Tips for selling your knife on eBay

[rangerbluedog]

I've bought and sold a few things on eBay over the years. Today I watched a U.S.A. made Uncle Henry 807UH knife sell for about a third of it's value simply because the seller didn't use a good title.
If you've sold on ebay you know that the first bit of information requested is the title. Most people when buying on eBay do a search based on the title.
So tip number one when selling for maximum profit on eBay is:
1) Use a descriptive title. When selling a knife, ALWAYS put the word "knife" in your title. The reason is that when people do a search for a Case knife, they don't just type in "Case" They type in "Case knife" usually. If your title doesn't include the word "knife", no one will see your item.
Tip #2:
2) Put in the model number several ways. The knife in question was the Uncle Henry 807UH. the seller put 807UH in the title, but if someone did a search for "807 UH", this knife doesn't show up. So if you have room in the title space try to think of any way the model number might be written: "807UH, 807 UH, 807-UH".
Also as a buyer, here's another tip for you. Use a wildcard. If you search for "807*", all three of these model numbers will appear in your search.
Tip #3:
3)Use a LOW starting price. This one may only work for knives. But a low price gets more attention. People will at least put your item on their watch list. From what I have seen of knife sales on eBay, they will get up to a realistic price if enough people see the item. Also with a low starting price, your eBay fees are lower. (They still get about 8.75% of the final value price though...)
Tip #4:
Always be as descriptive as possible. Don't just put "Case Knife" in the title. Always put "Case XX". Most people will search for Case knife, but many people will search for "Case XX". If you don't include "XX" in the title, you will be missed. Also, if the knife has stag handles, be sure to include "stag" in the title.

One other thing this seller did: He didn't use "Uncle Henry" in the title. He used "Schrade". That's O.K. I guess. He was found by the people who were searching for Schrades. But what about people who are interested in ONLY the Uncle Henry line? If you search for Uncle Henry, you will not find this listing. So I guess that could be tip #5. Include not only the maker, but the model also.
Remember, the title is your best friend when selling on eBay. Use it wisely.
Blue

[tjmurphy]

All really good tips. I am selling out my ZIPPO's and I start everything at 9.99. I have a group on today and one is up to $200+ Always be sure to use as many descriptive words as you can so that many serch terms will bring them to your auction. But still be ready to lose your a$$. I've found that there are certain times of the month when you can get higher prices for the same items.

[Darksev]

I highly recommend if you are selling a knife that I want, you should ignore tips 1, 2 and 4 . 'Cause that makes it much less competition for me (the number of mislabeled, no description knives I've got for next to nothing is exceptional)

[moonshiner]

Know you have went and let the cat out of the bag!!!

[rangerbluedog]

I highly recommend if you are selling a knife that I want, you should ignore tips 1, 2 and 4 . 'Cause that makes it much less competition for me (the number of mislabeled, no description knives I've got for next to nothing is exceptional)

Me too Adam!
The knife I was talking about was one that I bought for much less than it is worth. It was listed as "Schrade 870UH junior stockman". No "knife", no "uncle henry" in the title. I had only one other person bidding against me. The exact same knife by a different seller ended two hours later. It had at least 7 people bidding and went much higher. The title was "Schrade Uncle Henry 870 UH stockman knife".
Hopefully this will help members of this forum to get what the knife is truly worth.

Unless you're selling small case stockmans, patch knives, pearl congress knives, Hen & Rooster, or Bokers.
These you should just use the title "Here, Blue!"

[tjmurphy]

Well, all my items sold tonight, all lighters, and they sold very well. Got good money for small investment. I noticed something odd tonight though. There were no "snipers". Never saw that before. Reckon what's up.

[rangerbluedog]

Well, all my items sold tonight, all lighters, and they sold very well. Got good money for small investment. I noticed something odd tonight though. There were no "snipers". Never saw that before. Reckon what's up.

Hey tj,
No data to prove it, but I don't seem to see as many snipers on the weekends and holidays. Mostly during the work week. You'd think it would be the other way around. Must all be out partying

[TrentRock]

Well, all my items sold tonight, all lighters, and they sold very well. Got good money for small investment. I noticed something odd tonight though. There were no "snipers". Never saw that before. Reckon what's up.

Hey tj,
No data to prove it, but I don't seem to see as many snipers on the weekends and holidays. Mostly during the work week. You'd think it would be the other way around. Must all be out partying

In the 240 eBay auctions, 89 have bids
in the last minute and 29 in the last ten seconds

http://kuznets.fas.harvard.edu/~aroth/p ... ortaer.pdf

My tip is GOOD pictures
The bigger, clearer
The better
No one will bid on a small, crappy picture

This is the size of pic I take for my EBAY auctions===>
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/222 ... f667_o.jpg

Also
The END time of auctions
I once found my self ending auctions at like 3AM PST

I now end my auctions at "prime time" (at least in my view)
To me that s Sunday at 6PM
I figure guy is relaxing
Checking his ebay auctions on a sunny Sunday late afternoon.................................

[PA Knives]

hate to sound like a crumudgen, but the best way to sell a knife on ebay is to NOT do it.

I have grown to dislike this system very much for MANY reasons.

[tjmurphy]

hate to sound like a crumudgen, but the best way to sell a knife on ebay is to NOT do it.

I have grown to dislike this system very much for MANY reasons.

You're probably right, but where else can you pay $6 for an item and sell it for $88? - $12 and sell for $200+? and the list goes on. They are the largest department store in the universe. I'm not sure that I haven't sold to Martians before.

[rangerbluedog]

Good Tip TRENTROCK! Quality photos are a plus. Auction ending times probably do make a difference. I'm an engineer, so I've been trying to gather data on auction ending times, but I haven't gathered enough data to determine the BEST time - statistically speaking.

hate to sound like a crumudgen, but the best way to sell a knife on ebay is to NOT do it.

I have grown to dislike this system very much for MANY reasons.

Nothing wrong with being a crumdgen, pa knives!
Some of my best friends are crumudgens. The world needs more folks who will look you in the eye and speak their honest opinion. I think I may have some crumudgen blood in me as well

feebay ain't for everybody - especially if you don't like giving up money at the beginnning of an auction, at the end of an auction, and then there's the Paypal fees (also an ebay company).
-Blue

[cbnutt]

hate to sound like a crumudgen, but the best way to sell a knife on ebay is to NOT do it.

I have grown to dislike this system very much for MANY reasons.

You're probably right, but where else can you pay $6 for an item and sell it for $88? - $12 and sell for $200+? and the list goes on. They are the largest department store in the universe. I'm not sure that I haven't sold to Martians before.

ive sold quite a few martins on there too, i sold a 57 D18 for about 5000.00

[Camillus]

DON'T SELL ON Ebay......

We need more honest people selling knives on AAPK and offering a special price for members only!
Just my opinion.....