Opinions, please, on pricing for a pre-holiday sale

[sandge]

I've decided to have a pre-holiday sale of some of my watercolour life paintings.

These are my usual 7.5 x 5.5in watercolours that have been listed on auction several times and have done 30 days in my store. I want to shift them and I want some income. But ... how much to list them for?

They have been on auction at $49 and my store price is $65. What do you think my sale price should be?

Thanks for your help!

[surreal]

This is a tough one to answer, Sandra.
Hmmmm.

I have to get off to work momentarily.


My first thought is not to start below $9.99.

I will think about this more later on.




What about the idea of a sale after the holidays instead of before the holidays?
????

[kiwicockatoo]

Personally I would not start them for less than 19.99, unless you know that a few will bid up to hight amounts to cover the ones that don't. But ebay is too damn unpredictable, so don't give them away.

[laurali]

I just did a .99 NR that bid up to 13.50. I would definitely start at 19.99 or 24.50. I voted on 19.99 because eBay used to have a price range you could click for under 20. I don't know if they still do with all the changes they've made.

If shipping is cheap enough, you might do a 19.99 with free shipping & put that in the title or subtitle.

Laura

[Noble]

I'm not sure about a sale thing anyway but if you must I guess $24

I would think if you really want to just get rid of these, use BIN and forget it. With BIN retail pricing with cents are more appropriate, say $19.95 or $24.95.

[surreal]

What did you decide to do Sandra?


I know you will have to make your decision soon.

[TeAnne]

No way, not a .99 cent sale, it's too nerve wracking and heartbreaking. $19.99 if you're willing to sell at that price.

[surreal]

I'm back again.


I reread your post and since you said you want some income, I voted to start your auctions at $9.99.

It occurred to me today, that 3/4 of the views or all of the meager views I received today could have been the views of other artists.

I look at other artists' auctions and I am certain that they view mine, in turn.

*I am therefore, rightly or wrongly, assuming that your views have been low.*
However, you are running an fp, which always increases views!
I am not running an fp now.

However, the dilemna for you, imho, resides in the fact that your reg auctions are priced at $49 and your store items at $65.

If you feel you have developed a following at your starting price of $49, then by all means start your holiday sales at $24.

[sandge]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts - much appreciated!

I just don't know what to do. Ebay is just so unpredictable these days.

The thing is that I have a ton of paintings that have not sold. I would like to shift them and a bit of money. I guess I am leaning towards the $9.99 end of things. It feels much more like sale territory.

Laura, thanks for your input. Offering free shipping is something I've considered but it could mean effectively giving away as much as $12. It is also much more of a bargain for international buyers than those in the UK who are only saving $4.

Nina, I am thinking that the end of year lull is almost upon us. It may already be here. I reckon people spend money in January. So the timing of the sale is just to keep the ol' cash flow limping along until then.

Oh, what to do? What to do?

[DevineCreative]

My suggestion would be to put everything you're interested in selling on seven day auction with a starting price of $39.99. If you have "watchers" on any of the ones in your store that are listed for $65.00, mark those down to $49.99. Email everyone you know the moment they are all up. Explain that this is an offer to reward you customers. It's a once in a year sale and will only last one week. Stress the low starting price. Offer links to the auctions that you are especially proud of. On Wednesday email everyone again. Let them know how the sale is going. Add links of several auctions that don't yet have any bids.

I just finished my sale doing exactly this and of the 23 I listed, 13 sold. 4 had more than one bid. I made a little more than $1000.00 on this sale. I only fp'd 3. It was because I used my email list and I actively reminded the people who already know my work and trust me that I was having a sale on my store items.

Everyone has to buy Holiday gifts of some kind. Why shouldn't it be your paintings?

Good Luck, Dear!

Pamela

[surreal]

Originally Posted by sandge

.............................................
The thing is that I have a ton of paintings that have not sold. I would like to shift them and a bit of money. I guess I am leaning towards the $9.99 end of things. It feels much more like sale territory.
.........

True.
Sales territory, it is!
And you won't have anything to lose (certainly not listing fees) and everything to gain:
*since you will make some money,
*perhaps get multiple bidders
*and buyers who develop interest in your higher selling items!

[wayfarer]

Multiple bids are still a bit of an endangered species these days. I voted $24, so it's still making some decent money for you.

Chris

[sandge]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Chris.

[TeAnne]

I have some multi bids happening and I'm stunned. Not been like this since before April.
http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQsasal...rtpropertyZ 1

Posted in other thread too, sorry, I'm just so happy.