Yet another Ebay thread
 

I've only just recently begun listing stuff again. On my most recent auctions I've noticed a weird trend: very, very few views of my items. Why?

I mean, we're talking vintage Campy and rare, wood-soled Detto Pietro shoes - NOS, at that. Sixteen total views for the shoes, six views for a first-gen Ergo lever in near-new condition. Listed in Cycling/Shifters and Cycling/Shoes. What the heck is going on? BITD I used to see 100+ views and about 20% watch rate within the first couple of days.

Am I listing incorrectly? Anyone have any similar examples to cite? Btw, one was a straight auction (shoes) and the other a 30-day fixed price.

Thanks for any/all feedback.

DD

Just a theory but I think Facebook groups are starting to take a chunk out of eBay.

Also could be seasonal?

I had the same issue with a pair of SR Pista pedals with Titanium spindles. Had to relist them for three times and then still they only got a few views and one person bid at the last second for my starting offer.

DD

Try this:

List a similar item on the Steel is Real site and see where it sells first. I've sold three bikes, three framesets and a boat load of parts there w/o fees since I became a member of the group.

No fees, just person to person sales.

Well, of course there are the PP/shipping/boxing fees, but you would get that anyway.

For whatever reason it seems to be working right now.

It's seasonal. This is one of the worst times of year to sell, we're dead in the middle of the end of the riding season and Christmas.

I've list stuff on Facebook groups for prices equal to what I'd get on Ebay after fees with no luck.

The 'Steel is Real' limits you to 13,700 members and who knows how many of them are 'regulars'. I'm not.

I've learned over the years that's the 'same frickin people' regardless of where you go. Post an ad here in C&V sales or PaceLine or wherever...its all the same people.

eBay has become a place where a pretty consistent % of buyers expect used items to be like new, and game the system to get refunds or stick it to the seller. It's irritating, expensive, and tiring. It is beginning to take it's toll on eBay's volume and bottom line. Glad of it. I always price-compare now with Amazon and other sites. If I'm transferring money, I always ask if they'll use Walmart instead. Cheaper for some transactions. More and more of eBay is fixed price Buy It Now, and for sellers, it can be Bury It Now.

Given Europe's economy and the strength of the dollar, it pays to shop there at times.

I wonder how many other people have reduced the amount of browsing they do on eBay. I used to browse through broad categories, and see what caught my eye - offbeat things like vintage computers, Art Deco, flashlights. With eBay's volume up, it's hard to find gems among the tidal wave of cheap new Chinese stuff. If I visit eBay now, it's as a result of a search for a specific item. So fewer views could result from the fact that fewer people are searching for the specific items you're offering.

I've seen commercials for some Ebay competitors popping up on TV. The names escape me, but maybe they are eating into their market. Here is one of the sites.

Buy and sell used stuff in United States - letgo

Can you send me a link to that site?

It's a Facebook Group that you have to join.

I recently had someone with '0' feedback buy a fork from me. He said it wasn't as described because the tape measure I had next to it didn't have metric/imperial designations on it. He interpreted my 15cm steerer to as 10.5" Who the F rides a 10.5" steerer tube fork? Regardless, he asked for a refund to which I agreed. BTW, he said if was for a 56cm frame....

eBay allowed for 4 or 5 refund options for the seller to pick from.....I choose for the item to be returned and a refund to be given upon return of the item. I don't see how the buyer could have 'scammed' me when I controlled the process. Now, I think he tried to scam me but EBay's policy's prevented it.

Just Facebook search 'steel is real'.

if you want to rip someone off, or get ripped off, its the ideal place to sell and buy. Heck, use bitcoins if you have them.

Never cave in...they either want it or don't.

I've got my money and flipping has turned into a colossal bore.

Been there, done that.

I like to spend time with my wife and kids instead of watching eBay auctions.

Seems like mission accomplished. :)

I'm with you. I rarely check CL anymore, with my 'real' job it's impossible to find anything before the bums who flip for a living. I do my day to day thing, if I come across bikes I come across them. If I don't, I don't.

That could be. I frequently find cheap new chinese crap even when I'm looking for something specific and not new and get frustrated.

Steel is Real? What's that? First Google hit is on Ibis Cycles' website, which doesn't look like a marketplace...

Sorry, posted before reading the rest of the thread.

*sigh* what is it with people and Facebook?

Great responses everyone! I should sell the shoes on SIR; after all, when I posted a pic of them for entertainment value a couple months back (I'm part of the group) I had a number of people ask "for sale?" and "how much?", so...

I think the theory there are less browsers on Ebay could also explain my problem. I see others here have had the same issue (with a pair of Campy ti-spindle pedals even!), so I'm leaning towards that end. Maybe the solution is SIR. I'll try it at any rate - thanks for the suggestion, Grady :)

DD

To get more views make sure you put as many relevant words in the title. And completely fill up the title box.

Putting a really good description with lots of cycling words in will help your item show up in searches better also.

Top rated sellers listings come up near the top of searches better also.

I think if you have a store ($15 a month) your items show up better also.

I sell a lot of new stuff on ebay. Mainly repair parts. I quit doing auctions as often it ends up below cost.

As a top rated ebay seller we are required to offer returns. We can charge up to 20% restocking fee and the buyer has to pay for return shipping if the item is as described.

We put 6 to 10 closeup pictures up to really show the item.

I am zbikenut on ebay...

The Ebay search takes into account your status as a seller---how happy you make the customer and if it is a multi item how happy the previous customers were with the item.

These are my thoughts, I hope they were helpful.

The Lemond Nevada City frame I had on ebay had over 800 hits in two weeks. Sold it a guy locally who saw it on ebay yesterday.

I'm convinced half of the watchers are the peanut gallery, just curious to ultimate selling price.

All good suggestions, pretty much all of which I follow. I suppose in the end I was wondering whether or not I was listing categorically correctly. I've always been a bit peeved at how the search function seems to work when I look for stuff and wonder if that's also what's been holding back my items being seen.

Example: when I search shoes I usually use the words "leather", "vintage" and "touring". If I only use "vintage" that will turn up only about 50% of the shoes I find if I use "vintage leather". Wouldn't it make sense that using "vintage" on its own would turn up the same results, surely not just half?

Strange. We'll see if there are any well-heeled types out there on SIR ready to pay up for the Dettos. Last pair (with box) on Ebay just recently went for $400! Mine are too small for me, and wow, could I use a chunk of change like that - so I'm selling them and would like to get as close to current market value as I can.

DD

Lol. Gotta love idiots like that..

I blame it on pb**bikes.