New Ebay rates!! Ouch!!

This is a really good point. Having a website is only beneficial if you can
get the word out to your customers. Having a weekly newsletter can help a
lot. And posting ads here and other places which allow it helps, too. Get
business cards printed up from Vista Print for a really good price, and put
your website and ebay ID both on there. There are so many things you can do
to advertise which cost next to nothing. People are buying online so much
more these days.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

You know, I think that mentality is changing.

I have bought beads occasionally from Dave Rasner (River Oak Acres) for at
least 3 years, but it's only recently that I've gone to his website. And
discovered some of the same stuff he does, and also other stuff, and
options
I can ask for. And the beads are shown to better advantage, including
examples of beadwork with his beads. If I get to choose my colors and
shapes, I don't even mind paying more than eBay (starting) prices.

Also, when I choose the artist, I waste less time looking at everything to
find anything.

There are several people who send me news letters when they put up new
beads
on eBay, and also link to sales on their websites. And they often have
more
interesting beads on their websites. I think I'd be better off going to
sites.

Do you have a newsletter you send to your repeat customers?

Tina


"Jim Moore" wrote in message
ink.net...
................
I also have a website www.terrafirmabeads.com It seems that the people
that
I sell to on ebay (many repeat customers) will not buy from my website. I
even offer free shipping. I just don't get it.

OH man, MJ, that stinks. While I'd hate to see you go, I totally support you doing
what is best for you. (((((Hugs)))). Can't be an easy decision, in any case.
--
Jalynne - Keeper of the Quilt for ME club list
Queen Gypsy (snail mail available upon request)
see what i've been up to at www.100megsfree4.com/jalynne

"Mj" wrote in message
...
I have reached a resistance point for my bead prices and have been fighting the
Wally World mentality that seems to permeate the bead market on eBay. Once the
increases go into effect I will be effectively forking over 11% of every sale I make
to eBay in the form of insertion fees, final value fees AND PayPal fees. And that
doesn't cover the cost of my store subscription, my auction management program
subscription and my eBay reports subscription, which will come to another $46.00 a
month. And what do I get for all of that?? No exposure when people do searches
because store items don't regularly show up in the results.

So while the store idea worked for me, saved me money in the long run for insertion
fees, this increase may just prove to be the final nail in the coffin of Halsey
Trading Company. Haven't made a final decision yet, but I may just close the
business down this spring. I'm even thinking of trashing my trip to Tucson and
just eating the airfare cost - don't really want to pay out more money for
hotel/car rental if I'm not staying in business.

Perhaps it's just time to move on to something else!

Mj

--
=================================
Marjean Cline
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================
"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
I understand slight increases at regular intervals. But this is a huge increase.
60-100%.
I agree that for auctions, this isn't a huge deal, and can even help cull the
imported stuff and bring us some exposure.

But for stores, this is major, and it will be reflected in glass prices on ebay
for sure - and likely bead prices as well. Not good for the buyers.

I do agree that this means that people will likely move inventory to off-ebay
websites, and buyers will move with that inventory. Not good for ebay. But oh,
well. LOL

Why I will probably do is close my store, have a huge sale and then keep doing
auctions. Auctions are good advertising for sure. But the basic ebay storefront
has become useless. If they are going to raise the prices, they need to raise the
exposure that stores get.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I think it's just the course of business. All prices rise.

From a business standpoint, I like a little higher fee. It might make people
think twice about what they list. For stores I think it helps them to not be
holding tanks for what didn't sell at auction...at least that is what mine was at
the time. It's like a bottomless free re-list pit for some people. Sorry if
that sounds callous, but I'm looking at my auctions getting drowned in imported
stuff selling for peanuts or less and I was drowning my own auctions with my
non-selling store items. I can do that just fine on my already paid for web
site, thank you very much.

As for people selling their personal stuff, it is a bit sad but just work it into
the price and there shouldn't be a problem.

I still think eBay is some of the best and least expensive advertising you can
get.

Just my thoughts.


--
--------------------------------------
Lori Greenberg
www.beadnerd.com
ebay:
http://snipurl.com/5wlc

justbeads:
http://snipurl.com/axek

"Jim Moore" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hello all you beaders.

What might your thoughts be on this little email message I just received.

Another banner year for Ebay.
They offered free listings or fees for the Tsunami tragedy.. must be trying to
recoup there money.

Jim Moore

What was life like before Ebay?

Just click on the below URL and let me know your thoughts on this bull----




http://www2.ebay.com:80/aw/marketing...05-01-12075944


The eBay user " has sent the following message to the group:
eBay Announcements



from:
to: eBay Announcements


================================================


================================================

***eBay.com / eBay Motors Fee Changes***
Date: 01/12/05 Time: 08:03:05 AM PST

Today, we announced that eBay.com and eBay Motors will be making changes to the
fee structure effective February 18, 2005. Items that are scheduled to begin on
eBay.com or eBay Motors after midnight Pacific Time on February 18, 2005 will be
charged based on the new fees.

If you have not already received an email from eBay with details of these
changes, please click here
[http://www2.ebay.com:80/aw/marketing...5-01-12075944] to view the
detailed announcement on our Announcement Board.


================================================
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eBay is located at 2145 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125

Another banner year for Ebay.
They offered free listings or fees for the Tsunami tradegdy.. must be trying to
recoup there money.

Jim Moore

What was life like before Ebay?





My religion is simple....
My religion is kindness...


Tenzin Gyatso
AKA The 14th Dalai Lama

Does anyone know if the UK shop listings have gone up? I know many fees
were lowered for us, but can't find anything about the shops.

Charlie.

"Jim Moore" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hello all you beaders.

What might your thoughts be on this little email message I just received.

Another banner year for Ebay.
They offered free listings or fees for the Tsunami tragedy.. must be
trying
to recoup there money.

Jim Moore

What was life like before Ebay?

Just click on the below URL and let me know your thoughts on this bull----

I'm not meaning to sound like I'm against what you guys are doing (or mean,
or judgemental, or anything) but why shouldn't eBay put their prices up? I
mean, they have to pay thousands of staff all over the world, they have to
keep updating their servers and their equipment, they have to pay for
massive amounts of advertising (at least over here they do). And it costs
us what, 70p to list a £20 item in all (and accept a credit card)? I'd say
that's pretty good considering the cost of websites, e-commerce, merchant
accounts and so forth. For the service that eBay provide us, I'd say it's
quite justified. But I could be wrong. I'll go get my flame resistant
suit.

Charlie.

"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
Just a heads up - there's now a petition you can sign if you are against
the
ebay fees. There are over 1500 signatures so far. Please, if you are
against
these fees, go over there and sign! It might not do any good, but at least
it might help some of us feel better.

http://www.petitiononline.com/ebayfee/petition.html

Kandice

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Kandice wrote:

This is a really good point. Having a website is only beneficial if you
can
get the word out to your customers. Having a weekly newsletter can help a
lot. And posting ads here and other places which allow it helps, too.
Get
business cards printed up from Vista Print for a really good price, and
put
your website and ebay ID both on there. There are so many things you can
do
to advertise which cost next to nothing. People are buying online so much
more these days.

That's one thing I plan to do this week, offer a newsletter. I get several
from beadmakers and I love knowing what is new with them.

eBay has its uses for putting your name in front of the public, but I think
we're reaching that break point where we can offer more on the website and
not rely strictly on eBay for all the traffic we need.

I think the lampwork world will be shifting a lot anyway as eBay really has
ignored all the messages about categories, which would be such a simple
thing for them. All the trash they let be listed really cheapens the good
art that is there.

We're going to be moving away from relying on eBay and only listing basic
sets to keep our name out there, as for the rest, here's hoping the website
will bring them in.

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman on JustBeads:
http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=tillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk

Charlie wrote:

Does anyone know if the UK shop listings have gone up? I know many fees
were lowered for us, but can't find anything about the shops.

Not at present, ours are still £6.

For now.

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman on JustBeads:
http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=tillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk

I agree, Marjean. People will follow you and buy off your website if you
let them.

OMTP

For the service that eBay provide us, I'd say it's quite justified. But I
could be wrong. I'll go get my flame resistant
suit.

Their "service" is nearly nonexistent, IMO. I've had three run-ins with
psycho bidders in the past two years, and got NO assistance from Ebay, other
than eventual refund of my fees. I attempted to buy a printer's tray from
another seller who then disappeared (while fulfilling other's sales) and got
NO help....out $35 on that one. I've had problems over on Justbeads and I've
gotten emails directly from Bob (the co-owner) every time. Yes, it's a
smaller service, but at least they have a sense of how to genuinely help.
The few times I've gotten through to a human being on Ebay, it's been
apparent that they're outsourcing their basic help to India or Pakistan.
grrr

And, as far as justification for their fee increase.....perhaps they should
consider running a few thousand less full page ads in major magazines or
hiring a few less dancing girls for their glitzy TV commercials. I suspect
that would save them quite a lot more money than sucking dry
bottom-of-the-well entrepreneurs on Ebay. Had the bothered to raise the fees
on their larger stores, FIRST, I wouldn't resent it nearly so much. To me
the message is clear that low-level selling isn't what they're interested
in.

KarenK (who thinks Ebay and Merck,, Pfizer, etc. have an awful lot in
common)

vj wrote:

]We're going to be moving away from relying on eBay and only listing basic
]sets to keep our name out there, as for the rest, here's hoping the
website
]will bring them in.

i really, really prefer buying direct from an artist's website!

The hard part is getting your name out there to bring people in. It's a
slow process but eventually we hope that we have more business from the
website than eBay.

Even Marks & Spencer's started out small...

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman on JustBeads:
http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=tillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk

Still too much for me at the moment. I think I'll continue to use my
website - I think I'm one of the few people who actually makes more from
their website than eBay! Of course, that's because my Mum forces everyone
to look at it, but, you know...

Charlie.

"Su/Cutworks" wrote in message
...
Charlie wrote:

Does anyone know if the UK shop listings have gone up? I know many fees
were lowered for us, but can't find anything about the shops.

Not at present, ours are still £6.

For now.

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman on JustBeads:
http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=tillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk