@bjlecr wrote:I have a number of listings due for relisting.Ebay recommend I relist a 99c.Why ? Postage has to be included.So it has to be the value of the item plus postage.I'd rather throw things out than list at 99c...Things would be sold at that price .But i am not going to do it.
I think it is a bit of an "eBay culture" thing that they are reluctant to let go by the wayside, in some ways it defines eBay because that is what was popular when they began.
Yes, 99c auctions were popular and did yield good results in the early days, but as others have noted, technology has changed so last second bidding is now possible via mobiles which means it is not necessary to place your bids early.
The other thing that used to help prompt sellers to list for 99c start is listing fees. I remember paying something like 30c listing fee if I started auctions at 99c, and it cost more if you listed for $1 or more. So sellers started at 99c to save significantly on listing fees. This action entrenched the 99c auction eBay culture. It was further enhanced when eBay used to have "no listing fees for 99c auction" weekends with unlimited listings. This flooded eBay with lots of junk listed at 99c start, and some sellers used to avoid listing when these 99c free listing weekends were on.
This screengrab is from an email I got for a listing I had on another ID back in Sept 2009. The listing fee had to be paid even if the item did not sell, further encouraging you to list at a price that would attract bids. The listing fee consisted of a base fee + 25c for every photo uploaded after the free gallery photo. So I paid 30c + 6x25c = $1.80
