SHOCKING CASE STUDY: “Sale” vs “No Sale” When Selling On eBay
ByIf you’re not putting your items “on sale” when selling on eBay – then you’re leaving a wad of cash on the table for your competition to scoop up. Here’s why…..
I just wrapped up a year long case study where I tested putting items “on sale” -vs- “no sale” at all.
Now the reason why I tested this is simply because the “crowd” says that putting your items “on sale” every day will…..
- Cause you to make less money because your prices will now be lower
- Cause you to lose “buyer loyalty” from having “sales” repeat every day
- Cause your market to become “numb” or “blind” to your “sales” after seeing you have them all the time
- Cause you to lose “buyer trust” because shoppers know that “sales” are only a marketing tactic to get people to spend money
And to top that list off…..
The #1 reason the crowd said that putting your items “on sale” doesn’t work is because “sales” are DEAD. They’ve been around forever and are ineffective because people are tired of them.
Hmmmmm?
Now, if you’ve been on my list or have read my posts for any length of time, then you know that I test like crazy because “following the crowd” is like committing suicide when selling on eBay!
And it’s a good thing that I don’t like following the crowd either because these results were shocking!
Here’s the inside scoop of how it went down……
I took two of our businesses and tested them side by side for 12 months.
Both businesses….
- Are in the exact same market
- Sell the exact same product
- Have the exact same manufacture
- Are well established 4 year old businesses
- Have similar feedback scores and DSR ratings
- Have nearly the same amount of *annual traffic (1,823,425 to 1,824,914) *based on a 4 year average
- Have nearly the same amount of *annual sales volume (1263 units to 1287 units) *based on a 4 year average
- Have nearly the same amount of *annual gross sales ($658,023 to $670,527) *based on a 4 year average
Now, to keep the playing field level, I took “Business B” and raised the price so that when it’s “on sale”, both businesses would have the exact same retail price. And then I put those items “on sale” throughout the next 12 months.
That’s it – nothing else was done or changed to either business.
SIDE NOTE: (I know that I may have just rattled a few cages because some people think that “raising your prices” is somehow unfair, lying, cheating or ripping people off. The truth is, I did this for two reasons. First, to keep a level playing field and to show folks that you don’t have to lose money in order to put your items “on sale”. Second, to really emphasis again that price is always built around the “Total Value” of your ENTIRE offer – NOT the product alone. And because we already OVER deliver tremendous VALUE to our customers – raising the price was still a “no brainier” to them. Heck, from our test results below – we could have easily charged another 15% on top of that and they would have still lined up to buy from us.)
Here are the results…….
As you can see, both businesses were off just a bit in their “annual traffic” compared to their *4 year averages. But “Business B” still sold 528 more units than “Business A” from just putting our items “on sale” which resulted in us making an additional $275,088 in gross sales.
And that’s not all either…..
At no point in my year long testing did I experience ANY of the following:
- Making less money because I put my items “on sale” (nope, I raised my prices – so I didn’t lose any money and actually, I made more money because I had more sales)
- Lose “buyer loyalty” from having “sales” repeated every day (nope, it actually did the opposite and shot my “buyer loyalty” up with more repeat buyers)
- Cause buyers to become “numb” or “blind” to my on going daily “sales” (nope, remember – my annual sales volume went up, not down)
- Lose “buyer trust” because I participate in that so called marketing tactic of putting my items “on sale” (nope, they actually thanked me and referred more of their friends and family members to buy from me)
So why did this work?
It’s simple….. regardless of what the “crowd” says – people LOVE “sales”!
CONCLUSION:
“Sales” aren’t dead by any stretch of the imagination (nor will they ever be). If you’re not currently putting your items “on sale” when selling on eBay – you may want to.
Have a super great week selling on eBay!
Blessings,
Duane Hope
P.S. I collected a lot of data from this case study such as…..
- What % (5%, 8%, 10%, 13%, 15%, etc., etc.) causes more sales than others – (this was mind blowing because it wasn’t the higher %)
- What three words you must have in your listings to skyrocket your sales when your items are “on sale”
- Best times to start and end a sale – (this went totally against the grain)
- A cool trick when using the “markdown manager” that allows you to have a “sale” every day
- The 3 “Psychological Triggers” during a “sale” that instantly mesmerizes your market and seduces them to buy your products.
- How long a “sale” should last for maximum sales
- Plus a whole lot more….
If you’re interested and want to know this stuff – then post me a comment below and let me know. If I get enough comments – I’ll take the time to put it together and post it here for you.
But if I don’t hear from you – then I’ll assume that you’re not interested and I’ll just move forward.
Duane – thanks so much for sharing! Yes, I want to know more.
Thanks-Mike
You’re welcome Mike…..
And thanks for taking the time to post. That motivates me to want to share more with you about selling on eBay.
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
I’ve been following you for a while and everything you have taught me works. So count me in buddy!
Hi Greg,
Thanks for sharing and I really appreciate the compliment.
You’re counted in buddy!
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
Quick testimonial for you……
Ever since eBay made all those changes last year my traffic has dwindled along with my income that we rely on. But two weeks ago I read your post (I’m so grateful) about “balancing your listings in the market”. Well it took me a few more days than I thought it would take to get all my listings “balanced” but it was well worth it. My traffic is now averaging 645 unique visitors per day and climbing compared to just 114 two weeks ago. You’re an answered prayer! Thanks so much and God bless you. Karen
Hi Karen,
Congratulations on your traffic! That made my day
Not to mention the fact that it’s very humbling to know that you consider me an answered prayer. I’m glad I could help….. but I’m very proud of you for doing the work! Great Job!
Thanks for sharing……
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane, I’m new at this, but I would love to
hear more, thanks:-)
Hi Dinnia,
Congratulations on starting your eBay business and thanks for stopping by. I’ll count you in…..
Blessings,
Duane
I too am very new to E-bay in fact so new I haven’t started yet. I have been reading much of your posts and I feel I am learning so much that I am about ready to make the move.
Keep up the super work. Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the compliment. I really appreciate those
If you’re just getting started, then sell a “few” things around you house just to get your feet wet and learn the basic ropes of selling on eBay BUT don’t make a career out of it….. that’s the worst thing that you can do for many reasons.
After selling a “few” things – then make sure that you research your markets FIRST before just selling “anything”.
Remember, the “MARKET” is the “core” of your business. It will ultimately decide your financial outcome. Get this right and you’re set for life – get it wrong and well….. you’re hosed!
Thanks for stopping by
Blessings,
Duane
Duane,
Don’t worry about rattling peoples cages. Just keep bringing it brother!
Phillip
Hey Phillip,
Thanks for the support. I’ll keep bringing it on sir :-0
Blessings,
Duane
As a personal client of Duane’s private coaching program, I can tell you from experience that his forward thinking is light years ahead of everyone else. His stuff works!
Thanks Buddy!
CoolBeaner
Hi Robert,
Thanks Buddy! I am soooo PROUD of YOU and all of your success.
It’s an honor to be your coach
I appreciate you sharing those kind words.
Blessings,
Duane
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NOTE TO OTHER READERS:
Robert has been a continued student of mine for the last 4 years. He has gone through each of my private one-on-one coaching programs totaling more than $100,000 in tuition. He has since mastered eBay with well over 8 businesses (last count) that each do in excess of $500,000 per year. He is now focusing his efforts on building online empires through my mastermind group coaching program.
The reason I shared this is because I know that most people believe that I’m a great coach. But the truth is….. I have great students
Thank you Duane!
Count me in too
BTW: Any idea when I can get a copy of the auction market blueprint?
Hi Susan,
You’re very welcome….. I’m counting you in too.
Thanks for stopping by – I appreciate you!
Blessings,
Duane
BTW: The Auction Market Blueprint might be ready as soon as next week. I’m double checking the inside of the members area now
If all is well – I’ll be sending out an email soon. So keep your eyes peeled because it will be a very limited release (100) with first come first served.
duane i appreciate your time and wisdom keep it coming.
fyi: i had great results with “prime shopping time” it made a huge difference in our sales. thanxs
dave
Hi Dave,
Congratulations on your increased sales! Ain’t it amazing how small changes can make such a BIG difference in your sales when selling on eBay
Thanks for stopping by and sharing….
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
Thank you for opening my eyes with your case study. I’m interested in learning more about it.
Kind Regards,
Betty
Hi Betty,
You’re very welcome!
And thank you for taking the time to read it and make a post….
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
I’ve personally seen a lot of talk in the eBay forums surrounding this exact thing. That’s why I’ve been afraid to put my stuff on sale. Thanks for clearing up what most don’t have a clue about. And thanks for sharing. I’m excited. Send me more!
Jason
Hi Jason,
You have to be careful of “what” and “who” you listen to in the eBay forums. There’s some really great folks in there but there’s also some stuff that’s talked about that is total hog wash.
Remember – always test an idea and track your own results. Never follow the crowd and do what they do.
Thanks for posting!
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
Thanks for the great tips. Just to let you know I put my items on
sale also and see some good results. Please let us know more about your study.
Thanks
RK
Hi Ricky,
You’re very welcome! And thank you for posting your results. It looks like folks are interested in this so if the posts continue, I’ll be sharing the rest of the results soon.
Congratulations on your success!
Blessings,
Duane
Yes please! Tell us more!!
Thanks for your interest Mel!
I’ll count you in….
Blessings,
Duane
Thank you so much for the education. I am dying to know more…..analytics in any business is the way to set yourself apart especially eBay. I look forward to hearing more!
Namaste,
Kelley
Hi Kelley,
Thanks for stopping by….. And you’re very welcome!
I’ll count you in…..
Blessings,
Duane
Thanks for the great information. I don’t know if it would work for my sales model as I don’t sell new items. I would like to know more. Please keep them comming. What is this balanced listings that is mentioned in another comment? Thanks Mark.
Hi Mark,
Yes, putting your items on sale will work even if you’re not selling new items on eBay (as long as you use “fixed price” instead of “auction style”).
We have several businesses where we sell used stuff and the results have just been incredible as well.
Thanks for stopping by and posting. I’ll count you in….
Blessings,
Duane
BTW: The young lady (Karen Ginsberg) who posted her success results above of what happened after she took the time to “balance her listings” is referring to the post back from a couple of weeks ago.
You can read all about it here:
Thanks once again for the knowledge you so freely share. I particularly liked your suggestion last week about not listing items all at once, but spacing them apart so that we drive more traffic to our site. This summer has been a killer for my eBay sales diving 50%. They are now beginning to rise a little. Trying your advice not only drove more traffic to my listings, but I seem a little more disciplined performing the tedious task of getting a new listing together (pictures and all)as well as knowing when to relist the other stuff. Thank you very much for the lessons. I enjoy them.
Hi Kim,
Congratulations on your success!
Yes, “balancing” your listings equally, everyday throughout the entire month, is the key to getting more traffic – consistently every day. Just make sure that your are sending your listings out during your markets “prime shopping time” like I discussed on last weeks post. That alone is HUGE
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your success. I really appreciate it!
Blessings,
Duane
Dear Duane,
Thanks so much for your hard work and willingness to share another Awesome, $-in-the-bank, immediately-usable tip to treasure! Knowing how jealously everyone else would guard this Intel, makes us even more grateful. There’s just GOTTA be some way for us to reciprocate sometime.
I had specific plans formulated before reaching your additional available details — and yeah, sure I’m interested! I concede that your hard-earned, expertly planned, and meticulously tested methods are more likely to be successful, than my insta-hunches pulled from thin air (in my head).
p.s. what’s a “URI”? is that supposed to be a URL?
Hi George,
You’re very welcome!
I’m just glad to be able to help you and others accomplish quicker results that has taken me years to master. It makes all the long nights worthwhile every time I receive a testimonial where someone else just made it.
Your greatest reciprocate that I could ever wish for is knowing that you applied what I teach and that it moved you closer to your goals.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post. I’m humbled with your words of kindness.
Blessings,
Duane
BTW: I do believe that URI is the same as URL (I think)
Wow Duane…
Something that will work for anyone no matter what there selling on Ebay.
Proof that miracles do happen.
Please show us more…
Hi James,
Wow! Its been awhile sir. Great to hear from you!
And yes – miracles do happen! I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
I’ll count you in sir….
Take Care!
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
We have been using the balanced approach ever since you shared it with me in your private coaching sessions and it has made a huge difference to our traffic as has using the correct titles for your listings.
We have not tested the on sale feature yet but will have to give it a go.
Will keep you posted on the results.
Cheers
Darrell
PS send me the info we were discussing the other day and will get onto it for you.
Hi Darrell,
Hey Buddy – it’s good to hear from you.
Congratulations on your new eBay business launches! That’s the way to come in a new market and dominate the competition right out of the gate!
Remember – get businesses 3,4 and 5 launched asap.
Proud of you man!
Blessings,
Duane
BTW: I’ll send you that info soon. Thanks!
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NOTE TO OTHER READERS:
Darrell is another student of mine who after going through one of my private one-on-one coaching programs has just recently launched multiple “6-figure” eBay businesses within the last few months.
The reason I shared this is because I know that most people believe that I’m a great coach but the truth is….. I have great students
Duane
This is a GOLDMINE you just handed to us for free!
Thanks THANKS THANKKKKKS
I am a powerseller on eBay and would NEVER figure this out on my own because of what you stated about having constant sales. I thought they were useless. But you made close to a quarter of million more in Gross Sales in one year by doing this one thing.
You’re truly appreciated for this very useful tip.
And…. thanks for not posting some garbage article just to get some fresh content out there.
Did I say thanks?
Ed
Hi Ed,
I felt exactly like you did several years ago about having “sales”. And the reason I felt that way was simply because of all the negativity that I was reading in the forums.
But over the years I have learned to turn that noise off (actually – I never visit forums anymore) and stop following the crowd.
That allowed me to FOCUS on my businesses. And when I did – I noticed that what everyone else was saying and doing – was total hog wash.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate you!
Blessings,
Duane
Duane,
I have only implemented a couple of your tips, but already I am making more money. I’m in!
Guy
Hi Guy,
Congratulations on your results and I’m grateful that I can help….
I appreciate you taking the time to share your successful results with everyone and I’m counting you in…..
Blessings,
Duane
Hey Buddy!
Shocking results?
Yeah…… well, the shocking results for me is when I forget to put my “daily sale” up!
The first time that happened I got NO sales – NONE, NADA, ZIP, NOTHING! I had over 1,300 listings up too.
Having a “daily sale” is so powerful in my business that when I screw up and forget to put it up – I’m practically out of business.
As one of your grateful students, (I sold a million dollars on eBay in 2007….. but I didn’t have a clue!), I’ve learned how important having a “daily sale” is over this past year because when I don’t get my sale up – I get VERY little sales for that day.
I’d be willing to bet that most sellers are doing only 50% to 60% of the business they could be doing if they only knew your stuff.
But hey – you can’t give all your secrets away, right?
Duane – you’re the best thing that ever happened to an eBay seller. Man, you’ve breathed new life into this old dog.
Blessings on you Brother.
Jim
Hey Jim,
Congratulations on turning your business around! And I’m sooo PROUD of you!
And you’re are correct….. having a “daily sale” is very-very powerful when done right with a great offer that delivers tremendous VALUE.
Thanks for stopping by….. and I really appreciate the kind words too….
Blessings,
Duane
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NOTE TO OTHER READERS:
Jim is another student of mine who has gone through several of my private one-on-one coaching programs. Jim is like my modern day hero because the odds were stacked so high against him that there was very little hope that he would make it. You see, Jim was already doing 1,000,000 a year in gross sales but his net profits was like flipping burgers at McDonald’s.
But against all odds (not to mention the cut throat – super competitive market that he was in) Jim took his “burger flipping wages” from pennies to massive profits.
The reason I shared this with you is simply because I know that most people might think that I have magical powers or something. But the truth is….. it’s my students who makes me look like a magician
Duane,
I just found your blog about 3 weeks ago! Back in 2006 I used to read your comments all the time in the eBay forums where you were helping other sellers. Then I didn’t see you anymore. I’m sure glad I found you again!
Quick question, how does someone get into your coaching program? I have searched everywhere but cannot find anything about it.
Thanks for the great tips!
Bobby
Hi Bobby,
Wow! That was a long time ago…..
Yes, I stopped posting in the forums back in 08 because I just can’t help whimpers, whiners and complainers. That said, it wasn’t always a healthy environment because of all the negativity and pessimists. That in itself will drain you and keep you from succeeding…..
As far as my private coaching program goes – even though I stay booked 3-6 months in advance, the reason you cannot find anything is simply because I have never advertised or promoted it.
And the reason why is because my family has always came first. And so out of concern to keep my priorities in line, I’ve always kept it a low profile.
If you’re interested – just use the “contact us button” at the top of this page. My assistant Rachel will get it and send you the info.
Thanks Bobby!
Blessings,
Duane
I would love to know more!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for stopping by and voicing your interests. I’ll count you in…..
Blessings,
Duane
As a Brick and Mortar store owner, I could have told you this. But glad to see it works across platforms to e-commerce as well! People love to “think” they are special and are getting a special deal! Anywhere! Would love to read the details of your findings on this. Thanx, Duane!
Hi Michael,
Great to hear from you!
You’re right…. having a “sale” in brick-n-mortar businesses has worked great since the beginning. As a matter of fact, it’s so powerful (when done right) that companies like Kmart built their entire business model from “blue light specials”.
And the reason why having a “sale” is so powerful is because of 3 “psychological triggers” that instantly drives people crazy to buy your stuff. And hopefully we’ll get to talk about those in the coming weeks.
Thanks for stopping by and voicing your interests! I’m counting you in….
Blessings,
Duane
keep up the wonderful work.I need all the help I can get and then some.My sells were not good at all.Do you have guides?? I am ill alot so I don’t get to do ebay as much as I would like to. I do need your help’,giudes or any thing that leads me down the path to.success.Thank you very much.
Hi Dee,
Thanks for the wonderful compliment! I really appreciate that
I have created several FREE courses for you. Have you read the “7 DEADLIEST eBAY SINS” yet? If so, have you taken the time to apply what you’ve learned? The reason I ask is because that course in itself will help you make more money on eBay!
Another course that I created for you is called the “THE LAST FATAL 3“. And you can get a free copy here.
I hope this helps……
Blessings,
Duane
How exactly do you put an item “on sale” on eBay? I’ve seen them but doesn’t it require having an eBay store? If so I assume it’s worth getting a store for this reason?
Or is it as simple as writing something like “10% Off” in the auction description? Isn’t there a law requiring that you can prove the item normally sells at a higher price? How can you do this if the sale is 365 days a year?
Thanks
Hi SC,
Great questions….
Yes, you need an eBay store to be able to put your items “on sale”.
The benefits of having a store outweighs the small investment of $49.00 per month. Especially like having access to your traffic stats. That alone is priceless because of the wealth of information that I’m able to interpret about my market and what works and what doesn’t.
All “sales” are created with your “markdown manager”. They are “real” sales that start and end on the days and dates that you choose.
You should never fake a “sale”. Not only is it illegal BUT…. it totally destroys BUYER TRUST.
Here’s a link that I went and grabbed for you about eBay stores. There you will find out everything you need to know about whether a store will benefit you.
Thanks for stopping by and voicing your interests. I hope this helps…..
Blessings,
Duane
Okay Duane – I can’t take it anymore! You’re to modest…..
Folks, don’t let Duane fool you. He IS the sharpest tool in the shed! PERIOD!
I was once barley making enough money on eBay to pay my fees – let alone my bills. Then somebody told me about his 7 deadliest ebay sins. I read it. Applied what he said and started actually making profits that I could use to pay my bills.
His free stuff worked so good that I hired him to coach me and today (2 years later), I’ve been through all of his private coaching programs ($5k-bronze, $10k-silver, $15k-gold, $20k-platinum and $25k- titanium) and I keep him on a $5000 monthly retainer.
I didn’t share this to brag but rather to make a point. And that point is this….. nobody would continue investing that kind of money unless they were getting a SERIOUS ROI. Nobody!
The truth is – Duane’s tips, tricks, techniques and tactics work! And he should be charging folks for what he is so freely sharing on his blog. And I think if he did – then most people would actually start making more money on eBay because they now have a “vested interest” instead of getting it free.
Putting your items on sale works……. that’s why all of our businesses use the “free sale model” that Duane teaches.
Thanks Duane!
Terry
BTW…. The only problem with your coaching programs is that they are waaay to cheaply priced for the ROI that you get in return! I know you know that but seriously – you need to raise them.
Hi Terry,
I’m at a lose for words…….
There’s nothing I can add or take away from that except….. thanks for allowing me to coach you
I appreciate you stopping by – I”ll see you on next weeks coaching call.
Blessings,
Duane
Duane-
THANK YOU!
After I read your post two weeks ago about “prime shopping time”, I went and spent the next week redoing all my listings. I’m not sure if I did them exactly right but the results were pretty incredible for my little business.
I normally average about 10-14 sales per week but last week (and for the first time ever) I had 28 sales! I’m one happy camper to day the least!
Not to get greedy but can you teach that again one day in more detail? I want to make sure that I’m doing it right and not leaving “any money on the table” like you say.
Thanks – Byron
Hi Byron,
Congratulations! That’s awesome my friend! A little work in the right direction goes a long way doesn’t it…..
I don’t know when I’ll teach that so let me take a moment here to see if I can lay it out without turning it into a long course
Step #1:
Using your “traffic stats”, find your average “peak time” of traffic for the month. Remember, “peak time” is your highest point of traffic each day.
Step #2:
Once you determine when your average “peak time” is, next you want to calculate what your “prime shopping time” is. Remember, “prime shopping time” is up to 90 minutes before and as much as 90 minutes after “peak time” (just look at your traffic stats).
Example – if your “peak time” is 6:00pm, then your “prime shopping time” will be like from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.
Step #3:
Make sure you send your listings out “equally” every day throughout the ENTIRE MONTH. Remember, this “balances” the marketplace which yields you MORE traffic, CONSISTENTLY every day.
To do this, take the total number of listings you have and divide by 31. Whatever that number is – that’s how many you send out every day.
Example: If you have a 620 listings – take 620 and divide by 31 which equals = 20. So you would send out 20 listings per day.
Step #4:
Now take your number of listings to send out each day and divide that into your “prime shopping time” which in my example is from 4:30pm to 7:30pm which is 3 hours (60×3=180 minutes).
So you would take 20 listings and divide that by 180 minutes and bingo – there you go! You would send out one (1) listing ever 9 minutes starting at 4:30pm and the last one going out at 7:30pm.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for stopping by….
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane!
After reading the previous question/reply, I’m curious to learn more about the “prime time shopping”. I’ve never had a store, so do not know what the traffic stats would be like, but I wonder if it would still apply to me. In recent years in the category I sell in, I have as many or more international buyers as I do domestic. I literally sell around the globe. Is there a way to optimize the listing times when in my case buyers are literally shopping around the clock? Really interested in your response.
Thanks!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Great questions sir…..
Yes, “prime shopping time” applies to EVERY business on eBay – even those that sell worldwide.
We have several businesses just like yours – so let me share with you an example of how I set ours up.
When I look at our traffic stats – I have 3 average “peak times” for this particular business (3:00am, 10:00am, and 7:00pm).
The 3:00am and 10:00am is our international shoppers while the 7:00pm is our US shoppers.
My “prime shopping time” for each are:
1:30am to 4:30am
8:30am to 11:30am
5:30pm to 8:30pm
In this particular business, I have about 1860 listings. If I divide that by 31 days it comes out to be about 60 listings every day that’s going out.
All I do is send out those 60 listings equally during my 3 different “prime shopping times”.
In other words, I have 20 listings going out between 1:30am to 4:30am, 20 going out between 8:30am to 11:30am and 20 going out between 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Here’s the post on “prime shopping time“.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for stopping by……
Blessings,
Duane
Please count me in as well in for the coaching program as well
Ed
Hi Ed,
Sounds great! I’ll count you in sir….
Blessings,
Duane
Wow, this whole send me a news letter and respond to questions is very cool! Well thanks for doing all this, and I have a question.
I don’t have a sound card, so I can’t hear your video’s, I’m saving up for one right now lol, but anyways.
If everyone is selling the same items, with the same titles (nearly) and there is 215 pages in the searches how do you sell it?
I’m talking about Yugioh and Pokemon cards, there are so many people selling them, it seems I either have too lose money or spend $3.50 on listing fees to get it seen. I know your particular category probably isn’t Yugioh cards, but you know this kind of stuff. What 55 characters will show up better in the search results, and STILL grab the buyers attention?
Thanks,
~Dan
Hi Dan,
Great question…..
You have several things happening here so I’ll do my best to keep the answers to the point. You may not like what you here so don’t get mad at the messenger
First, never enter a market unless you can create wealth. The market you’re in is too competitive of the worst kind (cut throat, undercut price game, poverty conscious, people who just want to make a buck).
Second, only about 2% of all eBay sellers actually know how to get traffic much less dominate it. Of that 2%, only a few of us know how to master “keyword balance” ( it takes both industry keywords and descriptive keywords to dominate)
Also, once you master the title box – there are other factors that determine your traffic exposure like DSR scores, price, shipping, sales and so on just to name a few.
Keep in mind that all of this ONLY “exposes” you to the traffic in eBay’s marketplace. To actually get the “traffic” – you must use your “sub title box” or a “picture overlay” with a BENEFIT focused call to action that makes them want to click on your auction.
Third, don’t loose money to make a sale – just make your “offer” better than your competitions. In other words, don’t lower your price – but rather RAISE the VALUE of what you’re offering with bonuses, free shipping etc., etc…)
I hope this helps….
Blessings,
Duane
P.S. If you haven’t read the “7 DEADLIEST eBAY SINS“, then I suggest that you do. If you have – then I suggest going back and reading it again. Everything you’re talking about is covered in that course.
Hi, I opened an eBay store minutes after reading your reply a few days ago.
However there is one factor that severely harms the benefits for me, I sell only 3-5 different products and eBay does not allow duplicate listings of items in fixed price format which is required for a sale, this means I’m limited to 3-5 listings “on sale” at a time, and with a minimum listing time of 3 days this means my listings are only at the top of the list once per 3 days.
It’s for this reason I sell most of my items on auction format so I can list several of each item so I have many items ending every single day. In fact I had one item on fixed price only at 1 listing per 3 days, and I just recently started listing in multiple auctions ending several times a day and that alone at least tripled the sales of that item.
What’s the best solution in my situation considering I only have 3-5 different products to sell (they are all products I make myself) so I can only have 3-5 listings “on sale” at any time. Should I put each item both on sale in fixed price AND on multiple auctions? I could link from my auctions to my store items that are on sale.
Also, when you say you have a sale 365 days a year, I assume you mean that at any given time you have some items on sale and some that aren’t, not that every one of items is on sale 365 days a year?
By the way, I’m dying to see one of your eBay accounts so I could get a real life example of what listings should look like, because there are a lot of things you say to do that I simply have no idea how to do, but seeing examples would help tremendously if you do not mind sharing the username of one of your businesses.
I also noticed the prices you recommend I sell my product all end in 7 dollars such as $47 or $97, I’ve also recently signed up to a site to help get through these hard financial times and the price also ended in 7. So obviously I have to ask, is there a secret to ending a price in 7 that helps sales since all experts in this field have prices ending in 7?
On a similar topic, what’s your opinion on the pennies in the price, assuming the dollars end in 7 which seems to be a magic number, is it best to charge $47.00 or $47.99 or $46.99 or something else?
Thanks a lot for all your information
Hi Sacha,
Great questions!
Please understand that there is no way that I can do you or your questions any real justice within a “reply”. Things that you are asking requires more in-depth explaining, training and time that can only be derived from my personal coaching program.
Plus, I would need more detailed information about your business before I could make intelligent decisions on what should be done.
However, I will answer your questions with what I have to work with…..
First: I can create 100 different listings of your 3-5 products by packaging them all differently and still be within eBay’s “no duplicate listing” policy. And on the other hand, I can list each of your 3-5 products once a month and still dominate the traffic and do $100,000 per month. It just all depends on what angle you want to attack the market from.
Second: If you’re using “fixed price” format – you should never list your items for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. It should always be Good Till Canceled (GTC).
And the reason why is because “fixed price” falls under a totally different set of “search algorithms” for “best match” which is different than “auction” format. So listing your items every 3-5 days doesn’t do any good as far as gaining more traffic (actually, it hurts your traffic but that’s a story for another day
.
Third: I would have an eBay store just for gaining access to my analytic reports. That alone is worth the $49 bucks every month. Its made us hundreds of thousands because I can interpret what my market is doing…. and test what works and what doesn’t.
Fourth: To maintain the highest integrity, character and fairness with my coaching clients, I do not share our eBay businesses outside of my private coaching program. Having access to the inside of our eBay businesses is a special privilege only for my clients as part of their training program.
Fifth: Yes, I actually start and stop a “sale” EVERY day throughout the year. There is a clever (but legal) way to do this.
Sixth: Yes, there is a lot of psychology behind the number “7″. I have tested this for years and “7″ always sells more. Maybe I can teach about it one day on the blog if there’s enough interest from all the other readers.
Seventh: I would recommend that if you’re profitable with “auction” format listings, then use that for now. You only want to test ONE thing at a time so you can measure what’s working and what’s not.
I would find my “prime shopping time” for your market and then list my auctions accordingly. If my “prime shopping time” is multiple times throughout the day – then make sure your listings are going out during ALL those times.
Then, come back and learn all the tricks, tips and tactics about “fixed price” formats….
I hope this helps!
Blessings,
Duane
Duane,
Good stuff – I have seen some of the same items you’ve discussed – will be interested to see the follow up – please take the time to post.
Thanks,
Benn
Hi Benn,
Thanks!
I really appreciate you stopping by, reading this mile long post and complimenting me. I’ll count you in sir
Blessings,
Duane
Thanks a lot for the detailed reply and I fully understand you not wanting or having time to share all the details for free.
I have another small question, I have yet to find where I can see my peak traffic time reports as well as reports showing which keywords are being used to find my products even since I have my eBay store (the mid level at just under $50 a month). Isn’t an eBay store supposed to include those features? That’s the reason that convinced me to sign up for it immediately and days later I still haven’t been able to find these reports anywhere and I’ve wanted access to this information for years.
So how and where do I see the peak traffic and keyword reports?
Thanks
Hi Sacha,
It’s NOT about not sharing the details for free. It’s ALL about time, character, integrity and honoring my word
When you first get an eBay store – there is a “period of time” that has to elapse before your stats are working. It used to be 15-30 days but you”ll need to check with eBay for the exact time frame.
To access your traffic reports – just look for a link that says “traffic reports” inside of your “my eBay” underneath “selling manager pro”.
I hope this helps…
Blessings,
Duane
Hi Duane,
I took a couple weeks off for some realaxation in Hawaii. I am back now and have been catching up on your articles. I love this idea. I asked our owner about this, and he said many of the things you posted. I will be showing this article to him to plead my case. I like it! Thank you so very much.
Cheers,
-Josh Y
Hi Josh,
I appreciate you stopping by and voicing your thoughts. I’m glad these posts resinate with you.
Congrats on your long over due vacation!
Blessings,
Duane
Well heres an update.
I have been buying and selling Yugioh cards for the past week, even with the rough competition, and I have made a good $300 doing small trading. I actually BUY from the competition and sell there cards for 4-5x more.
I get a lot of views and watchers because of the tips you gave, thanks! And now with 25 more title characters its crazy easy!
Hi Dan,
Congratulations!
That’s just awesome….. and not to even mention the fact that you’re buying from your competition and then selling their cards for 4-5 times more than they are!
Very Slick
I’m glad that you’re making money on eBay with our tips.
Keep up the great work!
And thanks for sharing….
Blessings,
Great tips Duane while reading through your comments.
I have a couple questions for you though,
You said its best to list fixed price items as good till cancelled (GTC), so then the “prime time” doesn’t apply to those I am guessing? Do you then use shorter duration auctions to help drive traffic to your store or just rely on people doing keyword searches?
I would also be interested to see a blog post about the “7″ and the effect it has when it comes to sales. I did notice in the audio training with Jim that you used prices ending in 7 almost every time.
Thanks.
P.S. Can’t wait until my business is large enough that I can do the one-on-one coaching with you like some of the others have.
Hi Rob,
Great questions and I’ll do my best to answer them without opening up a bag of worms….
We use “fixed priced” format in all of our businesses and we set them all up with GTC. We do not use “live auction” format.
Now there are many reasons why we do this but unfortunately, if I tried to explain it here – I would be here for days and probably confuse a lot of folks.
But here’s the most important answer to your question….
Regardless of formats, you’re listings should ALWAYS be sent out during “prime shopping time”….. ALWAYS!
As far as the number “7″ – If there’s enough interest out there, I’ll be happy to teach on that.
And yes, I would love to have you as a client in my coaching program. You are coachable, leadable and teachable – and that’s what it takes
Have a super great week selling on eBay!
Blessings,
Duane
Thanks for the reply, to both this post and my e-mail, and on Sunday to boot. World class customer service right there.
So in effect what you are doing by posting GTC listings during prime time is driving traffic while at the same time expanding your store inventory. I assume you run those listings until the manufacture lets you know that item is no longer going to be available?
Thanks
Rob Mirsky
Hi Rob,
You’re very welcome sir!
Great question too….
One of the reasons (among many) of why we use GTC is that it free’s us up so that we’re not tied down doing mundane tasks.
Yes, because we master the “title box” – it EXPOSES us to the traffic in eBay’s marketplace. And because we mastered the “sub title box” – we get TRAFFIC to “click” our listings.
There’s a BIG difference in the two!
As far as running those listings until the manufacture let’s us know that the item is no longer available – keep in mind that we create “Profitable Product Partnerships”.
So we don’t partner with companies who cannot keep up with our demand.
I’ll explain all of this in detail in your “surprise bonus”. I’d rather not get into it here because it will confuse folks and I don’t want to do that.
Have a super great week selling on eBay!
Blessings,
Duane