Ebay Store vs. Auctions vs. Etsy vs. Artfire vs. Craigs List....

Hi all,  I know there are other threads on here about peoples experience with eBay, but I wanted to start a thread to solicit feedback from folks in the bead-jewelry-ornament world who have experience on eBay, both with "buy it now" and auctions, vs. using etsy or artfire to sell their work.  I started on eBay in late 1999 and for several years did nothing but list LOTS of 99 cent auctions.  I was a bronze powerseller since my first month up until last year.  I know eBay has changed a lot since those salad days back then, and I have evolved with eBay over time.   I opened a store and started doing more fixed price listings with a regular spattering of 99 cent auctions.  Things really dropped off last year and I don't know how much of it was the economy, turmoil in my own life, or that one of my main bidders stopped bidding and buys directly from me now. I know that I'm in a unique position in that my work is really different from everyone out there, both in the medium I work in (stone, jet, recycled materials) and the forms they take (Just focal beads, not finished jewelry) so I don't have a lot of direct competition in what I do, but I wondered if other glass bead makers or crafters out there had some pertinent advice that they could relate.

Nonetheless, things have really tapered off and even with my efforts to jump start auctions again, I find that I have really nice pieces at 99 cent auctions that don't even get bids.  I use my eBay mailing list and markdown manager, I'm doing the best I can to use Facebook and other social media to create interest in my work, and such.  I must say that I'm a bit discouraged.  I know that it wouldn't be THAT hard to ALSO put my eBay store inventory into another venue like etsy or artfire, but then that becomes so much more inventory control, listing, and promotion which takes away even more time from my ability to actually do my creative work and MAKE the stone beads. 

Any ideas, feedback, or shared experiences?  I do have a loyal following on eBay after 10 years, and I think that at least having weekly bursts of 99 cent, no reserve auctions DOES encourage buyers to pay attention and the folks who get things ultra cheap tend to give me a lot of customer loyalty.  Nonetheless, I feel that I really need to change the way I do business and not sure what direction to head in.  The craziness in the economy also throws another monkey wrench into the works.  

I did do a lot of shows in the 90's, both commercial and club, as well as show to jewelry and beading classes.  I don't really have the financial resources (booth fees, travel, etc), as well as  inventory and backstock to do that these days, although I'm going to do my best to have an artisan table for myself at the Beadfest here in Portland in September.  I DO miss the interaction with the public as my work tends towards a lot of social isolation and lonelieness. 

I'm also making plans to do a basic, simple line of jewelry, in a vein that no one else is doing, and have finished beaded jewelry that I can sell in addition to "just" my lapidary work.  Anyhow, I'm feeling unfocused and unsure of where to put my energies these days and I don't have a lot of people in my life who really "know" or "undertand" the biz, so I thought I'd throw it out there to all the wonderful folks in this community and see what kind of feedback I can get.  

Thanks so much for your time and consideration.  I really appreciate these forums and the opportunities they provide for folks in our ornamentalist community!

Honestly I think the economy has more to do with this than you might think David.  Your work is excellent, your beads are beautiful.  Is summer usually a slower time for you anyway?  This summer is pretty scary financially for a lot of people. 

My experience with buying on Ebay is that there used to be a lot of good artists selling there but not many anymore.  I think their policies and fees have driven away an awful lot of good people and the site is dominated by international corporations.  It's not the same as it used to be in any case.  Etsy and Artfire on the other hand are specifically for good individual artists and cost less to sell from.  Maybe just put your 99 cent auctions up on Ebay for awhile to let people know you still make beautiful beads and link over to an account on either one of the others?

I think you might have a good idea in making a simple line of jewelry from your beads.  We're so immersed in the beading world that we forget (well, I do anyway) that some people find it difficult to put a cord through a hole and tie a knot, let alone do anything fancier like adding a clasp. 

I can see where you would be kind of lonely standing there making bead after bead in front of a wheel, seldom meeting anyone doing the same or similar things.  Post up here more often...it's helped me a lot to find everyone here and I don't know how I ever did without it. 

Pam

 Well David, I hear what you mean. Especially about missing the social side... I find I get awful lonely sitting making jewelry all day. That's why I LOVE the forum. At least this way I still get some social time. And I think Pam is right. Ebay has lost it's artisan sellers to artfire and etsy. SO, while you do have some loyal customers, you're not getting those new or one time buyers that you might get at one of the other sites.

Good luck, with what ever you decide to do!

Lois

I began selling on eBay the same year you did, David.  And I'm one of those sellers that Pam is talking about, one that was driven away by the ever-increasing placement fees and commissions.  I quit in May 2008, when they took away the seller's ability to leave feedback for the buyer.  I miss the days of 25-cent placement fees on eBay.

I think Pam has a good idea - post some 99 cent auctions on eBay and link over to your (*future*) Etsy or Artfire account.  As I told you previously, I wholeheartedly recommend Etsy because the placement fees and commissions are so dirt cheap you can't go wrong by trying!  Although my sales on Etsy are not steady, what I do sell gives me a much bigger profit margin than I ever had selling on eBay.  You can't go wrong with a placement fee of 20 cents per listing - and that's for 4 months - and no monthly storefront fee.  You only pay a 3.5% commission on anything that sells. 

It wouldn't hurt you a bit to open an Etsy or Artfire shop to start with.  You can always close your shop if you end up feeling it's not worth it to you.  You have nothing to lose by trying.

Sherri S.:

I began selling on eBay the same year you did, David.  And I'm one of those sellers that Pam is talking about, one that was driven away by the ever-increasing placement fees and commissions.  I quit in May 2008, when they took away the seller's ability to leave feedback for the buyer. 

I sold a very few things on Ebay awhile ago...2002, 2003...I think, then gave up because I was getting no money from it to speak of and the fees were terrible even then.  The worst deal I remember was getting $5.00 for a bracelet loaded with amethyst which cost more than that all by itself.  I sold some samples of perfume I'd made too which sold well for 99 cents for five of them but again made me no money. 

I don't think Ebay wants small sellers...they just want to make a whole lot of money, as if they haven't already. 

Pam

David - I just posted a question about continuing or not with my artfire studio so you are talking to someone who is basically in the same limbo! Your wording was perfect, I have been unfocused and unsure. 

I love the creating side of it, hate the promoting and selling side of it. I love Artfire and there are some great people there. There is a ton of jewelry, probably like most sites, so to get noticed you have to do the promoting side of it. 

I would love to figure out something "different" that I could do with my jewelry to make it more unique but have not found the "it" thing yet. So I congratulate you on that! 

With Artfire, you can list up to twelve items at no charge. You can list unlimited for $12 a month. At least they were having a promotion. If that promotion has ended then it is $20 a month. I had never sold on line and I found their process very easy. 

I used to shop on ebay ( not necessarily jewelry ) and had a couple of minor issues. Then it seems that everything I was interested in was high shipping. It seems that a lot of sellers were playing the $3 to buy but $12 to ship game as if the shipping was making up for the low price of the item. I got tired of it and finally quit looking. 

I prefer the simple way of paying a once a month fee rather than listing fees, commissions etc. For me that is easier so that is why I went with Artfire. 

I would concentrate on the new basic line of jewelry and continue with what you are doing. But the Creating side is what I enjoy the most! You can alway try a free account at Artfire but it will take time promoting it. I wish I could find someone to do the promoting and pay them in jewelry! LOL! 

I wish you the best of luck! 

Sheila, I was thinking the same thing about getting someone to do the promoting for us!  Perhaps you should put in a forge request for it.  I always forget to go look at those.

I agree that I don't look at Ebay nearly as much as I used to, though there are still some good deals to be had if you poke around.  The fees and the sheer volume of stuff on there made me decide not to try and sell my jewelry there.  I had been researching various other spots like Etsy, Ruby Lane, etc when ArtFire came along.  I figured what the heck and decided to give it a try.

David, your work is so unique I can't imagine it wouldn't sell on either Etsy or ArtFire.  I suppose what you'd need to do is a bit of calculation to see which fee structure would be more cost efficient for you, or try the free ArtFire acct just to get your feet wet.  At least you're not out anything that way.

Jeni - Maybe there is a niche out there for someone...not me...

I don't know if the forges are working yet. I occasionally look at them but not often as I know there were issues with them way back when I started there. 

Hi Everyone!  Thanks SO much for all the feedback.  I know that at some point I'll open an esty store and I already have a name registered (DVH designs was already taken by someone who knits a couple dozen hats a year!).   I totally understand why eBay failed a long time ago as a venue for handmade goods, especially jewelry.  I have only been able to hang on so long because what I do is so unique, especially in that I sell one of a kind custom cut beads and NOT jewelry, along with the fact that I've done it along time.  I've also been able to run 99 cent auctions without really losing much money because I could make simple things that had value, were original, and yet I didn't have to invest a lot in making them.  For many of those years eBay was almost like an addictive kind of gamblling, with all the trying to get a deal on an auction and playing the bidding game.  I think there's still room for me in auction format, especially just getting rid of rough rocks that I won't use.   I can also list there under SOOOO many different categories and I think that helps me.  For example, I can list a petrified wood bead under the mineral specimen, fossil, petrified wood category and folks that collect pet wood will see something truly one of a kind that is in their field of interest.   Last I checked etsy and artfire didn't have categories that fit me well.  That's part of my lot in life as a "walks between" spirit kind of person.  I can move in and out of all kinds of groups but I never feel like I truly fit in in any of those groups and it makes it challenging to find peers that I can relate to.  I relate well to beaders, jewelers, rock hounds, Christians, pagans, the old and the young, but I never feel like there's a "posse" of people that I actually fit into.  Oh well, it certainly makes life interesting!

I'm heading off to perform as an ambient performer (crazy queen) with my performance troupe at the Oregon Country Fair and will be in hippie paradise for the next week, away from business and computers.   I'll post more when I get back.   Thanks again for all the feedback!

P.S.  my 25% off, 4th of July sale runs through this weekend in my eBay store in case anyone needs any retail therapy. 

Have a good time David, it's good you get to take a break from the same old "grind!"  We'll see you when you get back...

Pam

 Do what you love and love what you do!

Christine

http://BeadedIndulgences.etsy.com