Why is it that some sellers always have a huge number of bids on their items all the time?

[mamawinner]

My sister and I have beautiful jewelry for sale, all have been GIA appraised, and are listed at very reasonable prices, but we don't seem to be able to get a 'following'  of buyers like I have seen with some other sellers.  We are selling at about 30% of appraised value, and would be making a modest profit.  We have listed these items consistently for about 9 months or so, and have updated, revised listing etc.  We have considered starting the bidding at .99 cents, but that is scary to think the item could go at a very low price and we would lose out.  Any suggestions?  Our listings are under 'blingblingsisters'

[mr.elmwood]

Well, I am not a big fan of those pictures. I really do not like the fingers. I get what you are doing, showing it on the hand. Some will agree, some will not.

To me it looks like your selling Granny's stuff out from under her. One listing I looked, the appraisal was bent and folded, picture at an angle.

Yeah, at the jewelry store, I ask the clerk to put it on her finger, around her neck, etc. They are used to that, but, I am right there, seeing it in real time, in real surroundings, "Hold it like this. Put your hand there. Turn this way."

30% off appraisal. In my spending days, I was usually buying at 30% OF appraisal.

Jewelry is tough. You are trying to separate folks from their money, via pictures, for high dollar items.

I wish I took pictures like some people do. Well, they have the eye, equipment, dedicated room, photo detailing programs.

A lot of these sellers get their stuff for pennies on the dollar. They can mark it at anything they want.

Mark this down: Jewelry is tough.

[pjcdn2005]

I am sure that it is very tough to build up an ebay business selling expensive jewelry.

A few suggestions...

Take the pictures on a plain white background as it helps to make them look more professional. You want the product to stand out and other items in the pictures such as a hand are a distraction.

I've read that search engines such as google look at the first few words of a title so rather than have a title such as GIA APPRAISED RUBY/DIAMOND HALO RING IN 18K WHITE GOLD SIZE 6.5 you might want to use something like...

Ruby Diamond 18k White Gold Halo Ring Size 6.5 GIA Appraised

Perhaps the stone weight could be in the title??  Appraisal amount??

Personally, I find all caps uncomfortable to read

Perhaps people spending $800 on a ring wouldn't be concerned about paying $35 for shipping within Canada but I find that expensive.  Also U.S. buyers are used to less expensive shipping costs within their own country so you might want to consider putting part of the shipping cost within the price of the item.

The auctiva scrolling gallery is very mobile user unfriendly so you might want to either place it at the bottom of the listing or eliminate it.

Within your listing..

more description about the item

Your statements about Canada Post and non paying buyers are negative...listings should be positive

Your listings states....

I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITEM ONCE IT IS MAILED.

According to ebay and paypal you are responsible for the item until it is delivered to the buyer so why say that you are not.

[Anonymous]

Suggest use Free Shipping.  You can ship them across Canada by XpressPost.  Sometimes it is cheaper to use XpressPost to some provinces across Canada.

For jewellery, I would use XpressPost across Canada and should it arrive pass the on-time guarantee (1-2 business days) (best time to ship on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays for Canada (except holidays) and if it arrived pass the on-time guarantee, you can file a claim with Canada Post for refund.

Best time to ship to USA is Mondays and Tuesdays (exceptt holidays) by XpressPost.

As for Free Shipping, I was told by so many buyers that it attract them.  I offer Free Shipping for the expensive items.  Believe me, my sales are up so high since January 2014 to present than ever in 5 years.  And of course using XpressPost to ship them.  Nearly 95% have passed the on-time guarantee even to the major cities like Toronto and Vancouver which should arrive on time but didn't each time.  Not even from a small town in Manitoba which is 1 1/2 hour from Winnipeg and it arrived late!!  That is how Canada Post promised "fast" delivery but cannot do them.  It shows how poorly Canada Post is doing.

As for taking pictures, using hands and fingers are distracting, just white background.  I usually take pictures in the kitchen as I have a huge light fixture on the ceiling that is ideal for taking pictures.

As for "following" some sellers are very lucky to have so many "following" buyers that kept coming back again and again for 99 cents items and even get new buyers which he was able to sold so many Elvis photos for high as $20.00 to $200.00 from the 99 cents asking price.  I cannot take a risk and put the starting price at 99 cents for my rarely seen original vintage Elvis photos myself and lose them for 99 cents only.  His listings are so plain with very limited information but very successful.  I would love to have that success like this seller unless we knew how to attract any buyers.  The only thing he attract is to US buyers only is free shipping even for a 99 cents starting price.  It is a risk to take but he succeed it each time, very few times he sold them for only 99 cents which I did bid and won a few times.

[mr.elmwood]

Peoples will give me free shipping, tracking, everything fully guaranteed. They run sales at 20-30% off.

That is what you are competing against.

Give buyers reasons to buy from you. Charging for S&H is not a good idea, the big dogs do not do it. All pieces are 100% in your control until the customer receives them safely.

To get the money you want, you have to be professional. It is a lot of work, but, only work.

[femmefan1946]

Perhaps people spending $800 on a ring wouldn't be concerned about paying $35 for shipping within Canada but I find that expensive.  Also U.S. buyers are used to less expensive shipping costs within their own country so you might want to consider putting part of the shipping cost within the price of the item.

I'm another who agrees about "free" shipping. Some sellers get upset about this because they do not realize that they are supposed to add the cost of shipping to the asking price of the item.

Which is cheapest:

$5 item with $10 shipping?

$10 item with $5 shipping?

$15 item with Free Shipping?

Make shipping free to Canada and you will pay no FVFs on shipping to Canada or to international destinations.

Since the USA is our biggest market, make the cost of shipping there $0.00 . After all the actual shipping cost is in the asking price.

[pjcdn2005]

Do your competitors use the best offer option? If so..you might want to try that too. Make sure you allow yourself some wiggle room when you list the price.

[mr.elmwood]

WHOA!

I just looked at 1.21 TCW Diamond Solitaire. Get rid of everything after: approx retail value. It is all seller protection and buyer unfriendly.

This is usually where the thread goes bad.

My refund policy for all eventualities: "Money back".

[i*m-stilll-here]

I have often wondered the same thing.

I'd have suggestions for you but I'll offer an example instead.

Here is the item number of a seller I've been watching for well over a decade.

These people have consistently nice items but items even nicer are available elsewhere on ebay at much much lower prices.

I'm floored by the way buyers bid on their stuff, but they keep doing it.

These people understand that shipping cost is of paramount importance.  No need to ship free, and in IMO free shipping is not even desirable.

Low shipping costs are however extremely important.

However, that is only one factor contributing to their success. 

They are obviously doing something right, but they are not doing anything special that couldn't be done by anyone with a few dollars to invest.

However, jewelry and furs probably won't cut it in "most" (not all) cases.

[bb_cool_stuff]

They are obviously doing something right.

Obviously i*m, I imagine they have a Great Rep which leads to repeat sales.

[i*m-stilll-here]

You're right BB, but that is only  part of it.

The reason they have these repeat customers is the same reason they can consistently sell items for twice the going rate.

They are very good at creating the ""illusion""  that their items are better and a cut above.

In addition to that they've taken out all the roadblocks to selling like high costs of shipping, a lot of detritus in the description, and also the condescending tone that some listings have.

They also have a very distinctive way of arranging their gallery photos.

One just has to get a glance of the listing to know who the seller is.

In any case, they have my respect.

They're doing everything right.

[mr.elmwood]

Their entire TOS is two lines:

I stand behind everything that I offer and guarantee that it is exactly as presented.

** Full Insurance is included in the low shipping price for all of my auctions. **

Two lines that do NOT say what the buyer is gonna do, what the buyer has to do, what the buyer is doing wrong, how it is the buyer's fault, how the buyer should learn to read, how it is all on the buyer. None of that unfriendliness.

Pictures are sharp, clear, neutral background.

[rose-dee]

Yes, Mr. E., I agree the photos look attractive and the TOS are to the point, but did you notice the various problems in this listing?

The first thing I noticed (and would have wondered as a buyer) is that there's nothing said about what this item is made of.  That's important in an antique piece.  The "description" doesn't give much to go on for a piece for which the asking price is ca. $300.

Secondly, there are no item specifics, which I find odd for this sort of item.

Third, take a peek below the description portion -- you'll see the seller's email address and website set out very clearly.  These aren't linksper se, but a rather sneaky ruse to circumvent eBay's rules and lead customers to the private website.  Everyone knows how to plug a name into a browser - no need to insert a link.  No doubt they're getting good repeat business by doing this, which may explain the high volume. 

Lastly, I clicked on the shipping cost for Canada and got $8.50.  I really don't see the point in charging $8.50 on a $300 item -- my first reaction was, why insist on $8.50 when you could offer free shipping? 

Bottom line, I wouldn't hold this listing out to the OP as an example of an excellent eBay listing. 

Sometimes it's interesting to look behind the façade...

[i*m-stilll-here]

Of course you'd disagree.. .

Thing is, why on earth would you?   As far as I can tell they are outselling you too.

What facade?  Item specifics?  Lack of detail? An opinion that shipping should be free rather than reasonable?  

Yikes!  Obviously their buyers don't care, and maybe yours don't either.  🙂

While many complain about lack of sales they are succeeding very nicely in every way possible and continue to sell almost every item listed for top dollar.

It takes a lot of effort to find fault in that .............. (and so much of it to boot).  

[rose-dee]

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@i*m-stilll-here wrote:

While many complain about lack of sales they are succeeding very nicely in every way possible and continue to sell almost every item listed for top dollar.

---

Well, I'd probably be doing much better too if I were willing to ignore eBay rules, i.e.:

(a) Her listings direct buyers to her own website, where she has similar items for sale;

(b) Her email address is coyly displayed in a broken-up description that is simple enough for anyone who wants to use it.

(c) The item appears to be carved ivory, an illegal item on eBay, and likely the reason no description was given of the material it is made of.  She has other carved ivory items for sale on her own website.

While this seller does have beautiful and interesting items nicely displayed, she is circumventing eBay rules, and that confers an unfair advantage over other sellers, especially if she's been breaking the rules for some time.  She's been on eBay since 1997 and should know better. 

As for the listing itself, we've been told over and over by eBay reps to be certain to fill out the item specifics to get good placement in searches.  Obviously when a seller is already benefiting from improperly generated traffic to a private website, that consideration may be less important.  For a new seller it could be a crucial omission.

Again, aside from the pretty photos, for all of the above reasons my opinion is that this isn't a seller for newcomers to emulate. 

For the OP's sake, I'll post the relevant rules:

Policy on email addresses and websites in listings (whether clickable or not - see "Not Allowed", under "Links from an eBay listing" at bottom of the page):

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/listing-links.html

Policy on illegal animal products - see bottom of the page for details regarding ivory:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/wildlife.html

[mamawinner]

Thanks for the feedback.  We sell at between 25 and 35 percent of the appraised value, not 30% off the appraised value.  I will sit down with my sister and see about taking some other pictures.  If we didn't take and list a picture of the appraisal then the whole appraisal was written in the comments.  Again, thanks for the feedback!

[mamawinner]

One of the things we definitely will be doing is offering free shipping, we will drop the non-essential information at the bottom of the listings, and take new pictures (not on the hand), we will probably leave in one picture on the hand as it does give perspective to the item.  We will also redo the "header", doing what some of you have suggested.  I am so very pleased there are so many helpful people on ebay - we do have a great community!

[mr.elmwood]

what do you mean by graciously accepting "suggestions"? Shouldn't you be clutching at yer sweater saying "Well! I never!"! LOL!!!

You get12 pictures, use them all. By all means include a picture of the ring on a hand. Perspective is a lot. May I suggest, er, um, ah, a "model's" hand.

[i*m-stilll-here]

rose-dee wrote:

---

Well, I'd probably be doing much better too if I were willing to ignore eBay rules, i.e.:

________________________________

Rose:  I doubt very much that you'd do better if you emulated this seller.
It sounds like you are already doing everything in your power to boost your sales. I've seen some of your posts.

I didn't notice that this seller was directing people away from her listings on eBay.

However, your argument that this is boosting her success here makes no sense whatsoever.

In fact, her ebay items continue to sell for top dollar and very few go unsold.
Therefore, if she is directing buyers away form her eBay listings that is not hurting her sales here at all.

The item you are identifying as ivory is in fact celluloid. I have owned several like this and see no indications that this one is ivory.
If it were ivory I doubt that she'd list it here.

That said: I'd like to point out that the seller I posted about is someone I noted as being successful here on eBay.

I didn't pick her listings apart as you are wont to do.

You are trying much too hard to be critical and find fault and therefore you are missing the forest for the trees.

The seller I posted about is clearly making better use of her time. 

[rose-dee]

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@i*m-stilll-here wrote:

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I didn't notice that this seller was directing people away from her listings on eBay.
However, your argument that this is boosting her success here makes no sense whatsoever.

If it were ivory I doubt that she'd list it here.

---

Take another look at her listings, the box at the end:

"If you would like to be on my mailing list and receive the newsletters, email me at cmmeacham on AOL or visit my Elegantarts website to download them."

This isn't about newsletters; eBay has a great newsletter feature.  It's a disingenuous ruse to let buyers know where she sells off eBay.  She clearly knows that posting a link to her website is "eBay illegal" and by referring to a newsletter she hopes to evade being detected by eBay (or reported by a user).  If you access her website, you'll see the prominent link back to her eBay store. 

So she's getting cross-marketing and increased overall exposure on the internet with every eBay listing, creating more potential customers, many of whom will come back to eBay to buy.  You bet that's an advantage to boosting sales success on eBay!  There would have been nothing wrong with this 5 years ago, but in today's eBay it's an unfair leg up. 

I have a link on my own website that directs visitors to my eBay store, and I get some business that way, but certainly not as much as if I were allowed to have a two-way street. 

As far as the illegal ivory is concerned, an item from 1850 is not going to be celluloid, which didn't exist in any commercial quantity until later in the 19th century.  Much ivory came out of the British Raj during the early 1800's, was widely available and very popular for decorative trinkets.  The fact that this seller has other items on her website stated as being ivory, and the fact that she clearly describes the items that are made from bone, tells me she knows exactly what this particular eBay item is. 

You are entirely missing the point in saying this seller is successful (as that seller certainly is).  A successful seller who cleverly circumvents eBay rules is not someone I would hold up to a new seller asking for advice on whose example to follow. 

Find a seller with similar listings and successful status who isn't blatantly breaking eBay rules and I'd gladly agree.