Some Further Thoughts on eBay Sales

Two weeks without a post. So much for reform. I will keep trying to do better.

Last week was busy. Besides trying to get a lot of ads posted on eBay, with only moderate success, I had jury duty, a taxiing obligation for the mother of a friend of my wife's, and the Stanley Cup playoffs. After working nights for so many years and having to listen on the radio or sort of watch on the internet, it seems I just have to watch every game that is televised. We got to the Devils-Senators game Saturday night, after going to a granddaughter's first communion. Long day, long week.

Just a couple thoughts on jury duty. First, I really lucked out. It is supposed to be a one week obligation but my number was excused for Monday but ordered in for Tuesday. At the end of Tuesday, after being in the pool for one trial but not selected, I were told that we were done, see you in three years. Well, I did my bit. They need a lot of people to select from, and even if you aren't selected for anything, at least you helped provide the depth of the pool needed.

As for eBay, postings are up to about 830 and the proportion of sales to ended listings is at about 20%. The number of listings seems to be the key, so I'll keep plugging along. The older ads continue to be the biggest sellers, but not all. I haven't figured out any percentages. My feelings about whether an ad will sell seem to be completely irrelevant. Some I have almost not even listed had sold fast and ones I think are neat are still up there. It has to be just some function of who happens to find what they are looking for, which seems to me to indicate volume and variety.

My brother keeps busting me about typos. Thanks, Rick. I'll keep trying there as well.

Happy Monday.

Some Analytical Thoughts on Sales

It seems that everytime I've checked, my sales have been between 15 and 20 percent of the ended listings. If that percentage were to hold true, and the number of completed listings got up in the couple thousand range, it would be a pretty good income.

Total current listings are approaching 600. I'll keep slogging and report back. It takes a while to get things listed, so you might not want to hold your breath.

I also did some studying of the sold ads, and, as mentioned last time, they are of the fishing, boating and WWII genre, but I noticed one more important fact: Most of them were pre-1960 (about - I just remember that they are older).

My hundreth positive feedback showed up today, along with the turquoise star. That feels like a milestone. Fifty didn't seem that long ago.

I'm also finding some fun at MyBlogLog - it's a friendly and fun place it you want to check it out.

Happy Monday.

Thoughts on eBay Sales—So Far

The first ads I listed on eBay where from fishing magazines, because that is what I like. There were ads for boats, lures, rods, reels, and the like. It sort of fits in with the Hot Dogs and Bait theme.

As I studied the ads—believe me, by the time they are removed from the magazine, scanned, described and listed, they have been studied—I became fascinated with the World War II era ads. Most of the companies which had been making sporting goods (reels, rods, lures, boats, outboards, guns) were only making things for the war effort. One ad said something like, Tie your lure on really well— you cant't get another until the war is over. Many of the WWII ads were simply tributes to the troops and the company's efforts in making things for them.

In reviewing completed sales on eBay, I saw a lot of other types of ads and expanded my subject matter to include just about anything that appeared in front of me.

Some analysis of my sales to date shows that the biggest selling categories so far are boating, WWII and fishing. That is encouraging, since those were my interests.

I am considering refining what I list, and collecting the other categories, like tobacco and cars, to be offered in bulk lots, rather than individual listings. Results to follow, if I pursue it.

Happy Friday.

A Promise to Reform

Last post was on St. Patrick's Day. I promise to reform. With the idea of being able to do what I say, let's say that there will be a new post at least once a week. That should hold down the salivating from all of the loyal fans out there. It's like waiting for the next Harry Potter book.

Speaking of that, how lucky is a guy who has had the experience of waiting for new books in two great series? The first was John Jakes "The Bastard" series back in the seventy's and now Harry Potter. John Jakes was the first author who made me feel as history was alive. As I remember, it was something about the feel and sound of crunching bones in a battle scene that started it. That was a series of book tracing a family from France to the US in pre-revolutionary times and up through about 1930. I loved the way he had his fictional characters meet up with real historical people.

My excuse for not getting here is the eBay venture. So far it has been a mix of excitement and frustration, but enough of the former to keep plugging away. I am selling old magazine ads for those who missed that announcement. I started an eBay store, also called "Hot Dogs and Bait," (there is a link to the right - shameless self promotion moment).

It takes much more time than I had anticipated to get an ad actually listed on eBay. I won't go through all the steps now, as there are many. I'm learning all the time and so far things seem to be on the upward track. More traffic than last month and more sales, which seems like the way it should go.

I just found a very interesting blog that I want to pass along. It's called "The Auction Rebel" and here's the link:

http://theauctionrebel.com/

There are many ideas, tips and techniques about eBay selling there. If you are new to it, as I am, you may find some good information there.

I just want to share one personal feeling from the eBay undertaking. One ad I listed was an ad from Winchester and their new (then) M-1 rifle. It should a SeaBee with an M-1 slung on his shoulder and told some of the places the SeaBees had been working—Guadalcanal comes to mind. Someone bought it, and in a note in the Paypal payment, said, "My SeaBee is in Iraq. I want to have this framed for when he comes home." It still gets me choked up.

Enough for now. Happy Day.