New Selling Practices
As most, by now, are aware, Ebay rules change dramatically beginning May 1, 2008. These changes are almost universally opposed by Sellers, as they should be. Sellers are the only customer Ebay actually has since Buyers pay no fees at all to either Ebay or Paypal, yet, Sellers are being punished, in my view. Since I cannot change Ebay's policy, if I want to continue to offer my unique items for sale I must adapt. It has been said: "When you're through changing, you're through."
It has long been my belief that trust is something you earn over time, not a title bestowed upon everyone who wants it. I have spent 9 years and a thousand transactions building up my reputation, earning the trust of both my buyers and the sellers I buy from. The idea that a brand new member, someone with no history, or a newer member with a limited history, or a longterm member with an undesirable feedback profile, are worthy of the same trust as a long time member with a strong feedback profile is simply absurd. It is a well-known fact, for example, that new members will be quick to leave negative feedback the moment something goes wrong, as they see it, without giving the seller a chance to fix it and without understanding they cannot take it back. This is something that is learned with time and experience. Trust is earned and should be rewarded!
Over the next few weeks and months I will be experimenting with new methods and means of listing items. I am doing this to try and maintain the integrity of my auctions within the parameters that Ebay has established.
If any of my long time customers have any other ideas, please feel free to share them with me. Thank you.
Aggressive/Rude Bidders
Since the changes made by Ebay relating to Buyers/Sellers has taken effect, I have noted a dramatic uptake in aggressive and rude emails from "potential" bidders. A small minority of bidders/buyers is doing exactly as I thought they would with their new found freedom from responsibility, that is, they are making absurd demands and sending harassing emails. So, in an effort to clarify my position on the issue let me say a few things about this.
To my long established customers I offer my sincere thanks. To the new customers who have behaved respectfully and reasonably, I also offer my thanks. To those of you who think you are free to do and say whatever you want now thanks to no fear of negative feedback, your business is not wanted or needed, thank you.
Ebay is not my livelihood. I do not depend on my sales to make a living, as some do. If my item sells, or not, it has no effect on me whatsoever. I do this because I enjoy it (well, not so much lately) and because it offers me a venue to pass on my items to those who, usually, appreciate them. Anyone who thinks that their aggressive emails, quasi threatening remarks, are going to have any impact on my auctions is simply dilluding themselves. The only impact you are having is to force me to add you to my Blocked Bidders List, nothing more. Not only will I not change my selling practices for you or because of you, but you will NEVER have an opportunity to bid on my many unique items. If that is fine with you, great, because it is absolutely fine with me, too. So we agree. So please, just go away already!
Price Fluctuations During Auction
Sometimes, while my auction is running, the price will fluctuate up and down several times. I get asked all the time what is going on. The answer is quite simple. Sometimes buyers, or potential buyers, make me an offer and I accept it. I change the price to reflect that offer. I usually place a time limit on the offer, generally 12 - 24 hours, and if the buyer, or another Ebay member, does not come through within the promised time, the price is returned to where is previously was. I may do this several times during on auction for the right buyer (feedback profile). Still, many times they are unable to come up with the money or they simply change their mind. This is why my prices fluctuate up and down.
Authenticity
Many times I provide overwhelming provenance for an item and other times I have none. I only sell authentic items and my 100% positive feedback rating over a very long period of time supports that. If I state that the item is 100% guaranteed authentic, please, do not insult me and embarass yourself by asking if the item is authentic. In addition, if you have to ask if an item is authentic then you probably do not know enough about it to be bidding in the first place. Common sense should prevail.
Consignment
We have received inquiries regarding our willingness, or not, to accept items on consignment. We do on occassion accept items to sell for others, but those items must meet the same high standards that our own items meet. We will not list just anything for the sake of getting an item to list. We will only take those items that we believe best represents the level of quality that we want to convey to our customers. If your items are not of the highest quality then we will refuse the item, even if we feel we could turn a profit for you and for us.
We put many hours into preparing an item, researching the item, taking many pictures, writing appropriate ad copy, all of which is very tedious and time intensive. Because I am personally retired and do this, for the most part, for the great personal satisfaction it brings me, it is vital that the experience is enjoyable for me. I do not enjoy selling other peoples junk. I do enjoy taking high quality items that might need a little work to restore them, returning them to pristine condition, and then listing them for auction. Those are the items we look for and will accept.
We are extremely discreet, having never revealed the name(s) of any of our clients. More important, our auctions consistently have high traffic and bring in top dollar. If you have items that meet this criteria, do not have the time required to properly prepare them for auction, do not have the expertise to persuasively list your items, and do not have the established, long-term reputation required to effectively list items at auction, then contact us through the Ebay mail system or directly, at
a_distinguished_gentleman@hotmail.com, and we would be glad to talk to you.
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