Tag Archives: eBay seller

eBay Buyers and Sellers Perception – Is It Reasonable?

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Thinking About Expectations

Thinking About Expectations

When scanning Randy Smythe's blog - "My Blog Utopia" I came across a post by "BMX" (i.e. Best Match Expert) on a new blog "Dollars and e-sense". 

The post (The reasonable person, does this include eBay buyers?) has many very valid points regarding the eBay Buyer and the worlds view of eBay as a shopping venue. Mainly the article therorizes eBay is perceived worldwide as a place to find incredible, unreasonable, bargains.

Essentially, BMX is pointing out what most eBay sellers already know about the eBay Auction shopper.  They all are looking for unreasonably good deals.  I think the same can be said for a majority of the one of a kind and collectible eBay auction sellers. 

Many sellers come to eBay expecting to find incredible profit from items listed at 99 cents. It is no surprise really when you factor in the multiple high profile media reports of outrageous profits made from seemingly mundane items found in everyday locales.  

The facts of the matter are much different. 

Rare and valuable merchandise is available in the deep nooks and crannies of attics and garages, but repeatable, profitable merchandise is what builds a sustainable business. 

As a Seller, are your expectations reasonable?

  • Do you expect more profit from your merchandise than is reasonable?
  • Are you expecting to hit a home run on every listing, only to be disappointed?
  • Do you blame the buyers for thinking in much the same way as yourself, only with the opposite expectation?

For some sellers it is time to think hard about the buyers, think about the expectations of the buyer and then evaluate your own expections. Are you offering the buyer what they want?  Offering what the buyers want is the only way to succeeed on eBay or in any merchandising pursuit. Lets be reasonable...

www,freedictionary.com defines the word reasonable here:

1. Capable of reasoning; rational: a reasonable person.
2. Governed by or being in accordance with reason or sound thinking: a reasonable solution to the problem.
3. Being within the bounds of common sense: arrive home at a reasonable hour.
4. Not excessive or extreme; fair: reasonable prices.

Read the excellent post about eBay buyers expectations by: BMX here:

http://dollarsandecents.blogspot.com/2008/08/reasonable-person-does-this-include.html

What Kind of eBay Seller Are You?

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Think of eBay as an ecosystem...

eBay Ecosystem

As in any ecosystem, members of the community depend upon one another. The eBay ecosystem is composed of buyers and sellers - without one or the other the system falters and all become extinct.  As in any ecosystem, different classes of organisms compete for survival.

The sellers in this ecosystem are comprised of occasional sellers, part time sellers, somewhat professional sellers, Powersellers and the Mega Conglomerate Super-sellers.

The question is, what kind of eBay seller are you? 

I see eBay as a community, and as in every community there are different status levels, income levels, outlooks, thoughts and fears among those who participate in the community.  The community as a whole seems cohesive from the outside, but when one wades into the inner workings of any community, a whole range of thoughts and ideas about the community ecosystem and its rules will become apparent.

As eBay members and sellers, we must keep in mind the simple facts of life in any community. Some rules work fine for some members, yet the same rules are looked upon as a poison by other members.

As a community grows and becomes larger, the dominant forces gain more control.  The rules are set by those people and as in any community, those people should have the greater good of all of the community members in mind when creating new rules or laws or fees.

Do you think the powerful members of this eBay community have the entire ecosystem's health in mind when they undertake the task of changing how the community operates?  If you believe in the people who are holding the reigns and think they have our best interests at heart, try to take a step back and see what kind of real effect any new rule will have on the entire ecosystem, not just your small part.

If you do not believe in the idea that the people in charge of this community have the greater good in mind when setting the rules, then it may be time to find another community.

These are the harsh realities of the community in which we live and do business in every day.  Times change, life goes on.  No one ever said eBay would be a fixed price deal.  No one ever promised it would always stay the same.

You do not have to agree, but you should think about putting the energy you have wasted on complaining about changes to work in a new and creative way.  Find a new marketplace, adjust to the changes and use eBay in a different way.

eBay is simply a tool - nothing more.  It is a very large and somewhat costly tool if you do not know how to use it correctly.  But in the hands of a skilled craftsman, even the most expensive tools can save money when compared to using cheap tools which waste time or energy.

What kind of eBay seller are you?  One who uses cheap tools or a real craftsman who knows how to make expensive tools save money?