Ten Sure Fire Ways To Lose Bidders

When you realize the cost of placing an auction includes everything from auction site fees, cost of electricity, internet access, your time, and other auction management issues and expenses, why is it that many auction sellers lose bidders theyve worked so hard, and spent so much money to get to their auctions, by making easy to fix mistakes? The way some auction sellers approach their auctions, its clear there are as many ways to lose bidders as there are to skin a cat. If you spend enough time in the auctions youll see a lot of basic mistakes, but the question remains: why do so many people consistently make the same mistakes over and over again. Is it that they are just placing auctions for the fun of it - without expecting to sell the item- probably not! Heres our top ten sure fire ways to lose bidders (in no particular order):

Weak Headlines Bad Photographs Short, Sloppy or Excessive Descriptions Unreasonable Terms No Shipping Amounts Lack of Response to Emails Unrealistic Reserve Price Low Feedback Rating No Condition Information Bad Start/Closing Time

Lets look at each one in a little more detail and see if youre making the same mistakes. Weak Headlines A recent auction was for a Blue Antique Chair. This seller obviously didnt want many bidders to look at the auction. By adding some specificity to the headline a much stronger draw is accomplished. How about RARE Victorian Wingback Chair? Now if a bidder uses the search capability on eBay and they look for any of three key words: chair, wingback, Victorian, the auction will show up. Always use your popular word search tools to draw bidders. Bad Photographs With the popularity of digital cameras increasing, capturing your auction item has never been easier. Some tips are to be sure the item is lit well enough to show key details and/or any imperfections. Also, keep the size of your photos to a reasonable level so your auction doesnt take too long to load. Short, Sloppy or Excessive Descriptions Not enough information tons of typographical errors- or a rambling discourse on why your wife is making you sell your item is a good way to lose bidders. Be succinct but provide enough information to describe the item sufficiently and create buyer interest. Unreasonable Terms Have you ever seen an auction where the seller states something like Were not responsible for items once shipped or Item sold as is - without a clear description of the items condition? Remember if you want to increase the number of bids you receive or get your bidders to buy from you again, you need to focus on basic customer service. No Shipping Amounts Not clearly stating your shipping amounts up front prevents bidders from comparative shopping. State all buyer expenses clearly. Lack of Response to Emails Responding to emails takes time. Not doing so loses bidders. Return all emails as quickly as possible. Unrealistic Reserve Price Are you overpricing your items and then wondering why theyre not selling? Do your research and determine competitive prices before placing your auctions. Low Feedback Rating If you dont care your potential bidders will disappear. Work on your Feedback Rating by meeting your commitments and providing great customer service. No Condition Information By providing a clear description of the item and its condition, with supporting photos, you maximize the potential of your actions. Bad Start/Closing Time Start an auction so it closes on a time or day that is inconsistent with your bidders profile (e.g. commercial buyers who bid at work or parents who arent available during work hours) will result in fewer bids. Making sure you dont make these few mistakes will improve the number of bids your auctions receive.