I have so far avoided selling on ebay but I have a couple of items that I might list. Is it best to set no reserve and roll the dice, set a low reserve to insure a big loss is not possible or set a higher reserve in line with the actual value?

cubdog

Marketing is the key. Make sure you've got good pics and that you are willing to provide additional pics and to answer questions. If you can take the cover off to show the electronics, that helps. Also, tell them how you are going to package the item, double boxed, bubble wrapped, etc. Surf a little and find the really well presented auctions. Do what they do.

If marketed correctly, you can start with a token bid. This sparks a lot of early interest and that is what you want. You'll be depressed for the first few days because the bid price stays very low but towards the last couple of days, you should get the market rate.

Surf a little and find the really well presented auctions. Do what they do. Good Luck.

I now find it easiest to sell almost everything by only listing a buy it now price. I also list a fixed shipping price. That way I get what I want and everybody knows up front exactly what it will cost. Ever since I have changed to this approach my level of nonpaying bidders has dropped from close to 20% to only a couple a year...

That sounds like a good idea for certain types of items Compwaco. However if you are selling something like a rare/valuable collectible item you want to allow the bidders to decide how much the item is worth to them so that you don't end up selling for less than you could have gotten. The key is to think carefully about how you want to design your auction (as a visual marketing tool), in order to make it as effective as possible so that your efforts are properly rewarded. Obviously you want to do a lot better than just break even.

I like my auction pages to be well organized and focused without a lot of extraneous info. Sharp photos. Then I start the bid low and see what happens. Sometimes it pays off better than I expected, and sometimes I feel a little cheated.

Well the "In" thing these days seems to be; Run your auction with a low bid to start out, and with no reserve because people hate reserves. Then near the end of the auction if you have little to no watchers and the bid price is low, cancel the auction.

I have had this happen to me about 5 times since Christmas. It works for the seller but pisses me off.

This is a really dick tactic, but once it happens to you, you'll quickly learn to say "It's a tough world" And won't feel so bad about doing to the next guy.


Fair notice guys, I haven't done this yet, but to be completely honest.
I am absolutely more than willing to do it next time I run a caution on evil bay.



Pardon the rant.

Well the "In" thing these days seems to be; Run your auction with a low bid to start out, and with no reserve because people hate reserves. Then near the end of the auction if you have little to no watchers and the bid price is low, cancel the auction.

I have had this happen to me about 5 times since Christmas. It works for the seller but pisses me off.

This is a really dick tactic, but once it happens to you, you'll quickly learn to say "It's a tough world" And won't feel so bad about doing to the next guy.


Fair notice guys, I haven't done this yet, but to be completely honest.
I am absolutely more than willing to do it next time I run a caution on evil bay.



Pardon the rant.I won't do it. When I put it out there, it's gone, even if it closes for a penny.

After 7 years of eBaying it has thankfully never happened to me, but I didn' even realize that cancelling an auction with bids on it was _possible_ until I read about it here. Of course, such opportunist cancellation shouldn't be allowed - it goes counter to every "fairness" principle out there.

Gotta go, off to my broker to sell my EBAY stock next....

:thumbsdn:

Here's my $0.02...

Great pics are key. Discriptions for most gear pales in comparison to the visuals.

NEVER cancel an auction that you feel might go poorly: The real action always happens in the last minute. I had an auction go from a minimal bib to $1000 once, all in the last minute. Gotta remember that the bidders want a good deal, and the smart ones all keep their cards close to their chests until the last possible moment.

ALWAYS set either a reasonable reserve, or start the auction at a minimum bid that you find acceptable. That way you don't feel cheated if it goes for less than you wanted, and you don't have the urge to be a jerk and cancel the auction. I usually put my reserve below what I really want, and hope that it goes well. That being said, I don't wanna be the guy selling a prized piece of gear for $9.99 because everyone forgot to bid.

Auction closing time might make a difference, too. Weekends, and after work seem to work good for me.

Good luck on the 'Bay, it needs all the honest people it can get...

I have sold over 400 items, all with no reserve and a $9.99 starting bid. Almost all of my auctions do very well, and often do better than average. Like Socal Sam said, it's in the marketing. Great pictures help. Good descriptions, but not so much info that you can't get through reading it without going cross-eyed. Honest up front info about condition is also helps. Most people would rather buy a receiver that says "small scratch on case, some noise in volume pot" than buy one that says "perfect condition". At lest they know the seller is honest.

Good luck selling!

I agree with a lot of these points and I would like to add this...
Check for recent sales of similar items to get a feel for market value.Try to never end an auction early unless you have reserved the right to do so in the auction description. If there are any bids on your auction, you will have to cancel them before you can end your auction.Giving a fixed shipping price or offering a shipping calculator will set buyers' minds at ease about the final price.If you have a BUY-IT-NOW option, It will disappear with the first bid, unless you set a reserve and it has not been met.Other posts were right that quality pictures will do the most for your bottom line. Pay the extra money for supersized pics and a gallery pic.
Good Luck.

Robert

<SNIP> and sometimes I feel a little cheated.
I feel like I need to change that - to "dissapointed". Most of what I sell is old photography gear or accessories that we just don't think we'll ever need again and don't want to store. I generally start 'em for a penny, and I've only had one auction close with 1 bid.

1. low opening bid

2. lots of relly good pictures

3. honesty, if the item has a flaw, no matter how insignificant you may think, mention it, it'll save a lot of problems later

4. list shipping costs, this is what kills alot of people in the end, i've had people refuse to pay for an item after winning because shipping is too high ( i charge actual shipping costs which i will figure out if requested, or sometimes i will charge a flat fee, either way the seller knows)

5. insist potential buyers ask questions, most times high bidders on my items never ask question.

6. make your descrition short and sweet, don't go on and on about crap that has nothing to do with your item (what you are selling, condition, shipping...short and sweet) really good pictures are worth a thousand words.

7. don't end your auction early.

i've been buying and selling for many years now and am sitting at 100% feedback (302) ebay is not as bad as some say it is