eBay: Leave The Links Out, If you Want To Play On My Block
As a TIP subscriber you already know that using links is a great strategy for generating sales and traffic to your web site.
The good news is, it has been working beautifully...the bad news is eBay has adopted a policy change to take effect May 31, 2001 that will eliminate this strategy.
You see, eBay is jealous.
They don't like the fact that their closing ratio is down to 53%. They don't like it because people like you and me are stealing customers away from their site and closing transactions 'off-site'.
The Wall Street Journal reported, "The move is part of a growing campaign at eBay to combat 'off-market' transactions, in which sellers consummate deals outside of eBay in order to avoid paying the company's auction fees".
eBay has been getting listing fees plus a percentage of the closing price of each auction. Obviously, if their closing ratios are down significantly so is the income they are deriving from final value fees. They don't like it, shareholders don't like and so they had to do something: A New policy.
"The amount of commerce involved in such deals are impossible to quantify, but many observers of eBay's auction business believe it is enormous", the Journal concludes.
"The intent of the View Item page has always been to describe a specific item listed for sale," eBay said in making the announcement.
The new policy does allow some links to be included on the view item page: Links to eBay, Half.com and a few select third party vendors will be acceptable.
"eBay has inconsistently enforced this policy over the past few years. This inconsistency has led to confusion among our users regarding the purpose of the View Item page. And it has led to the mistaken impression for many users who close transactions outside of the eBay platform that they were still covered by our policies and trust and safety provisions."
Well, duh.
Anyway, the strategy outlined in previous TIP's (to include a link back to your web site) is no longer valid with the new policy adopted by eBay.
But all is not lost...and actually there could be a silver lining in this cloud of marketing darkness.
Here's what I believe will happen - if the policy is enforced:
- More traffic will stay on eBay's site and longer because there won't be any links to cause 'off-site' visits;
- The closing ratio on eBay's site will rise ...because of the reduction in 'off-site' transactions;
- The average eBay prices on successfully completed auctions will remain steady or be slightly lower over time.
How easily will it be for eBay to enforce this policy, or will it be effective?
I don't think eBay will cancel 1,000,000 auctions that include links back to web site's other than eBay, Half.com and a few select third party vendors (like Paypal, and of course, Billpoint) on May 31st to enforce this policy...
My guess is that they will be installing new server software that detects links or 'http' in 'descriptions' as you list them. And while eBay complains about not getting their share of final value fees due to a shrinking CR, they should be just as concerned that the average final value on successfully completed auctions are heading lower as well.
I don't really care how they will enforce it though, it's policy and we'll have to play by their rules if we're going to play at all. Like it or not, it's their ball and their court.
In the past several TIP's I discussed using eBay as a LEAD GENERATOR. I think that this method of using eBay will be THE ONLY SURE METHOD of creating a lasting, profitable business on eBay.
If you have any kind of product that is unique or unusual and can't be found in many other places (on or off the 'net) then you probably will be able to sell it profitably on eBay.
But if you have a product that can be purchased in a hundred different ways: Online, in retail stores, in catalogs, etc...then you better listen up...this may be the easiest and less expensive way to generate new leads for your business ever created.
Essentially you create an incredible low-priced or special offer that entices bidders in a 'dutch' auction. At the conclusion of the auction you 'harvest' the emails from all your bidders, fulfill and up-sell each one a larger package or item at a higher and more profitable price point - or keep selling them more of what you just sold them and make them a customer for life.
I'm going to update TIP Members with some research I'm doing now on this strategy in the next few weeks. It should be very interesting and profitable reading.
One Order Of HOT Colored, No Rims Please? + Sources
According to everyone 'in the know' ... the latest trend in fashion is...rimless, colored sunglasses. Being sported by celebrities is one way to catch the public's attention.
Can't imagine what they look like? Here's a pair of picture perfect celebs donning these new hits:
Rimless sunglasses with big, see-through, colored lenses are being spotted on the hottest faces in Hollywood.
"They are fun and very mod," says celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch, whose lengthy client list includes Halle Berry, Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek.
The large, transparent sunglasses say "Notice me, but don't notice me," says Bloch.
What celebrity doesn't like to get 'noticed'?
So, they're perfect for those who may want to hide behind big frames, but still make a little eye contact.
The pair that Halle Berry is wearing is from Chanel. Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's price: $270 -- H&M sells 'em for $4.50. The sources below are excellent sources for these styles. Wholesale prices run approx. $18.00 a dozen or .75 each.
Sources:
Fairwind Sunglasses Trading Co., Inc.
8301 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33138-3506
Tel: 1-800-327-2266
Web: http://fairwindco.com/
Fairwind has a wide variety of sunglasses to choose from- not just colored, rimless. Minimum order is 5 doz. or $40 in misc. items. Large, full color catalog sent on request. Must have RESALE TAX #.
Polo Ray 2001
7596 Harwin Dr.
Houston, TX 77036
Tel: 713-975-8252
Web: http://www.poloray.com/
A large wholesale supplier- free catalog: Call 1-800-777-7656. Nice quality merchandise and over 1000 styles to choose from.
New Auction Services Help You Track, Buy and Sell The Hard-To-Find
AuctionGator (http://www.auctiongator.com). This new auction tracking service searches eBay every 4, 8, 12 or 24 hours sending an e-mail alert to the user notifying them of items found in the last search. The service is free. This can be a very useful service to sellers an buyers and I urge TIP Members to check it- you've got nothing to lose.
My Other Items: (http://www.myotheritems.com). A site designed for the buying and selling of unique and hard-to-find items. For a limited time sellers can list items free. I know, I know...they start out FREE, and then they will hit you up with a fee as soon as you're hooked. I'm not really a big fan of sites that do that...but My Other Items is currently free to list, no commissions and NO EXPIRATION dates on items you're selling...well it might be worth a look.
- DV
Entire Contents © Copyright 2001 by David Vallieres. All rights reserved.
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