Should I close my store???

[sunshine2426]

I'm thinking of closing my store because I seem to have more watchers than sales lately. People just watch an item for months and never buy it. It drives me crazy.People are to lazy to come in the store and look. They prefer auction I find.

I think the reason I keep the store is it's much less work than auction.

How do you decide when to close shop and just sell at auction?

[zarzuella]

If you are getting lots of traffic into your store but no-one is buying, it may be your prices.

How does your pricing compare to your competitors? (include shipping when comparing)

How does your store pricing compare to your final auction prices on core items? If you are averaging $25/item at auction but your store items start at $30, that may be a problem.

By the way, 'number of watchers' is a pretty useless function. Most of them are probably your competition keeping an eye on your stuff!

[sunshine2426]

I'm the only one with as much J Crew swimwear. No one else has the variety I have. My prices are the same as last year. I even added clearance items as well. Don't get me wrong sales are good but I think last year at this time it was busier.Hopefully it will be the same as last year:)

[vesivus]

I'm considering stopping auctions -- this would probably bump us wayyyy down on the Powerseller scale but I don't really care about that.

Prices for listing 'low value' items are absolutely ridiculous now. It makes no sense to list a $0.99 item anymore -- you pay a minimum of $0.55 in fees just to do so (not even counting FVF). This is not profitable.

Trying to 'scare' sellers out of stores and into auctions by raising store prices might be something Bill Cobb is trying to do -- but not at the auction listing fees that eBay currently has. It's having the reverse effect with me...

John

[sunshine2426]

Well I closed my store and find it's working much better for me. People don't have a chance to sit and watch it for months, they have to bid and buy it right away at auction. Auction has increased my sales. I will never open a store again, definately not worth the money.

[nancyschina]

John
Why are you bothering with low priced items? It takes the same energy and time to sell high priced items. You don't have to sell as many to make the same or more $$! Right now I have listed an inexpensive set of dishes but usually I list items that start at approx $50 and many as high as $500. I wait for 10 cent or 20 cent listing days and then list as many as I can handle. Saves time and you reap the rewards of much more profit in your pocket.
Just my opinion.
Nancy

[jakeeangel]

Well, that's a no brainer. $5 item or $50 item? hmmmm but not everybody sells the same things and not all items are $50 or will sell for $50. Do you really think if someone had the choice they'd pick the cheaper stuff to sell over the higher end stuff?

People sell things they like and/or are familiar with.

---

[treasure-pot]

People sell things they like and/or are familiar with.

Debbie, does that mean I can sell hamburgers and fries?:^O

Bill treasure-pot

[duujogl]

Bill, you can try! Someone took a toasted cheese sandwich for a pretty good ride!!!:^O :^O
Glenda

[treasure-pot]

Yeah Glenda... she didn't even sell the whole sandwich either. Then she tried to make up for the bite taken out of it by selling the frying pan later. lol

Waddaya think... can I get 20K for a burger with John Lennon's face drawn with ketchup?

Bill treasure-pot

[duujogl]

Aw gee! I missed the frying pan - what did she get for that? And I think the missing bite added credibility to the story, don't you?

"can I get 20K for a burger with John Lennon's face drawn with ketchup?" Why not - and for a topper you could garnish it with a dill pickle shaped like Yoko!
Glenda

[recped]

People sell things they like and/or are familiar with.

Or have a basement full of! (several basements actually).
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.