Question:
Thanks for the info on how people feel about reserve pricing. After these auctions are done I will ask him if he would like to try again following your suggestions. I don’t use reserve pricing on my personal items for sale and I never have problems selling my items, I think my friend is scared of losing money. Thanks, Jason (caffine50) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid.. I agree. Just set an initial price to what you want at absolute, realistic, minimum. Put it up for 10 day auction, if it doesn’t sell you can always relist it for free and maybe adjust the price down a little. Reserve auctions
Response:
Hey, has anyone tried www.pawnbrokeronline.com for jewelry? It seems pretty reasonable and their reserves don’t seem that bad. Thoughts?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid.. I agree. Just set an initial price to what you want at absolute, realistic, minimum. Put it up for 10 day auction, if it doesn’t sell you can always relist it for free and maybe adjust the price down a little. Reserve auctions
Before you buy.
Response:
Actually, I saw one place that has a money-back guarantee w/in a couple days after purchase so you don’t get completely screwed. It was called pawnbrokeronline.com. If you guys check it out, let me know what you think – I’m thinking about buying some stuff there myself. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do you mean "real" jewelry, or costume jewelry? Vintage costume jewelry, yes. The real thing, no. I think most people are leary of buying jewelry through online auctions. How could you be sure that it’s 18 kt, or a real diamond? There are certain items that I, for one, would never bid on, and real jewelry is at the top of that list. Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason Before you buy.
Before you buy.
Response:
From what I saw nobody was doing any bidding on that site. Elrond – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey, has anyone tried www.pawnbrokeronline.com for jewelry? It seems pretty reasonable and their reserves don’t seem that bad. Thoughts? says… look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid.. I agree. Just set an initial price to what you want at absolute, realistic, minimum. Put it up for 10 day auction, if it doesn’t sell you can always relist it for free and maybe adjust the price down a little. Reserve auctions Before you buy.
Response:
Why do you think that is? I mean, the stuff there on Pawnbrokeronline.com looks OK, doesn’t it? Or do you think it’s bogus stuff? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From what I saw nobody was doing any bidding on that site. Elrond Hey, has anyone tried www.pawnbrokeronline.com for jewelry? It seems pretty reasonable and their reserves don’t seem that bad. Thoughts? says… look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid.. I agree. Just set an initial price to what you want at absolute, realistic, minimum. Put it up for 10 day auction, if it doesn’t sell you can always relist it for free and maybe adjust the price down a little. Reserve auctions shopping. Before you buy.
Before you buy.
Response:
Can’t answer that, but a lot of folks shy at the word, "pawn". Must have to do with the general pawn shop concept. In my case, my wife and I make and sell jewelry. I have no need to buy any. I do go to pawn shops on occasion when I need some gold to melt down to cast and do not have time to wait for an order to come in. Gold wedding bands are about as cheap as it gets. I never will figure out why folks spend so much on them. (sorry off subject.) I have seen a lot of conterfeit jewelry. Rings stamped 14K that were plated. Stones that were poor quality if even the type of gem claimed at all. If I were a buyer I would never buy anything as expensive as jewelry without being able to see it first, and without knowing the party I am buying from. Just remember jewelry has the highest markup of any retail item I know of. Part of what you are paying for is the peace of mind of not being scammed. Elrond – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why do you think that is? I mean, the stuff there on Pawnbrokeronline.com looks OK, doesn’t it? Or do you think it’s bogus stuff?
Response:
Ness, Do you sell ren-fair stuff? I agree, you’re not going to get in person prices unless you find someone who just has to have what you’re selling, they’ve been looking for that everywhere! If you can’t see it, feel it, try it on, you’re not going to pay as much. I make much more in person than I do on eBay, price-wise. Volume-wise, eBay can’t be beat.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Example: If you’re trying to get ren-fair prices for chainmail jewelry, it isn’t going to happen. End of story. 
Response:
says… look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid..
I agree. Just set an initial price to what you want at absolute, realistic, minimum. Put it up for 10 day auction, if it doesn’t sell you can always relist it for free and maybe adjust the price down a little. Reserve auctions
Response:
Ness, Do you sell ren-fair stuff?
*nod* Indeed I do. About to expand back into some garb again for plus sizes, but have so far saved that for a festival I attend twice a year. I’m lazy about sewing. It’s the whole cutting fabric thing… I agree, you’re not going to get in person prices unless you find someone who just has to have what you’re selling, they’ve been looking for that everywhere! If you can’t see it, feel it, try it on, you’re not going to pay as much. I make much more in person than I do on eBay, price-wise. Volume-wise, eBay can’t be beat.
eBay is also good for spawning repeat buyers if they like what you sell. Or they’ll often request custom pieces to go with a piece they bought. I don’t advertise on eBay that I will make custom pieces, or even that I craft the jewelry myself, unless you look at my-ebay ebay page. Agreed, eBay’s volume can’t be beat for sales. But in person I do make far more in a couple days than I do in two weeks worth of auctions on ebay. (It’s that waiting for auction end thing aside from people not being able to fondle the merchandise. 
I do keep an eye on my competition though, and always note that new sellers into the niche I currently sell in, try to start prices at ren-fair prices and it never ever works. I also note who sells what for recommendations to buyers when they’re looking for something that I may not be able to offer. And my note on reserve auctions: I’ll bid on a reserve auction if it’s something I really want. But if the top end of my bid doesn’t meet the reserve, I don’t give it a second thought. I _do_ adore sellers who actually put their reserve price in the auction description though. It helps me decide if I’m willing to try to pay what they want, or waste my time bidding at all. It’s something to consider if you do run a reserve auction. I suppose when I’m looking at jewelry though, aside from price, the most important factors come down to: measurements (will it fit), and display: How will it look on a real finger/neck/wrist/ankle. Ciao, Ness
Response:
I agree with the below. Mine too is specialty jewelry too though, so though I have competition in the same niche, I haven’t had problems selling it. I don’t know about the contemporary jewelry market though. So I suppose it depends on the jewelry design, and how much you’re trying to sell it for. Example: If you’re trying to get ren-fair prices for chainmail jewelry, it isn’t going to happen. End of story. Past that, give measurements on all necklaces and bracelets and such things. How long are they, take good pictures. Scans are adequate, but if you can find a dummy hand/necklace display whatever, pictures are better on those because they display well how the jewelry may look when worn, which is far different than when scanned flat. If you’re selling rings, be sure to give an accurate size. Ciao, Ness – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve sold plenty of jewelry, but mine is specialty jewelry. You need to find a niche and appeal to it. Find the something special about the item and beat that to death in the description. Then point out that something special in Do you have a listing number I can look at? Lisa Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
Response:
Do you mean "real" jewelry, or costume jewelry? Vintage costume jewelry, yes. The real thing, no. I think most people are leary of buying jewelry through online auctions. How could you be sure that it’s 18 kt, or a real diamond? There are certain items that I, for one, would never bid on, and real jewelry is at the top of that list. Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
Before you buy.
Response:
I’ve sold some David Yurman pieces that met and exceeded reserve, and STILL were a bargain for the buyer. I do see many people trying to sell it close to retail. I don’t think that reserves necessarily turn people off…I think it depends on the type of jewelry, does the buyer know the quality, can they shop it at retail and come back and bid, etc, etc. My feeling is that there is no rhyme or reason to "reserve or not to reserve"
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid.. Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
Response:
look at comparable ads.. resevers REALLY turn people off, use a minimum instead.. what I may think of as a 20$ item, may have a 200$ reserve… but if I see reserve, I automatically think, that person is going to have an inflated sense of it’s worth, and not ever bid..
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
Response:
Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
Response:
I’ve sold plenty of jewelry, but mine is specialty jewelry. You need to find a niche and appeal to it. Find the something special about the item and beat that to death in the description. Then point out that something special in Do you have a listing number I can look at? Lisa
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I was wondering if jewelry ever sells for a decent price on E-Bay. I was asked to put some up for a friend of mine and I recieved little or no interest. None of the reserve prices were met. Should I give up or is there something special I should be doing? Thanks in advance. Jason
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