Selling Stuff Through Ebay

[Mr_Gimlet]

I'm going to have to put my speakers on ebay - any tips on setting price etc for an ebay selling virgin?

[JohnA]

you have to decide if you want a buy it now price or an auction, with an auction if you set your starting price too low, and it only reaches a small amount you have to sell them. With buy it now, just set your price and thats it.

State in your auction you will not ship to nigeria, as there are plenty of scams going on at the moment.

Other then that, with payment, you need to state what payment methods you accept, direct deposit or cod

[Drizt]

I'm going to have to put my speakers on ebay - any tips on setting price etc for an ebay selling virgin? [/b]

Being a novice myself i won't give any help on setting a price, but I would strongly suggest putting some time and effort into the ad its self. Make it look attractive and professional. I find that people pay more attention to aesetically pleasing adverts, and that can only be good for selling an item.


P.S. When i sell stuff im to afraid to set a low price, I set it at the absolute lowest price that I would accept. But I have noticed that items generally sell for more if you start with a lower price. It seems to attract more bidders, and sometimes creates a bit of a bidding frenzy.

[wixy]

But I have noticed that items generally sell for more if you start with a lower price. It seems to attract more bidders, and sometimes creates a bit of a bidding frenzy.
[/b]

Yeah I have noticed this also with two items I recently sold that I started at $1. I sold my tannoy monitor gold speakers for over $1200 and my projector for over $1500, and in both cases I was expecting only around the $1000 mark for each.

I guess one could always start an auction at a low price, and if it hasn't reached the minimum price you want 12 hours before the auction ends, end the auction early.

[Mr_Gimlet]

I guess one could always start an auction at a low price, and if it hasn't reached the minimum price you want 12 hours before the auction ends, end the auction early.
[/b]

How long does an auction normally run for?

[JohnA]

normaly 7 days but can have 10 days also i believe

[jimmmy]

Mate

I sell stuff on ebay all the time and make a nice bit of spare change from it.

The advice given so far is good.

fees are different depending on what type of selling method you are using, IE buy it now or normal auction.

The best advice I can give is to start your price at 99c. If you start low people will feel comfortable bidding as they are not committing themselves to $1200 strait away or whatever. The price will get bid up to a certain amount an then towards the end the serious bidders will pop up and start to stake their claim. The more people that bid the better the price you get in the end. Wheras if you start at the price you want to sell it at you are more than likely guaranteed no bids. There are of course exceptions to this rule but I find it rings true 70% of the time or more.

You can set a reserve however which means unless it reaches a certain point you are not committed to the final price. You cannot have a reserve and a buy it now at the same time and in all honestly a buy it now is pretty much setting a reserve anyway. i would not set a buy it now as this tells prospective buyers what you are willing to sell for and might turn people away.

If it were me I would just start the bidding at 99c and advertise like crazy on the forums and other places where you think people might be interested.

oh and as drizt said take the time to make an attractive add. If selling speakers them cut and paste info from the manufacturers website and put as much info in regarding condition, use, age, what your impressions were etc etc. Even links to reviews if you can find them. It all helps.

cheers

James

[dlite]

You can set a reserve however which means unless it reaches a certain point you are not committed to the final price. You cannot have a reserve and a buy it now at the same time and in all honestly a buy it now is pretty much setting a reserve anyway. i would not set a buy it now as this tells prospective buyers what you are willing to sell for and might turn people away[/b]

James unless something has changed in the last month or so their is NO reserve on ebay australia.

[jimmmy]

James unless something has changed in the last month or so their is NO reserve on ebay australia.
[/b]

Nothing has changed. You have alwyas been able to place a reserve on ebay items no matter the cost, here and overseas.

Here is a relatively low reserve auction in Oz.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...p;rd=1&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330053718605&rd=1&rd=1)

They are usually placed on cars and bikes etc but as you can see in this case. Can be put on anything.

Here is a link describing how it works too.

Ebay reserve price auctions (http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/buy/buyer-reserve.html)

cheers

James

edit. apologies all. Bum steer there. Reserves seem to only be allowed on vehicle related sales. bugger!!! but I guess you always list it under autos.....:)

[Mr_Gimlet]

Yes, the UK has reserves, but it also seems to be having some issues with anonymous bidding at the moment as well.

So, to summarise, I can list it at 99c, but can pull the plug until 12 hours before the end of the auction if it all goes pear shaped?

[jimmmy]

yep. that is probably the best way to do it mate. guaranteed bids and can pull out if not happy with how it is going

cheers

James

[Mr_Gimlet]

Thanks everyone. They're up.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...em=200053468991 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200053468991)

[joz]

The only issue I see here is that all the price action happens much closer towards an auction closing.
None the less good luck!