My eBay. Is it okay?

Heart_Shaped_Diamond

Almost a week ago I opened an eBay account and put up a few items for sale. This is all very new to me, but I did my best.:o

I described the items well, in my opinion. And for the photo's bought a manican and asked my friend who studies photography to take pictures of the items (clothing).

So why have I only got one bid at £1.50? Have I gone about this whole thing the wrong way?:( The clothes are all more or less brand new.

Is it how i've described the tag or the way i've presented it?
All advice will be greatly appreciated!

**Unfortunately silly MSE won't let me post up a link because i'm a bloody newbie :mad:, so you'll just have to search my name if you'd like to give me feed back (please?!?!:rotfl:) It's heartshapeddiamond - this name but without the spaces, obviously!

Thanks guys.

eBay - heartshapeddiamond

suburbanwifey

Hi, just went to take a look at your auctions.

The pictures are great, shows the clothes well and the photographer obviously knows their stuff.

Two things - the first is the most important issue you have. You are a brand new seller! You have no feedback so buyers cannot see what you are like to trade with. I always look at a sellers feedback before I buy and that feedback does have great influence on if I purchase from them.

Secondly - Your auctions still have a few days to run! A lot of bidders who know their stuff, don't bid as soon as they see something they like, they wait right until the very end...either bidding manually at the last minute or using an automatic bidding tool (such as on Goofbay)

I think all your items will sell, but I don't think you'll get great money as they are your first auctions. When they sell, give above and beyond on packing, speed of dispatch and service and watch those fab feedback ratings come in...then when you list again, you will get higher prices.

You have nothing to worry about, for a first time seller you have done a great job so far :T

lincroft1710

A lot of eBay bidding happens within 1 hr of auction end. I've seen items very reasonable start bid, a few low bids then nothing until final hour when all hell breaks loose and really silly money is bid.

However opposite can happen, many items don't sell, check "completed listings" of a category - so many red (unsold) items compared to green (sold).

Heart_Shaped_Diamond

Thank you for the quick replies .

Yeah it's a shame that I have no previous feedback. I never actually thought that would affect my selling to be honest. I just thought it really went by how you sold them, and good feedback was just a bonus.

It is really putting me off though:(. I have so much more to sell but I am now skeptical. I feel like I should wait to see how these ones go before selling anymore. Is that a good idea?

Why do people wait so long to bid - then it just ends up an item fight :rotfl:.

Is it better to do a buy now price than a bid? Or do both like I did?

I was actually shocked to see that if someone bids on your item, the buy now price disappears. Let's just say I was not a happy bunny. The turquoise dress cost me £30 a few months back. I really do hope it doesn't go for next to nothing.

Any more advice on the ole eBay front?

lincroft1710

eBay is totally unpredictable. A brochure (in actuality one large sheet of paper folded twice to A4 size, so having 8 "pages") for a 1960s static caravan fetched £42 approx about 2 yrs ago. 2 weeks later one for same manufacturer, but different model only achieved £4. It is the same with any auction, unless 2 or more people want the item, it won't make much money whatever it is.

chasingsunshine_2

Feedback is probably the main thing, remember you can get feedback by buying things too if you pay promptly etc that boosts it up a bit but obviously if you're avoiding buying its not a good solution.
People wait until last minute to bid because they want the best price they can get it for. Its more and more common to get no bids until the last few minutes I'm afraid.
Keep you p&p to the price it will cost you to post etc some people include fees, I tend not to, so that they will see you are a fair seller.
You'll get there, everyone has to be a newbie so stick with it

Heart_Shaped_Diamond

I feel better now, cheers everyone. I've "thanked" you all!

Question: What is best to post and pack the clothing in?
Mailing bags? Bin liner? (I've seen this done, felt it was a bit cheap if I'm honest, but each to their own!)..? Bubble wrap?

This whole eBay thing is slightly more tougher than I thought!

sharpy2010

Just wait till you see how much eBay charges in fees as well... Then you'll consider whether the whole thing is worthwhile or not.

Once you add in postage, packaging, eBay listing fees, eBay final value fees, PayPal charges, it starts to become very expensive to actually sell anything

Heart_Shaped_Diamond

I understand that it could be Sharpy, but the stuff's been sitting there doing nout all in my cupboard. I have no space for them and they're suffocating me:rotfl:. And they're a bit too valuable to be going to Oxfam, really.

I'll see how it goes though, thanks!

One more thing! I know, I know - I'm the question pest .

My mother and I are currently arguing over weather or not to wash 'new without tags' items. I say yes, freshen it up - i'd perfer if someone did that for me.

And she's saying "No! People will think you've used them if you wash them".

But they've been in my closet for a while. I feel like a wash would make 'em sparkle. What are you lots views?

heretolearn_2

No, things are never the same once they've been washed. Brand new things have that weird smell/stiffness to them.new should be just as it came from the shop.

I wouldn't accept it as new if you'd washed it - how am I to know you haven't worn and washed it several times?

onceuponatim

If its washed its no longer new......

but if it needs a wash, then get it done....