Trying to Sell on Ebay

"MindElec" <MindElec DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:jriijv8dv8lv9dsvkc6c7ojecn99okemdc@4ax.com...
 > On 12 Aug 2003 13:04:40 -0700, shebadog DeleteThis @optonline.net (Art Layton)
 > declared:
 >
  > >I have no success trying to sell several books on eBay recently. I
  > >think I have priced them low enough to start; complete descriptions,
  > >pictures. And any book I try to sell is in very good or better
  > >condition. But no offers! For example, the auction expired on a copy
  > >of Patrick Woodroffe's book, "Mythopoeikon". There were other copies
  > >on eBay at the same time that sold. Mine didn't.
  > >
  > >Looking for any recommendations on improving the likelihood that the
  > >few books I want to sell can be sold on eBay.
 >
 > july and august are ebay's slowest months. without seeing an example
 > of an auction it's hard to say much else. if you want to email a
 > link, i'll be glad to take a look.
 >
 >
 > robert

yes, things are a bit slow at the moment on eBay, but beginning to pick up a
bit again, I think ~~

Also, it's best to avoid competition & list books when there are no others
already listed.
(The others may have had lower starting bids as well.)

Don't get too discouraged. I've listed books on week for $10 without a sale,
only to have them sell for $40 a week or two later. It all depends on what
else is being offered, who's bidding that week, etc.

Maybe just give the books a rest for a bit, then try in a couple weeks or in
September ~ eBay's always hoppin' in the fall.

good luck ~

cheers ~
Denise

--
Empty Mirror Books <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.emptymirrorbooks.com" target="_blank">www.emptymirrorbooks.com</a>
specializing in the Beat Generation & modern poetry

Denise Enck - Quanta Webdesign <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.quantawebdesign.com" target="_blank">www.quantawebdesign.com</a>
websites for organizations, individuals, small business, & the arts<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

if there are other listings of the same book, don't expect to see a lot of
action. Also, where was it listed? Sometimes where you put it makes a
difference. I've listed books under one listing like a sports book under
books, nonfiction, but it didn't sell, but when I put it under sports,
sports memorbilia, it sold easily. Of course, there's the obvious...did you
spell Mythopoeikon correctly? Photos help sell a book also. I once listed
a book in a series as number 5 in the heading, but the photo was number 6 in
the series.....no takers for that one.
Bill
"Denise Enck" <encksofeverett.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:TAc_a.3360$Nf3.1933@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
 > "MindElec" <MindElec.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
 > news:jriijv8dv8lv9dsvkc6c7ojecn99okemdc@4ax.com...
  > > On 12 Aug 2003 13:04:40 -0700, shebadog.RemoveThis@optonline.net (Art Layton)
  > > declared:
  > >
   > > >I have no success trying to sell several books on eBay recently. I
   > > >think I have priced them low enough to start; complete descriptions,
   > > >pictures. And any book I try to sell is in very good or better
   > > >condition. But no offers! For example, the auction expired on a copy
   > > >of Patrick Woodroffe's book, "Mythopoeikon". There were other copies
   > > >on eBay at the same time that sold. Mine didn't.
   > > >
   > > >Looking for any recommendations on improving the likelihood that the
   > > >few books I want to sell can be sold on eBay.
  > >
  > > july and august are ebay's slowest months. without seeing an example
  > > of an auction it's hard to say much else. if you want to email a
  > > link, i'll be glad to take a look.
  > >
  > >
  > > robert
 >
 > yes, things are a bit slow at the moment on eBay, but beginning to pick up
a
 > bit again, I think ~~
 >
 > Also, it's best to avoid competition & list books when there are no others
 > already listed.
 > (The others may have had lower starting bids as well.)
 >
 > Don't get too discouraged. I've listed books on week for $10 without a
sale,
 > only to have them sell for $40 a week or two later. It all depends on what
 > else is being offered, who's bidding that week, etc.
 >
 > Maybe just give the books a rest for a bit, then try in a couple weeks or
in
 > September ~ eBay's always hoppin' in the fall.
 >
 > good luck ~
 >
 > cheers ~
 > Denise
 >
 > --
<font color=purple> > Empty Mirror Books <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.emptymirrorbooks.com</font" target="_blank">www.emptymirrorbooks.com</font</a>>
 > specializing in the Beat Generation & modern poetry
 >
<font color=purple> > Denise Enck - Quanta Webdesign <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.quantawebdesign.com</font" target="_blank">www.quantawebdesign.com</font</a>>
 > websites for organizations, individuals, small business, & the arts
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

"Art Layton" <shebadog.TakeThisOut@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3d156562.0308121204.7ecb6afa@posting.google.com...
 > I have no success trying to sell several books on eBay recently. I
 > think I have priced them low enough to start; complete descriptions,
 > pictures. And any book I try to sell is in very good or better
 > condition. But no offers! For example, the auction expired on a copy
 > of Patrick Woodroffe's book, "Mythopoeikon". There were other copies
 > on eBay at the same time that sold. Mine didn't.
 >
 > Looking for any recommendations on improving the likelihood that the
 > few books I want to sell can be sold on eBay.
 >
 > Art Layton
 > Stamford CT

Without knowing your seller's ID, it's really hard to compare the
items. If you don't want to post your selling ID, I understand...
but it would help.

I've found that eBay is very seasonal, but heavily-wanted items
will sell well at any time of the year. The ordinary items, with
heavier competition, are best left for the September-April
months.

Kris<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 21:01:39 GMT, "Denise Enck"
<encksofeverett.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> declared:

 >Also, it's best to avoid competition & list books when there are no others
 >already listed.
 >(The others may have had lower starting bids as well.)

i've had many exceptions to that rule. often if mine has a BIN and
the others don't, the BIN will get hit even if it's 4x the other
opening bids.

 >Don't get too discouraged. I've listed books on week for $10 without a sale,
 >only to have them sell for $40 a week or two later. It all depends on what
 >else is being offered, who's bidding that week, etc.

very true, just had one of those this week


robert

"I've been long, a long way from here
Put on a poncho, played for mosquitos,
And drank til I was thirsty again
We went searching through thrift store jungles
Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo
And Benny Goodman's corset and pen"<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. Just sold one of my
listings last night (buy it now for $10; a duplicate holding). I have
always felt that if a certain title is for sale on eBay and selling,
that would be the best time to post the same book. Perhaps not?

My eBay name is shebatwo, if anyone wants to look at my listings.

Art Layton
Stamford, CT
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

"Art Layton" <shebadog.TakeThisOut@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3d156562.0308121204.7ecb6afa@posting.google.com...
 > I have no success trying to sell several books on eBay recently. I
 > think I have priced them low enough to start; complete descriptions,
 > pictures. And any book I try to sell is in very good or better
 > condition. But no offers! For example, the auction expired on a copy
 > of Patrick Woodroffe's book, "Mythopoeikon". There were other copies
 > on eBay at the same time that sold. Mine didn't.
 >
 > Looking for any recommendations on improving the likelihood that the
 > few books I want to sell can be sold on eBay.
 >
 > Art Layton
 > Stamford CT

 >Ebay is dead at the moment Art. I'm just putting a few books on to keep
customers interest up in my page. I wont be putting anything decent on until
the end of september. This is a very good time to buy, not sell on ebay.
Diane
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://members.ebay.co.uk/aboutme/romford2415/" target="_blank">http://members.ebay.co.uk/aboutme/romford2415/</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

"Art Layton" <shebadog.TakeThisOut@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3d156562.0308130350.551bf3d0@posting.google.com...
 > Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. Just sold one of my
 > listings last night (buy it now for $10; a duplicate holding). I have
 > always felt that if a certain title is for sale on eBay and selling,
 > that would be the best time to post the same book. Perhaps not?

If there were multiple bidders, and not others on eBay at the
same time, it's a pretty good move. I'd think that bidders would
have the title in mind, and look for other copies when they lose
the auction they initially bid on. But...you have to move quickly
and get yours up within hours of the other book's closing.
 >
 > My eBay name is shebatwo, if anyone wants to look at my listings.
 >
 > Art Layton
 > Stamford, CT

I've had pretty good luck with books in the past 30 days,
including some prices that were much higher than recent
sales of the identical books. But...I'm only listing juvenile
books right now, and all types and conditions, figuring
that "back to school" time gets people thinking in that
direction.

I have one right now, that ends tonight, sitting at $39.
I've sold five other copies, with a history high (for me)
of $75. This one's the nicest, and has had some
good interest, so I'm thinking I'll at least beat the
past few week's eBay sales of $80 and $81. Maybe
not. It might sit there at $39, while my "poor" copy
sold for $46 last month.

Based on my past experience, though, I don't list
nonfiction on eBay, unless I know before I buy that
it's going to sell well. I would suggest, though,
making sure that you always get the author's name
in the title - even if you have to leave off the word
"experience". eBay titles don't have to make sense,
and you can use upper case judiciously to break
up the wording (rather than punctuation, which can
screw up search results).

Your auction for the 23-volume set doesn't mention
that it IS a set in the title, making your selling price
seem high (and potential bidders not clicking on the
item). I'd have used a title like:

Vietnam Experience 23 VOLUMES Boston Publishing

Get rid of the reserve (they can be the proverbial
kiss of death) and start it at a reasonable price for
23 volumes, with a Buy-It-Now you'd like to get for
set. Also, put up a picture of the set, not just one
book. Make them understand what a great set
they're getting!

JMO, of course.

eBay is hard, and you have to think like a bookseller
and NOT like a bookseller, all at the same time.

Kris<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

Hi Art,

A few general tips that may increase your listed/sold ratio, that I noticed
with my buyers hat on:

Description for Eyre Affair is a little vague - My listings are done in html
template form in an HTML editor, and are about 10-12 inches long on the
page, including info about me, postage costs, accepted payments etc, and
generally a fair few lines of description, with number of pages, edition,
publisher, condition, index/illustrations/glossary description. Since I have
done this my sales have increased to about 90% of what I list, and around
98% if relisted

A number of photos is good, however the services ebay provides arnt great -
too small! I use a free image host and link to the pics directly, usually
take about 3.

You only ship inside the US - I would therefore not be able to bid on your
books - and was thinking about it on the Eyre Affair. With paypal shipping
overseas could not be simpler.

You only accept Paypal from a bank account - Again, I am out of the running.
The fees are small amounts really - I just roll them into the
shipping/handling charge - usually come out just about even.

I hope these general tips help - while many tell me its a bad time to sell
on eBay, I have not been doing too badly myself, making more than I expected
on most lots!

Cheers,

Tom L-M

ebay username: tommole


"Art Layton" <shebadog.RemoveThis@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3d156562.0308130350.551bf3d0@posting.google.com...
 > Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. Just sold one of my
 > listings last night (buy it now for $10; a duplicate holding). I have
 > always felt that if a certain title is for sale on eBay and selling,
 > that would be the best time to post the same book. Perhaps not?
 >
 > My eBay name is shebatwo, if anyone wants to look at my listings.
 >
 > Art Layton
 > Stamford, CT<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

Thanks again to Kris and Tom for their suggestions. Yes, reserve price
is the kiss of death, and I won't use it again. However, I have
limited shipping to the United States for two reasons. First, I can
use media rate and add delivery confirmation - not possible for
foreign deliveries unless a delivery service like UPS or Airborne is
used. And they are very expensive for foreign delivery. Second,
foreign shipment costs more and required additional customs paperwork.
For the same reason, I rarely buy anything from another country.
Recently, there was a ARC of "Voyage of the Narwhal" for sale in the
UK. Shipping was six pounds, or approximately ten american dollars.
Just too much for my yankee background.

On the issue of description, I think I have always included a complete
description including copyright, publisher, number of pages, edition,
pictures, etc. More details about me and puffery about the book will
probably help sell them.

Art Layton
Stamford, CT
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

In article <pmljjvgg588c94fspbrn3tbat61gvk7n4q.DeleteThis@4ax.com>,
MindElec <MindElec.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
 >On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 21:01:39 GMT, "Denise Enck"
 ><encksofeverett.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> declared:
 >
  >>Also, it's best to avoid competition & list books when there are no others
  >>already listed.
  >>(The others may have had lower starting bids as well.)
 >
 >i've had many exceptions to that rule. often if mine has a BIN and
 >the others don't, the BIN will get hit even if it's 4x the other
 >opening bids.

BIN ?? whazzit??

Matthew Hill

snip<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

In article <YTu_a.1308$t37.38639667@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com>,
Kris Baker <kris.baker.RemoveThis@prodigyy.net> wrote:
 >
 >"Art Layton" <shebadog.RemoveThis@optonline.net> wrote in message
 >news:3d156562.0308130350.551bf3d0@posting.google.com...
  >> Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. Just sold one of my
  >> listings last night (buy it now for $10; a duplicate holding). I have
  >> always felt that if a certain title is for sale on eBay and selling,
  >> that would be the best time to post the same book. Perhaps not?
 >
 > If there were multiple bidders, and not others on eBay at the
 > same time, it's a pretty good move. I'd think that bidders would
 > have the title in mind, and look for other copies when they lose
 > the auction they initially bid on. But...you have to move quickly
 > and get yours up within hours of the other book's closing.
  >>
  >> My eBay name is shebatwo, if anyone wants to look at my listings.
  >>
  >> Art Layton
  >> Stamford, CT
 >
 > I've had pretty good luck with books in the past 30 days,
 > including some prices that were much higher than recent
 > sales of the identical books. But...I'm only listing juvenile
 > books right now, and all types and conditions, figuring
 > that "back to school" time gets people thinking in that
 > direction.
 >
 > I have one right now, that ends tonight, sitting at $39.
 > I've sold five other copies, with a history high (for me)
 > of $75. This one's the nicest, and has had some
 > good interest, so I'm thinking I'll at least beat the
 > past few week's eBay sales of $80 and $81. Maybe
 > not. It might sit there at $39, while my "poor" copy
 > sold for $46 last month.
 >
 > Based on my past experience, though, I don't list
 > nonfiction on eBay, unless I know before I buy that
 > it's going to sell well. I would suggest, though,
 > making sure that you always get the author's name
 > in the title - even if you have to leave off the word
 > "experience". eBay titles don't have to make sense,
 > and you can use upper case judiciously to break
 > up the wording (rather than punctuation, which can
 > screw up search results).
 >
 > Your auction for the 23-volume set doesn't mention
 > that it IS a set in the title, making your selling price
 > seem high (and potential bidders not clicking on the
 > item). I'd have used a title like:
 >
 > Vietnam Experience 23 VOLUMES Boston Publishing
 >
 > Get rid of the reserve (they can be the proverbial
 > kiss of death) and start it at a reasonable price for
 > 23 volumes, with a Buy-It-Now you'd like to get for
 > set. Also, put up a picture of the set, not just one
 > book. Make them understand what a great set
 > they're getting!
 >
 > JMO, of course.
 >
 > eBay is hard, and you have to think like a bookseller
 > and NOT like a bookseller, all at the same time.
 >
 >Kris
 >

Some good advice, which I am sure many of us appreciate.

As for this being a bad seas on, a week ago
I sold (separately) 8 of a 9 volume set for an average about 1/3 higher
than the highest price for individual numbers on ABE. The only complete
set on ABE is priced at less than half my Ebay total for the 7. Go
figure!

One secret to selling books on Ebay is obviously to keep ABE a deep, dark
secret.

This week I can't get a bid, but it ain't over till the sniping stops.

One of my problems is likely that I'm not comfortable grading my books so
I detail all the faults I recognize. Probably should just call them good.
I did once email a buyer that her purchase had been acquired a corner bump
since it was described and offered to adjust the price. She wrote back
that it only added to the character of the book.

Matthew Hill - ebalias whophd<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay 

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:35:28 +0000 (UTC), mhhill RemoveThis @retirees.uwaterloo.ca
(M Hill) wrote:

 >In article <pmljjvgg588c94fspbrn3tbat61gvk7n4q RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
 >MindElec <MindElec RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote:
  >>On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 21:01:39 GMT, "Denise Enck"
  >><encksofeverett RemoveThis @earthlink.net> declared:
  >>
   >>>Also, it's best to avoid competition & list books when there are no others
   >>>already listed.
   >>>(The others may have had lower starting bids as well.)
  >>
  >>i've had many exceptions to that rule. often if mine has a BIN and
  >>the others don't, the BIN will get hit even if it's 4x the other
  >>opening bids.
 >
 >BIN ?? whazzit??

Buy It Now, BIN.


****************************************************

"The booksellers are generous liberal-minded men."

Samuel Johnson
"Life of Johnson" (J. Boswell), Vol. I, 1756<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Trying to Sell on Ebay