Ebay

tobyrogers

tobyrogers

Joined
Oct 8, 2005
Messages
786
Is it just me or is the number of listings for Schrades on Ebay way down.It seems like it was 2500 or so a couple of months ago.It also seems like prices are down.Arnold
 
Arnold,
You are very perceptive!
About a month ago,the total was running about 4000 and the last I have noticed,it was a little less than 2000.
I think that's normal as the weather is good now,daylight savings kicked in,and men are not on the PC as much.With all of the outside work needing done,it's hard to find time to get online,unless you get up real early like someone I know.
As a seller,I usually limit my activity to January thru April.This year,I'm running late trying to compensate for all the Schrade stuff I've bought since you guys got me hooked.
November and December are also good months to sell,but HECK-that's hunting season so I don't list until after the holidays.May thru September are good months to buy as final value prices drop way down.
Women's interest items may follow different rules.
Ron
 
Leave it to me to pick the worst time to start selling on Ebay.Today it only shows 1200 listings.Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and wait for fall.Thanks for the information.Arnold
 
Thanks Ron,
That is good info. I have been thinking about thinning my collection and concentrating on knife making instead of collecting. Not that it is any cheaper, just more fun for me.

Dale
 
This site tracks eBay auction counts:
http://www.medved.net/cgi-bin/cal.exe?EIND

Here is the 2005 yearly data:
y2005


I'm not sure what causes the big spikes but eBay stores sellers listings are included in these numbers.
Edited to add - The spikes may be caused by eBay offering "free ad day" or reduced listing fee specials,which they do occasionally.
Here is the 2006 ytd:

y2006


See their comment "Note: EBAY counts from 2/08/2006 to 4/16/2006 were incorrect, due to a mixup after EBay has changed the way they display pages. We're pretty sure that the numbers that are being collected now accurately reflect the total number of auctions on the EBay web site."

This site tracks % sold:
http://www.medved.net/cgi-bin/cal.exe?SIND

What it doesn't show is average # of bids on each item sold,which has a big effect on how much you get for the items you do sell.
Some other things for consideration:
It's tempting to put a 99 cent starting price for your items in order to save on the listing fee,but you could end up selling the item for less than you want to if it doesn't get many bids.
I'm sure that you realize that ending dates and times are important. Unless your targeted buyer group is old,retired geezers;you need to time the closing so that the maximum number of potential buyers should have on-line availability then. Everyone doesn't have internet access while at work.
In my opinion,Friday and Saturday are not good days to end an auction.neither is Sunday morning and afternoon.I do think Sunday evening is the prime time,as many buyers will be back home from their weekend activities.
The time zone effect should be considered.If your item has west-coast desirability,you don't want to end your auction at 9 PM Eastern time,as many west coaster's will still be sitting in their cars on the freeways at that time.
The above are just some things that seem obvious to me,but may be totally erroneous.
Ron
 
I'm sure Phil,and others on here,could give us some good tips also.
I started selling on eBay in 1998,in order to get rid of some valuable African Hunting books and a lot of my gun books.I was astounded at the prices that people would pay.
Stuff goes thru cycles,what sells for high prices today may not even get a bid next year.
Ebay has had an effect on local auctions,flea markets,antique malls,and garage sale prices.
I was at a big gun & sporting collectible auction Saturday and there were several other eBay sellers there.Nothing went cheap!
You don't see much "good stuff" at flea markets anymore.If people do take a good item to sell,the "pickers" with flashlights get it fast.
Ron
 
Hey Ron .....:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: This is all really interesting stuff. I haven't started selling yet but have thought about the ending time as I've bid on items. Ebay has almost made yard sale" history".The people who have yard,garage sales...or do flea markets are mostly older or less fortunate peolpe and those still living in caves that don't have computers. Well maybe I should exclude those who do it as a hoby, or way of life.The estate sell ...or estate buyer has been affected for better or worst.But now the thing you said about.:rolleyes: ." OLD RETIERD GEEZER ":rolleyes: really raised an eyebrow I'm still trying to figure out if you insulted any of my OLDER friends or not. Besides most of those old farts have the most discretionary funds.Then again if you were to wrestle them over a nickel you'd most likely come out looking like you chased a fart through a keg of nails;) ;) . So targeting your buyer may be more difficult and more important than what your actually trying to sell.The people who list knives Case,Buck ,Schrade,Marble,Ka-bar,hunting,fishing,tactical,folding,fixed.vintage,collectable....etc...etc...etc.......drive me crazy ,but probably get the most hits. Knowing how to list,to who and at what time could be and is a gold mine. Kinda makes you wonder what 5 years from now will be like,in a perfect world the only time you'd leave your house would be for entertainment....the rest of the time click if you want it .The term commute would not apply....Gasoline would be free because as a byproduct of making plastics they have to get rid of it some how and in a perfect world they surly would have fuel cells.HERE WANT A HIT DON"T BURN YOUR FINGERS There is a lot to consider on this Ebay subject isn't there........but I know a harder way!..Trust me Iknow a harder way....BEEN FUN.............Michael
 
hogdog said:
Hey Ron But now the thing you said about.:rolleyes: ." OLD RETIERD GEEZER ":rolleyes: really raised an eyebrow I'm still trying to figure out if you insulted any of my OLDER friends or not.

I consider myself in that category.This type buyer can usually be online when the auction ends,if he's really interested in it. (Except for hunting season.)




.The people who list knives Case,Buck ,Schrade,Marble,Ka-bar,hunting,fishing,tactical,folding,fixed.vintage,collectable....etc...etc...etc.......drive me crazy ,but probably get the most hits.

Yes,these type headers,which are meant to deceive your search for one brand,may get included in more search results but may piss off some buyers.
I wont even look at one of those ads.


Knowing how to list,to who and at what time could be and is a gold mine.

Category selection and header/title words are very important.Sometimes it pays to list in two categories.Gallery pictures are OK for items worth it, but if you are listing in 2 categories,a gallery picture costs 70 cents and can bring your total listing fee to almost $2.If the item sells for $10,it wasn't worth it.
Padded shipping fees seem to have increased and I think the main reason is that sellers are trying to recover the Paypal commision they expect to be charged:
Paypal Fees per transaction = 2.9% + $0.30.
If the buyer is foreign,you also get charged a currency conversion fee.
What I think is stupid is the seller who will only ship by Priority mail.Heck,even a folding hunter can be shipped by First Class for $2.
Maybe they do this because they get free shipping boxes,but I think an extra high shipping fee is considered by bidders when they determine their maximum bid.
If you visit your local Walmart,Lowes,Home Depot,etc. when they are stocking shelves;you can get a lot of small shipping boxes free.Just ask the employee.





BEEN FUN.............Michael
Click to expand...

If you want to meet some real jerks on eBay,try selling computer stuff or anything that appeals to the "ME" generation or people under 30.Most are fine,but some of them are dandies.
It also pays to use Delivery Confirmation on domestic shipments and a 3817 (proof of mailing) for non-USA shipments.
Ron
 
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