Re: selling prints on ebay - What could I be doing better

[rjas]

I've researched this very helpful thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

and had previously tried selling a few small prints on ebay for quite low prices with limited success. after taking the advice of a few members on this forum i changed my prices and I started printing larger. I posted a thread a couple months ago along the same lines but didn't get any replies; I'd like to ask for the advice of some of the more experienced ebay print sellers (ryan m, kjsphoto) on what I could be doing to improve my exposure on ebay and make more sales. I've only got one (!!!) watcher on one of the prints and an alright number of page views. If you'd like to see my auctions, just search "jaswal" on ebay and you'll find my prints. I didn't include a link because it might be seen as spamming.

 

[Jim Jones]

While the prints may be of interest to the subjects, they lack general appeal. Edward Weston could make fine photos of something like dead fish; most of the rest of us can't. There is some heavy-handed burning in some, and some distractingly light edges in others. Dirty Hot Road may be the best of the lot, but I'm not tempted.

 

[rjas]

While the prints may be of interest to the subjects, they lack general appeal. Edward Weston could make fine photos of something like dead fish; most of the rest of us can't. There is some heavy-handed burning in some, and some distractingly light edges in others. Dirty Hot Road may be the best of the lot, but I'm not tempted.

Thanks, I appreciate your reply. notice that the light edges are from light reflecting off the edge of the print, i should probably take this as a hint to reproduce my photos for web use with more care

 

[rjas]

I just sold the dead fish print! It seems that it got bid on with 15 min left. Someone from France, it seems. I'm ecstatic!


but it seems that my listing fees have destroyed any of my profit - $25.19 in listing fees for 12 prospective prints. 1 sold at $45.00 = $19.81 for a print... I think I just paid money to sell that photo. If I can keep at it and produce some more sellable images I think that in the long run this might be a worthwhile endeavour - in the meantime it is going to be a long haul making better images and slowly raising prices.

 

[Jim Jones]

Congratulations on the sale! I sell archivally mounted, matted, and framed 11x14 prints at a local arts and crafts fair for $40 USD. It took years to build a reputation doing this. You're already making more money than I am.

 

[Steve Roberts]

I just sold the dead fish print! It seems that it got bid on with 15 min left. Someone from France, it seems. I'm ecstatic!
.

Well done! For me the sale of any print or even a request for a copy in exchange for a few beers is an indication that I must be doing something right. I don't (at this stage in my life) need or expect to make any serious profit from photography but if I can go even a small way towards recovering what it costs me, then all to the good.

Incidentally, I searched for your work and eBay's message said you were offering no items for sale. I then did a search for something I'm selling (not photo related) and it said I'm not selling anything either! Any idea what's up?

Best wishes,

Steve

 

[rjas]

Incidentally, I searched for your work and eBay's message said you were offering no items for sale. I then did a search for something I'm selling (not photo related) and it said I'm not selling anything either! Any idea what's up?

Best wishes,

Steve

My items will all be ending soon so you'll get that message if you try again; you might have searched on the wrong ebay site. Sometimes I can't find my listings when I search on ebay.co.uk by accident. Ebay sometimes has weird glitches.