Ebay question

[MonkeyPie]

I am looking to sell a ring. I have been trying to sell it on a few places (craigslist for one) but have only gotten one bite, and when the time came for her to pay, she backed out. (Thanks a lot, jerk.) So I am finally giving in to ebay, figuring I will reach more possible buyers.

I have never sold on ebay, so I'd like any suggestions or tips anyone could give me! Plus I am not sure where to start my bidding at. I am not willing to dip my price too low so I don't want to start bidding at a dollar or something like that. I'm also not sure how much to ask for the ring. I bought the stone custom cut for $350, it's one carat and a flawless pink spinel, and the setting elsewhere for about $100. (I'm trying not to give out too much info since I am pretty sure that's against the rules.) In a ring like this, how much would you be willing to pay? I don't know where to start but I'm tired of trying to sell it and getting nowhere!

Thanks all, you're always so helpful

 

[Hera]

I used to sell on eBay a while back and there's a few ways you can go.

1. You can put a reserve on your item and put a price that is the lowest you're willing to go as your reserve price. Then you put any price and let the bidders place bids.

2. You could put a starting price with the lowest amount you're willing to go.

3. You could do a "buy it now" price and put it on the amount you would like to sell it at. You could put a buy it now on the other options as well for people who might want to buy on impulse

I would compare the prices on the all three to see which is your cheapest option.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thank you! That helps a lot.

 

[yssie]

I've never sold on ebay, but as a buyer I hate and will automatically ignore listings with reserve prices.

The ploy is irritating - if someone wants a certain amount, why not just post that as either a starting price or a buy it now instead of wasting my time

 

[April20]

Reserve prices bug me too. I feel like it's a fishing expedition trying to figure out what the seller is really willing to take. If you have a minimum price, I'd rather see the minimum price as the starting point. I know that will put some bidders off, but do you really want the bidder that wants it for next to nothing? I think if you can post all the specs and documentation as to what it is and the quality, then the right bidder will know it's priced correctly and be willing to pay that.

On a side note, I really like a "Buy It Now" option. I HATE waiting for an auction to end when I really want something. I'll do a buy it now every single time when it's something I want.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

There is actually a very good reason for reserves and as long as the seller notes what their reserve is, I have no problems. Ebay charges in part based on what you make the initial listing price, so if you make it $1 and have a reserve of $100, you are paying 1/100th of what you would otherwise to ebay without getting ripped off by bidders.

 

[yssie]

That's interesting Brazen.


And yes, I'm also okay with that - at the end of the day long as the seller makes clear in the listing what the minimum price is, I don't really care how he/she does that, it's trying to hide that info that annoys me

 

[MonkeyPie]

That's a good point - I will be sure to make my starting point my lowest possible buy price, and an optional Buy It Now price, too. I don't mind reserves, or waiting for an auction to end, but I'd rather appeal to the masses