I decided not to post new auctions on Ebay in July and August, since Ebay has traditionally been dismal for me during those two months. I had planned to post some quantity on their special reduced fee listing days during that period, but they haven't had any. (They are getting extremely tight.) Given the new fee structure Ebay instituted a while ago to weed out the stores that were not moving merchandise fast enough, I do not found that having a store on Ebay is a worthwhile endeavor. I do much better on my own website and I don't have to pay commissions and listing fees. Marketing is key here and I have to do my own marketing to get people into my website. When Ebay first started, listing items for auction was an exciting proposition. Inevitably, items would take off at the last minutes of an auction and really pick up momentum. I find that rarely happens now adays to me and often I wind up with only one or two bids. Hence I try to post at a reasonable but not too low starting price. Ebay will probably always be a major source of my sales revenue but I think it's necessary to pursue other venues these days because the excessive Ebay fees and commissions cut too far into my profit, especially if I start using Ebay's new features like Gallery pictures and if you put reserves on items. Ebay is developing a host of new money-making gimmicks that I'm sure they'll start offering at reasonable rates which they will later raise when enough people begin to rely on them. I just wish there were a better way to go with Internet Auctions, but I just don't know of one. I'd be curious to hear what other dealers have to say. FRANC
-----Original Message----- From: MoPo List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of channinglylethomson Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 2:51 PM To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: [MOPO] Latest Thoughts on EBAY, etc. I was wondering what people are thinking about EBAY right now. I realize it's the dead of Summer so it's off-seasons for collectibles. In my business as a dealer, I've found that EBAY still continues to be my main source of sales although I have a good number of clients who buy outside of EBAY. As to prices, I'm still getting good prices on my EBAY store sales -- as long as the prices are reasonable. I've found that I can occasionally buy things at a pretty good price as well. I guess what I'm saying is that after ten years or so on EBAY, I'm finding that it is but continues to be but one compartment of my sales exposure that continues to work consistently. For me, the initial excitement of an online site like EBAY has gone away and it is now sort of a work horse that does it's job but sort of lacks the initial excitement. I wonder if there's some way the brass at EBAY could do something to enliven things and make it, dare I say, a FUNNER, more vibrant environment for the buyers and sellers. Channing Thomson in San Francisco P.S. I know this is vague but something about the EBAY experience has a lackluster quality these days. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
