Waiting them out on eBay

I'm never in a hurry to turn over sales items. If they don't go right away, they will eventually, and if they don't take up much space, what's the problem?

Anyway, I had a nice piano keyboard (not Fender but of that quality) on eBay at $1,200 in a buy it now or make offer listing. It was for local pickup as it was two pieces and each weighed over 80 pounds and they were big too.

Thirty days go buy, couple of watchers, no offers.  Relisted it for another 3 days. Couple of days in a guy from about 75 miles away offers $800 and I take it. Says it will be buy two mornings later. We exchange info for the pickup. I get up 2 hours before the pickup...email waiting for me which said basically "WE, just don't have enough in our budget right now for this."  Translation: My wife says I can't get it.

Three weeks go by. Woman 400 miles away in L.A. are offers $1,000. I take it. Time passes..no communication AT ALL.  Finally, put in a case with eBay. Takes the usual amount of time to get it through, but it does.

Now the 3rd 30-day listing comes up. A week in a guy pays the full-tilt $1,200 asking price using PayPal. I'm in my glory having proven (after two failed attempts) that there is "always" someone who will come through.

The delivery of this item was interesting, but that is ANOTHER story.

Moral is: don't give up on an item and hold out for bigger bucks..especially if you got it cheap.
The keyboard above set me back $180 at a piece by piece auction.

Since it was a buy it now listing, you should've had the immediate payment required option checked.

Since it was a buy it now listing, you should've had the immediate payment required option checked.

Unfortunately in my case, they won't let me set immediate payment requirement because I do not have an eBay store. I don't know if MM has an eBay store. I think it is their wayu of forcing people to get a store. I do not sell enough consistently to justify the monthly expense myslef.

Since it was a buy it now listing, you should've had the immediate payment required option checked.

I'll look into that next time but I have only had maybe 6 non-paying situations in 10 years, so don't know how important it is.

Would that option stop people from making offers if they didn't have that much cash available at the moment they make the offer ?

Also, since I didn't want to take PayPal (cash upon pickup) that might be a reason NOT to use it.
The PayPal fees on an amount like $1,200 are not small...I'd rather have that cash at pickup  going to me rather than to them. It's a trade-off I guess, but as I said, only happens maybe .5 to 1 time a year.

Unfortunately in my case, they won't let me set immediate payment requirement because I do not have an eBay store. I don't know if MM has an eBay store. I think it is their wayu of forcing people to get a store. I do not sell enough consistently to justify the monthly expense myslef.

I don't have a store. Ten years ago I studied it and couldn't see the advantage over the cost (I think it's about $15 a month). At that time they had a tiered cost for placing an ad. That's when a lot of people started ANY item at .99 cents...that was a free listing.  If you had an item you wanted $200 for and you started it at $100 it might have cost you a $1.50 or something.

I know RFR will say you get higher placement in listing placement, etc, but I've never had trouble with that anyway, so whatever perceived advantages there are to having a store, I just don't buy it. But unlike RFR, I'm not netting $20K a month in sales. 

I don't have a store. Ten years ago I studied it and couldn't see the advantage over the cost (I think it's about $15 a month).

To me the 2 biggest advantages are only .20 to place a 30-day BIN listing and shipping discounts.

i was just on the phone with ebay regarding this same issue. having stale items sitting for months isn't good. first off if something doesn't sell for a few weeks ebay puts it at bottom of best match search as guy told me they are in the business of selling stuff not sitting on stuff. secondly it somewhat harms your overall account and standing in best match as well as it hurts your STL or ssell through rate. they recommended dropping prices or pulling items that dont sell afte rlike 2 months.

To me the 2 biggest advantages are only .20 to place a 30-day BIN listing and shipping discounts.

See, I don't get that. I don't think it costs me much to list an item for 30 days (less than a $1.00 anyway, if that).

Now if there are significant shipping discounts, that might be another story. What type of discount are we talking about?

Almost without exception I charge a $3.00 packing/handling charge and I let them know about that upfront (if they're even half way smart and read what's happening) so no surprises.

Still, I am not running at 5.0 on the shipping/handling....only 4.8. Guess I can live with that considering that my $3 charge goes toward offsetting eBay/PayPal fees.

I do "free shipping" on some lightweight items. Beyond me how any buyer can't figure out that the price has been inflated to COVER that free shipping, but I guess the word FREE does wonders...not in every case as witness the FREE service that some companies offer that don't seem to get them a lot of business.

Anyway, everyone should use what works for them.

The store has other advantages. Ebay charges, on average, 10% for each sale. Sometimes more depending on the category. Ebay store owners pay an average of 7-8%. Also, store owners get more free listings, which Ebay is offsetting by giving away boatloads of free listings every month. Store owners also get other marketing tools.. That being said, if you aren't listing 100-150 items a month, it's not worth it.

That being said, if you aren't listing 100-150 items a month, it's not worth it.

Safe to say I fit in that category. 

See, I don't get that. I don't think it costs me much to list an item for 30 days (less than a $1.00 anyway, if that).

Now if there are significant shipping discounts, that might be another story. What type of discount are we talking about?

Almost without exception I charge a $3.00 packing/handling charge and I let them know about that upfront (if they're even half way smart and read what's happening) so no surprises.

Still, I am not running at 5.0 on the shipping/handling....only 4.8. Guess I can live with that considering that my $3 charge goes toward offsetting eBay/PayPal fees.

I do "free shipping" on some lightweight items. Beyond me how any buyer can't figure out that the price has been inflated to COVER that free shipping, but I guess the word FREE does wonders...not in every case as witness the FREE service that some companies offer that don't seem to get them a lot of business.

Anyway, everyone should use what works for them.

your better of rolling product cost into shipping. its an automatic 5 sstar for dsr and also you get better best match ranking offering free shipping. im sure buyers know shipping costs are rolled in but dont think about it. they are paying the same price whether you roll it in or add it on top so you may as well help yourself out and get the 5 star dsr and better ranking