Finally... a Chance to Follow-up on My Ebay Test!

Hello,

First, I want to thank each of you who offered your thoughts on my ebay selling system test. :-)

Secondly, I want to apologize for taking so long to be able to post a response, and an update on my 2nd cycle of ebay testing. I have been swamped in my businesses and projects. :-)

Hank is 100% correct... I cannot give out my ebay seller ID.

To do so would be to alter the test itself. How? Well, as you probably know, when you conduct a test, you *must* control the variables as much as is possible.

Then, you make changes… one at a time. In this way, you can monitor how the changes affect your results. So, for me to post my ebay ID # would be to throw the test into total disaccord.

For example, let’s say someone from sowpub.com went to look my ebay listings. Already the test has become invalid because that individual did not find my ebay items for sale by the *system* I created.

Also, if anyone from sowpub.com placed a bid on one of my ebay items… one has to ask, “Were they influenced in any way because they had read one of my sowpub.com postings? Or, had they had previously corresponded with me by email, or purchased one of our products online?”

Basically, what I’m saying is that I have to conduct this ebay test as controlled as possible to get the most accurate test results. If I decide to sell my ebay selling system, I don’t want to provide inaccurate test results. Why? Because although maybe in the beginning I would sell my system, if the system didn’t work as promised, in the long run it would come back to haunt me, my business, and my reputation.

And for a few quick bucks, “It ain’t worth it.” :-)

O.K… now to update you on my 2nd round of testing this ebay selling system. :-)

I have 9 items listed… with an investment of $10 (I will keep my items averaged out from my total purchase investment). And, I have 4 items that have been bid on so far.

Yet, if my first test was any indication, you can get bids right down to the very last minute (literally) on an item that up to that point had not even been bid on.

Right now, my total return is up to $27.30. Not a great deal, right? However, this test still has 3 days of bidding to go. Remember, this is an auction site… and there is a lot of psychology (or poker) going on here. The bidders want to get what they want… and, at the lowest possible price. Just because you don’t have a bid *does not* mean someone is not planning on bidding on, and winning, your ebay item. :-)

Also, please remember, my test is *not* based upon seeing if I can get a huge amount of money… I’m testing to see if my ebay selling system works! There is a difference.

Why? Because if the ebay selling system works… than the money will follow!

Thank you again for all of your thoughts and comments.

Cordially,
Diane Everroad

P.S. Oh… I forget to mention… in my cycles of testing, I will be 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 have listed?”


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Hi,

What kind of feedback or "thoughts and comments" do you want us to provide? You're not giving us anything to work with.

You could always instruct us not to bid on the items you're selling; I'm sure we'd be able to resist temptation. :-) Or you could give us the item number of a completed auction.

Yes, you might lose a few sales of your "ebay selling system" if we figured out what you're doing, but our input will help you improve your system and enable you to make more sales in the long run.

Anyway, if you want our thoughts and comments on what you're doing, we need to be able to see what you're doing.

Sincerely,

- Boyd

> Hello,

> First, I want to thank each of you who
> offered your thoughts on my ebay selling
> system test. :-)

> Secondly, I want to apologize for taking so
> long to be able to post a response, and an
> update on my 2nd cycle of ebay testing. I
> have been swamped in my businesses and
> projects. :-)

> Hank is 100% correct... I cannot give out my
> ebay seller ID.

> To do so would be to alter the test itself.
> How? Well, as you probably know, when you
> conduct a test, you *must* control the
> variables as much as is possible.

> Then, you make changes… one at a time. In
> this way, you can monitor how the changes
> affect your results. So, for me to post my
> ebay ID # would be to throw the test into
> total disaccord.

> For example, let’s say someone from
> sowpub.com went to look my ebay listings.
> Already the test has become invalid because
> that individual did not find my ebay items
> for sale by the *system* I created.

> Also, if anyone from sowpub.com placed a bid
> on one of my ebay items… one has to ask,
> “Were they influenced in any way because
> they had read one of my sowpub.com postings?
> Or, had they had previously corresponded
> with me by email, or purchased one of our
> products online?”

> Basically, what I’m saying is that I have to
> conduct this ebay test as controlled as
> possible to get the most accurate test
> results. If I decide to sell my ebay selling
> system, I don’t want to provide inaccurate
> test results. Why? Because although maybe in
> the beginning I would sell my system, if the
> system didn’t work as promised, in the long
> run it would come back to haunt me, my
> business, and my reputation.

> And for a few quick bucks, “It ain’t worth
> it.” :-)

> O.K… now to update you on my 2nd round of
> testing this ebay selling system. :-)

> I have 9 items listed… with an investment of
> $10 (I will keep my items averaged out from
> my total purchase investment). And, I have 4
> items that have been bid on so far.

> Yet, if my first test was any indication,
> you can get bids right down to the very last
> minute (literally) on an item that up to
> that point had not even been bid on.

> Right now, my total return is up to $27.30.
> Not a great deal, right? However, this test
> still has 3 days of bidding to go. Remember,
> this is an auction site… and there is a lot
> of psychology (or poker) going on here. The
> bidders want to get what they want… and, at
> the lowest possible price. Just because you
> don’t have a bid *does not* mean someone is
> not planning on bidding on, and winning,
> your ebay item. :-)

> Also, please remember, my test is *not*
> based upon seeing if I can get a huge amount
> of money… I’m testing to see if my ebay
> selling system works! There is a difference.

> Why? Because if the ebay selling system
> works… than the money will follow!

> Thank you again for all of your thoughts and
> comments.

> Cordially,
> Diane Everroad

> P.S. Oh… I forget to mention… in my cycles
> of testing, I will be 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 have listed?”

Sorry, I'm with Diane on this one. A lot of people do not like revealing their eBay ID.

I'm not sure why you have such a burning desire for the ID, but I would suggest if you can't provide her any feedback without it, then it might be a good idea to let it go and quit badgering her about it.

The following is a direct quote from her first post. All of the questions can be commented on without knowing her eBay ID or seeing the auctions:

(quote)
Would you consider my ebay selling experience a success?

Do you think my ebay sales were a good enough ROI?

If I put my system together in a "packet," do you think others would be interested in purchasing my system for selling on ebay?

Or, do you think this was all just beginner's luck?

I really would appreciate your honest thoughts and opinions on this test.
(end quote)

I also agree with Diane on this as well. Plus people who have actually written books about auctions such as Sydney Johnston and Gary Hendrickson don't give out their ebay ids.

People end up copying either the same item or very similar and it really isn't fair to the person who started it. It seems silly to me to demand someone give away their secrets.

> Sorry, I'm with Diane on this one. A lot of
> people do not like revealing their eBay ID.

> I'm not sure why you have such a burning
> desire for the ID, but I would suggest if
> you can't provide her any feedback without
> it, then it might be a good idea to let it
> go and quit badgering her about it.

> The following is a direct quote from her
> first post. All of the questions can be
> commented on without knowing her eBay ID or
> seeing the auctions:

> (quote)
> Would you consider my ebay selling
> experience a success?

> Do you think my ebay sales were a good
> enough ROI?

> If I put my system together in a
> "packet," do you think others
> would be interested in purchasing my system
> for selling on ebay?

> Or, do you think this was all just
> beginner's luck?

> I really would appreciate your honest
> thoughts and opinions on this test.
> (end quote)

I don't think Boyd wants to know the seller ID so he can try and figure out the system. Boyd's one of the most honorable people online and wouldn't do that.

I think it has more to do with providing a little proof of what is being claimed. Nothing more, nothing less. Revealing a seller ID would allow instant ability for any interested people to see whether the items have sold in the volume claimed.

And also to see whether or not the seller ID may have some small part to play in getting the results because maybe it adds more credibility somehow.

And to see if the 'copy' also had some role to play.

In other words, in my opinion, Boyd wanted to know the seller ID so he could provide as much detailed feedback as possible - something he does quite often.

From Diane's point of view... who cares whether the real reason is based on 'controlling a test' or not. I wouldn't reveal my seller ID simply because I would rather "fly low and collect the dough" and I work on the principle of "don't let them see you coming" - which is why you knew Dien and I were going to release a new product but you didn't know exactly what it was until we released it. I am, of course, talking about The Great Ideas Letter http://www.sowpub.com/greatideas/

Reveal the seller ID in a book which talks about the system, if you want, but not before hand. Nothing wrong with that either.

As for the initial test being a success or not...

Well, if the goal was to sell all items and that goal was not achieved, then success was not attained.

On the other hand, if the goal was to make a profit, and a profit was made, then the test was a success.

Continue to make a profit and the system becomes very well proven, for the person running the system.

That's my 2,000,000 shares worth of Enron ($0.02) HA!

Michael Ross.

P.S. James, any relation to the famous tennis player?


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Hi,

Mike, your message was a bright spot on an otherwise rather harsh day. I appreciate you mentioning the honor thing, my honesty and integrity are really my two most valuable assets. (There was a period when I was involved in a high-appeal business; I left that business, thereby losing a lot of potential income, because I wasn't willing to tarnish my integrity.)

Regarding the seller ID question, a well-known marketer has a banner in rotation on his main forum page that reads "[marketer's name] does ebay." If you click that banner you will jump to the marketer's eBay page on which is displayed his seller ID and the items he has at auction. [Proof available upon request.] So a seller ID isn't automatically Top Secret, especially since everyone who sees one's auction will know it.

You wrote:
> In other words, in my opinion, Boyd wanted
> to know the seller ID so he could provide as
> much detailed feedback as possible -
> something he does quite often.

Exactly right.

Thanks again!

Sincere regards,

- Boyd

James -

> The following is a direct quote from her
> first post. All of the questions can be
> commented on without knowing her eBay ID or
> seeing the auctions:

Ok. Let me comment.

> (quote)
> Would you consider my ebay selling
> experience a success?

Depends. From a purely monetary point of view it seems the first test was a success. Since the auctions haven't ended on the second test, I don't think you can declare that one one way or the other.

> Do you think my ebay sales were a good
> enough ROI?

In the first test, it would appear so. In the second test, again, your auctions will have to end first.

> If I put my system together in a
> "packet," do you think others
> would be interested in purchasing my system
> for selling on ebay?

No way to know. For two reasons:

1. You have to ask the market you're targetting. I may or may not be your market. (I probably am but that isn't the point.)

2. I haven't seen your packet. I can't judge it if I haven't seen it.

> Or, do you think this was all just
> beginner's luck?

No way to know yet.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


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