ebay suggests charging more for my item

[disneysteve]

I think I found a minor flaw in ebay's pricing algorithm. One of my auctions ended today with no bids. I got an email recommending that I relist but change my starting bid to $3.00. That's very nice except my original starting bid was only $.99. If I couldn't sell it for $.99 what makes them think I'd be successful if I tripled the price?

[kork13]

Have you checked around eBay to see what similar items sell for? It may be that your original listing was lower than average. Perhaps their system simply saw that most similar items that have sold were listed for around $3, so it recommended the same.

[disneysteve]

Have you checked around eBay to see what similar items sell for? It may be that your original listing was lower than average. Perhaps their system simply saw that most similar items that have sold were listed for around $3, so it recommended the same.

I'm sure that's what generated the recommendation. I just find it funny. If anyone really wanted the item, I'm sure the low starting bid didn't deter them.

[MakeAStash]

Starting prices outside the normal range for the item can make bidders nervous. "Why's this guy starting it off so low, what's wrong with it?"

[greenskeeper]

ebay sucks Ray.

[Ethan60]

Have you checked around eBay to see what similar items sell for? It may be that your original listing was lower than average. Perhaps their system simply saw that most similar items that have sold were listed for around $3, so it recommended the same.

kork13 is right. You do a through analyis around for similar products that you have and then talk to eBay team to get more clear answers for your queries.

[ACarboni]

Have you checked around eBay to see what similar items sell for? It may be that your original listing was lower than average. Perhaps their system simply saw that most similar items that have sold were listed for around $3, so it recommended the same.

I agree with this point, you shoud actually check this out.

[linjo]

I think I found a minor flaw in ebay's pricing algorithm. One of my auctions ended today with no bids. I got an email recommending that I relist but change my starting bid to $3.00. That's very nice except my original starting bid was only $.99. If I couldn't sell it for $.99 what makes them think I'd be successful if I tripled the price?

I hate ebay. They are crap! I am using amazon, and I am really happy with my decision to switch from ebay to amazon

[CashUp Sammy]

Did you put a little bit of effort into your eBay description? that is alway time well spent.

Plenty of photos, a decent helping of salesmanship.

[electric_mikey]

when im browsing through ebay i find myself looking at a "decent" price. not the lowest, not the highest.

too often i find that the lowest prices seem fishy, and are from users with no reviews to their account.

maybe it is part of the problem, who knows?

[disneysteve]

when im browsing through ebay i find myself looking at a "decent" price. not the lowest, not the highest.

too often i find that the lowest prices seem fishy, and are from users with no reviews to their account.

That's interesting. I would never think anyone would be turned away by a low starting bid. Lots of people start their auctions at $.99. We used to do that because it meant a lower listing fee. Now that listing is free, it doesn't really matter but people still do it to attract more bidders.

[electric_mikey]

yeah, i know it might sound a bit counter intuitive.. but i don't know. its kinda logical when you think about it, there are a lot of items on ebay listed by people with no reputation, trying to make their listings stand out with low starting bid.

i guess its a combination of the things mentioned in this thread.

- a "decent" price, lets say the average price for a product is 3$, maybe you don't want to go to 0,99$, maybe put it somewhere in between there, like at 2$?

- a good description with plenty of photos