Tips for selling your knife on eBay
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:31 pm
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
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
(the number of mislabeled, no description knives I've got for next to nothing is exceptional)
but the best way to sell a knife on ebay is to NOT do it. 
