posted on September 19, 2001 07:26:31 PM
My advice for someone with low sales is:
"Don't give up your day job!"
However, there are lots of possibilities here, like try a different headline, new pricing strategies, are your descriptions complete, and most importantly are you selling something people want at a price they will pay?
Tell us more and you will get lots of opinions here!
posted on September 19, 2001 07:33:43 PM
Sales are going to slow on thing people dont really need.
They will be buying , they will be spending on things theycan do at home entertainment Items will be very good sellers on line as people say home more for the short term. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
posted on September 19, 2001 07:33:44 PM
I sell on Ebay obviously.I sell items that I find a estate sales and so on.I try to price things low and eat alot of shipping cost.My user Id is mombda.If you could look at my auctions and give constructive advice I'd appreciate it.Thanks.Also on my newer auctions I have started selling internationally.Your best advice on that would help.Again,Thank You!
posted on September 19, 2001 07:37:56 PM
"What is your best advice to someone with low sales?"
Leave LOTS of Negative Feedback. Threaten all of your buyers with it, and send them inferior quality merchandise, or don't send it at all. Gouge them on shipping. <WINK>
Seriously. take a long hard look at your product line. Look at your pictures, the prices, your descriptions, the category you list in, when you list, and how you list. check your customer service responses from your customers and truly READ the comments in YOUR profile. Look at your competitiors auctions, the ones WITH bids, and try to figure out how they got them and why YOU didn't. You may have to switch products to be competitive, but probably, you just have to change how you do things.
If you sell jewelry and compete with me, PLEASE do the first suggestion, if you sell other things, you're welcome to do the second one.
posted on September 19, 2001 07:41:59 PM
Looks like I'm going to be running alot a dutch auctions.Right now Patriotic T-Shirts are doing well.Other than that I'm just going to keep selling my other stuff as best I can.We should do fair with items that can be used for gifts.I do notice my views are way down on my auctions.
posted on September 19, 2001 07:58:03 PM
Mombda - I think your auctions are EXCELLENT! The pictures are very nice, the descriptions are well written, TOS and shipping costs are easy to find. All you need is a little time to weather the events of the week, and the economic times. You are doing a great job.
Di
On a scale of 1 to 10...we'd all weigh a lot less!
posted on September 19, 2001 07:58:44 PM
Oh yea,As far as not quiting my day job,this is it!I had to go off my job a year ago for a foot problem that needs surgery,but I have a lively 2 year old son and can't be out of comission while I am waiting to heal.No other source of income and the only thing I'm really god at is customer service.Thanks for your time and great advice!
posted on September 19, 2001 08:17:40 PM
Mombda:
I too took a look at several of your auctions and I see nothing wrong with them. Great photos, descriptions, very reasonable shipping. You do sell a wide varity of things, some collectibles, but a lot of useful everyday type things which will probably sell better in the near future. I also looked at your feedback, you must be a really fast shipper!
Hang in there, things will pick up (I hope)
posted on September 20, 2001 04:02:34 AM
I try to make my auctions look the best I can. This means writing a complete description that covers all areas of the item. I sometimes spend 15-20 minutes writing and rewriting the description to
determine what sounds better. I will never used an incorrectly spelled word. I have found that using Microsoft Works Word Processor does a great job in creating the needed description. Most of my auction descriptions contain at least 100 words. With this, I rarely get email questions on the item.
I try very hard to use my digital camera to create great pictures. This means proper lighting and or flash. If there is a glare, then I will do it again. To dark, do it again.
And rule number one, ALWAYS include the shipping charges in the terms. Never gouge on shipping. Another major turnoff. Nothing on ebay os so rare that someone is willing to be gouged. There are so many auctions that are passed by when bidders
are turned off due to the absence of shipping charges. If there is only 6 hours until the end of the auction, then it is almost impossible to receive an answer to the shipping question.
No shipping charges listed and gouging will cause many people to hit the back button.
Edited to add:
I check the closed autions for a similar item that I may have. I resort the auctions for the highest bid first and look at the auction title. If they had a "Beautiful Stunning Charming Rare Widget", and received high bids, then I may use the same title.
[ edited by yeager on Sep 20, 2001 04:11 AM ]
posted on September 20, 2001 02:15:05 PM
hi mombda,
i just took a look at a few of your auctions. overall, they're quite good . professional layout, photos load quickly, terrific measurements, shipping info clear and easy to find. very nice!
i've got a few suggestions. mind, this is only for vintage stuff. i haven't a clue about selling new stuff. looks to me like some of your pricing is too low. try bumping them up a little. whenever possible, put the year in the title, because many people search this way. you've got a nice vintage tablecloth up, but it's not until you click in that a buyer learns it's 50s/60s. also a close-up of the embroidery would be a good selling point, and perhaps a description of the colors used. your photos could be a little sharper, but aren't bad. might not hurt to 'sell' a little more in your descriptions. not a lot, just to raise the 'appeal level' a bit.
