So how do you - ebay?

[HayGan]

I've just started selling again on ebay and I'm somewhat disappointed in my results. One of the most significant factors in my disappointment is the amount in fees that I am paying to them. I've been using TurboLister but with the fees associated with the templates and scheduled listings it really eats into my revenue (not to mention that I don't think that setting up the listings is really that user friendly.) Not to mention that they listed my most recent listings according to PST instead of EST (which I thought it was) and really limited my target audience.

So, I'm not looking for any trade secrets just what services out there that others use to generate and post their listings. These $.10 here and $.35 there are really killing me (and my Disney fund!)

Feel free to PM me with any info that you don't want out and viewable to the general public

Thanks

 

[chrissyk]

I use a hosting service (sparedollar) instead of turbolister. It saves on fees over the turbolister templates, and you can schedule your auction launches.

For buying, I use esnipe. I have favorite times to bid on auctions for certain items when it seems that I have little or no competition for said items.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Make sure you have a photo included.

I don't use eBay's photo options. I put a photo into the description and make sure the box indicating The description already includes a picture URL for my item on page 3 of listing an item under "add pictures" is checked. That way you can list multiple photos that you have on your ftp space or on photobucket and not have to pay eBay for them.

 

[va32h]

I use Turbolister - it is not Turbolister that is causing you the excessive fees. You do not have to use all those add-on features. Don't schedule your auctions to launch later - start them as soon as you upload them. Don't use listing designer. A good picture, thorough description, and clear disclosure of shipping costs are far more important to selling your item than a pretty template.

If you are using bold, highlight, subtitle or other add-ons, stop. Gallery is the only add-on feature worth paying for, and even then, it isn't necessary in all categories.

Do you use reserves? BINs? These are also fee-generators that usually discourage sales, not encourage them.

Make sure you know the fee structure for each opening bid. Starting an auction at $9.99 is cheaper than starting at $10.

Do you list each item in more than one category? Also a waste. Most buyers use the serach engine, not browse.

Oh, and ebay time will always be PST.

I probably couldn't help you more without seeing your auctions. Ebay fees will always eat into your profits, but if you compare the value of ebay's exposure to something like a classified ad, it's still a good value.

 

[HayGan]

Thanks for all the tips! Many of them I already utilize but I'm going totry somenew tactics with the latest ones!

 

[bicker]

esnipe looks very interesting -- it also looks like it is something that eBay might want to find a way to preempt. Knowing that esnipe is available makes me far less inclined to want to sell anything on eBay.