What is Tophatter?

[Former_Member]

A Facebook friend just suggested I use it to drive traffic to my Etsy shop. I went to the site but it explains nothing on the home page other than it's an auction site. I don't want to register first to find out what it is. How does an auction site drive traffic to Etsy? Please explain! Thank you!

[MonicaColleenxVSJ]

Hi Judy,
I found this site about a month ago and have had a TON of success with it. It is a new site that you list your items on and they go up for a live auction while you watch online. Kind of fun and addicting! I have been able to sell a lot of items and they allow your "name" to be your etsy shop name. So you get a lot of visibility when your item goes up for auction. I have had people who bid on one of my items and didn't win it come over to my Etsy page and purchase the item there instead.
It is a new site so there are a lot of kinks they are working out daily. It has become more popular so it has become harder and harder to get a listing in an auction. When you do, it just depends on the crowd if they like or want your item. There is a 10% fee when it sells, if it doesn't sell there is no fee.

You have to decide if it is worth it to you. They make you start the listing price at 50% of the original price, that way people can actually work on bidding. I have some items go for less than what I sell for here on Etsy, and some go 4x my selling price on Etsy. So for me it evens out.

Hope that helps! It is a legit site! I love it! I have made a ton off of it already. I highly recommend. Just be patient with them. The site is only 3 months old and there are changes all the time.

Over all, I give it 2 thumbs up. :)
Monica

[HiJoDesign]

It's basically a live online auction - each item goes up for auction with a fast timer on it - you set the bid on your item, it goes up, you watch people bid, and can explain what you like about it, marketing it while people bid.

It's pretty nifty idea, I have an item up there for my first auction tomorrow - but I registered and watched a few before I decided to try it. It's pretty fun, and very fast. You're not going to watch your item stagnate.

The nifty thing is - it doesn't cost anything to list it, so if your item doesn't sell, no worries...you can just list it again in another auction. They go through how to use it and what to expect when you register - it's really user friendly.

As you sell one or more products, you can add more and more. There are quite alot of categories, also, so if you prefer to list in "high end" or just normal, you can. There are also supplies auctions (you can find stuff and buy things WAY cheaper there than online at wholesale)

**OI! you beat me to the explanation! Yours is better :D**

[Former_Member]

I assume you can't list something on Tophatter that you also have for sale in your Etsy shop right? I'd have to either have more than one or a different item. Sorry for all the questions, but I do have a few more. Do I have to be present when the auction goes live? Can I schedule the auction or is it random? I remember reading a post on one of the forums here that a person waited all day for her auction and then no one bid or something like that. She was very disappointed because she'd waited all day for it.

One more thing, do people have a chance to see what's coming up for bid (like a real auction)? Can they check it out before bidding starts?

wow, that's a lot of questions. Sorry!

[Former_Member]

You can definitely list it there! Just remember to take it out if it sells on top hatter, or if it is a ooak to cancel the auction if it sells on etsy first :) the auctions are scheduled, and so far mine have been set by them but it's at a specific time (mine is 12pm Sunday) so I plan to be there to answer questions and help "sell" my item.

[Former_Member]

And yes! They have a great scrollable list that you can see the items while in the auction, also a gallery view that shows ALL scheduled items for the whole week, with the ability for bidders to set alerts on items they like :) best thing is go watch a bunch of auctions and watch what helps sell and watch the video tutorial. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Cool, thank you! I'll definitely check it out.

[Former_Member]

Judy....there was another discussion re: Tophatter just a few days ago. Here are some other takes on it. Hope it helps!!

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/9920029/page/3/#

[MidnightCreations]

So far my experience with tophatter has been awesome. I have sold 4 items very near my normal price so that has been a positive. I am now able to schedule up to 10 items at a time and currently have 4 scheduled, and plan to get a few more ready to do as well. I have bid a few times but not won yet, I think it is a fun venue with a different opportunity for some shops. Like anything learn what you can an develop a strategy based on your items and needs/wants from it.

ETA: I do wish there were more options for scheduling, but I know that is a function of number of sellers/lots, etc.

[Former_Member]

To you all who have had success with Tophatter...do you ever find it difficult to keep track of it all? The only thing I can compare it to is like when I have a craft show & I bring many (if not all) of the items I have here on Etsy. My concern is when something sells...either on Etsy OR at the craft fair. not only do you need to attend to that sale, but you also need to deactivate your item. It just seems like something that can easily overwhelm. Yes? No?

[ChantelandMe]

I just scheduled my first auction on March 19. I chose one of my etsy items that hasn't had many views. My 'plan' for now is to keep it on etsy until time for the auction. If it sells on etsy I'll cancel my auction. If it doesn't sell on etsy first I'll deactivate it for tophatter. If it doesn't sell on tophatter I'll update the listing with new keywords, tags, blah, blah, and renew it on etsy. I figure the most it will cost me is the .20 renew fee.


My question for those who have been successful on tophatter is did you start your bidding at 50% or lower? I think I may have started too low, I'm not sure. The item sells here for $26 and I put a starting bid for $6. I would be sad to sell it for $6, but if I put the starting price at what I have in it I'm afraid I'll scare people off.

[Former_Member]

@judy- that's what iPhones are for!!! Haha ;)

I use mine at fairs to deactivate it on etsy if it sells there. I love it because I can take care of it instantly :)

[MidnightCreations]

I have had at most (before today) three items scheduled (right now I have 4). I have been able to keep track of that many, where a craft show may take many dozen items a few is nothing (for me anyway).

I have also been listing items NOT listed on etsy at all. I sell different things offline then on etsy and do not have a show until early May. Actually I probably have over 200 items made not listed so I have a lot of choices.

I have done a few that were on etsy and just deactivated them about a day before. Right now only one of mine that is scheduled is on etsy I will just deactivate it before, if it sells just delete it from TH.

I need to take some pics and schedule a few more, the slots seem to be slim in choice. :)

The item I sold today after fees was only .45 cents less then if I had listed/sold it here. I am happy considering I have had virtually no views today. For now I feel like TH is a guarnateed sale of some kind.

[Former_Member]

@Kristen: good point!! I have my IPad for that! But even still, I feel like there's the potential for it to get kinda hectic. Just one of my little concerns.

I'm also wondering: let's say you post an item that normally sells in Etsy for $35 and you begin the bidding at $17. If the item doesn't go higher than say $25...are you obligated to accept it?? How does that work??

[Former_Member]

Yes! You HAVE to accept the final bid. It's in big clear writing right before you finalize your auction.

I've worried about that too, so I'm starting small with a low cost to me. If I do ok, I will play more with higher priced items. (my first is starting at $6, retails at $20)

I plan to be there to try and pump up the bidders! They have a great live chat with all bidders :)

[StudioAvai]

Tophatter sounds like a good idea I suppose if you give yourself an allocated slot each week or month you'll have more time, so you may not be so over whelmed.

Thanks for the questions and answers so far. I may try this tool.

[ShareMyMoon]

I tried it over the weekend.

I listed a necklace made of pearls with a sterling silver lapis pendant at cost and it didn't sell. :o(

Reminds me, I need to go take it out of my inactive.

[Former_Member]

I just want to ad that the time of the auctions are Pacific Time. I'm in PA, so I need to adjust the time for me.

[Former_Member]

I've heard a lot about Tophatter, and I have an auction set for Saturday! Yay! The good thing is that even if it sells I can get more yarn easily, and it doesn't take me a HUGE amount of time to make a blanket, so I'll just keep it in my Etsy shop.

[TheThriftingMagpie]

Hi. Thanks for this info. Two questions for anyone:

if you put your shopname.etsy.com will that lead people to your Etsy shop?

(I signed up and I didn't use my shop name and then saw other Etsy shops on Tophatter.)

Second, does anyone know how vintage and higher ticket items sell on Tophatter?

Any help much appreciated.


♥Tracey

[Former_Member]

I'm finding it very difficult to find a schedule for my item, does the website email you when there is a slot free or do I have to look for a slot myself?!

Thanks for the help:)

[Former_Member]

Finally found a free slot, I have to endure the wait until the 20th of March, very excited though!!

http://tophatter.com/auctions/625

[Former_Member]

So now if you sell your item on Etsy before your auction date comes up...what happens?? Do you just cancel it??

[Former_Member]

If you are lucky and your product or design is something which is most sought for, you will get a good price. For some reason, I don't seem to be on that lucky brigade, so my items never really had high bids. I don't know what the problem is...i still need to figure. You can try your luck, I feel I've been more lucky as a buyer than a seller! Lol!