eBay

blueladybugjodes · ‎19-06-2024

Hey Community,

I have sent collectively in excess of 100 offers to 'interested buyers'. I would have expected at least 1 person to take up an offer but I've had a 0% success rate. Percentages offered off average 30% off+ some even 40%. Not one taker.

Is there anything I am perhaps doing wrong? As of right now, I am not going to send offers, because I feel it isn't time well spent if no one takes an offer.

chameleon54 · ‎22-06-2024

@brickworksmarket wrote:
Selling more does not always increase profit and for some that is more important.

You have raised an important point that some on the forums don't appear to understand. You can sell A LOT of stuff very cheaply, making a very small dollar profit on each item. Reducing the price by 10% through offers can still leave a very small profit " in the pocket "instead of on the table but the extra work involved in listing, picking and packing means you are working frantically for only a few dollars per hour. ( basically slave labour / sweatshop rates )

This is not a problem if you have nothing else you would rather do with your time and ebay is just a bit of fun that helps pay a few bills, ( in fact the extra income can be very welcome for those on benefits or retired ) but it should not be confused with a successful, professional business model.

It takes the same time to list, answer questions and pack a $30 item as a $3 item, but the profit on the $30 item can be $25 as opposed to $1.50 for the $3 item.

Readers on the forums need to try different things and listen to different views in order to find what works best for their own business and achieves a reasonable financial return for their efforts.

domino-710 · ‎22-06-2024

Did you even look at the Op's items for sale.

Guess not.

chameleon54 · ‎22-06-2024

Blueladybugjodes - I have a slightly different business model to some, particularly on one of my selling account.

On this account I often price very rare items at the higher end of the price spectrum. ( often in the hundreds of dollars ). I give them a run as a 3 day day auction first and if unsold, I leave them sit as a BIN for a few months at the high price. Sometimes they sell, often they sit gathering watchers.

After a few months, I regularly send out offers at a more reasonable price ( often around 30% discount below the high asking price ) . This tactic achieves quite good strike rates, regularly resulting in sales at a good, solid, reasonable level. As the items are very rare, buyers can be tempted to buy as they may not see the item again any time soon and are scared of missing out on the offer in case some-one else buys the item before them.

This tactic seems to be quite effective but relies on the rarity and demand for the item.

chameleon54 · ‎22-06-2024

@domino-710 wrote:
Did you even look at the Op's items for sale.

Guess not.

Yep, looked before posting. Also looked at sold items. Over 10% sold in 90 days, so that does not appear to be the problem.

brickworksmarket · ‎23-06-2024

I allow offers but never send them out. It may work out that I am missing out on extra sales by not sending them but I tend to put more time into doing more listings then moving older items. What I sell plays a big part as I focus on replacement parts that are more of a need than a want.