My first shot on ebay.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
I've started buy antlers and exotic wood off ebay offerings and since I'm there thought I'd put up a khukuri just to see what it does. If you want to take a look I think this is the link.

Just found out this thead is breaking the rules so I've edited out the link. You'll have to do a search on ebay for khukuris or Himalayan Imports. And, I also found out that I think I've broken the rules at ebay by not posting a pix of the exact khukuri I'm selling rather than a representative of the model being sold.

I'm on a roll!
 
Hope it works out for you.
fwiw
Bigger pix will add to average selling prices
So will more pix, especially close-ups.
mention of hand-forged will pull better
mention edge hardened, distal tapered, full length tang

Add "kukri knife" to title to catch title-only searches.

Add other keywords to catch various searches:
written paragraph form best, but a list works:
(khukri, gurkha, gorkha, army, military, police, blacksmith,
forged, knife, blade, not sword, ..............)
 
Here is another $.02 worth of advice, Epray is full of deadbeats. Don't ship till you have the cash in hand!

Good luck, Uncle Bill.
 
Uncle didn't say it was a blem...it's probably a first quality.

Uncle...as Semp said *DO NOT* ship until cash is in hand!!!
 
Edited by Blues:

Sorry fellas, but per Spark, links to ebay auctions are verboten.
We all have to follow those rules so as to prevent others from thinking that there's any special treatment for any groups within the forums. Trying to get around the rules won't help anyone. Thanks for understanding.

The Management
 
haha Kis. ;)

Man, already up to 71 bucks and still 6 days to go. You're already doing better htan I normally do Bill and i"ve been using Ebay for years. :)
 
The listings look good. I'll offer a few tips, based on my eBay experience:

  • The title is eBay's keyword search, so as Danny and Dean suggested, use as many meaningful words people are likely to search on (e.g. a lot of people put "L@@K" in their title. No one searches on L@@K! You might use Kukri Khukuri Gurkha Ghurka Nepal knife, etc.). Words like '16.5" Ang Khola' probably aren't effective search words on eBay either.
  • Photos: Use an actual photo. Take at the highest resolution your camera will allow, with natural light, and on the macro setting. Don't zoom to get closer, move closer to the khuk. Then resize the image to 800x600 pixels, or less, using a photo editor (eBay considers 440x330 pixels ideal). Maybe have a ruler at the bottom, for scale. Photograph against a clean, light, uncluttered, background. (Dan has previously posted some excellent photo tips).
    ​
  • State in your description whether new, and describe any imperfections.
  • Consider a "Buy it Now" price (maybe your retail, less shipping). You don't want buyers, caught up in their frenzy, to find they could have ordered it for a fraction of what they just paid. Some buyers will also back out of a deal. You also might close a few sales early with"Buy it Now."
  • Consider an eBay store.
  • An experienced seller advised me to always insure, use delivery confirmation, and track everything. Good advice!
Good luck, and have fun! :D
 
Bill - if it was up to me, I'd go ahead and plan on putting a half-dozen (or more) out there on ebay. It's worth the risk. Just vary the way they're listed - some with Buy-It-Now....some with Reserve,.....some with No Reserve.....and see where it goes. I know what I like best, but that may not be the best for you at this particular time. I think you'll quickly find what works for you and what doesn't. But all the eggs in one basket probably won't get you the fair trial you were hoping for.

Sorry if this comes across as blunt, Bill. I only mean this in a helpful way.


I've been selling on ebay since 1998. Everything from computer parts to furniture to knives. Some more regularly than others. I managed to make pretty decent money with it and rarely had to take a loss, but I had invested some serious time into "learning the system".

That said, my best advice is still just to give it the "ole college try" and see what happens.


At best, you find a new way to improve sales.

At worst, you let a few go at small margins over cost and on the side pick up "spill off" customers. They're the ones that don't win, but get forwarded to the website/forum/store where they become customers. Make sure you always put himalayan-imports.com in an auction (but no http://www.......that's not allowed anymore). :(
 
Bill
If I may suggest it, emphasize that these are *real* Khukuries, not replicas, hand forged from spring steel and tempered, polished and made in Nepal. Yes, all that is on your website, but not everyone will go there. Mention your lifetime guarantee. Those are things which would attract me as a buyer.

respectfully,
Stephen
 
Edited by Blues:

Sorry fellas, but per Spark, links to ebay auctions are verboten.
We all have to follow those rules so as to prevent others from thinking that there's any special treatment for any groups within the forums. Trying to get around the rules won't help anyone. Thanks for understanding.

The Management

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Last edited by Blues : Today at 07:45 AM.


OK....Who told Dad ? :grumpy: :grumpy: :grumpy:


(I'm gonna tell him 'bout those magazines you have under the mattress !!!! :p :p :p :p )



Kis
 
Sounds like we have some real e-bay experts here. I have found buying on e-bay to be either a wonderful or trying experience.

A few years ago I won an auction for a folding knife, and when I contacted the seller to arrange shipment he calmly announced that he would send me the knife "when he got it back from his friend." !!! Said it might take a few weeks!

Evidently he had loaned the supposedly "new, unused in the box" knife he had just auctioned off to a friend, and now the friend liked it so much he didn't want to give it back! I couldn't believe it.

When I got the knife a month later the damn pocket clip was bent and falling off, and the blade had been sharpened by a butcher.

Live and learn I guess. I sure would not want to try and make a living selling stuff there, that's for sure, although I guess some folks do pretty well for themselves.

Regards,

Norm
 
This may sound a little sleazy, but feedback is real important on Ebay. I would suggest doing a number of blems with a buy-it now, and encourage forum members to buy and help boost Uncle Bill's feedback rating. With a low feedback rating, many potential buyers may be leary to purchase, not to mention the risk of just a couple dicky buyers leavin negative feedback, and ending things before they even get to start.

Another thing to consider, would be to have an auction link on the HI website. So that whenever someone is curious, they can just pop over and see what is being offered.

Anyways, noticed that Uncle Bill has been buying exotic hardwoods. So does that mean we are gonna start seeing khuks in cocobolo :eek: :D
 
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