eBay

skylarstuff · ‎06-17-2014

New listing promo, starts June 18 and runs to the 24th.

http://pages.ebay.ca/promo/2014/06_18.html

Sellers who create a listing in the auction-style format, auction-style with Buy It Now format, or fixed price format in select categories (see exclusions), pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein (“Qualifying Listing”), will pay no insertion fee per item listed and no additional fee for adding 10-day Duration to these listings ("Promotion") for up to 5,000 listings during the Promotion Period (as defined below). All existing selling limits on your account (as well as category and item limits) still apply, and may prevent you from creating the maximum number of listings in this Promotion. The Promotion is in addition to the monthly insertion fee promotion , and/or any other insertion fees that are included as part of your Store subscription.

5, 7, 10, and 30-day listing durations are included in this Promotion.

rose-dee · ‎06-20-2014

@pierrelebel wrote:
From eBay:

" You can offer a Buy It Now price as the only option. You can also create an auction-style listing with a Buy It Now option. In auction-style listings, the Buy It Now price needs to be at least 30% higher than the starting price."

Either I forgot this, or the 30% spread is a relatively recent rule change (is it?). I seem to recall 2 or 3 years ago running auctions with BIN that were much closer in price.

In any event, it's been a long time since I've run auctions, as I found them just too much trouble for too little return. Still, given the current promotion, I may try listing at auction+BIN with the minimum 30% spread. As I said, I'd be happy for any sales I can get at the moment.

pierrelebel · ‎06-20-2014

"2 or 3 years ago running auctions with BIN that were much closer in price. "

Yes, it was changed a while back.

In the old days we could run $10 auction with $11 BIN.

Now we need $13 BIN with a $10 starting price.

block36 · ‎06-20-2014

I am not happy with such a restriction and can not understand eBay's logic about it.

If I list the item for $8 and will be happy to get $8.50 for it, the chances to have it SOLD fast would be MUCH higher than for $10.40

May be they disallow the lower BIN because of their promotional programs?

mr.elmwood · ‎06-20-2014

I do not totally understand this change either. Rose, it happened several months to last fall, I do not remember.

I "think" it is in response to sellers who started an auction at, for the sake of argument and numbers, at $9.99 and a BIN of $10. The first bid put it at or over the BIN. I saw that many times.

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rose-dee · ‎06-21-2014

OK, thank you Pierre and Mr. E. for the input. It's amazing how quickly you can get "out of the loop" on eBay if you don't watch out.

I see the point about the $9.99 auction with $10 BIN, but I don't quite understand why eBay would care (they'd make virtually the same fee, wouldn't they?). In any case, since I have to use a 30% spread, that's what it will be...

pierrelebel · ‎06-21-2014

"but I don't quite understand why eBay would care"

I do not have any "inside information" but suspect it has to do with protecting their "auction" brand.

As we all know, the attraction of auction has decreased over the years. The novelty has worn off. Yet, millions of members are still seeking the thrill of auction. There is no "thrill" and no perceived savings if the auction starts at $9.99 with BIN at $10.00 for example.

On the other hand, with a starting price of $9.99 and BIN of at least $12.99 some members may feel they "save" money by bidding $9.99 or $10.50 or $10.99 on an item "worth" $12.99.

It is all a mind game. Marketing at its very best!

Anonymous · ‎06-21-2014

Yeah, this limitation doesn't allow us to list them for 30-day duration for FREE. Very disappointing that eBay find ways to make $$$ by "stifling" from listing them that way with the free listings promos.

It forces me to use my 500/500 to list them. I prefer to use my 500/500 for other specific items but this this stifling limitation puts me in a spot and I have to figure it out which and which to list. Darn eBay.

mr.elmwood · ‎06-21-2014

@Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, this limitation doesn't allow us to list them for 30-day duration for FREE. Very disappointing that eBay find ways to make $$$ by "stifling" from listing them that way with the free listings promos.

It forces me to use my 500/500 to list them. I prefer to use my 500/500 for other specific items but this this stifling limitation puts me in a spot and I have to figure it out which and which to list. Darn eBay.

That is where I disagree. What they really want is twofold. They want auction listings. They want store owners. Open a store and you can do what ever you choose.

I believe we will see an expanding gap between the options available to non-store sellers and store owners.

It is everyone's choice to have a store or not. Choosing not to have one, defaults to agreeing to limited listing options.

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