Brian McGregor's |
Back to Newsletter Index
=============================
The eBay Auction Newsletter
The newsletter for buyers and bidders on eBay
=============================
This latest issue is now also available online at
http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/041112.htm
=============================
In This Issue
1. Welcome from Brian McGregor
2. News and Views
3. Learning From Research
4. Where
5. And now, my own new baby...
6. Someone's auctioning what? Unusual items currently available
7. Finally
8. My Products Catalogue
=============================
Inspirational quote of the day
"Make your life a mission - not an intermission."
=============================
1. Welcome from Brian McGregor
------------------------------
Hi and welcome to the latest edition of my Newsletter.
Wow. Another milestone reached. Does it get any better than this?
Oh, I'm sorry. There am I blathering on - and you don't know what
I'm talking about, do you?
I've just become a grandad for the second time! Last Saturday the
6th. To Holly. 8 pounds and 7 beautiful ounces.
What an amazing baby! Would you believe it? She entered this
world clutching a little teddy bear. The teddy wore a bib which
had written on it, "To the best brother in the world". Well,
that's what his mum told him, and that's good enough for 3 year
old Daniel!
They live locally. I'm fortunate that I can see Holly and Daniel
whenever I want. Boy, am I looking forward to Christmas?
Plus, we
Assembly indeed! More like another gravy train for the pro
politicians. Well, not at our expense, thank you very much!
Isn't life grand?
It's great running my internet business at the moment. And
hopefully you'll find some information in this Newsletter which
is helpful in your own eBay activities.
Speak to you soon.
Brian
-----
P.S. You receive the eBay Auction Newsletter because you have
bought from me or enquired about my auction items on eBay or QXL.
=============================
2. News and Views
-----------------
a) Readers feedback
I recently received a timely reminder from a reader about a scam
"Brian
Thought I better pass on a security warning, My wife has just
received an e-mail giving a website link to what appears to be
paypal website and then asks for information about her credit
card and bank account. Fortunately I noticed there was another
web address came up in the address bar first and the spoof site
had no padlock in the status bar. Please warn everyone via your
news letter. I have contacted paypal and sent the link to them."
So it still goes on. Scammers phishing millions of us every day
for our financial details. I've got so used to deleting
everything that looks like a scam, that I'd almost forgotten how
persistent these scammers are.
If you want to remind yourself of what to look out for and what
to do regarding spoof emails, take a look at the article in this
recent newsletter:
http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/040811.htm
b)Timely!!
You will know that bid activity can be frantic in the final
minutes of an auction.
But when the clocks went back recently, eBay managed to upset
buyers and sellers alike.
eBay said it would end auctions that started before the time
change one hour earlier after the time change. In doing so, eBay
wanted to make sure to eliminate the extra hour given when they
set their clocks back.
But bidders complained that auctions ended an hour earlier than
planned. As a result, many bidders found the auctions for the
items they were after closed too early.
And one seller who was auctioning his washing machine was
seriously out of pocket when the auction ended too early. His
Whirlpool sold for £1.50!
eBay technicians said they were working on the problem.
Presumably for spring, 2005!
c) Drop-off Points - Update
Research in the
see the eBay selling process as too difficult and time consuming.
A new company, Trading Nation, is opening a drop-off point in
Trading Nation is based on the idea that while the use of eBay is
growing dramatically, the vast majority of people buy but do not
sell. This is despite
to £3.2bn unused worth of goods sitting in attics, basements, or
spare rooms, which could be profitably sold.
Over in the
with stores in 27 states. iSold It has just signed the franchise
for its 300th eBay drop-off store. The company is on target to
meet its goal of 500 franchise stores under contract and 100
stores open by the end of March, 2005.
Looks like an idea who's time had come.
d) Psst. Looking for a bargain?
A former RAF Vulcan bomber was put up for auction recently.
Although eBay had to deal with some hoax bids to the tune of £7
million, the auction eventually concluded. The plane went for
£15,000 to a
Now his customers really can get "high as a kite" in the new
lounge extension!
=============================
3. Learning from Research
-------------------------
Some highly useful research has just been published. The
information comes from Sellathon, the company who produce the new
auction tracking and analysis software called ViewTracker.
They used ViewTracker on 100,000 eBay auctions to come up with
the findings. So it's a pretty good sample.
I believe some of the results raise important questions if you're
a serious seller on eBay.
Here are a few of the key findings from their analysis of these
100,000 auctions:
a) Hardly any eBayers search auction descriptions.
It was found that around 92% of eBay searches were conducted on
titles only. Indeed, overwhelmingly, searches were for titles
only in all categories. Only a small number select a category
first to browse through.
This research confirms how fundamental the title is to your
auction success. Regular readers will know I bang on about how
critical your auction title is. Indeed, effective auction title
creation was comprehensively covered in last the last newsletter
http://www.workwinners.com/newsletter/041025.htm
What the research also indicated was that plurals were important
too. About 25% of searchers used the plural version of words. So,
of the people searching for "walnut cabinet", around one quarter
of them will search on "walnut cabinets". If you put cabinet in
your auction title, around 25% of searchers won't find your
auction. (Incidentally, I notice that eBay are working on
extending their search software to enable it to bring back
selected plurals on singular searches, and vice versa. But they
haven't announced yet when this will be live.)
Also, the research showed that people NEVER search on
superlatives. These are words such as beautiful, stunning or
amazing.
b) eBayers tend to search all of eBay, not by category.
The majority of eBay users who search for items do so from eBay's
home page or eBay's main Search page. This means they are
including items from any category. While some people DO search
within a specific category, it's far more common for them to
search the entire eBay site.
This raises the question as to the value of placing your auction
in more than one category. You need to decide how likely it is
that your buyers will search for your item by a standard search,
compared to selecting a category to browse and then search on.
c) Searchers rarely view more than 2 pages of results.
The research found that viewers rarely go beyond page one or two
in the auction listings. Some people will browse a category
listing all the way to the end. But the vast majority either find
what they're looking for on the first 2 pages, or they move on to
something else.
This means that it would be helpful if you thought of eBay as a
search engine. Like all search engines, you need to optimise your
items so they stand the best chance of appearing on the first two
pages.
Once a viewer gets a results page of auction listings, it is
presented by default in the sequence of time remaining. But they
can also sort it in a variety of ways. These include newly
listed, lowest price, highest price etc. Price and date sorting
by viewers is extremely common. On pricing, 4 times as many
people sort high price to low, than low price to high.
d) Minimum bid auctions are better than Reserve auctions.
The sample showed that Reserve auctions are unpopular. It seems
it is almost always better to have a high minimum bid, than have
a low minimum bid with a secret Reserve Price.
eBay knows this, and actively try to discourage sellers from
using Reserve Prices. In eBay
further. They have just removed the Reserve Pricing feature
altogether.
So, not only would it seem prudent to avoid using Reserve Prices
on your auctions, they may be for the chop at some point anyway!
e) Auctions with bids get 1,000% more clicks.
The research confirms that there really is a "snowball effect"
when it comes to bids. The more bids an item has, the more likely
is the viewer to click through to the auction. And the more
people that click through to the auction, the more bids it
attracts.
The best known way to encourage bidders is to run auctions which
have very low a starting price. So, if you can take the risk, it
could well be worth testing out the theory.
f) Negative feedback has a substantial impact on bids.
The research showed that sellers' positive feedback record was
far less important to buyers than their negative feedback record.
The researchers took similar items and correlated the final price
with the seller's feedback. For every 1% increase in positive
feedback, the final price of the item went up by 0.03%. Let's
assume seller A has 50 positive feedbacks, and seller B has 5,000
positive feedbacks. The final price seller B would realise is
just 3% more than seller A. In money terms, an item of
approximately £100 value would only realise £3 more for seller B
than seller A. This is despite the fact that seller B's positive
feedback record is 100 times greater than that of seller A. This
is probably due to the fact that people expect eBayers to
generally have positive feedback ratings. So the impact of having
a huge positive feedback rating is minimal. (This is another
reason to have more than one eBay User ID, which I have always
advocated)
Let's turn now to the evidence in relation to negative feedback.
For every 1% increase in negative feedback, the final price of
the item was seen to go down by 0.11%.
If we take our previous sellers, let's say seller A has one
negative feedback, and seller B has 100 negative feedbacks.
Seller 2 will experience an 11% decrease in the final price of
each item. In money terms, an item of approximately £100 in value
will only realise £89 for seller B. Plus, this negative feedback
effect will reduce every final price on every auction which
seller B runs.
What we take away from this part of the research is that it pays
to work extremely hard to avoid negative feedback!
I hope this has proved useful. Remember it's all based on data
collected from 100,000 eBay auctions analysed by ViewTracker. It may or may not
reflect your auction business.
The acid test is to apply ViewTracker to your own auctions. You
can try ViewTracker without charge today. Once you register, all
you have to do is to add the single line of coding they give you
to the bottom of each auction.
If you're interested in trying ViewTracker for yourself, please
go here:
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1101.htm
=============================
4. Where
--------------------------
I'm writing this on Remembrance Day. I only mention that because
it may just be that
of the eBay market place in
What has happened is that on
Supreme Court in
withdraw from an auction, without giving a reason, if they buy
products from dealers rather than private individuals. The ruling
allows eBay buyers 14 days to withdraw from a sale.
What they are saying is that goods sold on eBay are not sold by
means of a true auction where the final purchaser is determined
by the gavel of an auctioneer, but rather by offer and
acceptance, just like a typical agreement for the sale of goods.
To date dealers who sell their wares via eBay had claimed that
dissatisfied eBay customers normally had no right to return the
items acquired, because these had been bought at auction.
In the case concerned, a customer bought a diamond bracelet on
eBay offered by a jeweller. He refused to pay because the item
had not met his expectations. He insisted on his right to revoke
the contract. The dealer sued for payment of the purchase price,
but has been unsuccessful with his action in a succession of
courts. And now the German Supreme Court has effectively ripped
up eBay's members agreement if the seller is a dealer or trader.
EBay say the ruling probably won't result in much change.
"We don't see this as necessarily having a huge impact," eBay
spokesman Chris Donlay said. He said, "The law already applied to
professional sellers with "buy it now" transactions, or sales
where buyers can purchase an item at a fixed price without having
to go through an auction. Also, some German sellers have return
policies."
Sounds fair enough, but the decision sets a precedent on consumer
protection in auctions in
have relevance in other European countries. The law is based on a
European Union directive and could land in front of the European
Court of Justice if member states differ on the issue.
I say, watch this space!
=============================
5. And now, my own new baby...
-------------------------
As well as having a brand new grand daughter, it's a red letter
day for me at work too. I've just launched a new website.
You might recall I introduced a company to you recently.
This is the one that gives you up to 5 times more speed from your
existing dial-up connection, without having to change modem or
ISP.
Well, I've been so impressed with them that I've now joined
forces with the company to promote their product.
This is where my new website comes in. Take a look, and see what
you think....
http://www.internet-dialup.com
Incidentally, if you're looking to create a website from which to
make money, or if your present website isn't doing as well as it
should, you might be interested in a brand new tool called
"Easy Site Magic".
In my opinion it's definitely worth taking a look, even if you
just come away with the complimentary report they offer. The
report is excellent, and contains some ideas that are new to me.
Here's the link:
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1106.htm
==============================
6. Someone's auctioning what? Unusual items currently available
---------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing surprises me when it comes to internet auctions. Amuse
yourself with some of these beauties ...
Thanks to Ruth, who brought this site to my attention.
http://www.whattheheck.com/ebay/
Quite a good idea. Shame about the spelling.
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1102.htm
Well you have to admire the enterprise! (If you hadn't heard,
their factory has been on fire)
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1103.htm
Turn up your speakers, but please don't be alarmed when you get
to this auction page. Just close the page and it disappears!
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1104.htm
He just wouldn't listen. I told him not to lose his head!
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1105.htm
Disclaimer - I have no association with any of the sellers of the
above items.
=============================
7. Finally
----------
If you are changing email addresses soon please put a note on
your calendar to send a blank email to:
after you get your new email address.
I don't want to lose touch with you!
If a friend sent you this newsletter, you need to send a blank
email to:
That way you can get your own copy next time!
Increasingly, email filters are preventing genuine email
communications such as this newsletter from reaching subscribers.
If you use any method of checking on your email, and you wish to
continue receiving the newsletter you may need to include my
email address in your safe list, whitelist or address book.
Thank you for continuing to take my newsletter - I hope it gives
you as much enjoyment to read, as it does me to write.
Regards
Brian McGregor
Editor - "
====================================
8. My Products Catalogue
------------------------
Check out my portfolio of products and services:
"The eBay Formula"
How to sell successfully on
time. Special Price offer to newsletter readers.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd01.htm
"
Twenty six genuine
http://www.workwinners.com/rd02.htm
"Sourcing DVDs, CDs and Videos at Trade Prices"
Where and how to buy DVDs, CDs and Videos at trade prices, and
how to sell for profit.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd03.htm
"Sourcing and Selling Electrical Products for Big Profits"
Where and how to buy Widescreen TVs, DVD players and VCR players
at trade prices, and how to sell for profit.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd04.htm
"Sourcing Maternity Clothing and Baby Needs at Trade Prices"
Where and how to buy at trade prices.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd05.htm
"Sourcing and Selling Jewellery for Big Profits"
Where and how to buy jewellery at trade prices, and how to sell
for profit.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd06.htm
"Sourcing Mobile Phone Accessories at Trade Prices"
Where and how to buy mobile phone accessories at trade prices,
and how to sell for profit.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd07.htm
"The Streetwise Buyer's Guide to Radar Detectors"
Don't buy a Radar Detector system until you read this.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd08.htm
Oil Painting Marketing Business
Become my partner in this pleasant money-making venture.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd09.htm
Your Own ebook and Software Sales Business
Valuable ebooks and software which you can use and resell on
eBay, and through the website pages provided.
http://www.workwinners.com/rd11.htm
Broadband speed without changing your existing modem and ISP!
Up to 256k speed instantly with this incredible software for less than 1p per day.
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1002.htm
Your own business recycling second hand mobile phones.
Make money today with this brand new business opportunity.
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr1004.htm
Finally, a book well worth reading. In 'The eBay Book', long time
eBay user David Belbin, explains how eBay.co.uk works and how to
get the most out of it, whether you are a buyer or seller.
Step-by-step, he takes you through the key features of the site,
advises on bidding and selling tactics, explains how to minimise
the fees you pay and why feedback is so important. He explores
the best ways to pay for goods, and what to do if your
transactions go wrong. This hugely readable book also contains a
wealth of case studies covering a wide variety of eBay users.
It's available at Amazon here:
http://www.workwinners.com/nlr809.htm
See all of my products and opportunities here:
=============================
"
weekly.
In each issue you'll get ideas on how to make the most of buying
and selling on eBay sites from a
If you would like to unsubscribe please use the link at the
bottom of this email.
Finally, be assured that your email address will never be shared
or sold - ever!
=============================
Copyright Information
Copyright © 2006 Brian McGregor. All rights reserved.
No part of this newsletter may be copied or published without
prior permission, but do please forward it to your friends and
colleagues as long as you keep it in its entirety. Brian
McGregor, as publisher, disclaims any liability for the use of
any information contained herein. We further claim no
responsibility for the legality or accuracy of any advertisements
or articles. It is the reader's responsibility to practice due
diligence in any product or service acquired based on information
contained in this newsletter.
If you do not want to receive this newsletter, the only one
dedicated to eBay
email to
=============================
Back to Newsletter Index
=============================
Home | Newsletter | Articles | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Testimonials | Contact
Workwinners Home | The eBay Formula | Keyword Pro | Free Sky TV | Dialup Broadband | Oil Paintings Business | Radar Detector Guide