Listing Tactics on ebay

maddox

Here's a list of steps that I take when listing items on ebay, they seem to stimulate higher winning bids.

1)I always list my auctions so they end on either Fri, Sat or Sunday night.

2)For higher end coinage, I'll check who's bidding and send them a personal note with higher resolution scans. This alone seems to promote higher bidding.

3)I never list two of the same grade coins for any given week.

4)I encourage bidders to email me questions.

5)Reserve or no reserve, this is a tough one. I usually don't list coins with a reserve price. I've found that If I list, in demand coins, they will sell and usually do sell for the correct price. I love it when a new ebayer drives up the price, just because they "have to win". I'm sure there are plenty who will disagree with this one.

Any other suggestions that have worked for you?


(a small note to forum members, my spelling and sentence structure is pathetic, I fryed my brains on drugs about 15 years ago, 10 years clean now. I've had a lot of PM's pointing out my mistakes, please stop sending them. My english is bad, but I know my Morgans!)

gmarguli

Sunday night at 7:30PM PST seems to be about the best time for me to end auctions. People on both coasts are still awake.

I try to always put NR@1¢ in the auction title so potential bidders know that it has no reserve and there is no BS $400 starting price with no reserve.

I also always put the denomination in the subject line. Might seem kind of dumb since the bidders know the category the coin was listed in, but if they pull up a list of alll your auctions and all they see is "1950 NGC MS64" they have no idea what coin it is. However, "1950 25¢ NGC MS64" will let potential bidders know what type of coin it is.

maddox

Greg,

forgot about that one.

ajaan

<< <i>I also always put the denomination in the subject line >>



This is an excellent idea. Many bidders will just look at the going, going, going . . . listings for US coins. Without the denomination in the title you can't tell what coin it is.

Russ

<< <i>I'll check who's bidding and send them a personal note with higher resolution scans. >>



I put links to these right in the auction listing.

Russ, NCNE

ms71

From the buyer's perspective: the Fri/Sat/Sun ending time ought to be obvious, but so many of the lots I'm interested in end in the middle of the night or during a weekday. Maybe the sellers figure that if you want it, you'll go ahead & stick in your top bid anyway & hope for the best. I just pass them by, not worth it if I can't be there at closing to snipe it. I know, I could use the sniping services, but that takes some of the fun out of it for me.

matteproof

<< <i>

(a small note to forum members, my spelling and sentence structure is pathetic, I fryed my brains on drugs about 15 years ago, 10 years clean now. I've had a lot of PM's pointing out my mistakes, please stop sending them. My english is bad, but I know my Morgans!) >>



Hi Maddox. I think your sentencing structure, English and writing style are SUPERB. I would have never known that you "fried" anything as your posts are clear and informative. I congratulate you on the "10 years clean"! This proves beyond all else that you are a real winner! Keep up the great work and thank you for the great auction tips!

matteproof

Bear

Maddox - Your english and spelling is better then most and certainly better

then mine. I like your posting, keep up the good work. Regards Bear

braddick

I like the Friday and Saturday night ending- and Greg's idea of keeping it early enough for the East Coast bidders, but I honestly think the Sunday night closing is played.

So many auctions ending at the same time, it's easy for yours to get passed by.

Another hint: If it's PCGS or NGC, include that in the title. Many, many bidders bid on coins using "PCGS" (or, "NGC") as a search word.

Other key words that help (if the coin qualifies) is: "Rainbow" "Tone" "Toning" "Toned" "Color" "Colorful". The weakest of these is "Color" as you then compete against all those colored ASEs!

baccaruda

bear -

it's grammar, and better than mine.

Hoot

When I list a title, I always separate out the "MS" and the numerical grade, e.g., MS-64 or MS 64, versus MS64. The reason is simply that some folks search on "MS" for a given category and others simply by the numerical grade. I've found on eBay that if you list the grade as a single string of characters, the more specific searches are lost on it. Additionally, if one is listing an attribution, e.g. full steps or full head, that should also be separated out from the title.

Hoot

ursabear

Maddox,

Thanks for the great post idea. I like all of them.

To add, I use gallery pictures on eBay when I want to differentiate my auctions from the lists. I don't always gallery (my margins are teeny, and .25 is a good chunk of extra change sometimes). However, to show the buyers that there is more than a grainy picture in the listing, I tend to "gallery" a nice big obverse picture. I tend to get more "views" that way.

It is no issue to read your posts. Keep posting!

P.S. 10 years is a lot of showin' up and comin' back. I'm very glad for you.

Bear

Baccaruda I dont know what your talking about. Grandma has been dead for years.

baccaruda

lol - just kidding

ARCO

Scans are the most crucial part in my opinion. Holdered coins with reputable services sell at premiums, but even holdered coins can be problematic and not show in a lame scan. Throw up a huge scan, with all of the other pointers listed previously, and consistently give good descriptions and honest scans. A good reputation can be built in little time with solid integrity and forthright descriptions and scans.

Tyler

flaminio

<< <i>Another hint: If it's PCGS or NGC, include that in the title. Many, many bidders bid on coins using "PCGS" (or, "NGC") as a search word. >>



Furthermore, make sure to spell it correctly! For example. Conversely, sometimes deals can be had by searching for commonly misspelled words . Like this.

I would also say that if the coin is certified, no matter whom it is certified by, the slabber's name should be in the title. This helps people looking for your items find them, as well as people not looking for your items to avoid them.