I Was a Victim of an eBay Crime

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

Physician, heal thyself.

fLufF
--

I guess you missed the WORD undeserved.

[fin]

I thought the whole point of copywriting was to make some people love it, and some hate it. Seems like she did a good job lol

[vickybabe]

Originally Posted by wally247

Hilarious....I am genuinely shocked that there are others out there who don't blindly repeat the list mantra over and over without any original thought as to how fu****g annoyed people on that list end up being.


It's my opinion that 83% of all people who blindly repeat "build a list" in this forum don't make any money...they just are too scared to admit that there may be a circumstance in life where a list is a terrible idea.


I've opted out of 2 lists already this morning because of exactly what we are talking about...so for those 2 guys, the money obviously is NOT going to be in the list they had me on (for my money anyway).

The best list builders in the game get loads of unsubscribes everyday, the point is we are only after the people on our list that are likely to buy our recommendations. Sorry to be harsh, but just the sound of your attitude, i would say your unsubscribe wouldn't worry anyone to much.
Personally i love being on a few lists. How else do i found out about all the great products launching.
I am not trying to say that you are 100% wrong, but i think you miss the point of us list builders. For every unsubscribe we get, we add another 50 members who are interested in what we have to say.

Just my two bobs worth

[want2knowhow]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

Aw, I bet he didn't send flowers or chocolates either.

An eBay seller, who already pays well over 20% in eBay/PayPal fees, springs for the shipping and you're feigning outrage because you think this is going to make you look like a savvy marketer.

At least I hope the outrage is faux. In case it isn't:

I sold on eBay over 10 years and I never included any of those things because they cost time and money. I even stopped putting business cards in packages because people were NOT going to my website to reorder nor were they calling me, they were going back to eBay to bid on my auctions.

The guy you bought from probably ships hundreds of packages a day. You spent $1.99. There are millions of people like you on eBay. Get over yourself.

fLufF
--

LOL! You are officially the "Judge Judy" of W.F! And I LOVE Judge Judy and her (keepin' it real) Judyism's..."Get over yourself!" Just str8 up with NO chaser! Hahahahahaha...

[want2knowhow]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

With all due respect, I don't see why it is sad. In a way, she brought it on herself.

Had the OP come onboard and said:

I bought this information product as a WSO and I received it and it's fine but...

The vendor wasted a BIG opportunity by not:

1. emailing me to thank me for my purchase
2. trying to get me to join her list
3. letting me know about her other products
4. directing me to her website

Everybody would have understood that and it would have made the exact same point. Selling on eBay is not similar to what most people think of as internet marketing -- it is an entirely different kettle of finny creatures.

Moral: When you're trying to make a point, use an example your audience will understand.

fLufF
--

TOTAL get it and AGREE! We're ALL grown a$$ed adults. If you can't handle some on point criticism/disagreements then why the hell are you on here and in business? Sorry, everybody ain't Paula Abdul. I'd much rather be stung by the truth and recover than to be hurt by a bunch of b.s lies... Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining....

[Dragonfire Wealth]

My goodness your AR list's email click rate must be AMAZING with headlines/content like that. Bravo =)

P.S. Reading through all the responses...one in particular, what kind of person reads something that is OBVIOUSLY a tip/interesting and useful point and just flat out insults the OP while at the same time completely MISSING the point of the post...?

[Rhys Davies]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

Okay, this is why people who sell physical products don't tend to hang out there. You guys don't get it.

You do fulfillment digitally. One push of a virtual button and your "shipping" is done. eBay sellers (and some Amazon sellers, too) have to pick, pack, weigh, label, and tote the dang thing to the post office in most cases.

I belong to a merchant group, the Professional eBay Sellers Alliance. Some of us did co-op marketing by including flyers for each others' businesses in that empty box space. We compared notes after 5000 packs of inserts were shipped in product: Not one single sale. NOT ONE. And we used coupon codes so any conversions could be easily tracked.

eBay buyers buy on eBay. That's what they do.

Suzanne and I agree, world ends. film at 11.

fLufF
--

You're flyers sucked then. For a group that calls itself professionals eBay sellers, they're not very good at selling.

I add flyers to all eBay orders and have a 30% purchase rate from them.

Amazon have been doing it for years as well.

[travlinguy]

Originally Posted by Dragonfire Wealth

My goodness your AR list's email click rate must be AMAZING with headlines/content like that. Bravo =)

Bravo? Really? You're probably right. But when the body of a message has little or nothing to do with the headline, people get pissed off and unsubscribe.

There was no victim and no crime anywhere in the OP. It's called sucker bait.

[Ashlindz]

I currently sell on ebay and amazon.

In response to the original post, it all depends on how you have your business set-up. If you cater to the low-end of the market. It does not make any cents to add the additional physical marketing (coupons, thank you cards, catalogs).

Plus as others mentioned you can just check you buying history if you want to buy again from them.

Many stores on ebay don't do a good job at branding themselves or products because people who come to purchase on ebay just want great deals and don't care about the fluff. A charger is a charge is a charge type mentality.

Also, many people who buy on eBay only buy on eBay.

I understand your point on the missed opportunity, but if you really don't have anything different and your business is only set up to crank out sells on eBay then focusing on what you do best will do the marketing for you. Which is, Offering Great Deals on EBay.

But if you use eBay as a lead system to drive traffic to your own business website, this maybe a huge opportunity missed. But it really depends on how they have their business setup.

[Ericparke]

No flowers or choccies? bummer

[Ericparke]

Originally Posted by ThorstenWesterberg

I get the OP's point but since we are talking about an ebay account where you can track all your past purchases I dont really see the point in him exaggerating. Also keep in mind that what the seller sent you might be a product shipped from a dropshipper that never got in the hands of the seller for him to include a card or something.

In any case, IF you were completely satisfied with what you received then the next time you will need something that's where you are going. Reason is that you will obviously trust him and buy again from him without even considering of buying from someone else that you dont know even if the price is sligthly lower.

Ok champ

[zhaosaccount]

Everyone has his reason to do or not to do something. Maybe he think his business is just from serching, he don't put more time to build a list who knows

[LetsGoViral]

That's not a crime. Please use appropriate titles.

[anton343]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and mine was similar to yours ... without all the characteristic snark and personal attack. The following was uncalled for and is why you think that you and I disagree so frequently. In some cases we don't, but interjecting the snark is out of line and you do it over and over again to people who don't deserve it.

probably the best reply in this thread, there is no need to attack people to get your point across

[BIG Mike]

Originally Posted by Rob Howard

This thread = proof positive why many successful marketers don't bother posting anything in the WF after a certain point. And that is sad.

Rob

Rob, you took the words right out of my mouth...on the other hand, it's also a way to identify and remember certain members who are only here to take and not give anything back

Ironically, my wife and I were just having a similar discussion regarding the point Lisa has made. As business people, we should always be looking at how others are running their business and identifying their strengths/weaknesses. It's probably the single best way to learn how to improve your own.

It's a point we're not reminded of often enough, so Lisa's OP, including her flair for the dramatic, was well taken.

Am I the only one who thinks it's time to put the cat out?

[SeoDemon]

i don't know, why someone needs to be that aggressive with his opinion, i have seen it many times here, someone is making a thread pointing out something intending to enlighten others, and ouch an attacker comes along and ruin everything, that's really SAD

[Stuart Turnbull]

Great post Lisa!

I have had many similar experiences when buying on eBay myself - bottom line is that there are many thousands of eBayers who just don't do a very good job of maximizing their income - well done to you for pointing this out with suggestions to help them.

[Topwriters]

Originally Posted by chemo38

This Ebay seller lost money on shipping? That is a first for me. From my limited view, most sellers appear to make money on shipping costs.

chemo38

I honestly think the same way too!

[lisag]

Originally Posted by travlinguy

Bravo? Really? You're probably right. But when the body of a message has little or nothing to do with the headline, people get pissed off and unsubscribe.

There was no victim and no crime anywhere in the OP. It's called sucker bait.

Actually, I tied the headline into the end of the article. If you don't think that missing the opportunity to build a relationship and get additional revenue from an existing customer is not a 'crime', then good luck building sustainable revenue without contantly having to pay to attract new customers.

Just mu opinion. Your's obviously is different.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by Topwriters

I honestly think the same way too!

I guess you both overlooked the part where I said he offered free shipping.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by LetsGoViral

That's not a crime. Please use appropriate titles.

The purpose of a title (headline) i to draw the reader into the content. The purpose of the content is to convey information, make a sale, or whatever. My headline worked very well. I tied the headline into the end of the article. All wrapped up. Now whether or not you agree with the suggestions I provided is a different story.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by ThorstenWesterberg

I get the OP's point but since we are talking about an ebay account where you can track all your past purchases I dont really see the point in him exaggerating. Also keep in mind that what the seller sent you might be a product shipped from a dropshipper that never got in the hands of the seller for him to include a card or something.

In any case, IF you were completely satisfied with what you received then the next time you will need something that's where you are going. Reason is that you will obviously trust him and buy again from him without even considering of buying from someone else that you dont know even if the price is sligthly lower.

I bought something from CompUSA the other day that I wasn't even thinking about purchasing. I'm on their list and the product was a good deal. They made a sale because the reached out to me with an offer. That is called "push" marketing. Having a seller, any seller in any venue, wait for me to look up my past purchases and find their online store or auctions, is missing out on impulse sales. CompUSA certainly gets it. Do you know more about marketing than they do?

[cashp0wer]

I love to read books and a person who has a bookstore on ebay lives right down the road from me. He was having a book sale through his house because he had way too many books. I went to his book sale. He offered refreshments, and he had signs up everywhere giving out his eBay store name and URL, and also gave out flyers. I thought it was kind of neat. I ended up buying a bunch of books from him for very little money. I then went home and checked out his eBay store.

[travlinguy]

Originally Posted by lisag

Actually, I tied the headline into the end of the article. If you don't think that missing the opportunity to build a relationship and get additional revenue from an existing customer is not a 'crime', then good luck building sustainable revenue without contantly having to pay to attract new customers.

Just mu opinion. Your's obviously is different.

I understand what your intention was. My question to you would be, has this thread developed the way you expected? I'd guess not. Part of the reason for that is because people expected one thing and got something very different.

When I see content that's way out of line with the promise the headline makes (my opinion) the person who wrote the copy loses a lot of credibility with me. The comments here are almost completely polarized with slightly more people in the negative. But those people are mainly VERY negative.

I'd say the objective of a sensational headline would be to craft it in a way that you capture favor with a much larger group. Live and learn. Good luck.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I understand what your intention was. My question to you would be, has this thread developed the way you expected? I'd guess not. Part of the reason for that is because people expected one thing and got something very different.

When I see content that's way out of line with the promise the headline makes (my opinion) the person who wrote the copy loses a lot of credibility with me. The comments here are almost completely polarized with slightly more people in the negative. But those people are mainly VERY negative.

I'd say the objective of a sensational headline would be to craft it in a way that you capture favor with a much larger group. Live and learn. Good luck.

I think I got a fair number of people to agree with, or at least support, my message. After 20 years of marketing and copywriting, I know you can't please everyone. I don't try.

[Butazi]

This thread really irks me for numerous reasons. This should probably get its own topic and receive a dozen thanks from people who can actually sit, (critical) think, and not stick with the hivemind mentality, while ironically creating one of its own.

I have spent countless hours working with various eCommerce store mediums, and ebay & amazon are still the two head hanchos that I specialize in and have had increases of at least 50% revenues on ebay alone on a month to month basis (from previous years), and helped turn a several hundred dollar a month amazon campaign into nearly over $50K/month+ campaign. I reverse engineer, split test, follow results like a hawk and this will be the only post where I mention this because I DON'T want people getting the wrong idea about this topic based on the OP.

Aside form that, I'm an avid eBay and Amazon buyer. I discuss ways to market with both marketers and non marketers whenever I can. But let's go back to the subject at hand, why this topic still pisses me off.

1. Enaging Title, it works obviously, but it's down-right not even close to what is talked about which leads to the following responses

1a. "This isn't a real crime, it's just a clever title with some 'good' info on what I should be doing that could be seen on every other post on WF if you browsed for more than 1 week, but I'm gonna disregard it because the title was engaging" (This is the #1 thing that makes me become more and more angsty with the SEO community in general, it's just a way to say the same information differently, they often get a pass in the community because SEO's are a tight clique and reputation is everything alongside that it's all "organic" so no one really feels like they are being sold on anything. This isn't much different when it comes to a flat out IM community since we are expected to be sold based on getting interest, but not on actual content).

1b. "Misleading title, what a way to get my interest. But that was too clever and now I don't feel as smart so I don't want to say anything" says a good majority of people who just browse / lurk whose subconscious told them what I just said. This ties into 1c.

1c. "Whoa the title fooled me, this person is a marketer and I should listen to everything that is said, and people thanked this topic a lot so it's gotta be good. I will do what she said verbatim". I am willing to bet a very good amount of people WILL do exactly what you said, not knowing the costs of doing so, understanding what products they sell and if it's actually worthwhile. You see it all the time with people complaining that WSO's take actual critical thinking and figuring stuff out and don't want to do it. They want a 100% step by step process to making money, want no risk. A topic like this which should be fairly obvious that the content isn't new whatsoever (and don't go ahead replying saying that complete newbs will benefit, that actually furthers my point about them following steps without any real thought as to why).

2. Obviously there are more reactions that are possible (see fluff) that are more cutthroat and are right to a certain extent. Although you both seemed to take a lot of things at face value at eachothers arguments. YES - I GOT YOUR MESSAGE, as a matter of fact I'm sure everyone who posted here got the point, but the fact that people overlooked that people who made arguments about the OP missed / ignore the points of people questioning it which is the most disturbing thing about this topic since they take disagreements as personal attacks.

3. The 4 things you questioned (as mentioned before in my post) aren't correct when you come to accusing a "crime".

3-1. No thank you note inside the package.

Well, I won't argue here. If you want to help improve business, I highly suggest people to get a small peice of paper, print out something that says, "thanks for buying from [ebay store], dont' forget to leave feedback and if you feel like we didn't give you 5-star service or have any questions, call [number], we are here to help". You can even get more clever and put a logo of your website (if you have one) that shows the URL. This is iffy with ebay but we haven't had any problems, so take that last bit of advice with a grain of salt. HOWEVER, this is BIG for Amazon on getting feedback, which is an indicator of winning the buybox which will increase sales.

3-2. No catalog, brochure or flyer.

No. A thank you note, directly giving them a call to action and let them know you are human is good enough. This is burning money. If people like you, they will add you to favorite sellers in the future, I do this with clothes.

3-3. No offer to join his mailing list.

I can't comment on this because my bias as a consumer when receiving more than 2 peices of paper (normally sales slip and a thank you note) turns me off from that buyer. And I'm very price consious, as are most ebayers who know what they are doing, and just about every Amazon buyer since it's based on price OUTSIDE of the buybox (although it is a factor). Some factors include feedback %, location, overall feedback, top seller status, obviously price, free ship, any sales on the item, reviews, description, clarity of content to help get more sales. This is just my view with no real data to say in joining an email list helps/hurts. It turns me off but I know lists work in general, so I'll stop here.

3-4. Heck, there wasn’t even an invoice with his company name on it.

No arguments here. This needs to be put on everything. It might be negligible when it comes to getting repeat buyers, but it's crucial for getting feedback and clarity on whether or not someone gets an item from the right vendor (people can order 3 same flashlights for on 3 different stores for example, but if they only receive 2 and both don't have a way to tell them apart, that's bad news bears).

However, for something that is bought for less than a couple bucks free ship that is mass wholesaled from China than shipped US and then sold to you, it's not really a loss-leader, it's a 2-5 cent profit. Price does trump most and just having an invoice would probably be enough, anything else they are probably spending too much outside of that (not just money, time as well).

TL;DR - Stuff hiveminds don't want to hear, lots of ranting, and a few spelling & grammar errors since I never proofread.

[HelpingYouBeAnExpert]

I like the Warrior forum the 1 thing I don't like is it reminds me of a place I use to live at where people try to get everyone in line, that part I hate. If someone does something that the 99% don't LET THEM don't try to get them in line. I know it will never happen but I hate it, I love individualism and hate people who try to get the 1% in line!

[Christian C]

It happens all too often and not just with eBay but with so many businesses that I"m surprised that there are no follow up offers. But at the same time as some of you might know, there are others on the other extreme where they won't give you a chance to breathe without spamming you with something until you have to completely block them out.

[YoungAndOpulent]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I don't complain when someone sends me exactly what I ordered and paid for. If I found them once, I know where to look them up again. Your Ebay purchase history gives you the exact url of his store.

Pretty much. I don't see what the big deal is.

[Mark Andrews]

Originally Posted by travlinguy

There was no victim and no crime anywhere in the OP. It's called sucker bait.

Nope, wrong. It's called marketing. Clever marketing. Plain and simple.

Look folks, Lisa was merely offering you a little piece of advice here. She wasn't posting this for her own benefit. She was posting it hoping it might, just might benefit somebody else here.

If you don't get it, if you fail to understand the thread title and the subsequent content within it (on a marketing forum of all things) we've got a problem.

A marketing forum is about exploring new ideas, trying new ideas out, how to approach well, a market. Who'd a thought it eh? Those of you having a dig at Lisa when she was just being generous with her knowledge and thinking outside of the box to present it to the audience for this... she doesn't need to be ridiculed or hauled over the coals. Period.

She was giving to you you ruddy bunch of muppets a gift, a helping hand - what is it exactly the lot of you piling in on her don't understand?

Well blow me down, here we have another experienced old hand marketer who enjoys good success overall, she pops in here and gives away some good free advice and what happens but the usual guys who can't see the wood for the trees have to come in to pour cold water on an otherwise good thread.

If you don't like the positioning of the advice, get over yourselves. See the situation for what it really is rather than some excuse for you to pile in on top of one another telling the OP she's out of order for doing something by which intention she only had your best interests at heart in the first place.


Mark Andrews

PS Excellent curiosity headline Lisa!

[Mark Andrews]

Originally Posted by Rob Howard

This thread = proof positive why many successful marketers don't bother posting anything in the WF after a certain point. And that is sad.

Rob

Absolutely spot on. Nail. Head. Precisely.


Mark Andrews

[Lynn Urback]

As an Ebay seller for over 10 years, the only time I would invest in flyers, business cards, etc. if I was selling in a hobby niche. Folks who LOVE a particular hobby (ie. dolls, crafts, golf, etc.) are always on the lookout for a "source" for their hobby.

Making money on Ebay is different in some respects than other online making money methods. You have to understand what folks expect when they use Ebay to buy stuff.

Food for thought...

[dadhere]

ha ha, wasn't expecting that. Thanks for the lesson

[Silas Hart]

This is kind of an indirect response to the entire thread.

eBay sales leads convert poorly when sending them mail offers. I spent about $10,000 figuring this out. One of eBay's top sellers in the name brand clothing category that I operated for a while figured this out as well. You might as well send your customers a piece of toilet paper or a tissue because that's the only type of paper that they will be of any use to anyone. I sent 200 pieces of paper to customers that purchased an item of value more than $20.00 USD and said "When you leave me feedback, write "Purple Monkey Dishwasher," and I'll refund all of your money to you, no questions asked!" Not one single person left that as my feedback.

Even large e-mails lists of sellers do not convert well to individual items within eBay or to an outside website. I spent a great deal of effort into getting people pulled from eBay to my own websites with great promoting offers, even items that were highly marketed, low profit, low cost, high volume electronics. I now promote other kinds of offers (non-physical) to past eBay buyers (which makes my lists comprised of 100% buyers) and receive a 0.8% conversion rates with my e-mails written by professionals. Average price is about $25.00. I most recently found a better way to show new items to past buyers on a more social platform that you could probably guess, conversion rates are not fully tested but I like being more social than being more "one direction" with e-mail.

[Silas Hart]

Also, in regards to Fluffy, he/she writes frequently in eBay threads. I wouldn't argue that he/she has experience in eBay... eBay has a way of turning people sour and I tend to not judge them based on the communications. I did an "Advanced eBay Sellers" seminar in Chicago last year to about 20 sellers with more than 10,000 positive feedback. I couldn't even crack a joke. Life was completely sucked out of them.

[lisag]

So Silas,

If I understand you correctly, there is absolutely no value to printing at a bottom of an invoice "Thank you for your purchase,. We have a wide variety of screen protectors and gel cases to keep your phone looking new,. Visit us at www.MyEbayStore.com" ?

[lisag]

Originally Posted by Silas Hart

to past eBay buyers (which makes my lists comprised of 100% buyers) and receive a 0.8% conversion rates with my e-mails written by professionals

Maybe I should be writing your email.

[fin]

I think this is one of those times where the experienced marketer gets away with something that a newbie would not.

If this had been some thread where a newbie used the line, "Google ate my babies," and the thread was about Google throwing someone's sites out of the search engines, then they would get blasted for saying Google would even consider eating someone's babies.

One rule for some; one for others.

Bottom line is the information was sound, but the heading was a lie.

How many times do people say not to lie in an email subject line?

YAWN

[User-Name]

I was the victim of a warriorforum.com search
I am over it

[BloggingPro]

I'm always stoked when my package comes exactly how I wanted it. Hell, the very few online purchases I make now for physical products don't need an invoice, and I don't care who shipped them to me.

Does the product work? Was the shipping fast?

If both those are answered yes, I know how to get back in touch. In fact, even if the person DID have a card listing ways to get in touch easier or join a list, I'd simply throw it in the trash.

Why? Because that is not what I ordered. I ordered a product. They delivered the product and that is what I wanted.

BP

[Silas Hart]

Originally Posted by lisag

So Silas,

If I understand you correctly, there is absolutely no value to printing at a bottom of an invoice "Thank you for your purchase,. We have a wide variety of screen protectors and gel cases to keep your phone looking new,. Visit us at www.MyEbayStore.com" ?

Other than for customer service, there is no point. Directing sales to an eBay store is counter productive, because you are spending more time and money to promote an ex-customer to another potential sale where at eBay is still taking 8-12% in fees, and no matter what, the customer doesn't think of having made their purchase from "www.myebaystore.com" - they just make it from "eBay." - so there goes your branding.


You mention screen protectors, which is something I used to deal in until the profit potential was depleted, and I would send a link out to my buyers that purchased cell phones and I used this an up sale. Most customers are smart enough to still use the search function to find the cheapest screen protector.

[Silas Hart]

Originally Posted by BloggingPro

I'm always stoked when my package comes exactly how I wanted it. Hell, the very few online purchases I make now for physical products don't need an invoice, and I don't care who shipped them to me.

Does the product work? Was the shipping fast?

If both those are answered yes, I know how to get back in touch. In fact, even if the person DID have a card listing ways to get in touch easier or join a list, I'd simply throw it in the trash.

Why? Because that is not what I ordered. I ordered a product. They delivered the product and that is what I wanted.

BP

Good post.

Sellers have been trying to find crafty ways to make sure their buyers are educated and know that anything less than marking all stars for a sellers DSR's (Detailed Seller Ratings) is unsatisfactory in the eyes of eBay, which it is, so to make sure to leave them fully positive feedback and DSR ratings.

A couple tests have provided the selling community with results where leaving a little message like "If you are not happy with the product, please contact us before leaving feedback! eBay considers anything less than leaving fully positive scores as unsatisfactory and they count against me greatly! Thank you!" - and what happens is people are more eager to voice how they are dissatisfied with common products where the seller is at no fault. Such as selling a Harry Potter 3 DVD and someone saying "This movie was kind of boring, but not bad!" as a Negative!

[JeanneLynn]

Originally Posted by fin

I do appreciate what you were trying to do.

I just felt a bit yucky reading it. I think it was because I was led into the thread under false pretense.

Me too. I don't like to be tricked into reading a thread with a misleading title.

No offense to the OP; I was just disappointed with the content of the message. I wanted to read about some real eBay crime.

[Chris Silvey]

Originally Posted by lisag

So I went shopping on eBay for an accessory for my new Android phone. Finding exactly what I wanted, with free shipping, and a great ‘Buy Now’ price, I clicked and paid through PayPal. The seller was an established eBay-er with several hundred positive recommendations and his own online cell phone store.


So, I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.


The package arrived in a few days. It contained EXACTLY what I ordered. And that’s where the crime occurred. This well-established business owner blew the opportunity to turn me into a repeat buyer. How?


1. No thank you note inside the package.
2. No catalog, brochure or flyer.
3. No offer to join his mailing list.
4. Heck, there wasn’t even an invoice with his company name on it.


In short, this seller was criminally negligent of failing to turn a first-time buyer into a repeat buyer. What is particularly confusing for me is that his product was obviously a loss leader. You can’t buy what I bought for $1.99 and free shipping anywhere in the brick and mortar world. He had to have lost money. Even the shipping cost him more than he netted from my sale.


Listen folks. No matter what product you sell, and regardless of whether you sell on eBay or not, NEVER miss the opportunity to engage a new or existing customer. It’s a crime.

Sounds like a drop ship item. Vendor takes the order, payment, sends it to fulfillment, addressed and sent to your door step.

[fin]

Originally Posted by JeanneLynn

Me too. I don't like to be tricked into reading a thread with a misleading title.

No offense to the OP; I was just disappointed with the content of the message. I wanted to read about some real eBay crime.

Yeah, exactly, this is how I felt.

If someone like Mark had wrote this thread I don't think it would have bothered me. Personally, I think it was because I don't know Lisa so I was disappointed because I thought someone was spamming because of the heading.

But even though I think it was maybe not the best example, the actual content was sound business advice and something the OP done well in explaining.

[YoungAndOpulent]

Is there any reason why this thread has gone on this long? Better yet, why are people so mad about the thread title?

[tremayne]

Lisa is talking, in her opinion, of missed marketing opportunities.

When I started in IM I was on so many lists it was sickening. I learned too slowly to get off them as fast as possible when I was averaging 200 emails a day and being less productive because of them.

But making firm relationships with clients is essential. We launch a financial membership program next month and generally autoresponders are thought to be helpful for staying in the client's mind. But what the heck do you write? Unless you ask the client how to be useful to them, you will upset as many people as you please.

In hopes this may be useful to others, I will share with you an optional questionnaire we designed and that clients will see just once after the initial sign-up page. Knowing something about each client will allow us to segregate them into groups for more personal follow-up and service. We have no other product so, unless we offer other marketers OTOs, we are not trying to sell, just to serve.

If we give unusually good service along with an excellent product we should get more word-of-mouth referrals. There is a company Rich Scheferen speaks of that will send birthday cards and even brownies. We plan to use them. (Our membership is around $25 a month so we can give something back.)

Anyhow, instead of prattling on, here's the questionnaire. If you think an adaptation would be good for your business, help yourself.

Optional Questionnaire

We are not being nosey! Answering the following questions will help us to tailor service specifically to your needs. Whether you answer any or all of them is up to you but you may then receive advice above or below your experience level. Answering them is not mandatory. Your information will remain strictly confidential. You will not see this page again.

Full name [pre-filled from database]

Mailing address [pre-filled from database]

Investor experience: Novice X Some experience X Moderately experienced X Experienced X

How long since your first investment XX years

What types of investment have you made? Long stocks X Short stocks X Options X Forex X Commodities X

Family income: Less than $80,000 X
$80,001 - $120,000 X
$120,001 - $150,000 X
More than $150,001 X

Occupation: XXXXXXXXX

Available investment capital? $XXX,XXX,XXX

Level of acceptable risk:
X Bank deposits, money market funds, bonds
X I get nervous if my investment falls 20% even if I believe it will recover
X Risk is okay if I am sure losses are temporary
X Risk is okay if I make a positive return regardless of some losses

Number of years before you need to start drawing down investment capital XX years

Special future wishes for your capital (legacy, new home, other major expenditure and amount)XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Email address: XXXXXXXXXX@XXXXXXXXXX
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Hope this helps you to improve your business.

Sydney

[PsycFa]

I do not get it why some of you are quite annoyed at OP's post. It is a legitimate post that gives us insight on how to do things. Fluff whatever association you are in; you are seriously not doing the right things.

I am not on ebay but I own 3 facebook shops and 2 ecommerce businesses. I use drop shippers and even though i do not need to pack etc, i make the dropshipper to include a small pamphlet for me.

This pamphlet's Gist: Thank you for purchasing this product, and to make sure you do not miss out on our promotional ones; do subscribe here:......................... or you can simply check out the best ones below. PRODUCTS LIST AND PRICINGS.

Why i know it works is because the promotional products page are not visible on the main page; you need the link to access it and out of every 100 sales i have; I receive around 30 sales on the promotional product page.

And when you compare the shipping adds and names; they are those people who bought recently.

So one thing I can say is that it works; it might not have work for you but it certainly works and I applaud OP for sharing this with us.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by PsycFa

I am not on ebay but I own 3 facebook shops and 2 ecommerce businesses.

Then you're just blowing smoke and need not be paid attention to.

eBay is different from Amazon is different from Facebook is different from MySpace is different from...

fLufF
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[PsycFa]

it aint different it is about selling physical products. thats it.

Regardless of what you think or what I think; this can be an eye opener for someone out there on how to do business. They can add their own twists to it and make it work. There is no need to approach things with a pessimistic attitude just because it did not work for you.

Regards