Selling items on ebay What am I doing wrong?


estop
Full Member
  • Posts: 26
  • Joined: 10 Dec 08
  • Karma:
26 Jan 09 07:21:54 pm
hello
I have put in several items on E-bay with prices well below my competitors.
Yet none of my items have sold. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong? I tried selling remote control cars, digital photo frames, power tools, etc. I am not even close to giving up, I'm just trying to figure out what my flaws are. Do you guys have any suggestions?
Thanks


cbcdave
Full Member
  • Posts: 19
  • Joined: 07 Jan 09
  • Karma:
26 Jan 09 09:23:17 pm
What is your eBay seller ID? I would like to look at some of your listings and maybe then comment!

cbcdave


fudjj
Site Admin
  • Posts: 6496
  • Joined: 27 Jul 07
  • Karma:
26 Jan 09 11:48:06 pm
Having an item competitively priced can be only a part of the picture, but as cb above has requested, leave you seller id for us to take a look and offer some pointers where possible.


Mark (fudjj)

Community Manager
SaleHoo.com

Link hidden: Login to view

wholesalelist101
Full Member
  • Posts: 500
  • Joined: 19 Apr 06
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 12:30:22 am
I have not seen your actual listings but I am a eBay Powerseller and this past year and the current year is one of the worst periods I have ever had on eBay since I started 5 years ago. We are going through some tough times and not even eBay is immune.


dinasour230
Full Member
  • Posts: 52
  • Joined: 25 Nov 08
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 04:41:51 am
I agree 100%. Sales are down, way down.


grboutique
Full Member
  • Posts: 289
  • Joined: 06 Dec 06
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 04:58:32 am
I don't know, for some reason, my sales are up this month. From January 1 up to this day, I have sold over $13000 worth of merchandise. Try taking actual photos of your item because I think buyer wants to see actual photos of what they are really bidding on and not stock photos.


estop
Full Member
  • Posts: 26
  • Joined: 10 Dec 08
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 08:51:58 am
My ebay name is Electr0nics4you. I do drop shipping so I am un-able to take actual photos of my items.


grboutique
Full Member
  • Posts: 289
  • Joined: 06 Dec 06
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 11:48:29 am
I just looked at your items for sale on ebay and from what I can see, you didn't put the model number or name on the title. The the philips dvd recorder you're selling. You should put 'Philips DVDR3475 DVD Recorder' so your item will show up if a potential buyer is looking for that particular model. The same with the rest of your items for sale. I hope this helps =)


glbco
Full Member
  • Posts: 11
  • Joined: 14 Jan 07
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 03:18:52 pm
You are using a dropshipper, so that is your first problem. You have to use their photos. If you are selling the same stuff as other people, from the same dropshipper, you have to stand out somehow. Taking your own photos would really help. To do that, though, you will have to buy the items you are selling and store them yourself. Since you are using a dropshipper, I assume that you don't have much money to get started. I can tell by the pictures and the descriptions of your items you're using Premiere Products International, or hotbuy4u.com, as your dropshipper. I sell lots of stuff from them, but I buy their items and store and ship them myself. But I don't sell their electronics. Also, if you have to use a dropshipper, don't bother using Auction and Buy it Now formats. Nobody is going to bid on an item starting at $82.20. Try using just the Buy it Now option. That's all I use, and it works very well. Nobody wants to wait on an auction that they are probably going to lose, anyways. You'll save money on fees, as well. Finally, shipping is the big thing, People want immediate shipping. You need to offer same day or next day shipping. And don't hide your fees in your shipping and inflate your shipping costs. People want reasonable shipping rates, and they want their item immediately. It's really going to be hard to make money on ebay selling electronics and using dropshipping. The market is swamped, and the dropshipping fees will eat you alive. If you can do it, try buying wholesale or liquidations. Believe me, that's where the money is. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.


estop
Full Member
  • Posts: 26
  • Joined: 10 Dec 08
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 07:11:14 pm
Wow that was a lot of info. I really appreciated that! I am definitely going to apply this to my strategy from now on. Thanks for your help!


jimmy_huber
Free Member
  • Posts: 2861
  • Joined: 11 Mar 10
  • Karma:
27 Jan 09 11:51:57 pm
Hey guys I wanted to post an update on ebay happenings. I have noticed recently that my auctions are closing fast when I post Buy It now Auctions. I just recently started posting auctions again. We listed 10 Last sunday for Buy it now prices. Of course we beat our competition. And all but 2 sold buy it now. We also sold them at our price.

I also listed 5 Auctions starting at $1.00 and was very disappointed with the result. I will be posting many more auctions soon but I really think I will be leaning more toward the Buy it now Format.

Once I close down my sample program with ppwdg I plan to list buyitnow auctions like crazy over march and april hopefully getting to around 1500 running Buy it now auctions. Well have to see how that goes. But it it possible ebay is right and statistics are showing that people would rather do buy it now then bid on a 7 day auction.


Link hidden: Login to view by SaleHoo

wth3rd23
Full Member
  • Posts: 11
  • Joined: 02 Sep 08
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 12:17:26 am
Sorry to invade on your thread, I noticed you said liquidation is where the money is, can you suggest something for beginners to concentrate on. Thanks


jimmy_huber
Free Member
  • Posts: 2861
  • Joined: 11 Mar 10
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 12:42:29 am
Sorry to invade on your thread, I noticed you said liquidation is where the money is, can you suggest something for beginners to concentrate on. Thanks


Im assuming your referring to my signature. Yes Liquidations is where the money is because we can buy items at far less prices then if we were searching for new items only. You can get pallets full of stuff to sell for as little as $350 that have a retail value of as much as $3,000

Me and my wife started in Kids clothing. Buying pallets for $3500 and flipping them for a steady $2400 a month income after fees and such. I cant tell you whats best to start with. That choice is yours. I know that Housewares and bedding sell all year long. And they are basically value pallets. But if your in for serious money then the expensive pallets are where the money is if you have the money to spend on them.


Link hidden: Login to view by SaleHoo

grboutique
Full Member
  • Posts: 289
  • Joined: 06 Dec 06
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 03:25:47 am
Jimmy is right on the statement 'Liquidation is where the money is'. I basically make my money on electronics. I found a supplier that liquidates their damage box units in pallets. 2008, I made $27000 net profit staying home. I don't have a job and basically this is my full time job LOL! but hey, I can't complain with the profits I made. My goal this year is to double that up. Wish me LUCK! =)


krispycream715
Full Member
  • Posts: 2
  • Joined: 14 Aug 06
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 03:40:18 am
sorry to invade also, but i was wondering. someone said something about they buy products from a dropshipper but they dont buy their electronics. why not? and im just getting into this thing a little bit bigger. ive been doing this small-time for some time now. where should i go for electronics? and i would really appreciate some tips. if you guys can share any... thanks.


fudjj
Site Admin
  • Posts: 6496
  • Joined: 27 Jul 07
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 04:51:12 am
sorry to invade also, but i was wondering. someone said something about they buy products from a dropshipper but they dont buy their electronics. why not? and im just getting into this thing a little bit bigger. ive been doing this small-time for some time now. where should i go for electronics? and i would really appreciate some tips. if you guys can share any... thanks.


Most will sort through the best products to sell via drop shipping, and products such as electronic are mostly saturated on sites like ebay, and seeing as most use ebay as their preferred market place, they steer clear of the electronics.

As to where to source electronics, that's going to depend on what products you are wanting to source, what numbers you want to purchase in and where you want to sell it!


Mark (fudjj)

Community Manager
SaleHoo.com

Link hidden: Login to view

bayericlowe
Full Member
  • Posts: 483
  • Joined: 26 Feb 07
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 12:34:12 pm
Electronics is a complex market. I can tell you this, you're not going to want to join the likes of Doba for it.

I've sold quite a number of electronics using one-time dropshippers and dropshipping distributors. Everything you can name. The point is you have to find them. Locate them by searching the search engines far and wide, they are out there, and can be found on places like dogpile.com. Not salehoo. The distributors you are looking for do nothing but sell discount products hourly.

Everything from digital cameras to cell phones, to video games and also cooling fans.

Only thing was I sold them all on Amazon.com using my store or directly through Go Daddy Marketplace. I didn't sell them on eBay.

I also sold some on ioffer.com. Another one getting to be as big as ioffer is blujay.com. All of them have a strong demand niche wise for those kind of products meaning electronics, household goods, vintage decor.

eBay is just the opposite, it doesn't have such a demand that I see. eBay is more like the place you go to find wholesale deals, they are just another wholesale place. They are where you would throw out an auction or two on really rare items and cross your fingers.

I've dealt with that some but not recently. And if I use eBay at all anymore its only to unload auction level stuff, using buy it now, to make the maximum I can get for those. I haven't bothered with huge brands like you're trying to do, because well there is a great many reasons why. Especially on eBay.


aplaceinthesun
Full Member
  • Posts: 1
  • Joined: 28 Jan 09
  • Karma:
28 Jan 09 08:31:30 pm
I think one of your issues is that you have 0 feedback so far. I would recommend selling some things you have around the house that you don't use anymore. This will allow you to build some feedback and buyers will trust you more at that point. The higher the feedback gets the more you will sell. Our feedback is over 12000 and we regularly sell our items for more than other sellers.


apluswebworks
Full Member
  • Posts: 1
  • Joined: 28 Jan 09
  • Karma:
29 Jan 09 01:06:17 pm
Hi,

I am kind of new to this wholesale, dropship, liquidation thing, but I am not new at eBay, so I would like to give my 2 cents :)

First for Electr0nics4you,

I checked out your auctions and first thing I noticed was that you have no (0) feedback. A lot of people will look at that and run for the hills right away. I would suggest to get some feedback, buy a few things on eBay that don't cost much of nothing, say like 0.99 cents...maybe ebooks or something just to get your feedback started so people won't see a big goose egg when they visit your auction.

Next, with the dropshipper thing. I would suggest that you open a store because it would be easier to list things for buy it now prices and not pay as much for listing it. Maybe I'm wrong on this and if so, someone please let me know, but I think it would be a good idea to create a 'buy it now' item in your store, then throw the same thing up in an auction, but list it for only like 0.99 cents to start the bid and no reserve (less bids when you put up a reserve price). Then add a link inside that auction that points to the same item that's in your store with the 'buy it now' price. That way, if someone visits your auction and don't want to wait for the 7 days, then they could click the link, go to your store, and buy it now. I must say, you might lose out a little money on the auction because it may or may not close above or below what you have to actually pay for the item yourself, but it would drive people to your storefront if they are actually wanting to purchase that item.

Also, your auctions are too plain with the same ole boring 'Generic Description'. You should write the description yourself or give it your own little touch to break free from the norm. Yes, this will take a little work, but that's what we are in it for, no one said it would be that easy...wait, except for those fake wholesalers and dropshippers that I've messed with in the past :)

Anyways, that's my advice. I am great with auction templates and format, so let me know if you need any help.


fudjj
Site Admin
  • Posts: 6496
  • Joined: 27 Jul 07
  • Karma:
29 Jan 09 09:19:05 pm
Everyone has covered this pretty well, not much I could ad.

You really are pushing it with your current strategy, the listing SCREEMS out drop shipping, and for most savy buyers that spells trouble.

No one really wants to deal with a broker on ebay, because if the deal goes south it's hard for them to get any satisfaction, and shinning a bright light on the fact that you are a broker will have most running for the hills.

Combine that with your feedback, and copy for your item, and you are very little chance of making sales. Even if you set your products up as the cheapest there, you will just be coming across as a scam unfortunately!

You need to strip that idea down and completely rework your marketing, and build some feedback, even if it is buying a few cheap stupid items, it will at least give you some cred!


Mark (fudjj)

Community Manager
SaleHoo.com

Link hidden: Login to view

userexists
Free Member
  • Posts: 228
  • Joined: 11 Mar 10
  • Karma:
31 Jan 09 01:58:51 am
Hui krispycream May I respectfully suggest that if you're new to online sales and don't have huge start-up capital to invest, you should pretty much steer well clear of electronics. It's been said a thousand times in these forums. Can you spare some time to read through all the forum threads here on salehoo and you will see some pretty good reasons not to sell electronics -most especially not electronic products from dropshippers. There is just no way to make a decent profit with those products unless you can buy in huge volume and reap the ensuing high-volume discounts.


Difficult I can do right away. Impossible takes a little longer

jrsproduct
Full Member
  • Posts: 2
  • Joined: 31 Jan 09
  • Karma:
31 Jan 09 06:44:36 am
I just joined today paid all this money for the salehoo thing and I am quite disappointed with most of it... I found a supplier called EZDROPSHIP.COM and the items they have are listed all over ebay and they are not selling at all. I did my research of course before I wast money on ebay fees to list them. I do not understand why people list them. Any way my purpose for this post is to ask if anyone knows where I can get some blackberri phones really high profit margin or decent. I have herd that they are selling good right now. I am also asking for any tips with finding a good company and ebay if you have any!!! my ebay name is JRSProduct I sell many ebooks and coins. I have alot of success with my coins. GOLD AND SILVER ARE THE HOT SELLERS TO ME!!!! BUY SOME GOLD AND SILVER AND SELL IT FOR PROFIT. Silver is at about 12.00 give or take per ounce and I sell it all day long on ebay for 22.00 per ounce. This is bars and coins... email me anyone to chat about this topic... Link hidden: Login to view GOOD LUCK WITH BAD TIMES TO ALL!!!


bayericlowe
Full Member
  • Posts: 483
  • Joined: 26 Feb 07
  • Karma:
31 Jan 09 09:24:24 am
You really can't just run in and make good profits on Blackberri, they are hard to find.....


But just so you know there is a place online where you can locate Blackberris fairly easily. Just go here, and search for 'Blackberri at Wholesale Price' and you will see there is more out there then you originally knew....

Link hidden: Login to view


Now, I have not just a database I draw from but extremely powerful search engines to find basically any product at any time. Specifically at wholesale value. So I search through, or scour, thousands of items at a time not just those on Salehoo. It's absolutely perfect because something different is always the seller.

So if you want, I will tell you one of those if you send me a message sometime. I can't tell you the others but I can tell you one of the better databases which you have to have.


jrsproduct
Full Member
  • Posts: 2
  • Joined: 31 Jan 09
  • Karma:
31 Jan 09 11:26:36 pm
I really do not see the point of sale hoo. It is like seeing the same suppliers in the google search results. I have googled and found just about every listing they have on here. It seems pointless. Do they offer refunds on the money you spent to become a member? I will take that other one you said at the end of your message!! Thank you!


fudjj
Site Admin
  • Posts: 6496
  • Joined: 27 Jul 07
  • Karma:
31 Jan 09 11:56:57 pm
Ok, let me see if I understand this correctly?

You don't see the sense of Salehoo when all the companies can be found in Google search results...........any business that has a website anywhere in the world is probably going to have a Google listing for crying out loud, seeing as it is the biggest search engine on the planet.....what sort of logic is that?

Now you join up, post a question, members do their best to help you out, with one even offering you a private supplier of their own, and you decide to take the assistance that has been given to you in good faith as a Salehoo member, and then piss off with your refund!

WHAT THE HELL?

You don't want to be a part of this community for whatever reason, that's your choice. Go get a refund and take off, but don't come in here using the forum to soak up valuable information from members, information that you would not otherwise have found through your own means, then turn around and say you don't see the sense of Salehoo, get a refund, and then take off with your cash much wiser than you were when you first arrived!

Plenty of members in here do their best to help out where we can, and most appreciate it, but when some cheap user comes in here for free info, that really burns me up!


Mark (fudjj)

Community Manager
SaleHoo.com

Link hidden: Login to view

asaru215
Full Member
  • Posts: 4
  • Joined: 13 May 06
  • Karma:
1 Feb 09 05:41:07 am
I have been a member of salehoo for years. I have made some money but not big money because I can't buy in bulk. Are there any dropshippers that sale martial arts items? I am into that and have a passion for that. If someone can let me know what items i can sell let me know. Also is there someone on here that know of just good electronic dropshippers and clothing dropshippers since I don't have a big budget to buy items from?

Thank you
Daamin


bayericlowe
Full Member
  • Posts: 483
  • Joined: 26 Feb 07
  • Karma:
2 Feb 09 01:48:36 pm
A good electronic dropshipper alot of the time is tigerdirect.com. I've found some others that are much better though, discovered them while I was advertising. They have it for (REALLY) almost always barely above wholesale, or right below. Which is good, very so.

I can't give out the two of them here though or else then everyone would try using them. I'll give you one of them though by PM.


magabrit
Full Member
  • Posts: 1
  • Joined: 30 Jan 09
  • Karma:
2 Feb 09 04:55:24 pm
My ebay name is Electr0nics4you. I do drop shipping so I am un-able to take actual photos of my items.

I just looked at your ebay items and noticed you do not accept returns, this can scare away potential buyers, especially since you are new and only have 1 feedback, consider offering a money back guarantee less S&H if items are reurned within 2 weeks from recieving. and after you become more established in your feedback you can stop accepting returns.


 

SaleHoo helps over 137,216 online business owners
find reliable low cost suppliers

Find out how