How To: Increase Chances of Selling Your Items

[Abel]

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How To: Increase Chances of Selling Your Items
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I wanted to put together a thread in order to help show members how to better list your items for sale so that they sell faster. These listing tips will also help buyers as well since now listings listed in this manner will be easier to browse through and easier to select which item to purchase.

These methods are by no means a rule... They are simply suggestions that I've learned over the past 7 years or so of running this forum and I thought I would finally put them down in a thread in order to help you list your items.


1. Each Item Gets It's Own Thread
I know many people like to list multiple items within the same thread and claim that "It's easier to manage this way." but in my experience it's much harder to manage from a seller's standpoint and it can be a bit more troublesome from a buyer's standpoint as well.

The whole purpose of listing and item for sale is to actually SELL that item so breaking up multiple items into their OWN thread will increase your chances of selling those items. Is it a little more work upfront for the seller? Yes it is, BUT the return is that the items tend to sell FASTER since it's much easier for potential buyers to shop.


2. Use The Formatted Listing Shown Below
I have seen many listings where people enter a full paragraph or two of solid text and you have to sit and read the entire listing in order to find out more details about the product listed and whats included and such. You want potential buyers to be able to see all of the pertinent information quickly and easily in order to better your chances of someone buying your item quickly.

I have been using a standard formatting when listing my items for sale which you can see further below. You can copy and paste the code and simply fill in your own details for your listing.


3. Consider Shipping Items
I understand that certain items are not ideal to be shipped but I do feel that 90% of the items listed can be shipped and if you want you're item to sell quickly I would suggest you allowing shipping as an option. Allowing shipping will open yourself up to so many more potential buyers and the odds of selling your item will vastly increase.

I know I feel that I would rather ship an item to a buyer than to try to schedule a local pick up which means choreographing your schedule with the buyer's and trying to find a good meet up spot to make the transaction.


4. Include Shipping Costs in Your Price
Determine shipping costs of the item and include that in your asking price. This way when listing the item you can title your listing as "Canon 35 f/1.4L - $1,000 Shipped". This will let the buyers know exactly what the item will cost shipped to their door. This will help your sales tremendously.


5. Include Paypal Fee in Your Price
Determine what your 3% Paypal fees will be on your listing and add those to your price. Some members will not accept Paypal because of the fees. Others will tack it onto the final price of the listed item if a member wants to pay via paypal.

In my expeience its much easier and a whole lot less hassle to include all of that upfront in your asking price and not lay those extra stipulations on your potential buyers. The less they have to decipher and figure up a cost of an item the better.


6. Add Photos of the Product You're Selling
Listings that do not contain actual photos of the item being sold only hurts the person listing the item. Most members will not agree to purchase an item sight unseen so in order to better the odds of you seeling your item just add photos of it when listing.

And please do not use the "photos available upon request" statements because I guarantee you members will request them and some that have already came across your listing once and saw no photos will probably not visit your listing again even though you've eventually added photos. They will simply think the listing has no photos and move on to the next one.


7. Include Sample Photos
If you're listing a camera and or lens including sample photos taken with that item are a great help. This is more eye candy for potential buyers to see and in the end it helps you as a lister.



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Code For The Sample Listing Below
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PHP Code:

[COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="3"][B]Canon 35 f1.4L[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[size=3][B][COLOR="Red"]Selling Price: $1100 Shipped[/COLOR][/B][/size]

[B]Date of Purchase:[/B] 2008
[B]Purchased:[/B] Amazon.com
[B]Date Code:[/B] UW0506
[B]Price New:[/B] $1300 

Use this area to add whatever info needed to explain condition of your item, reason youre selling and/or other details specific to your sale. The more information the better.

[B][COLOR="Red"]Shipping and Paypal Info:[/COLOR][/B]
Will ship via USPS Priority Mail for Free.
Will accept Paypal.

[B][COLOR="Red"]Items Included:[/COLOR][/B][list][*]35 f1.4L Lens [*]Lens Cap[*]Rear Cap[*]Hood[*]Original Box[*]Manual[/list]
[b][COLOR="Red"]More Info Here:[/COLOR][/b]
[url=http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_35mm_f_1_4l_usm]Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 35mm f/1.4L USM[/url]


[color=red][size=3][b]Photos of Item:[/b][/size][/color]

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.houstonphotog.com/temp/tpfsale/album1/images/IMG_5661.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]


[color=red][size=3][b]Sample Photos:[/b][/size][/color]

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.houstonphotog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/sanfran-011.jpg[/IMG]
Canon EOS-5D Mark II : Canon EF 35 f/1.4L : 25 Seconds : f/5.6 : 100 ISO : 35mm : Aperture Priority Mode : -1/3 Bias : No Flash[/CENTER] 


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Sample Listing Below
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Canon 35 f1.4L

Selling Price: $1100 Shipped

Date of Purchase: 2008
Purchased: Amazon.com
Date Code: UW0506
Price New: $1300

I've lusted over this lens for years and finally bought it. I've just noticed that I only shot with it maybe 2 times in ALL of 2010 so I figured I would go ahead and unload it.

Shipping and Paypal Info:
Will ship via USPS Priority Mail for Free.
Will accept Paypal.

Items Included:

• 35 f1.4L Lens
• Lens Cap
• Rear Cap
• Hood
• Original Box
• Manual

More Info Here:
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 35mm f/1.4L USM



Photos of Item:

Sample Photos:

Canon EOS-5D Mark II : Canon EF 35 f/1.4L : 25 Seconds : f/5.6 : 100 ISO : 35mm : Aperture Priority Mode : -1/3 Bias : No Flash

[duronboy]

This is an incredibly good idea. It's surprising how often I see poorly laid-out ads. On the rare occasion that I create an ad, I always imagine what I would want to see if I were shopping for the item I'm selling. I especially like the itemized list of EXACTLY what one is receiving.

The only thing I might do differently is post a completely untouched file for sample purposes. Even better, but optional, an untouched sample along with a 100% crop. But, that's just me. Over all, great idea.

[kimberley]

Hey I have a questions, I have a 20 photography book I wanna sell ( yeah that many) If I wanna sell all at the same price and same shipping etc, can I list them all in the same post or do I have to list each individual one ?

[Abel]

you can list them in the same thread if you like... your call... just might be tough to keep up with them and who's interested etc..

like i mentioned this is by no means a rule.. just a suggestion on how to list items efficiently with the best chances of getting things sold quickly.