Auction or Buy It Now?
By foxyfire33
@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
July 28, 2008 12:26pm CST
I have several lots of burp cloths I'd like to sell. Two sets of 3 in "boy colors" and two sets of 3 in "girl colors". They are patchwork on one side and solid on the other, all done in flannels and machine sewn. I'll be making more as well.
I've only ever used the auction format for other things but am wondering if it would be better to use Buy It Now for things like this.
Anyone with ebay experience who could help me out? Which way is a cheaper method? What are the advantages and disadvantages of either method?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Since it is something that you have multiple of I would do it as Buy It Now. If you list them as a regular auction format you would need to list them one at a time because otherwise people will bid on the other ones with no bids to get a lower price. Then you might sell all of them, but for a really low price. If you do it as a Buy It Now then you know what you will get for them and you can make sure it is worth your time.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
29 Jul 08
That's exactly what I was thinking too. I know I could just set the starting bid at a reasonable price and hope for the best but it's the low starting bids that get attention. I think a Buy It Now is a safer bet. Do you know if it costs more?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I'm in agreement with Lilybug on this one.
Definitely do a buy it now or else they will
whittle you down on your prices like at a yard sale!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
29 Jul 08
Listing fees are based on your starting price, so you would have to refer to the chart on eBay. http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html
When listing an item as Buy It Now it will tell you before you even list the item what your final value fees will be. I know it is a % of the selling price.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I do not have any experience at all Foxy, but I had to come in and say that the burp cloths sound lovely. Not only pretty but they are so practical. I always bought cloth diapers for this purpose, but it woould have been nice to have something prettier to take out with you... You need them on you all through out toddler hood as well....
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I always bought cloth diapers for burp clothes too until my youngest. I had a lot of nesting while pregnant with him and it all focused on making him things. By the time he was born I'd made all his burp cloths,receiving blankets and bedding, a new carseat cover, and I'd knitted him a sweater and matching hat. It just recently dawned on me that if I could make all that stuff then I can make it now and sell it!
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I've never used this site but several friends here at mylot have used it. Here's the link to it. http://www.etsy.com/
I do know there is a 20 cent charge per item you list. But I would think this would be a better site to list them rather than ebay.
Hope this helps!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I thought about that too. I have heard some say it's great and others say that they listed for a year and nver sold anythi9ng. I guess like any site it's hit and miss.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
21 Dec 08
One great advantage of buy it now is the option to list an item for 30 days (and it still costs the same as if you list for 1 day). With an auction, you simply can't do this (the most is 10 days for the UK website). I sell the majority of my items on auction as I often cannot accurately value an item, so I let the auction decide the items fate/value.
Why not put 1 set of each gender colour in an auction and then state in your description that you have more and if you would like to purchase more, give me a message? You could also make use of the 2nd chance offer too.
