How to avoid ebay gallery fees
Frank Provasek
for me. I list about 50
items a week, and I refuse to pay $1000 a year for a still unacceptably
crappy gallery image.
Yet, I realize that the gallery helps sales, since otherwise the listings
just show the camera icon, and
the prospective bidder must click on each item to see a preview. Ebay's
bloated software makes this
very frustrating, especially on dial up (probably on purpose)
I suggest preparing your own gallery page, of decent sized images, hosting
it on your own ISP, and
making each image a clickable link to the ebay auction for that item.
--
RARE COIN AUCTIONS NO MINIMUMS http://www.frankcoins.com
Ebay Powerseller FRANKCOINS Texas Auction License 11259
Board member of Texas Coin Dealers Association,
Member: Texas Numismatic Assoc, American Numismatic Assoc.
Bob Flaminio
> The 40% increase in ebay gallery fees is ultimate greed, and the last
> straw for me. I list about 50
> items a week, and I refuse to pay $1000 a year for a still
> unacceptably crappy gallery image.
>
> Yet, I realize that the gallery helps sales, since otherwise the
> listings just show the camera icon, and
> the prospective bidder must click on each item to see a preview.
> Ebay's bloated software makes this
> very frustrating, especially on dial up (probably on purpose)
>
> I suggest preparing your own gallery page, of decent sized images,
> hosting it on your own ISP, and
> making each image a clickable link to the ebay auction for that item.
Anybody who pays for eBay's image hosting is a dumbass, IMHO. Webspace
is exceedingly cheap, and many people already have it without realizing
it. Comcast gives you 10 MB of space, AOL even more I think. If an
average group of pictures is 100K, this works out to about 100 auctions.
If you need more space, it is certainly available at lower prices than
what eBay charges. On your own space you can make the pictures any size
you want, of any quality, and place them in your auction whereever you
want.
You still get the first pic for free on eBay, don't you? You should also
use the free one, as that one places a little picture at the top of your
auction listing, which is nice.
--
Bob
Gary Dorman
news:g8TFd.6331$KJ2....@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net:
> The 40% increase in ebay gallery fees is ultimate greed, and the last
> straw for me. I list about 50
> items a week, and I refuse to pay $1000 a year for a still
> unacceptably crappy gallery image.
>
> Yet, I realize that the gallery helps sales, since otherwise the
> listings just show the camera icon, and
> the prospective bidder must click on each item to see a preview.
> Ebay's bloated software makes this
> very frustrating, especially on dial up (probably on purpose)
>
> I suggest preparing your own gallery page, of decent sized images,
> hosting it on your own ISP, and
> making each image a clickable link to the ebay auction for that item.
>
You've done it now, Frank. The newsgroup weenies will report you
for "fee avoidance" and ebay will have you arrested and sent to a
concentration camp for interfering with President Bush's policy of
unlimited corporate greed...
Gary
STILL in Florida
Xray
@individual.net:
I beleive the Op was referring to gallery images - Price was raised from 25
cents to 40.
Sure you can host your own pics all you want, but that does not address the
gallery issue at all.
You'll still have nothing, or the little green camera icon if the 'free'
pic was used, if you don't pay the gallery fee, no matter if theres links
to 100 pics in the auction.
I've been avoiding gallery images for awhile now on my generally low value
auctions, and will even more so now.
Its hard to see any reason at all for this fee increase other than sheer
greed, and I think, or at least hope, that ebay will lose more from people
like me who are now simply not going to use that option at all, than they
will gain from people that do at the new higher cost.
Bruce Remick
"Xray" <p...@yer.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95DE829A7FB8Aew...@140.99.99.130...
I would imagine that for every extra 15 cents Ebay will make on a gallery
image, they will lose 25 cents from dozens of sellers who will no longer use
the gallery option at all. It will be interesting to see if they eventually
return to a lower fee and tout it as a new Ebay bargain.
Bruce
Wolley Segap
"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> I would imagine that for every extra 15 cents Ebay will make on a gallery
> image, they will lose 25 cents from dozens of sellers who will no longer use
> the gallery option at all. It will be interesting to see if they eventually
> return to a lower fee and tout it as a new Ebay bargain.
They can lose about 35% of their business and break even on the increase.
R. Totale
>"Bob Flaminio" <b...@flaminio.com> wrote in news:34qdltF4fk0v2U1
>@individual.net:
>I beleive the Op was referring to gallery images - Price was raised from 25
>cents to 40.
>Sure you can host your own pics all you want, but that does not address the
>gallery issue at all.
>You'll still have nothing, or the little green camera icon if the 'free'
>pic was used, if you don't pay the gallery fee, no matter if theres links
>to 100 pics in the auction.
I'll never see your gallery pictures anyway, whether you're paying a
quarter or a 5 bucks for them. I have the "Picture" column turned off
on my browse pages, so they've got a shot of loading in a reasonable
time. And I'm on broadband - god help anyone who tries to look at them
on dialup.
Byron L. Reed
Here's the deal my host is offering:
http://www.gisol.com/hosting/?
BLReed
To e-mail me, remove the obvious spam trap.
For collector coins and supplies at fair prices: http://tinyurl.com/pt9r
Cool things and Bust Coin Forum: http://www.byronreed.com
Jorg Lueke
> I beleive the Op was referring to gallery images - Price was raised from
> 25
> cents to 40.
> Sure you can host your own pics all you want, but that does not address
> the
> gallery issue at all.
> You'll still have nothing, or the little green camera icon if the 'free'
> pic was used, if you don't pay the gallery fee, no matter if theres links
> to 100 pics in the auction.
> I've been avoiding gallery images for awhile now on my generally low
> value
> auctions, and will even more so now.
> Its hard to see any reason at all for this fee increase other than sheer
> greed, and I think, or at least hope, that ebay will lose more from
> people
> like me who are now simply not going to use that option at all, than they
> will gain from people that do at the new higher cost.
>
I've never found the gallery to be that helpful. The image sucks enough
that you have to look at the auction anyway. It does look "nicer" than
the camera icon but I've never noticed an increase in sale prices.
The Numismatist 1888-1893 http://www.ancientcoinvalues.com/25.phtml
Xray
news:B2UFd.23396$sf5.11862@lakeread05:
They'll probably just start charging 15 cents or so to even have the little
green camera icon by ones listing.
Xray
news:7k6gu0dmhti3e4m2l...@4ax.com:
Don't know for sure, but I'd say your in the extreme minority there.
I for one, except when browsing for something really specific, rarely click
on auctions that don't have a pic at all, and lose interest rapidly when I
run into sections that have no gallery pics.
Might want to check your connection also - Pic pages load quicker than a snap
of the finger for me.
Might be a browser factor also ie cache needs clearing.
Xray
news:opsklyws...@news.cis.dfn.de:
I guess the point is is that it attracts attention and spikes interest
that otherwise not be there. Ebay knows this, and thats why they've made
the attempt to milk an already fat cash cow. Kinda skewed logic also, as
ebay itself has every interest in any given auction being as sucessful as
possible, as this increases the final value fee that they charge. With
less people using gallery pics, auctions will likely be less viewed,less
bidded on, less sucessful and they'll lose maney that way too.
Buck
wrote:
I only check them out periodically. I don't find any advantage as a
buyer with gallery pictures.
Buck
--
But that's just my opinion.
Phil DeMayo
wrote:
>Anybody who pays for eBay's image hosting is a dumbass, IMHO. Webspace
>is exceedingly cheap, and many people already have it without realizing
>it. Comcast gives you 10 MB of space, AOL even more I think.
AOL now provides each account with 20mb of FTP space for each of the 7
possible screen names per account for a total of 140mb.
Angrie.Woman
>>
> I guess the point is is that it attracts attention and spikes interest
> that otherwise not be there. Ebay knows this, and thats why they've made
> the attempt to milk an already fat cash cow.
Not only does eBay know this, eBay created it. They gave Gallery away for
free quite a lot, until it was used in the majority of listings. (At least,
the majority of the listings in the categories that I browse.) Once it
became a necessity, they slowed down the free days, and now they've raised
the price. (Kind of like PayPal's strategy, but at least eBay didn't brag
about it being "Always Free!" in the beginning.)
I have to say they did a nice job into turning Gallery into a profit-maker.
A
Dale Hallmark
"R. Totale" <slang...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7k6gu0dmhti3e4m2l...@4ax.com...
I never cruise a catagory, ok, rarely do I cruise any catagory.
And I never look at the gallery pictures except when one comes up in my searches.
I have 10 or so predefined searches and look at anything that
comes up.
Gallery images don't mean squat to me as a buyer.
Dale
James Higby
I have discontinued opening any coin auction that doesn't promise a picture
up front.
James
'hard-nosed, I know'
Xray
news:cs9ht...@enews1.newsguy.com:
Absolutely.
Its hard enough buying something sight unseen, much less not even seeing a
pic of the item.
Xray
$S11....@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:
I don't think any one of us could say with certainty that we wouldn't do the
same if we were in their greedy little shoes.
I hope they get burned, and I hope this finally generates some realistic
competition [from perhaps microsoft and/or google] to knock them down to
size.
Its natural to want to maximize ones profits of course, but I think they need
to do it in a less blunt fashion than simply jacking up their fees like the
post office's yearly stamp increase.
beekeep
I have found that gallery images aren't needed for selling coins.
Granted I haven't sold many like some of you here but I find that
listing the coin a good grade lower than it actually is and starting
it cheap with no reserve as well brings the best price. I think you
get far more bids earlyer and the final price is always up there.
Here's an example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3948203303
which is an 1814 1/2 dollar that I listed as vf and sold a few weeks
ago. I was satisfied with the final price and the buyer ended up
happy as well.
I'm guessing that browsers seeing multiple bids on an item gets them
to look more than an image would.
But then again I am probably wrong.
beekeep
Ron
I really don't look at the pics. I read the description, if I'm
interested I will click on it. The small image does nothing for me.
But maybe that's just my weak vision,,,, lol.
Ron
Bruce Remick
news:Segap-32F665....@corp.supernews.com...
All in all, I believe Ebay is a pretty cheap way to sell merchandise,
considering the seller is getting global exposure. Where else could you
craft your own large ad with multiple color photos and have it exposed to
millions of potential customers around the world for a few bucks?
Especially if your only other option was to pay even higher rates for local
ads or small classifieds in hobby papers.
I have made out fine over the years as an occasional seller and buyer on
Ebay without using any of the options they are raising the rates on. Those
who went into business *because* of Ebay and use it for all their sales
should be greatful for the profitable opportunity, but maybe shouldn't have
put all their eggs in the same basket.
Nobody likes rate increases. Ebay probably took a look at what the public's
attitude has been about huge increases in gasoline prices (whine, but still
use) and decided to join the fray.
Bruce
Bruce Remick
news:cs9ht...@enews1.newsguy.com...
picture
> up front.
>
> James
> 'hard-nosed, I know'
>
James, I can only hope we're interested in the same things, and that others
with similar interests will follow your lead.
;>)
Bruce
'hates competition'
Bruce Remick
news:41e85f8c....@news.radix.net...
I don't think you are. When I'm scanning an Ebay category I often look down
the price column to see what is attracting bids. I'm convinced that as long
as you have something attractive to sell, and your auction title is
descriptive, 99% of the potential interested buyers will find it, gallery
photo or not.
Bruce
beekeep
wrote:
>I really don't look at the pics. I read the description, if I'm
>interested I will click on it. The small image does nothing for me.
>
>But maybe that's just my weak vision,,,, lol.
>
>Ron
>
And I'm guessing seeing a bunch of bids helps to spark your interest.
beekeep
Ron
Yes,, guess the order I look at bids are:
1. Item Title
2. Price
3. # of bids
Also, I hate seeing a whole column of "Buy It Now" woith no bids.
Usually just scan past those.
Ron
James Higby
"Bruce Remick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:bd_Fd.23531$sf5.12435@lakeread05...
Whatever results in the little camera icon appearing in the listings is what
I am talking about. I have opened far too many auctions only to find no
picture, and usually a simpering statement about how the seller can't
furnish a picture, but I should trust him anyway because he's such a great
guy. I just do what makes sense to me, that's all.
James
'you do what makes sense to you'
Bruce Remick
Okay. I didn't read carefully enough and thought you meant you only looked
at auctions with a gallery photo. I do agree with you. I don't bother with
auctions that don't offer a photo either. With all the misleading
descriptions even in auctions *with* photos, I figure it's a waste of time
taking a chance on one with a vague description and nothing else.
Bruce
'I guess this means we may be competing again'
James Higby
...and as I re-read my original post, I see that I didn't make myself
terribly clear either. You know, the old ready to discharge the blaster
from the hip while trying to do three things at once syndrome!
If you're into U.S., we likely won't go head-to-head anytime soon. I use
eBay mostly to find obscure non-U.S. material, and find that offerings of
things on my want list are becoming fewer and fewer. But ya never know!
James
'always appreciate a worthy opponent'
George Habrecht
James Higby wrote:
>
> I have discontinued opening any coin auction that doesn't promise a
picture
> up front.
>
> James
> 'hard-nosed, I know'
This is probably a mistake, epecially with coins and stamps. Some
sellers place the photo directly in the HTML, from their own ISP. This
allows them to show multiple higher quality photos/scans, while
avoiding the fees associated with multiple pics.
Lumpy
> ...I can only hope we're interested
> in the same things...
Well, I like long walks on the beach.
And romantic evenings by the fireplace.
Lumpy
--
In Your Ears for 40 Years
http://www.lumpymusic.com
Bruce Remick
"Lumpy" <lu...@digitalcartography.com> wrote in message
news:34s4jrF...@individual.net...
> Bruce Remick wrote:
> > ...I can only hope we're interested
> > in the same things...
>
> Well, I like long walks on the beach.
> And romantic evenings by the fireplace.
>
>
> Lumpy
Oh, Jeez. What did I start? Anyway, my dear late mother always advised
me to avoid long walks on the beach with anyone named "Lumpy".
Bruce
'just lost interest'
note.boy
James Higby
My pet peeve #2: coin auction with picture of only one side of the coin
James
'there are two sides to every coin'
"note.boy" <note...@naespamntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:41E93595...@naespamntlworld.com...
note.boy
#3: coin auction with a fuzzy, dark or small pic that is useless.
Billy
James Higby
James
'bad things come in threes'
"note.boy" <note...@naespamntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:41E94056...@naespamntlworld.com...
Brian Oakley
buying from someone??? What nerve!
;)
B.
"James Higby" <heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com> wrote in message
news:csbg0...@enews1.newsguy.com...
Tony Clayton
> My pet peeve #1: coin auction with no picture
> My pet peeve #2: coin auction with picture of only one side of the coin
My pet peeve #3: auction at a good price where the seller is overseas and does not take Paypal.
A particular problem with Italian sellers.
--
Tony Clayton tony.cla...@pem.cam.ac.uk or to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk
Coins of the UK : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/coins.html
Values of Coins of the UK : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/values/coins.html
Metals used in Coins : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/metal.html
Sent using RISC OS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
... Brought to you by the Mother of all Messages
James Higby
James
'let us bray'
"Tony Clayton" <to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:e9172a2e4d%to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk...
Roland Watson
"Tony Clayton" <to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:e9172a2e4d%to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk...
wrote:
>
> > My pet peeve #1: coin auction with no picture
> > My pet peeve #2: coin auction with picture of only one side of the coin
>
> My pet peeve #3: auction at a good price where the seller is overseas and
does not take Paypal.
>
> A particular problem with Italian sellers.
And Belgian and French sellers ...
Too many also insist on the buyer bearing their paypal charges. I thought
this was banned by ebay.
Roland.
James Higby
regarding this. I remember reading that UK sellers may upcharge for PayPal.
Perhaps others may also. In the U.S. it's definitely prohibited, though.
James
'different strokes for different folks'
"Roland Watson" <rol...@artesyncp.com> wrote in message
news:csgeba$mra$1$8302...@news.demon.co.uk...
Tony Clayton
>
> "Tony Clayton" <to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:e9172a2e4d%to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk...
> > In a recent message "James Higby" <heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > My pet peeve #1: coin auction with no picture
> > > My pet peeve #2: coin auction with picture of only one side of the coin
> >
> > My pet peeve #3: auction at a good price where the seller is overseas and
> does not take Paypal.
> >
> > A particular problem with Italian sellers.
>
> And Belgian and French sellers ...
>
> Too many also insist on the buyer bearing their paypal charges. I thought
> this was banned by ebay.
>
Not in the UK. As the 3% I ask for is 'towards' the costs,
and most of my sales being under $30, the sum involved is small.
I have yet to have anyone complain, especially as it is
clearly laid out in the text with the auction.
I would much rather pay 3% extra for the convenience in an
international money transaction than all the fuss involved
trying to send money when Paypal is not available.
If I see an item I would have liked to bid on I usually
advise the vendor that I would have bid to win if
I did not have to risk cash in the post - costs
of a minimum of 5 GBP (about 10 US$) to transfer
50-100 US$ are iniquitous (and, moreover, it is
very difficult to send change).
--
Tony Clayton tony.cla...@pem.cam.ac.uk or to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk
Coins of the UK : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/coins.html
Values of Coins of the UK : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/values/coins.html
Metals used in Coins : http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/metal.html
Sent using RISC OS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
... I am Popeye of Borg. Prepare to be askimilgrated.
Roland Watson
> In a recent message "Roland Watson" <rol...@artesyncp.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > "Tony Clayton" <to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:e9172a2e4d%to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk...
> > > In a recent message "James Higby" <heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > My pet peeve #1: coin auction with no picture
> > > > My pet peeve #2: coin auction with picture of only one side of the
coin
> > >
> > > My pet peeve #3: auction at a good price where the seller is overseas
and
> > does not take Paypal.
> > >
> > > A particular problem with Italian sellers.
> >
> > And Belgian and French sellers ...
> >
> > Too many also insist on the buyer bearing their paypal charges. I
thought
> > this was banned by ebay.
> >
>
> Not in the UK. As the 3% I ask for is 'towards' the costs,
> and most of my sales being under $30, the sum involved is small.
> I have yet to have anyone complain, especially as it is
> clearly laid out in the text with the auction.
>
> I would much rather pay 3% extra for the convenience in an
> international money transaction than all the fuss involved
> trying to send money when Paypal is not available.
Yes, but I buy low cost coins, there is quite an overhead in purchasing one
coin. C'est la vie as they say in paypal-less France!
>
> If I see an item I would have liked to bid on I usually
> advise the vendor that I would have bid to win if
> I did not have to risk cash in the post - costs
> of a minimum of 5 GBP (about 10 US$) to transfer
> 50-100 US$ are iniquitous (and, moreover, it is
> very difficult to send change).
Good idea, I think I'll do that myself. Sending cash is the highest risk
though I haven't lost any yet.
Roland.