ebay Test... Latest Results!

Hello,

Some of you know what I'm talking about here. Some of you don't. So, let me give a very brief rundown on what I've created. :-)

About 4 weeks ago I created a system for selling on ebay, which I thought to be an extremely effective ebay selling system. I put this system together in only 7 hours.

However, this system was based on our 3 years of Internet sales and marketing experience. And, also, almost 30 years of personal combined direct mail, copywriting, and sales experience.

This is the main reason why it only took 7 hours to put together... 30 years experience makes for short learning curves on new ventures. :-)

Now for the latest test results.

Week One: ROI was 1,072%

Week Two: ROI was 1,845%

Week Three: Due to other business commitments, I had to skip that week.

Week Four: (Now this is where it gets interesting!) I revised my selling system to test how this would affect the ROI.

I deliberately "weakened" my listings by *not* using the selling system I created.

And the ROI dropped dramatically!!!

The current ROI is only at 234%. Yes, it is still making a profit... but not anywhere close to the first test runs.

Now, I don't know about you... but, I want the highest ROI I can get for my time and money! :-)

So, for the next test cycle, I will go back to using my original selling system to compare the results again.

Oh… I forgot to mention… in my cycles of testing, I'm using different types of items to list on ebay. Again, it’s the selling system I’m testing, not the items I list for sale. I want to know, “Will this system produce the same results no matter what I list?”

Now, to answer a couple of questions I received earlier. Why now? Because at the time, I couldn't provide an answer. Now I can... not completely, but at least to some degree due to the test results.

The following were 2 wonderful questions...

"I'm going to play the devil's advocate here. Using Dan Kennedy's line, "(1)Why should I buy from *you* as opposed to all the other options available to me (2)including doing nothing?"

Well at the time this question was posed to me, I couldn't give an answer... because except for the one ebook I had purchased for $13 right before I put my selling system together, I had NOT looked at anyone else's writings, books, ebooks, websites, etc., on how to sell on ebay.

Nothing, nada, zilch.

I had never even been to ebay! It was just nothing that had ever caught my attention. I was simply too busy with my other projects.

So, how did ebay finally catch my attention?

Well, there as an estate sell, and we were interested in purchasing the house. No, we didn't buy the house. However, I found the auction and the interaction of the people simply fascinating!

I *love* Sociology... and the auction was great!

After the auction, I mingled with some of the buyers. I asked, "Why did you buy that?" "What are you going to do with that?"

Interestingly, the women were *very* evasive. The men, on the other hand, were quite open! They told me what they were doing and why they were doing it. They were buying the items (low) to sell (high)!

Next Saturday, I went to another estate sell. Same thing happened. Only this time, several of the people asked me, "So, what do you do?"

When I told them, *each* one said, "With your computer knowledge and selling experience, you NEED to be selling on ebay!!!"

O.K... now they have my attention. :-)

Next Sat., I went to my 3rd auction. This time I did better. Two women opened up to me. Yep... they, too, were selling on ebay.

Again, I was told, "With your computer knowledge and selling experience, you NEED to be selling on ebay!!!"

All right, I thought, I don't need to be hit with any more bricks over my head. I've got the idea. :-)

So, I purchased the one ebook from someone online that I had purchased a different product from. I read through the ebook, and realized... I can do that!

Next, I put my own selling system together... in 7 hours. I used the exact same techniques I had learned to use for all my other successful Internet ventures.

I listed my first group of items on ebay. And it worked! The results were wonderful! I thought, "Wow! I have something here!"

I decided to test my selling system. (And, I'm enjoying doing so immensely!)

Again… great results!

Now, back to the question, "Why should I buy from *you* as opposed to all the other options available to me?

Well, after listing items for testing round 3, I began looking at some of the other ebay information books and websites.

My honest opinion... they are *over* complicating the "how to" aspect of selling on ebay!

As an individual...

I don't have, nor want, to take the time it would take to read through a 500-page book on how to sell on ebay.

I don't want to go to a website that takes 3 hours of my time looking for the "best software" to use.

I don't want to get an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's Degree on this topic.

And lastly, I don't want to be "sold to" like I was in college. What do I mean here?

Well, did you ever notice the size and weight of all of those textbooks? Did you ever notice how the authors were more interested in showing you how smart they were, instead of how to teach YOU the subject? And, lastly, except for the truly outstanding teachers in our lives, did you ever notice how most of them simply wanted to make the subject more difficult than it needed to be... to insure themselves of a job?

I did... and I bet you did too! :-)

If you're like me... you just want to know... "How do I do this, in the shortest amount of time, to get the highest ROI my money, and with the quickest turn-around time."

I'm not suggesting you simply buy from just anyone who sells a "small package." But, I am saying... buy from someone who is an expert in his or her field, and who teaches you in the simplest and quickest manner!

Also, you want to purchase items/products that give you more in USE value than you gave in CASH value!

Usually, to be successful at any endeavor, most people must begin getting immediate, positive results! Why? Most people don't have the strong self-image it takes to "stick it out!"

That's why there are more people looking for jobs, than there are those who create jobs. :-)

Remember… in whatever you do, begin getting results NOW! You can always get more information/education on any topic if you want to become an expert!

O.k… at last, I’m done. I need to get moving.

I hope my loooooong reply has helped to answer the questions. :-)

Thanks for you time.

Cordially,
Diane Everroad

P.S. Oh yeah, question #2, “…including doing nothing?" Well, simply put: “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.” :-)




Try It... It Works!

...my wife had an Antique Shoppe for 20 yrs. She now sells to select buyers from our home BUT...we go to every auction and estate sale within 100 miles every weekend.

Because we LOVE buying stuff....AND...getting it below retail....PLUS...the people who frequent these sales are GREAT folk.

And...in the last year we've noticed MANY of our auction buddies have confessed to us they are "EbayItes". One couple just got a big write-up in our local paper on how they decided to quit their "regular" jobs and go full time into ebay.

The wife is into unique items she finds at auctions and estate sales BUT...you'll never guess what the husband is specializing in and making a BUNDLE from.....

I'll tell you....

SPURS and TRAPS!

Seems that there's a LOT of collectors of old Cowboy SPURS and old TRAPS.

What got him into this was a collector called him up on day and asked if he'd be interested in buying his collection of Spurs and Traps.

Our friend went over...took a look at the awesome collection this guy had and made an offer...and lo and behold...it was accepted...

So...my friend found himself with a huge pile of Traps & Spurs. They then proceeded to clean and polish up the rusted metal...took photos and started putting them on Ebay and whala...they are happier than pigs in slop.

So...my wife and I still haven't gotten into ebay except for an occasional item but the day is coming when we will.

No less than FIVE Antique Dealers in my area have recently given up their shops of 20 and 25 yrs to go strictly ebay.

All these couples are putting up 5 to 20 items a day on ebay AND....ALL are making a "handsome living". Plus...NO rent or advertising expense.

SO...thanks for the post. This Internet thingee is changing the lifestyles (for the better) of MANY people. And it's just getting going.

Don Alm

> Hello,

> Some of you know what I'm talking about
> here. Some of you don't. So, let me give a
> very brief rundown on what I've created. :-)

> About 4 weeks ago I created a system for
> selling on ebay, which I thought to be an
> extremely effective ebay selling system. I
> put this system together in only 7 hours.

> However, this system was based on our 3
> years of Internet sales and marketing
> experience. And, also, almost 30 years of
> personal combined direct mail, copywriting,
> and sales experience.

> This is the main reason why it only took 7
> hours to put together... 30 years experience
> makes for short learning curves on new
> ventures. :-)

> Now for the latest test results.

> Week One: ROI was 1,072%

> Week Two: ROI was 1,845%

> Week Three: Due to other business
> commitments, I had to skip that week.

> Week Four: (Now this is where it gets
> interesting!) I revised my selling system to
> test how this would affect the ROI.

> I deliberately "weakened" my
> listings by *not* using the selling system I
> created.

> And the ROI dropped dramatically!!!

> The current ROI is only at 234%. Yes, it is
> still making a profit... but not anywhere
> close to the first test runs.

> Now, I don't know about you... but, I want
> the highest ROI I can get for my time and
> money! :-)

> So, for the next test cycle, I will go back
> to using my original selling system to
> compare the results again.

> Oh… I forgot to mention… in my cycles of
> testing, I'm using different types of items
> to list on ebay. Again, it’s the selling
> system I’m testing, not the items I list for
> sale. I want to know, “Will this system
> produce the same results no matter what I
> list?”

> Now, to answer a couple of questions I
> received earlier. Why now? Because at the
> time, I couldn't provide an answer. Now I
> can... not completely, but at least to some
> degree due to the test results.

> The following were 2 wonderful questions...

> "I'm going to play the devil's advocate
> here. Using Dan Kennedy's line, "(1)Why
> should I buy from *you* as opposed to all
> the other options available to me
> (2)including doing nothing?"

> Well at the time this question was posed to
> me, I couldn't give an answer... because
> except for the one ebook I had purchased for
> $13 right before I put my selling system
> together, I had NOT looked at anyone else's
> writings, books, ebooks, websites, etc., on
> how to sell on ebay.

> Nothing, nada, zilch.

> I had never even been to ebay! It was just
> nothing that had ever caught my attention. I
> was simply too busy with my other projects.

> So, how did ebay finally catch my attention?

> Well, there as an estate sell, and we were
> interested in purchasing the house. No, we
> didn't buy the house. However, I found the
> auction and the interaction of the people
> simply fascinating!

> I *love* Sociology... and the auction was
> great!

> After the auction, I mingled with some of
> the buyers. I asked, "Why did you buy
> that?" "What are you going to do
> with that?"

> Interestingly, the women were *very*
> evasive. The men, on the other hand, were
> quite open! They told me what they were
> doing and why they were doing it. They were
> buying the items (low) to sell (high)!

> Next Saturday, I went to another estate
> sell. Same thing happened. Only this time,
> several of the people asked me, "So,
> what do you do?"

> When I told them, *each* one said,
> "With your computer knowledge and
> selling experience, you NEED to be selling
> on ebay!!!"

> O.K... now they have my attention. :-)

> Next Sat., I went to my 3rd auction. This
> time I did better. Two women opened up to
> me. Yep... they, too, were selling on ebay.

> Again, I was told, "With your computer
> knowledge and selling experience, you NEED
> to be selling on ebay!!!"

> All right, I thought, I don't need to be hit
> with any more bricks over my head. I've got
> the idea. :-)

> So, I purchased the one ebook from someone
> online that I had purchased a different
> product from. I read through the ebook, and
> realized... I can do that!

> Next, I put my own selling system
> together... in 7 hours. I used the exact
> same techniques I had learned to use for all
> my other successful Internet ventures.

> I listed my first group of items on ebay.
> And it worked! The results were wonderful! I
> thought, "Wow! I have something
> here!"

> I decided to test my selling system. (And,
> I'm enjoying doing so immensely!)

> Again… great results!

> Now, back to the question, "Why should
> I buy from *you* as opposed to all the other
> options available to me?

> Well, after listing items for testing round
> 3, I began looking at some of the other ebay
> information books and websites.

> My honest opinion... they are *over*
> complicating the "how to" aspect
> of selling on ebay!

> As an individual...

> I don't have, nor want, to take the time it
> would take to read through a 500-page book
> on how to sell on ebay.

> I don't want to go to a website that takes 3
> hours of my time looking for the "best
> software" to use.

> I don't want to get an Associate's,
> Bachelor's, or Master's Degree on this
> topic.

> And lastly, I don't want to be "sold
> to" like I was in college. What do I
> mean here?

> Well, did you ever notice the size and
> weight of all of those textbooks? Did you
> ever notice how the authors were more
> interested in showing you how smart they
> were, instead of how to teach YOU the
> subject? And, lastly, except for the truly
> outstanding teachers in our lives, did you
> ever notice how most of them simply wanted
> to make the subject more difficult than it
> needed to be... to insure themselves of a
> job?

> I did... and I bet you did too! :-)

> If you're like me... you just want to
> know... "How do I do this, in the
> shortest amount of time, to get the highest
> ROI my money, and with the quickest
> turn-around time."

> I'm not suggesting you simply buy from just
> anyone who sells a "small
> package." But, I am saying... buy from
> someone who is an expert in his or her
> field, and who teaches you in the simplest
> and quickest manner!

> Also, you want to purchase items/products
> that give you more in USE value than you
> gave in CASH value!

> Usually, to be successful at any endeavor,
> most people must begin getting immediate,
> positive results! Why? Most people don't
> have the strong self-image it takes to
> "stick it out!"

> That's why there are more people looking for
> jobs, than there are those who create jobs.
> :-)

> Remember… in whatever you do, begin getting
> results NOW! You can always get more
> information/education on any topic if you
> want to become an expert!

> O.k… at last, I’m done. I need to get
> moving.

> I hope my loooooong reply has helped to
> answer the questions. :-)

> Thanks for you time.

> Cordially,
> Diane Everroad

> P.S. Oh yeah, question #2, “…including doing
> nothing?" Well, simply put: “Nothing
> Ventured, Nothing Gained.” :-)




Some of my Unique, money-making programs.

Diane,

You have really got me excited about this venture. When do you expect to be done testing and have a product available to teach the rest of us?

Ken

> Hello,

> Some of you know what I'm talking about
> here. Some of you don't. So, let me give a
> very brief rundown on what I've created. :-)

> About 4 weeks ago I created a system for
> selling on ebay, which I thought to be an
> extremely effective ebay selling system. I
> put this system together in only 7 hours.

> However, this system was based on our 3
> years of Internet sales and marketing
> experience. And, also, almost 30 years of
> personal combined direct mail, copywriting,
> and sales experience.

> This is the main reason why it only took 7
> hours to put together... 30 years experience
> makes for short learning curves on new
> ventures. :-)

> Now for the latest test results.

> Week One: ROI was 1,072%

> Week Two: ROI was 1,845%

> Week Three: Due to other business
> commitments, I had to skip that week.

> Week Four: (Now this is where it gets
> interesting!) I revised my selling system to
> test how this would affect the ROI.

> I deliberately "weakened" my
> listings by *not* using the selling system I
> created.

> And the ROI dropped dramatically!!!

> The current ROI is only at 234%. Yes, it is
> still making a profit... but not anywhere
> close to the first test runs.

> Now, I don't know about you... but, I want
> the highest ROI I can get for my time and
> money! :-)

> So, for the next test cycle, I will go back
> to using my original selling system to
> compare the results again.

> Oh… I forgot to mention… in my cycles of
> testing, I'm using different types of items
> to list on ebay. Again, it’s the selling
> system I’m testing, not the items I list for
> sale. I want to know, “Will this system
> produce the same results no matter what I
> list?”

> Now, to answer a couple of questions I
> received earlier. Why now? Because at the
> time, I couldn't provide an answer. Now I
> can... not completely, but at least to some
> degree due to the test results.

> The following were 2 wonderful questions...

> "I'm going to play the devil's advocate
> here. Using Dan Kennedy's line, "(1)Why
> should I buy from *you* as opposed to all
> the other options available to me
> (2)including doing nothing?"

> Well at the time this question was posed to
> me, I couldn't give an answer... because
> except for the one ebook I had purchased for
> $13 right before I put my selling system
> together, I had NOT looked at anyone else's
> writings, books, ebooks, websites, etc., on
> how to sell on ebay.

> Nothing, nada, zilch.

> I had never even been to ebay! It was just
> nothing that had ever caught my attention. I
> was simply too busy with my other projects.

> So, how did ebay finally catch my attention?

> Well, there as an estate sell, and we were
> interested in purchasing the house. No, we
> didn't buy the house. However, I found the
> auction and the interaction of the people
> simply fascinating!

> I *love* Sociology... and the auction was
> great!

> After the auction, I mingled with some of
> the buyers. I asked, "Why did you buy
> that?" "What are you going to do
> with that?"

> Interestingly, the women were *very*
> evasive. The men, on the other hand, were
> quite open! They told me what they were
> doing and why they were doing it. They were
> buying the items (low) to sell (high)!

> Next Saturday, I went to another estate
> sell. Same thing happened. Only this time,
> several of the people asked me, "So,
> what do you do?"

> When I told them, *each* one said,
> "With your computer knowledge and
> selling experience, you NEED to be selling
> on ebay!!!"

> O.K... now they have my attention. :-)

> Next Sat., I went to my 3rd auction. This
> time I did better. Two women opened up to
> me. Yep... they, too, were selling on ebay.

> Again, I was told, "With your computer
> knowledge and selling experience, you NEED
> to be selling on ebay!!!"

> All right, I thought, I don't need to be hit
> with any more bricks over my head. I've got
> the idea. :-)

> So, I purchased the one ebook from someone
> online that I had purchased a different
> product from. I read through the ebook, and
> realized... I can do that!

> Next, I put my own selling system
> together... in 7 hours. I used the exact
> same techniques I had learned to use for all
> my other successful Internet ventures.

> I listed my first group of items on ebay.
> And it worked! The results were wonderful! I
> thought, "Wow! I have something
> here!"

> I decided to test my selling system. (And,
> I'm enjoying doing so immensely!)

> Again… great results!

> Now, back to the question, "Why should
> I buy from *you* as opposed to all the other
> options available to me?

> Well, after listing items for testing round
> 3, I began looking at some of the other ebay
> information books and websites.

> My honest opinion... they are *over*
> complicating the "how to" aspect
> of selling on ebay!

> As an individual...

> I don't have, nor want, to take the time it
> would take to read through a 500-page book
> on how to sell on ebay.

> I don't want to go to a website that takes 3
> hours of my time looking for the "best
> software" to use.

> I don't want to get an Associate's,
> Bachelor's, or Master's Degree on this
> topic.

> And lastly, I don't want to be "sold
> to" like I was in college. What do I
> mean here?

> Well, did you ever notice the size and
> weight of all of those textbooks? Did you
> ever notice how the authors were more
> interested in showing you how smart they
> were, instead of how to teach YOU the
> subject? And, lastly, except for the truly
> outstanding teachers in our lives, did you
> ever notice how most of them simply wanted
> to make the subject more difficult than it
> needed to be... to insure themselves of a
> job?

> I did... and I bet you did too! :-)

> If you're like me... you just want to
> know... "How do I do this, in the
> shortest amount of time, to get the highest
> ROI my money, and with the quickest
> turn-around time."

> I'm not suggesting you simply buy from just
> anyone who sells a "small
> package." But, I am saying... buy from
> someone who is an expert in his or her
> field, and who teaches you in the simplest
> and quickest manner!

> Also, you want to purchase items/products
> that give you more in USE value than you
> gave in CASH value!

> Usually, to be successful at any endeavor,
> most people must begin getting immediate,
> positive results! Why? Most people don't
> have the strong self-image it takes to
> "stick it out!"

> That's why there are more people looking for
> jobs, than there are those who create jobs.
> :-)

> Remember… in whatever you do, begin getting
> results NOW! You can always get more
> information/education on any topic if you
> want to become an expert!

> O.k… at last, I’m done. I need to get
> moving.

> I hope my loooooong reply has helped to
> answer the questions. :-)

> Thanks for you time.

> Cordially,
> Diane Everroad

> P.S. Oh yeah, question #2, “…including doing
> nothing?" Well, simply put: “Nothing
> Ventured, Nothing Gained.” :-)

Hi Don,

Thanks for sharing you and your wife's experiences, and also your friend's story....

> So...my wife and I still haven't gotten into
> ebay except for an occasional item but the
> day is coming when we will.

> No less than FIVE Antique Dealers in my area
> have recently given up their shops of 20 and
> 25 yrs to go strictly ebay.

Don, your post reminded me of something which happened to me recently....

A few weeks ago, I went to a "collectibles" fair.... I thought I'd just check it out, and try to get a feel for what was "hot" in collectibles.... They had all kinds of collectibles there - model trains, dolls, military badges, old magazines.... I ended up buying some old ads I liked, and also an old newspaper ("The Times" of London, from Dec. 10, 1839)!.

Anyhow, as I was moseying along, I heard someone call my name. I turned around, and it was one of the stallholders - he happened to be Phil, someone I knew from my university undergraduate days (over 10 years ago)! I had no idea what became of him.... It turned out that he opened his own comics store, and also sells comics at fairs like this one from time to time too.... He deals in both new and also second-hand comics.

Anyhow, Phil and I got to talking (catching up on "old times"), and eventually, the conversation turned to eBay. He said he wasn't selling on eBay, but some other former comic store owners he knew were now exclusively selling their stuff on the online auctions.... He told me that a friend of his who does this is making about the same income online as he was from his store, but he now has to work less for it.....

So it sounds like it's not only antique dealers who are deciding to focus solely on selling online - but that comic store owners are doing the same thing too (and probably MANY others who deal in collectible items)....

It's a fascinating shift.... And anyone can join in - there are practically no restrictions holding anyone back from doing the same thing....

The opportunity is wide open!

Thanks Don - great post! :)

- Dien Rice

Diane,

You've got everyone's interest up with these big numbers for ROIs. I am curious as to what kind of items you are offering up for auction. I am interested in your "system" as I do Ebay from time to time, too! If your system works no matter what the item is, you've got a hot product on your hands!

Your project sounds like it would be an excellent candidate for my new project. I'm in the pre-launch stage of a new project where I will evaluate digital products and give a review in my new newsletter, "Business eProducts Review".

Please email me when you complete your product at: [email protected]

Thanks!

JDB

P.S. Anyone else who would like to nominate a digital product for evaluation, email: [email protected]


Business eProducts Review

By the way, I mentioned that I bought "The Times" of London, from Dec. 10, 1839 at the collectors' fair....

Here's what it looks like (click to see a bigger picture - I couldn't get the full width of the paper on the scanner)....



Back then, it seems, all the classifieds went on the outside of the paper (front and back cover), with the news on the inside!

Here's a "taste" of what "info-product" classifieds looked like 163 years ago! (Click to see a bigger picture....)



I thought some here might find that "glimpse of the past" interesting!

There were plenty more "book classifieds" there too - I just selected a small range of them.... It seems that "info-products" were probably a winner then as they are now!

Hmmm.... So, was Texas ever recognized as an "Independent Power" by Great Britain? (This probably refers to the Texas "Declaration of Independence" of 1836. Texas was later incorporated into the United States in 1844....)

An interesting slice of history.... :)

- Dien

dno
> By the way, I mentioned that I bought
> "The Times" of London, from Dec.
> 10, 1839 at the collectors' fair....

> Here's what it looks like (click to see a
> bigger picture - I couldn't get the full
> width of the paper on the scanner)....

> Back then, it seems, all the classifieds
> went on the outside of the paper (front and
> back cover), with the news on the inside!

> Here's a "taste" of what
> "info-product" classifieds looked
> like 163 years ago! (Click to see a bigger
> picture....)

> I thought some here might find that
> "glimpse of the past" interesting!

> There were plenty more "book
> classifieds" there too - I just
> selected a small range of them.... It seems
> that "info-products" were probably
> a winner then as they are now!

> Hmmm.... So, was Texas ever recognized as an
> "Independent Power" by Great
> Britain? (This probably refers to the Texas
> "Declaration of Independence" of
> 1836. Texas was later incorporated into the
> United States in 1844....)

> An interesting slice of history.... :)

> - Dien

Congratulations. It sounds as though you may possibly have hit on something.

However, if you're not selling the same type of item each week, how do you know it's your system that's producing the swings in ROI?

To effectively test something, you can't change two major factors at the same time and get any usable results. How do you know it wasn't WHAT you were selling that didn't cause the dramatic drop in ROI the week you didn't use your system?

Gary Hendrickson


The Online Auction Business