Need advice, have I been scammed?

11 replies
I would like some feedback on something I did. I was planning on selling some eBooks on eBay and I bought a WSO that showed how to do well doing that and then I stumbled on a Clickbank product eBay Auction Traffic - Get onto eBay Pulse! that sounded pretty interesting. I put together a listing for eBay and posted an eBook you can see it if you look for Item number: 190254593846 which is an item I acquired that I liked and thought would be reasonably attractive.

I had some problems in the beginning and had to cancel it and post it again. I never could get rid of the huge amount of white space at the end of the listing. Traffic is pretty good and has over 3,400 page views and on 1,370 watch lists. That is the good news. It has not sold a single copy in three weeks, even with all this activity. Maybe someone has an idea why this may be so, but that is not my main question.

My primary question is regarding the email I got the other day that I will quote here; "My question is this: How do you place your ad on my watch list without an invitation? I would appreciate a response. Thanks." Now my primary question to the fellow who I paid $29 for the advertising and promotion of this listing, how can I have this much traffic and not one single sale? The email would suggest to me that the promotion or traffic is mechanical. Kind of like those folks who sell traffic to web hosts, totally worthless. I was under the impression that the traffic came from some kind of marketing program this fellow ran.

So I guess I am asking, before I go off half-cocked, and complain to Clickbank for a refund, should I go with my gut that this is a bogus offer the fellow is making, or is the product junk and that is why no one has bought?
#advice #scammed
  • Profile picture of the author Darrell Hagan
    Sounds to me like the traffic is automated, as you suggest.
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  • Profile picture of the author Heman Patel
    Let me get this clear, you bought a service for $29 that will get you on the ebay pulse?

    Meanwhile, let me tell you a blackhat technique that you can use to get lots of watchers on your listing. Basically, go to youtube.com and take a screenshot of the video player, put that picture on your listing. Link the picture to "watch the auction" link. And also add a text on top of the image that reads something like "click here to watch my video" or "click to watch". Most people will try to watch the video and in turn become your auction watchers.

    Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    It sounds like somehow your ad is being forced onto others watch lists and so they're seeing it but not interested.

    What I'm wondering is why you're talking about asking for a refund when you haven't said whether what you bought actually did what it said. It sounds like you got your product on Ebay and with a decent number of watchers (whether they're voluntary or not), it may well get onto Ebay Pulse - which is what the ebook was supposed to demostrate wasn't it?

    It sounds like you're getting the result that you were aiming for - but have now started to realise that traffic doesn't equal sales and are now wanting a refund, but you got what you paid for.
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    nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author timpears
      Andy,

      Did I get what I paid for? I am not so sure. I did not get onto eBay Pulse as you have to have at least one sale for that to happen. But if the traffic is simply pop unders then I have a different definition of traffic than you do. But that is part of why I asked the question, so I could see if I was being unreasonable.
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      Tim Pears

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  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Songster
    Tim
    Thats an odd question you received - How DID your product get on that person's watch list without him putting it there???

    There is obviously more to this story - I checked out that service you are with. I'm suspicious how he could get you traffic. I'm guessing its not going to be targeted traffic and if thats the case then you just wasted your money.

    As for your question about the ebook being junk - what do you think about it? Is it something you would buy? The sales page certainly doesn't turn me on! There is nothing there to make me want to buy the ebook.

    Beyond that - Ebay is a tough market when it comes to selling ebooks. I don't care what anyone says.
    Right now I am running my own experiment using a classified ad and a free Halloween book

    I've posted right on my ad -my comments about how the classified ad sucks. I've had several emails from other Ebayers who agree with my comments on the ad. I'll update it again tonight.

    I'm an experienced Ebay seller so none of this is new to me. I also have my own web stores - selling online is not new to me BUT Ebay has changed and its really hard to sell "digital" goods anymore - hell I can't even give mine away.

    So, your problem with YOUR ebook is multifaceted.
    1. Ebay has changed and its tougher to sell
    2. I think the service you are using is a waste of money and it might get you into trouble - just look at the email you got. I doubt you are getting targeted traffic - just traffic isn't going to get you sales
    3. I'm not seeing a stellar sales page that would convert.

    Personally I wouldn't use Ebay in my sales plans. If your goal is to sell ebooks you aren't going to make money using Ebay. I know too many people who are flogging their digital products on Ebay and the only one getting rich is Ebay.

    Personally I buy a lot of ebooks and private label products and a very small percentage of them are worth reselling. Most of it is crap.
    If you want to sell ebooks - buy the private label stuff so you can make changes and turn it into a quality product.

    I hope this helps - sorry I didn't want to be a downer but there is enough BS floating around out there.
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    Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

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  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Songster
    Darn it - it did a double post - sorry
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    Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

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  • Profile picture of the author Gail Sober
    btw - your huge whitespace comes from this table setting

    HEIGHT: 6494px

    Just remove that and it will be fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author timpears
      Gail, thanks, I thought I fixed that once but it must have slipped in again due to the editor I was using. I got to get something different than Frontpage.

      Thanks Debbie. I appreciate you giving me the straight talk so don't worry about it being a downer. I wanted, needed to know. And I would rather you tell me straight than make me feel good.

      My eBay days are back in the past and I don't plan to revive them now. This experiment is a done deal. It was always a tough racket but we did manage to have $1,000 days almost every day years ago. But I have not been able to sell anything worth a crap in many years so I will spend my time with other endeavors.

      I appreciate all the feedback.
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      Tim Pears

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  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Songster
    Your welcome Tim
    Yes, you are right - the good ol' days of Ebay are gone.
    It still has its uses. I use it to test the market on physical products (all my stores have physical products vs digital)

    That still works and of course I use it to dump old and excess stock but the profits aren't there like there used to be.
    Now I'm lucky to get a bit over wholesale and cover my expenses. Of course every "failed" sale goes against the profits you make on the items that do sell. People don't think of that.

    I used to be able to close 80% of my auctions. Now I'm lucky if 20% close and thats with prices set at wholesale.

    Thats the reality of it - I'll keep my ecommerce stores thank you.
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    Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

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  • Profile picture of the author pingshepherd
    Banned
    I agree with Andyhenry. It sounds like somehow your ad is being forced onto others watch lists and so they're seeing it but not interested.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    I'm curious how an auction can be forced onto someone's watch list... they don't have to initiate that?
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