How 'familiar' to be??

pariskate

I'm in the process of selling some items on ebay - I'm not professional and they are bits and peices that my mother left me (not sentimental stuff of course). My natural style is to make my listings a bit personal, saying that they're from my mother's collection etc. Do you think that this will put people off? you could check what I've written - I'm katmits, selling bobbins. I want to enthuse a lot as they remind me of my mum (I'm keeping the best for me) but so many people on ebay are now professional..... your opinions welcome.

Kate

teedy23

I personally like the human touch . I sell books on Amazon (allegedly) and at one point was asked a question and told buyer wanted a recipe out of book, how soon could I get it to them. I really wanted to ask how dinner party went but felt I would be interfering. You do what suits you, it wouldnt put me off,on the contrary, I would like to know that the item was of some other value than hard cash

bella4uk

I feel awful saying this , but yes saying it's from your mothers collection may put some people off....maybe say, Lovingly cared for.

becky004

Why not say they are "from your own personal collection", as they are now yours.

winnie81

becky004 wrote: »

Why not say they are "from your own personal collection", as they are now yours.

I would say this as I think it would kinda put me of knowing it came from your mothers estate. Not that it should really matter where something comes from I think sometimes too much information is off-putting to a degree

Claire x

starlit_2

Do try and make anything that you say sound genuine.
Some sellers use a template that includes descriptions that don't really apply to everything that they are selling, or worse, use a vague description so that it does cover everything that they are selling.
A little effort to make each description relevant and appealing will pay dividends*
If they are from a smoke and / or pet free home, then mention this as it is important to people.
I personally wouldn't mention that they belonged to your mother, as people may view this as you trying to elicit sympathy.
I see nothing wrong with an enthusiastic, personal description, but don't go over the top and describe everything that you're selling as 'simply the best thing ever by a country mile, or some other pointless hyperbole.









*Dividends not guaranteed

pariskate

Thanks for your replies (no thanks buttons appear on the forum at the moment so I can't do it individually) and I'll adapt my entries. I am actually genuinely enthusiastic because the bobbins really are lovely things to handle and look at, but there is no way I shall ever make lace so pointless to keep all of them. I kind of like to think of them going to good homes!

kate

Snooze_Control

I can't see anything wrong with your listings and I'm no fan of unnecessary blurb. The fact that they're from your mother's collection is completely irrelevant to any potential buyer and won't make a blind bit of difference in who bids and who doesn't.

SC

Suzy_M

Including the provenance of an item always helps. - If you include some the family background and how and where it was acquired (if known) more knowledgeable collectors are better able to assess an item for themselves.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I can't imagine why anyone would be put off by a description saying that an item had belonged to the seller's mother. Can someone please explain this to me? I'm not trying to be rude, I honestly don't understand.