List Until it Sells Option

[Former_Member]

I was wondering if there is ever a chance of adding a “list until it sells” option for shop owners? There are items I would like to keep trying to get seen and sold that don’t sell in the allotted time for the $0.20 listing fee. So I have to keep listing to try to get them sold and yet not making anything on them. Maybe they will never sell but at least they are there and have a chance rather than me getting frustrated and not having the money to keep listing them.

Perhaps it could be an option even if it is a little more to choose that? The “list until it sells” could be very helpful to new shops or undiscovered shops that are trying to get into the marketplace. The same time allotted $0.20 listing fee could be the choice for those confident the item will sell in the allotted time. How about it Etsy, is this ever going to be an option? Would others like to see this happen?

[weekendjewelry1]

April, since it only costs .20 to list an item for four months (I think it's four, I haven't checked lately!) - the cost of keeping it listed doesn't seem prohibitive to me. And re-listing can help bring items to buyers' attention.... so I actually don't mind re-listing. Twenty cents is pretty low cost advertising, I think.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for your opinion Jen I appreciate it. It does seem low however relisting can eat at profits. It is true it brings things back current so that is a good side to it.

[ManmadeKnitting]

That would be a good idea, listing fees until they item sells. I've had a number of items which I've had to re-list, it would help with costs that's is for sure.

[Former_Member]

I do not seem to seem ungrateful the listing fees are very low. It is hard though when sales slow down and money is going out to keep listing and none coming in. Anyone else in the same boat? I am getting discouraged.

[RayOfLightJewels]

I get a lot more traffic, favorites and sales when I relist items in my other shop. If I didn't relist them I think views would fall. I relist at least two items every day.

[NiciLaskin]

It's a tough call. Listing fees help to weed out lower quality items or items that won't sell. I know when we have some items that just bomb and never pick up any likes, views, or sales, I eventually stop renewing the listing, whereas in Artfire with just a monthly subscription fee, I will leave everything listing indefinitely. Having to pay to list is a sort of quality control and forces strategy. Sure a single item is only $.20, but if you have enough of them, then it does add up.

On the other side of the argument, a list until it sells could be a great option for highly specific items that require a long time to find the right buyer. There are great vintage and antiques that are just so odd or out there, it takes a special collector to appreciate them.

[TheTangledCat]

I likewise agree with the previous posts. Relisting is a way to keep things fresh in your shop. If the item needs to be relisted, that might be a key for you to reexamine the listing. Did the item get very many views/favorites? Is there something that can be improved upon (the picture, the writeup, the price, SEO?) I've also found that with this shop (and my other, much busier, hand painted ornaments shop) that renewing/relisting seems to move my items to higher in the search results. I did a trial in my other shop and when I listed several items in my shop every day (for several months), it really seemed to help my views and overall sales (and of course you need a lot of items in your shop to be doing this).

[Former_Member]

I like the list till it sells idea.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Lulu and Lori. It is a good way to stay in the feeds but a smaller item that does not have a large profit margin relisted several times with no sale does become unrealistic to keep trying to sell. As Nici says I have had items I decided were a flop because of this. Though who knows? Maybe they just had not found their right buyer.

Plus, more items it is said brings in more traffic. So that item still in your shop adds to the total you have potential traffic for even if no one buys. Yes, it has to be getting the hits to do so but I am learning that you can put them in teams and at least get some favs and views. Not to say you should list something that will for sure never sell just to up your stats that is just silly.

I think both ways helps shops out. It would be good to have the option and do some of both. Especially for less known or established shops. I have been here since 2012 but I changed what I sell and am having a hard time making sales. I know I need more items but if they always fall off and I have to keep paying to keep going but have no sales it will defeat the purpose of having a shop! I want to make this work again and am determined to do so. But it seems to take time to get things flowing again.

Thanks everyone for your replies! If it was an option you don't have to choose it. Just a thought.

[Former_Member]

Rather than a 'list until it sells' option, why not look at the listing itself when its up for renewal to see what could possibly be improved?

Maybe the photos need updating? The description could use a little more information? Or the title needs to be refreshed?

Or maybe the your marketing simply isn't reaching the target customer for that particular item.

[Former_Member]

I believe that the listing fees are some of the lowest around and if it keep you at the fore fron t then i dont mind. It can be quiet hard relisting and item all the time but look at the overall picture and im sure you are still in profit...? if not then you would need to work out your prices again. I factor in 2 listing fees for my items as most of them I have to list again. before they sell.

[Former_Member]

I do what crochetgal suggests. I had a couple items expire this fall that I just let expire. The pictures were awful and I never really loved the item. I only sold them once. Other times, I just tweak things that aren't selling.

[CarrieStephensArt1]

Renewing helps you evaluate products instead of just letting them stagnate without trying to make them more saleable.

If you are relisting an item over and over again perhaps it is time to look at the tags and description... perhaps the picture needs to be reshot or the price adjusted higher or lower to get it to sell.

I have many items waiting in my que that need to be refreshed before renewing. I let them sit expired until i have time to get around to really looking into them.