Bidding Wars

I think I've picked up a new eBay lesson this weekend, and I wanted to share it with you right away.

Lesson #3: Start a Bidding War!! List Unique Items for $.99 and Free Shipping.

From now on, I'm going to have a slightly less risk averse attitude and I'm going to list everything with a very low starting price and free shipping. You know the turquoise strapless I just sold this morning? The one in the "featured item" panel on the right? Well, I had listed it for something like $4.99 and free shipping originally, thinking the free shipping would attract buyers. It's a BEAUTIFUL, incredibly flattering top, but it's from Principles, a British store that no one has ever heard of here so I wasn't sure anyone would be able to find it.

Yesterday inspired by the success of my orange piñata skirt (I say that affectionately - it's a really nice peasant skirt), I lowered the price on the top to $.99 with free shipping. Doing that exposes you to a potential loss. Shipping a 13 ounce item via USPS Frist Class Mail can cost you nearly $4, so if you don't get any bids you're safe, but if you get only a couple of bids you stand to make a $3 LOSS from the transaction. Well, this morning when I woke up I looked at my blackberry and lo and behold, the top had sold for $12.99!

But that's not all. The orange peasant skirt is now at $15 with TWELVE bids with four individual bidders battling it out.

Check out my new total earnings up top! I'm well on my way to meeting my short term goal.