What are some good alternatives to selling on eBay?
Ebay’s new policy changes have resulted in a huge drop in sales – the biggest I’ve seen in my 10 years of selling on there. Many sellers speak of selling on other sites, but the few that I can find seem to not be worth the time.
What are these sites? Does anyone else sell online?
I sell antique jewelry…
Sales may be down but it could very well be due, in great part, to the economy. This may be especially true if you are selling high-end jewelry. Regardless, people who have been affected by the economy will forgo jewelry to buy necessities.
However, before you jump ship, consider your potential market. How many members does the new auction site have compared to tens of millions of members at ebay? You may be saving money on fees or paying no fees at all but any new auction site will have a small fraction of the members that ebay has. You may sell an item for $10 at another auction site with far, fewer members that would likely sell for substantially more at ebay with its much, much greater membership. This is a classic example of “stepping over a dollar to pick up a penny.”
These smaller auction sites are good for buyers for the same reason that they are bad for sellers:
fewer bidders = less competition = lower closing prices.
These bidders/buyers are smart and have been taking advantage of those sellers who have left ebay.
Ebay is the largest auction site on the web with the most members. There isn’t another auction site that is remotely close, and I do mean remotely close, to having the number of members that ebay has.
Regardless of the fees, I suggest you stick with ebay:
The most members = maximum competition -= higher closing prices
There isn’t another auction site on the web that can hold a candle to ebay and the millions and millions of members it has. Many have tried and many have failed and yet, many are still trying. Ebay has a virtual lock on this business. This is where you want to sell as ebay has the largest potential market. A basic business tenet is ‘The greater the potential market, the greater the potential for maximum profits.’ My advice: Don’t be penny wise and pound-foolish. But the final choice is yours.
Tips to maximize profits:
Do not limit your auctions to one country. SELL WORLDWIDE. The reason is simple. You now have access to the largest market ebay has to offer. Limiting your auctions to only one country also limits your potential market. To maximize profits, sell worldwide. But do say that PayPal is the only form of payment you will accept from overseas bidders
Do not limit your payment options – Offer all of them. Sellers who offer only PayPal or only money orders or money orders and checks are further limiting their potential market and reducing their potential to maximize profits. Some people will not bid on items that do not have PayPal as an option. Then you have a smaller percentage who refuse to use PayPal and prefer to pay by check only or money order only. For checks, the buyer should have at least 25 positive feedbacks and a 100% feedback rating.
However, if you wish to limit sales to only one country, such as the USA, never say NO when you receive an email asking if you would ship to Taiwan, Germany, Australia or wherever. The reason is that you have a ‘FISH ON THE HOOK!’ This person will bid! When he or she does, this may force a previous bidder to enter another, higher bid or force later, first time bidders to come in with higher bids. So always say YES to these emails if you want to maximize your profits. But do say that PayPal is the only form of payment you will accept for these overseas bidders.
Several members above mentioned Craigslist. Keep in mind that Craigslist is basically a classified that limits you to a particular geographic region. This drastically limits your potential market. Ebay reaches tens of millions of people. My point is simple. Ask 100 people to name an auction site. What do you think the answer will be 99 to 100 times, Sell-It-Here or eBay? If you want to reach the most people to maximize your profits, ebay is still the way to go despite the economy. Craigslist, for the most part, is for larger and heavier items that are cumbersome to ship easily like furniture, dumbbell sets, cars, swing sets, etc.
|
|
EBAY Antique Print Engraving Business, For Sale, Turnkey Operation $60,000.00 |
|
|
Antique Inventory Lots & Ebay Sales Instruction Service $5,000.00 |
|
|
Antique toy gun, Daisy Targeteer Air Pistol , vintage 1927 1930′s $99.99 |
|
|
1pc GEMS Opal Opalite Oval Gemstone Antique Black Vintage Pendant&Necklace Bead $3.92 |
|
|
3 Star Antique Chinese Nice Groove Iron Sword $399.00 |
|
|
Pink Crystal Vintage ST Antique Gold GP CAMEO pendant necklace n1462 $0.99 |
|
|
Amethyst Gold Plated antique finished Vintage ST Bangle Bracelet gi447 $0.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE VICTORIAN GOLD PLATED SWIRL BROOCH WITH ORANGE STONES $96.94 |
|
|
Chinese Antique Jade Money Dots Vein Fortune Bi Pi Disc Pendant 2 Side Carving $24.50 |
|
|
Chinese Antique Jade Linking Fortune Vein Fortune Bi Pi Disc Pendant Carving $24.50 |
|
|
Exquisite Chinese Antique Jade Squatting Human Official Figure Pendant Carving $24.50 |
|
|
Chinese Antique Jade 2 Celestial Li Dragon Fortune Bi Pi Disc Pendant Carving $24.50 |
|
|
Exquisite Chinese Antique Jade Tortoise Back Lovely Seal Pendant Amulet Carving $24.50 |
|
|
Antique Style Brass Theatre Opera Binocular Glasses Coated Lens Telescope $0.01 |
|
|
4 Antique Bronze Mixed Locket Boxes Pendant Beads new 160376 $4.10 |
|
|
Vintage Antique Paper Wax Brown Duck Decoy from 1913 Johnson Brother’s Estate $19.99 |
|
|
Antique Bronze Plum Flower Branch Pendant/Charm-50pcs $6.99 |
|
|
antique chiese mask wood face $9.99 |
|
|
Antique German Porcelain Vanity Tray~Hand Painted impress T&M $9.99 |
|
|
PAIR ANTIQUE CHINESE OFFICIAL’S ARMCHAIRS ACCENT CHAIRS $1,880.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE CHINESE ACCENT TABLE NIGHTSTAND KITCHEN STOVE $690.00 |
|
|
INDIAN ANTIQUE CUSHION PILLOW THROW COVER Vintage India Decorative Decor Art $47.99 |
|
|
Me no Me / Sword Guards and Antique / Japanese Antique Magazine $18.99 |
|
|
vintage antique Remington Express wooden ammo crate $39.99 |
|
|
Antique Bronzy Fire Fighter Pocket Watch With Free Chain as Gifts $0.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE RADO VOYAGER AUTOMATIC DAY DATE SWISS MENS WRIST WATCH 24590632 ANTIQUE $191.04 |
|
|
RARE ANTIQUE MINIATURE *BIJOU COMIC ALBUM* BY ROCK BROTHERS & PAYNE (c1850′s) $545.66 |
Tags: auction, auctions, books, ebay, ebay sales antiques, shopping