As you know if you've read the previous posts (haven't read 'em? Better start!) yesterday I had technical glitches that kept me from getting as many items up as I would have liked. I attributed this to Thursday night being a very big night for launches on eBay vintage sites, and thought the listing web site I used was bogged down. Well, same thing happened around three o'clock today. Okay, I learn slowly, but I do eventually learn – I need to do my listings in the a.m.
Managed to get a couple of other listings up, but was getting a funky message about the photos not being online anymore. I'll have to double check them tomorrow – nice and early!
So, here's my quandary for the day – I have a model who is going to come over for a photo session a week from tomorrow. She couldn't do it this week because she's on a cruise (I hope she doesn't spend much time at the buffet). I know that the 80s stuff I bought will sell much better and bring a bigger price if I wait and list it with a live model photo instead of a mannequin shot.
I have tried really hard to make my mannequin cool. About a year ago when I was doing some listing, I bought her some hip sunglasses, a denim miniskirt, and a wig. I think I tossed the wig, which is okay, because it was kinda creepy. In fact everything about Samantha (that's what I call her – yes, I gave my mannequin a name) is a little creepy. She is missing a hand. Her arms are peeling, and one has lost some sizeable chunks of plaster. At one point, it completely fell apart, and I had to put it back together with packing tape. Not sexy at all.
On the other hand, I have to tell you that Samantha has a lot to recommend herself. She is 6” tall, and wears a size zero. She never has b.o. She doesn't show up drunk and hit on the photographer and male model. She doesn't blink when the flash goes off. She doesn't mind the velcro I stuck on her head to hold the wig on. She's not always texting when she should be getting ready for the next shot. All in all, she's a pretty fine employee.
Still, it's hard to look hip when you're plaster.
I spent some time comparing vintage 80s listings with live models and without live models. Without a doubt, the sellers that use live models outsell the mannequin and dress form jockeys many times over. So, I'm afraid Samantha will have to go into retirement.
I have decided to list the older vintage items I bought with my $50.00 rebate card (the slips, the 1950s purse) and the non-vintage items (prom dress, etc.). I'll bite the bullet for another 8 days and wait on the coolest of the 80s vintage stuff I bought.
Here's the status on the initial investment:
First, a little background. For anyone who isn't familiar with the way items can be listed on eBay, you can list things either as store inventory or as an auction.
With store inventory, the seller sets a fixed price and waits for a buyer to find the listing. The drawback to this type of listing is that store inventory doesn't pop up when someone does a search unless there are only a few auction listings for the same type of item. So the likelihood of having your listing noticed is lower than with an auction.
With an auction listing, the seller sets a starting price, and hopes that market forces will drive the bidding to a high price for the item. The risk is that the item may sell for the starting price. I have lost some magnificent vintage pieces to starting price. The reason sellers are willing to risk listing items at auction is the hope that the bidding will go high, and that buyers and watchers will visit their stores for similar items.
From the buyers' perspective, in auction listings they have to bid and then wait between three and ten days to find out if they are the winning bidder. With store inventory listings, they can simply purchase the item without waiting for an auction to run its course.
There is a sort of hybrid type listing, the auction with a Buy It Now price. This allows the exposure for the seller, attracting more traffic to their listing and maybe their store. For buyers who crave instant gratification, there is the option to Buy It Now, usually at a price that is in the neighborhood of where the seller would like to see the auction end up. Once someone bids on the item, the Buy It Now price goes away. It is not unusual to see items bid up higher than the original Buy It Now price.
The Spencer Alexis two piece outfit, which is an auction listing with a Buy It Now price is gaining watchers. With four days left, there are four watchers.
The Jessica McClintock prom dress is listed as store inventory, and still has only one watcher. Ditto the Sandy Starkman jacket.
The navy blue Van Raalte 1950s slip just went up yesterday, and already has two watchers with 6 days left to go. The white sequin 80s top also went up last night, and has one watcher. Both of these items are listed as auctions, I started them out low at $9.95.
You can check on the progress of these listings yourself. Click here to visit my eBay store, The Bohemian Closet.
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