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| New One Day Listings | November 2003 |
There's a reason marketers use the phrase "limited-time offer." Quite simply, it works. Anything you can do to increase the urgency of your listings will have a positive effect on bidding and final values.
With that in mind, sellers should consider testing the 1-day listing format. This quick listing format can accelerate sales for many types of listings but is particularly suited to moving time-sensitive items.
When should you consider 1-day listings?
- You want to sell items quickly.
- You're selling time-sensitive items such as event tickets, airline tickets, vacation packages, tee times or perishables like food items.
- You're a high volume seller listing a lot of identical items. With 1-day listings, you can offer more listings for identical items per week. Currently eBay allows you to list only 10 identical items simultaneously. If you are a high volume seller, the 1-day listing format lets you offer up to 70 listings for identical items per week, compared to only 20 per week with the 3-day listing format.
- You want to take advantage of event-based marketing such as one-day-only product releases).
- You want to attract more last-minute shoppers during the holiday season -- You can schedule 1-day listings as close to the holiday event as possible. This gives you the advantage of being able to mail sold items to reach your buyers in time for the holiday event.
To participate in 1-day listings, you need feedback rating of 10 or more and be ID Verified.
Related Help topics
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| A Holiday Gift From eBay: Hot Toy Picks | October 2003 |
| Toys are top sellers during the holiday season. But how do you pick the next big hit? eBay's got the answer: its annual Hot Toy Picks list.
Throughout the holidays, this insider list will feature eBay's predictions for the top 20 hottest holiday toys, compiled by recognized toy expert The Toy Guy (a.k.a. Christopher Byrne).
By closely monitoring the Hot Toy Picks page, sellers can:
- Preview this season's must-have toys and stay ahead of the curve.
- Anticipate demand for hot toys and make better-informed holiday sourcing decisions.
- Track changes in the holiday toy market and adjust their inventory accordingly. Hot Toy Picks will be updated continuously this season.
Last year, the Hot Toy Picks campaign received widespread media attention, including high-profile coverage by CNN, NBC, CNBC, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. This year promises to be even bigger and better.
Again, eBay will be promoting Hot Toy Picks onsite and off to inform holiday shoppers that eBay is the place to buy hard-to-get holiday toys.
Below is an easy guide with the category IDs to help you list your Hot Toy Picks for this holiday season.
We'd also like to hear your Hot Toy Picks stories! Do you have a great tale to tell about eBay's Hot Toy Picks? Have you started stocking up on inventory? E-mail us at toys@ebay.com.
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Hot Toy Picks are Back
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September 2003 |
With the holiday season just around the corner, the annual game of picking the year's hot toys has begun. While it's a bit too early to predict for sure what are going to be the hot toys of the year, we've got some good ideas. And no one is more qualified to pick the winners than toy expert Chris Byrne.
Known as the "The Toy Guy," Byrne is a spokesperson for eBay Toys and a widely recognized toy guru with 23 years in the business. Using industry research and Chris' expertise, eBay has released its initial predictions for the 20 hottest toys of the season! Bear in mind, though, that some of the toys mentioned here haven't hit store shelves, and in fact, may not be available in the U.S. yet. But these are all exceptional items that should be on your radar screen as you look at the upcoming holiday season.
Last year's Hot Toy Picks was covered across multiple media, including CNN, NBC, CNBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. This year, eBay plans to step up its PR efforts even more. Tapping into the Hot Toy Picks is a great way for sellers in the Toys & Hobbies and Dolls & Bears categories to get a head start on stocking inventory before the holiday season.
So what will be this year's Furreal Friends? Here's a sneak peek at this year's Hot Toy Picks to help you prepare for the holiday rush.
To keep up to date on the latest predictions on hot toy picks, visit http://www.ebay.com/hottoypicks.
Baby Born from Zapf Creation. The amazingly popular, classic baby doll (10 years of strong sales) has new features-she goes in the tub, drinks water and even can shower. It's a beautiful, classic doll that's got just enough features to enrich playtime while not overwhelming the imagination.
Barbie Inspiration Station from Oregon Scientific. An easy plug in to the TV and girls are creating drawing and engaging in all kinds of creative activities with one of their favorite playmates.
Barbie in Swan Lake from Mattel. Barbie's newest CGI video is an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. There's a whole line of dolls and playsets under this brand, including one spectacular castle.
Bratz Formal Funk Runway Disco from MGA Entertainment. The girls with a passion for fashion are bigger than ever this year. This is the hot new playset that combines all kinds of fashion play. Plus, it comes with the newest Bratz pack member-Nevra, a very cool doll available initially only with this set.
Care Bears from Play Along. Maybe it's a blast from the past for some adults, but today's kids love these characters just as much. Various different bears to choose from, including the Lullaby Bear
DJ Skribble Spinheads from DSI Toys. It's a whole new way to play with music. Hot, edgy design and great figures, each with its own sound, are both fun and collectible. Control the sounds of each figure or mix them up in their cars or the Vinylizer playset.
GI Joe 40th Anniversary Figures from Hasbro. These limited edition reproductions of the original four G.I. Joe figures will hit shelves nationwide in November in advance of the 40th anniversary next year. Great for kids and collectors, and each figure is marked as a reproduction so as to maintain the value of the original collectibles. This will appeal to a relatively small but actively buying market niche.
Hokey Pokey Elmo and Limbo Elmo from Fisher-Price. Two different products, but everyone's favorite two-year-old Muppet is back to entertain kids by actually teaching them the Hokey Pokey, or doing the Limbo.
Leapster from LeapFrog. Imagine if all those hours playing handheld games could actually help kids learn. Now they can. LeapFrog's ingenious new system combines the fast-paced, action-packed excitement of handheld gaming with engaging learning activities.
Learn through Music by Fisher-Price. The first music toy that teaches kids basics through music-and features Sesame Street, Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer programming.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Figures from Toy Biz. This is definitely gong to be a niche product that will appeal to fans of the movie and collectors, but the figures are beautiful and will be much in demand by people who come to eBay to find just this sort of thing.
McDonald's McFlurry Maker from Spin Master Toys. Food activities have been hot for the past year, and this new set lets kids make their own McDonald's treats.
Micropets Series 3 from Tomy. More than six million of these little critters have been sold. The new series features all kinds of whimsical designs-dogs, bears, horses and so forth. Kids love collecting them, and Tomy promises relatively limited production and will retire these as they sell out.
My Little Pony from Hasbro. By now you're probably asking, "Well, what's really new this year?" These are-to a whole new generation of girls who are going to love these as much as their moms did. There are various different styles, some with their own videos. Check out the Celebration Castle playset, too.
Neopets Voice Activated Plush from Thinkway Toys. Neopets.com is one of the hottest sites for kids on the Internet. Now these virtual pets come off the net and into the arms of kids. High tech but cuddly, these pets react to kids' voices and each other.
Pixter Color by Fisher-Price. The next generation of the electronic arts & crafts and teaching toy that has been a huge hit since it was launched.
PowerTouch Learning System from Fisher-Price. It's an educational system that uses amazing finger-touch technology to help kids learn the basics of reading through natural exploration.
Strawberry Shortcake from Bandai. Another 80s phenom is back and bigger than every. Five-inch dolls with lots of accessories and those berry-sweet fragrances.
Video Now from Hasbro. A complete handheld entertainment system that plays 30 minute programs in high contrast black-and-white. Great programming from Nickelodeon, Hillary Duff and more.
Wiggles Talk 'n Sing Dolls from Spin Master Toys. If you don't know the Wiggles, you should. They're four silly singing guys from Down Under, and they're a preschool sensation.
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| Ten Tips Every Toys & Hobbies Seller Should Know |
August 2003 |
Here they are-tips no serious eBay toys seller can live with out.
#1. Guarantee Your Products and Services
Develop a sensible, well-articulated sales policy that covers all the bases and delivers real peace of mind. Then deliver on your promises. The result: you'll become a trusted favorite. Ideally, offer unconditional money-back guarantees. The risk-reward ratio is in your favor: increased business versus a few returns. Also, consider offering shipping rebates on multiple purchases. This incentive works.
#2. Automate Listing and Shipping
Upgrade to eBay's suite of auction management tools as soon as possible, including Selling Manager, Turbo Lister, and Seller's Assistant. These tools release your potential, enabling you to list, track, and complete your eBay sales more quickly and professionally. List items with ready-made templates, schedule your listings, bulk-upload inventory, automate buyer emails, and more.
Invest in a postage scale and print your postage online or pay for a pickup/delivery service, such as Fed Ex Ground. In short, there's no point wasting time at the post office. Acquire free shipping supplies from USPS (Priority Mail) or via arrangements with local businesses. Fast, professional shipping generates repeat business.
#3 Develop Discount Supply Relationships
Competition can be fierce in every category. Secure a resale license from your state and make volume purchases from wholesale dealers, suppliers, and manufactures. You'll garner crucial discounts you can pass along to your customers, making you more competitive. For wholesale deals, visit eBay's Wholesale category. Also, increase supply by becoming a Trading Assistant.
#4 Look Like a Pro: Photos, Listing Template
Don't underestimate the importance of high-quality photos in your listings. For many items, the better the photo, the more likely the sale. Consider building a photo stage and hiring a college student or local amateur, part-time or by the hour, to shoot your items.
Spend time developing a graphical (HTML) listing template, specific to your merchandise. Experiment with different layouts, colors, and text treatments. Look like an expert and a professional, not a lazy amateur. In a competitive marketplace, that makes all the difference. Looking good is easy with eBay's Seller's Assistant and Listing Designer.
#5 Include Keywords in Your Listing Titles & Descriptions
Most eBay buyers use eBay Search-80%, in fact. To capture these bidders and buyers, include the words they search with in your listing titles and descriptions. Bookmark your category's eBay Seller Newsflash and Hot Item list to keep abreast of popular search terms.
#6 Properly Positioning & Merchandising Your Listings
Consider your starting prices carefully. This will dramatically affect your item positioning. If possible, start auctions low in relation to their fair-market value. You'll increase bids and there's no better billing than that. Use reserves sparingly. Improperly applied, they can damage your credibility.
Also, discover the optimum times to start and end your auctions to increase bidding. Then, schedule and automate their launch with Seller's Assistant. Consider ten-day listings that cover two weekends. Time auctions to capture bidders in multiple time zones.
Each item you sell deserves the right listing format. Develop a strategy that leverage's eBay entire family of formats: Auction, Buy It Now, Fixed Price, Second Chance Offer, and more. Also, open an eBay Store to brand your eBay business, economically expand your inventory, and cross-merchandise your items.
Take advantage of eBay listing upgrades: Gallery, Bold, Featured Plus, List in 2 Categories, and more. Also, consider advertising on targeted eBay search result pages. If you qualify for eBay's PowerSeller program, take advantage!
#7 Make PayPal a Payment Option
Enable your customers to pay immediately online with PayPal. Buyers prefer it. Don't risk sales by not offering it. Faster payment also means greater cash flow and operating capital to handle the unforeseen.
#8 Track the Market with your my eBay Page
Your "my eBay" page is a powerful tool for tracking the market. With the Favorites tab, create Completed Item searches for the items you sell. This will give you a daily read on current prices for your inventory. Also, be sure to follow your category's Hot Items list.
#9 Make Positive Feedback a Priority
Live up to your promises and ensure positive feedback. This is your ticket to attracting new customers, which handled correctly, become regular customers. To encourage positive feedback, describe your items accurately (including damage), manage expectations, offer online payment (PayPal, preferably), package professionally, and ship ASAP.
#10. Listen to the Experts-Your eBay Community
Get involved in your eBay community. It'll make you a better eBay seller and citizen. Become active in eBay's discussion boards. You will find the answers you seek. Attend special eBay events, such as eBay Live. Consider attending an eBay University class.
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| Boosting Summer Toy Sales |
July 2003 |
Those dog days of summer are here, but don't let your sales slow down. eBay Toys buyers are on the hunt for hot items at competitive prices all year around.
Try these tips to heat up your sales this summer season:
- Partner Up: Consider outsourcing items to a successful eBay Trading Assistant. For a percentage of the sale, they'll sell your items for you, so can boost your volume and spend more time sourcing product for the fall season.
- Join In: Participate in eBay promotions that attract buyers and merchandise your listings to qualified customers. List smart to leverage increased traffic to popular promotional pages.
Example: Dads and Grads Gift Guide
- Update Inventory: Identify items to liquidate to increase capital and space for your holiday products. Set competitive Buy It Now prices to help move inventory fast and increase cash flow.
- No Reserve: Attract new customers with $1, no-reserve auctions, which work very well for thousands of sellers each day. Drive interest in your auctions and increased sales. Make sure you put $1NR or $1 No Reserve in title.
Example: G1 Grand Maximus C-311 MINT - no reserve
- Free Ship: Offer this no-lose service, which has been proven to increase sell through. Moreover, most sellers recoup their cost in the final price.
Example: 1992 Earnhardt Ertl Goodwrench Car Free Ship
- Discount It: Offer creative discounts to make your listings more attractive and fun. Example: Award 5% to 10% discounts to first bidders that win your auctions.
Don't let your sales go soft this summer. Make the right moves and see your bottom line climb.
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