Question For Ebay Card/Memorabilia Sellers

[Loyalty32]

Do you have a preference on which day you start/end your auctions on?

Do you believe certain days are really better than others?

Should you avoid having auctions end on a holiday?

How many days do you prefer to run your auctions?

I appreciate any info you provide.

Thanks
Craig

 

[teammaddux]

I usually run my auctions 7 days unless it is a hot,volatile item (remember the 07 Topps Jeter? I was 2 days too late past the peak and made $30 a card instead of $300).

I generally start/end mine in the evenings; sometimes I'll try to start/end on the weekends, figuring more people will be on, but it is hard to say now with it approaching summer whether or not more people will be on during the weekends.

I've also realized that it is not a good idea to run auctions right after Christmas, because noone usually has any money left. I remember Ebay offered free listings a couple days after Christmas a few years ago, so I put up like 75 lots...didn't sell a single one.

Hope some of this helps,

John

 

[Yanks21]

Do you have a preference on which day you start/end your auctions on?

When selling I like them to end on a Thursday Friday (Paydays) or weekends, later in the evening. I always did better in the winter months for one reason or another with sportscards.

Do you believe certain days are really better than others?
People like us search everyday for our players but the average person you might think may be on thier PC after work.

Should you avoid having auctions end on a holiday?
I would say it depends on the Holiday.

How many days do you prefer to run your auctions?
I like the 7 day but I have used the 5 day to make it end where I want.

Time Zones may play a factor as well. If I have a West Coast player/team for sale I would want to list it later at night here on the east coast.

Keep in mind if people want your item they will get it whenever. The snipe programs now have changed the game in bidding. I won two auctions last night while I was at work and I was no where near a computer.

 

[Meliah]

I have to think ending on a holiday is no good, I always try to avoid that at all costs

 

[bigpapiortiz34]

I try to end them Wednesday/Thursday between 7-10 EST. I find that a lot of cards end around that time. I avoid mid weekday and weekends.

 

[dadofandrew]

I always seem to have better luck ending the auction on a Sunday night, between 7 and 9 central time. Unless its on a holiday

 

[brazin]

I think how you pitch the item is ultimately where the result are.
most people browse 50-100 listings in several seconds, if your able
to catch them instead of blending in then atleast you get a view.
No one is going to buy something they cannot see and no one really
cares to trade with someone who has had several negatives within a
month.

I get paid every other tuesday, Im up from 2 a.m. to 6.a.m. looking for
what I want on ebay as if someone put a maximum bid on something
and it wasnt high enough, most likely I'll avoid a bidding war over
just "not wanting to lose the item" and sneek away with something
while others are asleep.

I find that when its crazy peak times, I say to myself theres no way I'd bid
more than 5 dollars on that item and then i get out bid and bid again because
there no way im going to lose the item for .33 cents.. ultimately could end
up paying 10 dollars for the item all together just by the "stairway increment"
"well, im already at 7.50 whats .45 more cents"...

Your best bet is a 3 day auction, I always liked those because as a buyer,
I hated to look at something 7 days away, I wanted it closer to 24 hours
as possible, and to tell you the truth, I dont watch 7 day old items anymore.
they waste to much of my time.

I think starting on a tuesday or wednesday is always best, have it end thursday or friday, most people have things that tie up there weekend
and monday is typically a restart day that is a slow process, no one
wants to do anyhting on Monday because its the typical day to start
back work and is already disliked.

I think you got better luck in selling the item at a better price by
including the book value within the auction header.

Example

"Greg Maddux serial # 31/31 HBV: $40.00"

"Greg Maddux serial # 31/31 free shipping!"

Im more likely to pay 35%-40% percent HBV for a semi-scarce card
than something that is already giving away free shipping, the mentality
of receiving something for free, makes me want to pay less for the item
because If the shipping is free, the card must not be worth more than that
im more likely to offer 10.00 max.

Crazy, I know some of this wasnt what you asked but, I wanted to
reaffirm that how you pitch the item and hook the few who will bid
is how well the item will do.

 

[NYMets6986]

when i sell card i usually wait to around 8 pm to start them and i usuaklly try to make them end on a wednesday, thursday night because friday and saturday are prime partying , bar hours.

 

[mintman2]

Do you have a preference on which day you start/end your auctions on?
The only day I stay away from is saturdays

Do you believe certain days are really better than others?
Nope

Should you avoid having auctions end on a holiday?
Absolutely !

How many days do you prefer to run your auctions?
Standard 7 day auction


I also have all my auctions end between 9pm and midnight EST (usually before 11). I figure that way I'm catching everybody after they get home from work and most before bedtime. If you list any earlier you're losing at least 1/3 of the population due to the after work commute.

 

[cjay101]

I agree with the Sunday evening. Start them Sunday, run them 7 days.

Holidays can go hit or miss depending on the holiday. Some, like Labor Day, a lot of people stay home and are "bored?" so they surf the web. Others like Christmas and July 4th are 'family" holidays I would not touch at all as far as ebay was concerned.

I haven't sold anything in 2 years, but I sold well over 250 items before that with great success with Sunday auctions.

 

[David K.]

After Christimas...I normally have pently of money and always hit the bay looking for stuff to buy. Best regards, David

 

[jrchoholic83]

Hey Craig,

Do you have a preference on which day you start/end your auctions on?
For me, starting and ending a 7 day auction on a Friday or Saturday night has always yielded the highest payoff.

Do you believe certain days are really better than others?
Yes, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday have been the kindest to me.

Should you avoid having auctions end on a holiday?
Yes, at all costs. Holidays are the time to be buying cards, you catch some nice deals! Also never end on the Super Bowl or World Series, I shop then as well and have caught some insane deals.

How many days do you prefer to run your auctions?
Depending on the item, most of the time 5 or 7. As long as they end on Wed, Fri, Sat, or Sun.

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[jaderock]

I like listing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesdays...7 days...between 7 to 10 pm PST.

Most holidays are bad, but not all. Avoid Friday and Saturday because that is when the sportscard hobby base is out (guys 18-50) unless you think they're nerds and stay at home. lol

 

[Loyalty32]

Thanks for the info everyone! I appreciate you taking the time to post.

Thanks again!
Craig

 

[redbird4]

Do you have a preference on which day you start/end your auctions on?

End the auctions during the first five days of the week (Sun-Thurs) during prime time hours (6p-10p). Apply it to what you are selling though (if you're selling Dodgers, end the auction during prime time West coast hours)

Do you believe certain days are really better than others?

Yes. Have them end on one of the first five days of the week (Sun-Thurs.). Never have them end on a Fri or Sat. Sunday-Thursday are when most people are at home after going out for the weekend and Tuesday/Wednesday are probably the best days to have the auctions end.

Should you avoid having auctions end on a holiday?

Never on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Halloween or Christmas. Thanksgiving is okay as people are sitting around preparing to spend money.

How many days do you prefer to run your auctions?

5 days.

I appreciate any info you provide.

Thanks
Craig

Like someone said above though...............no matter what you sell or when you are selling it, if someone wants it, they will find it no matter what.