Calling All Ebay Experts

[Porky]

Bit cheeky but would anyone here like to give me any selling tips or experiences of what works well.

I will explain where I'm at:-

So I'm new to the whole Ebay scene first thing I got wrong:
1. Didn't expand on list title tag and once you get a bid you can't change it. So lose buyers. If you delist once you have a bid, ebay charge what they would have got from the bidder.
2. Didn't select international postage option. This stops anyone outside UK bidding and again if you get a UK bid and you relist to include international you have stil to pay ebay fees. You can't simply add it after once you get interest hence cut off buyers.

I notice people selecting Watching the auction and not bidding - is this because they wait right to the death of the auction to try and pick it off cheap - is that the name of the game? If it is how can I max value here?

I am selecting promote the pitch - does this bring value do you think? 10% of the value charged!

Finally, another those really appreciated

Thanks all

 

[Booboo691]

I’d suggest a good read through the eBay forums, people have been saying eBay sales have fallen off a cliff over the past year or so. I concur.

 

[DontAsk]

Avoid the GSP like the plague.

 

[Booboo691]

Avoid the GSP like the plague.

The BHL is also something to be avoided

 

[Porky]

The BHL is also something to be avoided

You both winding me up... BHL and the GSP ? Is it some sort of secret club?

Like the secret 5 i joined, so secret i don't know who the other 4 members are... (stolen gag from the late Tommy Cooper but still stands test of time)

 

[Booboo691]

You both winding me up... BHL and the GSP ? Is it some sort of secret club?

Like the secret 5 i joined, so secret i don't know who the other 4 members are... (stolen gag from the late Tommy Cooper but still stands test of time)

Sorry, just my sarcastic nature.

Saying “Avoid the GSP like the plague” to a beginner is a bit condescending. I’ve had two eBay business accounts since 2004 and even I had to google it.

 

[DontAsk]

Global shipping program. I'm surprised at any eBay seller that hasn't encountered it.

 

[AlanJ1]

Global shipping program. I'm surprised at any eBay seller that hasn't encountered it.

Is your issue to do with returning goods? We had massive problems with it for that.

 

[Porky]

Well I'm yet to find out - i hope not!

I notice an item goes onto a watch list and then they wait right until the end. So it times out just ss it gets going. In a normal auction you get highest price - i find that frustrating that few will bid early, it's the way it is in guess.

Looking for techniques to encourage them to bid early

 

[Porky]

@AlanJ1
Would you be so kind as to expand on your returns comment please.
Concerning
One retailer told me they sent a toy to a bidder £79 and they returned it but swapped his toy with a different one that was older and scratched - the retailer complained to ebay but they still ruled on the side of the bidder.
I mean you don't expect that kind of behaviour do you. Amazing

 

[AlanJ1]

@AlanJ1
Would you be so kind as to expand on your returns comment please.
Concerning
One retailer told me they sent a toy to a bidder £79 and they returned it but swapped his toy with a different one that was older and scratched - the retailer complained to ebay but they still ruled on the side of the bidder.
I mean you don't expect that kind of behaviour do you. Amazing

That's retail for you, regardless of platform (people try this on our website).

My returns comment was on the global shipping program.

 

[DontAsk]

Is your issue to do with returning goods? We had massive problems with it for that.

No.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I notice people selecting Watching the auction and not bidding - is this because they wait right to the death of the auction to try and pick it off cheap - is that the name of the game?

I buy more than I sell on Ebay and yes, I watch items to see if they are increasing in price and if not I'll use a sniper for a late bid that's within the limit I would go to.
I also watch to get an idea of actual selling prices for items I intend to list at a later date and sometimes just to see 'how much somebody with high expectations gets for a dilapidated wooden conservatory worth a tenner which they've put a £1000 reserve on'!

 

[Porky]

@AlanJ1
Would you be so kind as to advise on your refund experiences. Just had one wanting a refund, nothing wrong with the goods what so ever just think they over bid - really annoying.

 

[Clodbuster]

I.m very pleased to see Ebay is having to send sales information to HMRC. I've seen many competitors selling without including VAT.

 

[DontAsk]

I.m very pleased to see Ebay is having to send sales information to HMRC. I've seen many competitors selling without including VAT.

Were they VAT registered?
Have you bought from them and asked for a VAT receipt?

 

[Clodbuster]

They were selling the identical products and sourced from the same manufacturer. I know what they were charged which did include VAT. Somehow they (there are two) managed to sell at that price, ie: minute% margin. I don't KNOW if they are VAT registered but strongly suspect it.

 

[AlanJ1]

@AlanJ1
Would you be so kind as to advise on your refund experiences. Just had one wanting a refund, nothing wrong with the goods what so ever just think they over bid - really annoying.

Our experiences won't align. We sell tens of thousands of items a year so we see everything.
You just have to suck it up is the basic answer. There's really not much you can do. Our pricing factors in returns!

 

[paulears]

Suck it up is pretty much it. I sell electronics with values between £30 and £400, and lots is pretty specialist. Auction sales are for stuff I just want to shift, even if I lose money. As a business seller, auctions are difficult. You pay dearly for reserves, so you just list at the minimum you can stomach and hope. If the item also has a buy now price, you will often get a low bid early as that removes the buy it now. Your item goes on people's watch lists and it is very common do have an item with a £20 bid sit there, then go up to £30 on the day before end, (which gives the bidder auto emails of changes) and then in the last half an hour a load of bids sometimes higher than your buy it now price - or, as often happens, nobody else bids and you let it go for pennies. As a business seller, they can send it back for any reason with a buy it now for 14 days - and in the auction, people just invent issues to allow them to send it back. If they buy it now, they can send it back for any reason and they pay the return postage, but quite a few describe the product as defective. I've only had one buyer return a different product, but I can identify what I sell. My kit can be clever and often faulty means the customer is just thick! Suck it up - it is not worth arguing GPS sales mean you send them to ebay in the UK and they send the item on. From time to time it goes wrong. I had one when ebay said the sale had not been possible. They had paid me and I kept the money - AND - they refunded the customer. We think they damaged it or lost it. Worst thing is that it can take a LONG time to get there. Then they can send it back. They do not even tell you where in the world the customer is!