off in a hurry. But I am going to try my hand at one lamp shade at least. I reckon they would create some brilliant light effects in the kids bedrooms.

Worst thing is that I'll have to find another way to justify my crystal bead spending. I've already started my next wishlist....

[lyndal1838]

Keri, you could well find that the beginning of December (not necessarily the 1st) will see an increase in sales.

Many buyers will suddenly realise that they have very little chance of getting items from overseas before Christmas and will descend on local sellers like locusts.

Hang in there and see what happens.

[keri1128]

Thanks Lyndal1838.

That makes a lot of sense.