I am so stuck at Etsy. Here is something I put up on Ebay.

[Maraya1969]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270517242328&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT




I am so discouraged with etsy now. I'm thinking about taking all my barrettes to a high class salon and see what I can get for them there. My whole crafting area in the house is just one big confused mess and I can't seem to try anything new until I clean and clear out areas so I can see what I am doing.

Please take a look. If you know anyone with long hair who likes to get it off of their head send it along. Thanks all.

Maraya

[dalaigh lllama]

1. Have you looked at what other jewelry sellers are doing on ebay?

I don't need a barrette but I can give you some ebay pointers. It's always a good idea to look at completed sales in your area to see what is selling and how they marketed it. Maybe look under "custom barrettes."

1) Your additional line "people will compliment you" cost you an additional $1.50 and wasn't necessary.

2) Start your bid lower and add shipping in the small print. Under 13 oz. ships for @ $3 anywhere in the States. Familiarize yourself with postal rates so you don't end up losing money.

3) You should include a picture of the clasping mechanism. When I had long hair, that was just as important to me as how it looked.

4) You might consider selling the barrettes in groups of 3. I sold a bunch of kids' clothing that way. (We also sold "7 pounds of cookbooks" to someone who enjoyed our sense of humor.)

[Maraya1969]

6. Can you tell me how to get to "completed sales"? Thanks!

[MineralMan]

9. Bring up the listing in the category where you sell.

Look on the left side bar and scroll down until you see Completed Auctions. Click on those words, not the box, and you'll see a list of recent ended auctions. The sold items will show the price in green.

You have to be logged in to do this.

[la la]

2. i sell--

well, i attempt to sell ;>) on etsy, ebay, artfire and 1000Markets. Have you tried any of those places?

i sell vintage goodies and beadwoven jewelry--the vintage goes on ebay and etsy, but the beadweaving---well, labor intensive, overloaded on every site, and buyers just don't want to pay what it's worth.

i didn't mean to turn this into 'about me'! your barrette is beautiful, i'll just echo what the poster before me suggested--more pics ( i know it costs $, but..) did you give size- length and width? add all kinds of info - that doesn't cost any more.

( same on etsy)

good luck and may the sales dust float your way --then send some to me! ;>)

[Maraya1969]

4. Ya know I finally got a sale on Etsy and it was someone who had already

bought jewelry from me in the past. I asked her to look and she bought a pair of earrings and now she can't remember her password or even her screen name to get back in to leave me feedback! I went over her house and tried to help but her computer was such a mess I couldn't help her with it. (plus she signed me in under a 'guest account" so I think that caused a big problem.

So I have zero sales feedback.

---------sending sales dust your way!

[MineralMan]

3. Another suggestion about your photo...

It's out of focus. That's a sales killer. If your camera doesn't have a macro setting, find one that does. Always use a tripod for product photos and never post an fuzzy photo.

I sold mineral specimens to collectors for many years, and the difference between a poor photo and an excellent one was huge when it came to sales.

Also, if you can photograph your barrettes on actual hair, or even a wig, you'll have more success. personally, I'd use a wig on a wig form, and come in close, as you have in this photo.

Clear photos and detailed, well-written descriptions are the keys to success in selling stuff on the internet, whatever venue you choose.

[Maraya1969]

5. There are 2 photos of the barrette in my hair. They are very small under

the big photo when you click on the link. They should be larger but that is Ebay.

[MineralMan]

7. Thanks. I went to the link...

You have very heavy competition on Ebay in the category you chose. I'll give you a few tips, but Ebay's going to be a very difficult market for you, since you're competing with so many other items.

First, the title for your entry should always be treated as a title, with initial capital letters. Your title looks a bit amateurish.

Second, lose the large type in the description section. That doesn't work on Ebay.

Third, raise your starting price. I suggest $4.99. Don't give your hand-made items away by setting too low a starting price. The Ebay fee is the same up to $9.99. Many people, and I'm one of them, use the Highest Price With Shipping sort for viewing, and a higher starting price will bring your item up, higher on the list. Also, don't give away shipping. Charge the actual cost, which is small, for shipping your items. Free shipping isn't a good strategy. You're already not earning what your time is worth. On items like yours, there will probably be only one bidder, and they'll bid because they like what they see. They won't mind paying a reasonable price and reasonable shipping.

Finally, take better photos. Borrow a good digital camera with a macro setting and make sure your photos are clear and sharp, not fuzzy and out of focus.

I have sold hundreds of items on ebay, mostly antiques, and have done very well with them. Your items are one-of-a-kind, so stress that in your descriptions. Be descriptive but don't shout at viewers.

Still, though, it's a very, very difficult category to sell in. There is so much jewelry on Ebay that it's very, very difficult to make yours stand out. I don't know how to advise you on that. But the photography and description are your salesperson there, so make both the very best you can.

[MineralMan]

8. OK, I went back to AOL and browsed completed sales in

your category. Barrettes are simply not selling. You can scroll down for pages and find unsold items, with an occasional one that sold for almost nothing.

I take back what I said. Forget ebay for these items. You'll just be wasting your time and paying ebay fees. That category just isn't selling there.

There is one person who is selling sterling silver handmade barrettes in the $20 range, and that's about it. Look at those ads.

http://shop.ebay.com/the_purple_gecko/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

Those are imported items, being sold in an ebay store. I guarantee that even that seller is not making any money with this.

[dalaigh lllama]

10. Another thought on your listing

There's no need to put it in a private auction, which will greatly reduce who can bid. Private auction feature is normally used by folks trying to sell big ticket items; folks who bid have to fill out a credit report before they can bid.

[Carni]

11. Very nice

I have to agree with mineral man though a clearer photo would be better.
(I had never even heard of the macro setting so I learned something from this discussion too!)

I'll tell you what...IMO Ebay sucks right now for hand made items and art. I know a lot of people who sell art/craft stuff on Ebay and very few people are selling at their normal levels (or if they are they aren't getting their normal prices)

You may actually do better going to salons etc locally right now and asking them to sell your jewelry for a cut. I used to sell on Ebay and stopped last Summer and started selling through a local source and I did MUCH better than I was doing in 08.

Basically things are really screwy right now! :(