-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Selling on Ebay
- Thread starter peter nap
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,466
Dan,Dan Gray said:Don
I've sold on e-baybut My problem was they could look me up on the net and see what I was selling them for
the biding would stop at just about the price I listed them for on the site
That is bad and good at the same time. If you were selling only from your website only, there's people that would probably never buy.
With eBay, you expose yourself to people that might never know you exist.
If the auction prices stop at the website prices, you've lose a little on the fees for eBay selling, but make a sale you might have not made at all.
my $.02...
Howie
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2002
- Messages
- 1,240
I am trying it for the first time with my "viking Dagger." Everybody has told me to sell on ebay, but my train of thought is that people will not buy it for what I want because i have no collector's value or reputation. Well, if you talk to my buddies, I do have a reputation, but not one as a knife maker... 
I did it soley out of curiousity, and to try to get some exposure since i am now seriously thinking about trying to go full time. Anyway, i set a reserve quite abit below what I am asking on my website and here in the "for sale" section, so it will be interesting to see if i can even get the reserve. I have three bids so far but 13 people are watching the auction.
Should be interesting whatching her close on Sunday afternoon. If you all want to take a look, here is the link. If the link is against the rule in this forum, please feel free to edit my post.
Viking Dagger
eBay is a great place to get things, but I think it is best used as a way to advertise for us knife maker folk.
I did it soley out of curiousity, and to try to get some exposure since i am now seriously thinking about trying to go full time. Anyway, i set a reserve quite abit below what I am asking on my website and here in the "for sale" section, so it will be interesting to see if i can even get the reserve. I have three bids so far but 13 people are watching the auction.
Should be interesting whatching her close on Sunday afternoon. If you all want to take a look, here is the link. If the link is against the rule in this forum, please feel free to edit my post.
Viking Dagger
eBay is a great place to get things, but I think it is best used as a way to advertise for us knife maker folk.
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2001
- Messages
- 20,978
Agreed....ebay is where people go to get stuff cheap.....flea-market cheap....screamin' deals....you get the picture...
Only time I've had success in making a profit on ebay was after first buying stuff dirt-cheap and then reselling it almost-dirt-cheap....
Only time I've had success in making a profit on ebay was after first buying stuff dirt-cheap and then reselling it almost-dirt-cheap....
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,179
I agree with the forgoing woe. Ebay is definately a buyer's market for knives. The exceptions I've noticed are a handful of makers who have established themselves over time, and a few custom knife dealers whose wares are top notch and who have sold there over a long time. These folks seems to sell their knives for appropriate prices. The lesson in this to me is that to succeed selling on eBay takes time to develop a following. I've bought a few knives myself, and got great deals; almost made me feel bad some have been so inexpensive. But then I'm cheap and lowball everything and have lost far more auctions than I've won.
To try to answer your question Don, I'd say not to expect too much, at least for a while. The suggestion to sell your lower-priced stuff first is a good one in my opinion.
To try to answer your question Don, I'd say not to expect too much, at least for a while. The suggestion to sell your lower-priced stuff first is a good one in my opinion.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Messages
- 8,474
Howie
I agree it is exposure
but I'm backed up about 6 months in sales so it's not advantageous for me right now... then again it's exposure
a few tips if you will...
for you guys that are going for it. pass the link on to the others here in the sale forum as said , keep a list of interested customers that want you to let them know when you have Items on e-bay. and if you can add a satisfied customer page to your site and link it to your listing. I'll also add,, if you don't like it send it back in new condition with-in 30 days for a refund less costs involved..
to get biding started is one of the keys then a feeding frenzy can get going.
but it's normally at the end of the auction.
be clear, with good pictures, and be fast in contact if contacted.
I agree it is exposure
but I'm backed up about 6 months in sales so it's not advantageous for me right now... then again it's exposure
a few tips if you will...
for you guys that are going for it. pass the link on to the others here in the sale forum as said , keep a list of interested customers that want you to let them know when you have Items on e-bay. and if you can add a satisfied customer page to your site and link it to your listing. I'll also add,, if you don't like it send it back in new condition with-in 30 days for a refund less costs involved..
to get biding started is one of the keys then a feeding frenzy can get going.
but it's normally at the end of the auction.
be clear, with good pictures, and be fast in contact if contacted.
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2000
- Messages
- 863
Ebay is always full of suprises. Trick hit the nail on head....my best results in selling stuff is when you post as much info about the items as possible. good or bad...folks pay more when they know what they are bidding on.
Ebay can be a great tool for promoting your work/business. During my shop cleaning blow-out last month, I used some key auctions to promote my website. I broke the bank on my allowable bandwidth and had a record month in sales. (non-ebay sales)
An Ebay auction may cost you $5.00 and may draw 2000 visits to your web site. A magazine add may cost $400 and generate a dozen phone calls asking for a free cataloge. Ebay can be inexpensive and effective advertising. The folks that look at your auction....searched for it! ..so while they are interested, let them about other things available.
As far as auction strategy, nobody likes reserves...or high starting prices. A crowd always draws a crowd. My best results have always been on items that I start at $.99 with no reserve. Initially, this generates a ton of interest...I mean who's not going to look at a $1500 item that is currently selling for a buck! You get a ton of bids...which increases the crowd draw. When folks see an item with 50 bids...they have to take a look. More exposure means more potential buyers. This seams to work the best for me...you always worry "what if my $1500 item only sells for $1.00" ....but that has never been the case. I've always been suprised by Ebay...especially if you can generate a bidding frenzy. The serious buyers always show up at the close of the auction after lurking around it for a week. The folks looking for the steal of the century help to set the auction up for and exciting close.
When you use reserves, buy-it-now, and high starting prices.....you kill all of the enthusiasm and the spirit of an auction. This kills your cross-promotion and the item's value. I kinda see the: buy-it now, reserves, and high starting priced auctions more as a paid advertisement.
Just my thoughts...
Rob
Ebay can be a great tool for promoting your work/business. During my shop cleaning blow-out last month, I used some key auctions to promote my website. I broke the bank on my allowable bandwidth and had a record month in sales. (non-ebay sales)
An Ebay auction may cost you $5.00 and may draw 2000 visits to your web site. A magazine add may cost $400 and generate a dozen phone calls asking for a free cataloge. Ebay can be inexpensive and effective advertising. The folks that look at your auction....searched for it! ..so while they are interested, let them about other things available.
As far as auction strategy, nobody likes reserves...or high starting prices. A crowd always draws a crowd. My best results have always been on items that I start at $.99 with no reserve. Initially, this generates a ton of interest...I mean who's not going to look at a $1500 item that is currently selling for a buck! You get a ton of bids...which increases the crowd draw. When folks see an item with 50 bids...they have to take a look. More exposure means more potential buyers. This seams to work the best for me...you always worry "what if my $1500 item only sells for $1.00" ....but that has never been the case. I've always been suprised by Ebay...especially if you can generate a bidding frenzy. The serious buyers always show up at the close of the auction after lurking around it for a week. The folks looking for the steal of the century help to set the auction up for and exciting close.
When you use reserves, buy-it-now, and high starting prices.....you kill all of the enthusiasm and the spirit of an auction. This kills your cross-promotion and the item's value. I kinda see the: buy-it now, reserves, and high starting priced auctions more as a paid advertisement.
Just my thoughts...
Rob
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2001
- Messages
- 849
Don, you have brought up a subject that needs to de addressed by the knife making community and that is to where and how to sell. I have not used ebay YET but may do so sometime. All of us makers don't have a lot of success in selling, for me this is the hardest thing to do. It is hard to find some one you can trust and will do right by you.
I don't like to send a knife or a hawk to a purveyor and then have them take 6 to 8 week's to post it on there web site.
I can not get to knife shows for several reasons so for all practical purpose that is out.
To be back-ordered for 6 months would be a luxury that I can't imagen. I thought that having a web site would be the answer, it helps but is not the complete answer.
Anyone have the answers.
Gib
I don't like to send a knife or a hawk to a purveyor and then have them take 6 to 8 week's to post it on there web site.
I can not get to knife shows for several reasons so for all practical purpose that is out.
To be back-ordered for 6 months would be a luxury that I can't imagen. I thought that having a web site would be the answer, it helps but is not the complete answer.
Anyone have the answers.
Gib
- Joined
- Nov 27, 1999
- Messages
- 3,745
HMMMMM. This has been kind of interesting. While I expected newer makers to have trouble initially finding a market, I find it amazing that makers who make the quality knives and have the reputation of Gib, to have the same problem.
I think this issue needs some thought and discussion.
I think this issue needs some thought and discussion.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,466
Trick,
I agree with alomost everything you said, except " Many will bid to help out their fellow maker if they know the auction exists.".
This would be shill bidding. A good way to get 86'd from eBay.
Being supportive, pointing out auctions of other makers, offering help and suggestions, and the like are good things.
Bidding in an auction to drive up the bids, with no intention of buying, is bad.
If that's what you were saying. If not, never mind...
Howie
I agree with alomost everything you said, except " Many will bid to help out their fellow maker if they know the auction exists.".
This would be shill bidding. A good way to get 86'd from eBay.
Being supportive, pointing out auctions of other makers, offering help and suggestions, and the like are good things.
Bidding in an auction to drive up the bids, with no intention of buying, is bad.
If that's what you were saying. If not, never mind...
Howie
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Messages
- 8,474
coke
well that was the answer to that only a few of them still around Knives ,, thousands to pick from big difference
I know a guy that put up an old beer can for $19.00 he had no idea what he was doing
he got $4500.00 for it,,, believe me collectors are all over E-bay and they aren't going to miss much..
gib I hope I'm not stepping on toes here.
.but just a word a web page won't help selling much if it doesn't list well on the engines and directories.
I did a search in yahoo of custom made knives and I don't see your page.?
as well as on Google .. I can find it with your name but we want the guys that don't know your name..right the others can fine you anyway.
your page is very very nice but that will not make it list.
your first key words are
bowie knives, arkansas toothpick, rifleman's knife
they are good key word
but everyone else uses them too. so it ends up
a meta tag to page relativity issue.
I do see under custom made Bowies
you are on the 2nd page of Google. that is good..
I do see that on every page you have the same key words on the ones I looked at..
each page should be done on it's own merits to cater to the many other engines and dir's.. they all spider your pages differently and use the info differently. some don't want key words..
well this is just the tip of it.. ask if Chuck will shorten up the key words to under 25 and a lot less and target each page for you.
putters sux but I do well with web sites. I can hack the hell out of them but make them work
