Selling on Ebay..?

[looobylooo]

Afternoon all, hope you're all having a lovely day so far.

Ok, I need some help from you Ebayers out there if I may please! lol.

Recently I returned to an old hobby of mine, making personalised, hand painted pictures on glass frames (and I'm loving it!), for special occasions ie 21st birthday, New Baby, Good Luck etc etc..

A few have gone to friends and family as gifts, who have all been delighted with them, and suggested I try selling them on Ebay, saying they'd do well beings they're personalised etc, and would make nice presents..?

Soo, I nervously/excitedly plucked up the courage the other night and set up an account on there and listed a handful of my paintings
(it took me HOURS! lol)

The only thing is, I don't seem to have had any 'views' yet!
So I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing something wrong, due to having No experience whatsoever with selling on there!
Orrr, are people ''wary of buying from a new seller with No/low feedback..?

I've listed them as a Buy it now (not auction) And they're up for 30 days, and as far as I know I've written a decent 'description' with each one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated please, as I feel a little bit disheartened and would really love to sell a few bits of my work!

Thank you :o)

[cathfromsaron]

ditto!

it's really early days yet, plus facebook and etsy are more suitable for unique and precious items!

good luck!

cath x

[looobylooo]

Ok, will do. Shame I couldn't correct it though. Never mind.
Like you say, I'll know better next time, eh!

Thanks Winner, thanks Cath

And thanks again to Everyone who's popped along, to try and help me :o) xx

[looobylooo]

Well my views have gone up, thanks to you lot!! LOL

And I've even got a watcher!! lol - is that any of you, by any chance??! lol

[TheWinner]

I struggled with my listings when I first started, but within weeks was selling worldwide.
I hope that gives you confidence.
We all started not knowing what we were doing.
Good luck.

[looobylooo]

Ah Thank you Winner, that's kind of you.

Oh I've struggled alright! lol .. My head's banging!
I've been on it flippin HOURRRS!!! lol ... ahwell, all in good fun eh,
And IFFF I get to sell one, then it'll all have been worth it :o)

[tinkerbell23]

Also- sometimes i search for things "time ending soonest" so mabye your listings arent at the top of the list yet!

Use good keywords, they are cracking really good idea!

Make a listing for them all i think id do and say "new baby christening 18th 21st 40th 50th birthdays weddings anniversarys christmas " blah blah and put a variety of photos on!!

Good luck...you wil be hooked xx

[baza]

tinks why are you not in bed, youve got an early start.

[parkie]

Just seen your thread loobyloo and also looked your eBay sit. I think it's a brilliant idea.
I've no immediate requirements but will certainly bookmark your site.

[looobylooo]

Parkdale, ah that's so lovely! Thank you, I'd be more than happy to sort you out a nice little painting some time! :o) x

Tinkerbell, thanks and hope your first day went well! :o) x

I've posted up some Much clearer photos on there, as suggested, and they look so much better! so thanks for the tip Mazie! :o) x

[boxtops]

Looby, I think you have too much in your heading - it's not what I would search for, and I've been selling on eBay for a while.

The one you're showing, I'd title as something like "good luck glass plate, pink pig design" - then people can search on good luck, plate, pig (people collect pigs) - then you can put more details in your sub title or in the text of the description. If someone searches eg 21st, they will come up with thousands of links, you want yours to stand out.

You can justify the price in the description by saying this is a hand-painted piece of craftwork.

I do think it would be helpful if you had a second picture there showing the whole item. From the pig pic, you can't see the edges of the plate.

I hope this helps!

[boxtops]

^ also, I am intrigued that you have a 30-day listing - my max available is 10 on the dropdown menu - have your started out as a business seller rather than an individual?

[bednobs]

i think there is a problem but i wouldn't know how to overcome it. If i didn't know what to get someone for a pressie, i wouldn't think to myself "perhaps i'll look for a handpainted piece of glass" It simply would not enter my head, even though i probably would buy one if i saw it

[looobylooo]

Thanks Boxy, Thanks Bednobs, good points..!

Ok, I will go in and change the title then. Gawd, the times I've revised these items! lol
No, as far as I know I've registered just as normal seller..!?... I just muddled my way through, as I've not sold before.
How do I check please?! I want to get it right.

There should be 3 pictures on each posting..
1) a close up as someone suggested to show them in more detail
2) showing the painting IN the frame
3) a group photo of the few paintings I've done so far.

THanks for nipping along and your comments!

[looobylooo]

I've just been intouch with Ebay to ask about the Private/Business seller thing, and asked them to check my account for me.
Yes it's showing as a Private account, so I'm ok.
There is a 30 day option when you list Buy it Now items.

[EDDIE51]

You have 3 photos on a listing and its 'Buy it now' that is why the fees are £5.50. 30 days is along time, most people don't look at stuff until the last few days or even hours. I agree that the stuff is in the wrong category 'hand painted crafts' is much better. I would just do 1 photo with a selection of all the ones available then let people choose which they want ( much cheaper) You can describe each picture in the listing itself and how they can be personalised. As a title I would describe them as 'Individual ,Personalised Hand Painted Picture' or something along those lines. Do you sell internationally ? if not do so , I sell over 80% of my stuff outside UK. I would list in 2 categories as well , more views, ( is there a category for Birthday gifts)

[kendra20]

I know it can be heartbreaking not getting a responce i've tried it. But have you tried having stall at a car boot, market, craft fair etc. I sold more of my stuff in one day than i did on ebay. and you get to chat to buyers. the secret is dont overprice things. and dont expect to make huge profits. the outlay is minimal and you dont have the bother of posting stuff. good luck hope you do well.

[boxtops]

I agree with Eddie - you are paying extra for extra photos and for your Buy It Now.

Rather than fiddling about with it now, why don't you wait until your 30-day listings have expired, then when you have the opportunity to relist, Edit the listings then. Find a better category and title, go for auction rather than BiN, with a starting price of the minimum that you want to accept, go for 10 days maximum, and perhaps use 2 pics instead of 3. That'll keep your prices down. Watch out too for eBay free listing days - the next one's due in a couple of weeks. You still have to pay for extra pics but the basic listing will be free if you go for Auction style.

[mazie]

E Bay allow 12 pictures for free

[boxtops]

Does it depend on which category though, mazie? I'm paying for a second pic on a couple of mine....

[looobylooo]

Thank you all for your recent replies, much appreciated!

I spoke to Ebay re the £5.55 charges and sorted it.
They checked and said it was when I was revising the items, something was automatically ticked in the photo section, opting for a fancy photo pack, or something, which of course I didn't want.
So once that was unticked, I was ok again.

All my photos on there are free too, so I'm not over paying for the 3 I have on there.

Re the listing my items in the wrong catagory - Home & Garden.
I'm confused! lol, because when I searched for other 'personalised home made birthday, wedding items etc, Alot were listed in there (seems strange I know) but that's why I chose it too(?!)
It then let me click on 'occasions/celebration, then more occasions etc, and then birthdays' too.

Noo, I haven't opted to sell internationally!
Gawd, I want some selling confidence under my belt by staying closer to home, before venturing far and wide! lol.
This is all totally new to me, and to be honest I'm rather bamboozled by it all lol.

I opted for the 30 day listing because that meant I only pay 1 insertion fee (40p) rather than paying a lesser fee every 10 days when the item doesn't sell.

I might try auction next time then if it would help. Worth a try anyway. So I will keep an eye out for the free listing days.
From what I can gather, it looks like I can change it to auction at any point anywat. So I'll see how it goes..

You say most people leave it till near the end of the listing time, but that doesn't apply if it's a Buy it now, does it..?

My view counts have gone up loads since I posted on here for help. So I'm not sure if the views are ALL from people on here or what? lol.
And I have 3 watchers too, but again, are they from here aswell??! lol..

A craft fair/boot sale is a good idea, but I don't think it would be ideal for me.
I can't really mass produce the pictures I do to make my stall look inviting and attractive, because each one takes so long to do.
And I'd not really be comfortable, or able to take the time I take in doing the good job I do, in personalising the picture, if the person was there waiting..! lol.

Oh, it's still early days yet. They might do ok, they might not (probably not, lol) They're not every ones cup of tea, I know...
But at least I tried, eh xx :o)