eBay selling preferences - buyer requirements...block

ANNA

I'm having to re-list unsold items.
eBay is recommending I reduce prices to increase my chance of a sale.
But my prices are already rock bottom!

Could my low success rate be due to having my blocked buyer settings too severe? This is what I have:

Don't have a PayPal account
Have received 2 unpaid item(s) recorded on their account within 6 month(s)
Have a primary delivery address in a location I don't post to
Have 4 policy breaches reported within 6 month(s)
Have a Feedback score of -1 or lower

Flyonthewall

Have a look and see if people are trying to buy and being blocked. I wouldn't say your settings are too severe though.

Is it possible your prices are too low and people think there's something dodgy with them?

Do you have at least one clear, good quality photo of each item? Do you have a clear, well written description that properly describes the item?

What is your postage set as? Are people being put off by a high postage cost, or perhaps even the courier you plan to use? For example, a lot of people will avoid Yodel.

Are the popular items or is it just that there's not a lot of people searching for your items. In which case, they'll probably sell eventually but it could take a little while.

Could be a number of things.

bxboards

Your requirements are fine - you have missed one of the most important ones - 'buyers who do not have a credit card on file'. This is a biggie as it stops a lot of people who have just signed up, you will block a lot of zero bidders who have no intention of paying with this one...Nigeria scammers etc.

ANNA

Where exactly can I see blocked buyer attempts?

I'm trying to sell various collectables and my prices are on the low side, especially when compared to eBay.usa.

I list with free 2nd class RM postage in the UK.

My descriptions are clear. Perhaps my photos could be better. What is the optimum pixel size? Do sellers still use PhotoBucket, etc or list direct to eBay as I am doing?

I don't have many views/watchers, perhaps a dozen and can never predict if an item will sell.
I have a mix of auction and BIN and BINwith best offer. I'm not keen on the last category, as I get the ocassional silly offer that won't cover eBay/Paypal fees and p&p.

How can I improve my success rate?
I'm looking at offering overseas and have started a separate thread.
Thanks again.

mrcol1000

Search for the items you have for sale on EBay. There could well be a load of other people selling them for the same price or cheaper. If they don't sell for a rock bottom price then you have to wonder if it is worth it. If they are similar items you may get something for them in a job lot.

Your buyer requirements look okay and the same as what most people would have. So you need to look at why they aren't selling. There could be loads of reasons from poor photo to a listing putting people off. Just look at it from a buyers viewpoint.

Flyonthewall

ANNA wrote: »

Where exactly can I see blocked buyer attempts?

Account, Site Preferences and look under Buyer Requirements.

I'm trying to sell various collectables and my prices are on the low side, especially when compared to eBay.usa.

I list with free 2nd class RM postage in the UK.

My descriptions are clear. Perhaps my photos could be better. What is the optimum pixel size? Do sellers still use PhotoBucket, etc or list direct to eBay as I am doing?

I don't have many views/watchers, perhaps a dozen and can never predict if an item will sell.
I have a mix of auction and BIN and BINwith best offer. I'm not keen on the last category, as I get the ocassional silly offer that won't cover eBay/Paypal fees and p&p.

How can I improve my success rate?
I'm looking at offering overseas and have started a separate thread.
Thanks again.

If you're selling collectables that's perhaps why. What is the market like for them right now? Are there many buyers? Are they collectables that tend to go up and down in price?

You can set it up to automatically reject offers below a certain price.

Make sure you have a few different photos of each item so the buyer can see exactly what they're getting.

Are there any sites or social media pages that might be interested in knowing that you're selling them collectables?

Overall, it's just a waiting game. Some items sell quicker than others.

soolin

I also sell collectables in specific categories and my tip is not to compare the U.S. prices with the UK ones. American buyers will often pay silly money on ebay.com, yet won't touch items from ebay.uk.

The other thing is, how do your metrics compare to the UK sellers who are selling. for instance, do you have a fast dispatch, good stars etc? Lastly, check you haven't got any silly terms in your listings that might put buyers off, for instance, no liability for loss in post, specifying 24 hour payment or else, or not offering returns.

ANNA

"not offering returns"

I have that one!
I'm not a business seller, so don't have to offer it and I have read on the forum about scam buyers returning a different item or even an empty box....

Flyonthewall

ANNA wrote: »

"not offering returns"

I have that one!
I'm not a business seller, so don't have to offer it and I have read on the forum about scam buyers returning a different item or even an empty box....

You don't have to offer returns for people changing their minds. Ebay will force you to refund upon return of an item not as described though. You may find yourself without the item or the money if you refuse to allow them to return the item.

Most people aren't out to scam. You can appeal if it turns out the buyer is scamming you.

soolin

ANNA wrote: »

"not offering returns"

I have that one!
I'm not a business seller, so don't have to offer it and I have read on the forum about scam buyers returning a different item or even an empty box....

As has been stated you would have to accept a return if buyer claims SNAD. It does seem though that stating no returns can often mean buyers use the SNAD route on a whim, reading the boards people who state no returns seem to have many more SNAD claims than those that offer returns. I suspect that a buyer who is perhaps marginally unhappy with an item but where the seller offers returns often chooses to just keep the item rather than pay to return it. Seeing no returns though seems to act like a red flag- and they feel aggrieved and demand their money back the only way they can.

Realistically as well if you want to compete in any category used by businesses then you have to offer returns. Clothing especially seems to be a category that suffers from returns.

ANNA

Thanks.
I've had a look but where exactly on my eBay a/c can I find where I can change to allow returns on my listings? I'm in My eBay - Account - Site Preferences - Selling Preferences - Returns preferences - Do you want to use eBay's return process....
Is that right?