hyperventilating... just lost my virginity

16 years ago

and became an ebay ... er

yoinks

I know it's really low and can't figure why the pics are so small unless I have to chose the customize option (can you tell I have NO idea what I'm doing?)

but how does it read to you? have any suggestions to improve for the next time I list it (cause it's not going to sell like this I'm betting)

Here is a link that might be useful: ugh! I must be crazy

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Comments (64)

nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
how's it look now?
shrty411
16 years ago
You could add a littl blurb about why you are new, too...starving artist...yadayada

Maria
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haziemoon
16 years ago
I buy on e-bay all the time, and hate to bid on things with a reserve. I think your starting bid should be the lowest you are willing to take. The reserve crap is such a game!
I really think it will do well! Shipping shouldn't be as much as you listed it, so you should do ok. GOOD LUCK!!!
It's a beautiful set Nice, perfect to get you noticed there!

Hazie
crackpotannie
16 years ago
I want to do this so bad but not sure I can learn how,the only thing I see wrong is your pictures don't show up very good..they wil have to bid over the 55.00 and i think they would if your pic. showed better ,they are too yellow looking.How did you learn how??
diamondjennie
16 years ago
I've seen things like this go on e-Bay for quite a bit. One artist I watch did a cake plate and it went for I think $250.00. Your's is very well done, and it will go for much more than your starting price! Good for you! Jennie
d3bbi
16 years ago
NT, I wish you the best in this effort. Your work is beautiful! I assume you looked at other mosaic sellers on ebay. I have not. So my comments below are my personal opinion but I would keep it very positive and describe it in 'elegant' terms, something they can't do without rather than 'secondhand', 'not a set', etc. Nobody needs to know how and where you got your substrate, they need to know why they need it.

Personally, I would advise you to eliminate this language
"...was not a matched set and had not intrinsic value beforehand.No quality silver was harmed in the creation of this art, the chintz however... This art form uses repurposed items from secondhand shops and given new life, flaws and all!"

my two cents.
shrty411
16 years ago
Like it much better!!

Maria
toomuchglass
16 years ago
Yes - the pics show up much better now ! I have a feeling this set will sell HIGH !
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
OKAY,,,, Annie, check the pics NOW - I think I improved them. As far as how to, I'm winging it - create an acct and follow the directions but now you can see there are better ways to go about it, I'll be investigating Auctiva if I ever do this again.

who here is "watching" it? I see a 1 in the catagory - has to be one of us right? am I the test for everyone? how not to do this! LOL
shrty411
16 years ago
I think d3bbi has a good point... I'm not that good with descriptions. Not a matched set = one of a kind... flaws = character..etc LOL, stuff like that. You want to appeal to people with too much money!!!!!!!

Maria
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
Debbi, I'm so nervous that people will assume they are buying a nice set of silver and would send it back when they saw the condition. The creamer and sugar bowl are chrome and not even silver, the handles have filing marks where I ground off the crappy cast floral motifs. The tea pot is flaked and discolored... I want to be sure and represent what it is... as Gypsy says, it is what it is! ...
d3bbi
16 years ago
NT, you did a great job describing the china by identifying colors and flowers. I think you are downplaying your work when you say 'secondhand' and 'not matched set'. Let them decide if it's matched or not. It is matching in the finished mosaic piece. If you feel you need to describe the substrate, then describe it, but in a positive tone so it sounds real special.

Here's a suggestion for a start:
"This charming chrome tea set has been given a new look with mosaiced china."
mmqchdygg
16 years ago
My 2Â¢...
Do not mention that it is not real silver.
Do not elude to it not being real silver.
If a potential buyer wants to know what's under it, they'll ask. Likely the only reason they'd ask is if they are interested only in the substrate, and not your work :(
Show a couple extra pix- closeups of the areas of concern, but don't talk negative about your item.
You are not 'misrepresenting' your item if you show what you might consider "its flaws."
The only time I would talk about its flaws is if you had a "real collectors" item with a brand name and all.
What you have is a collector's item, but it's a one-of-a-kind-original" and should be noted as such.

Here's what I might put in for it:

(Leave the first paragraph intact).
This is a one-of-a-kind, hand made work of mosaic art created by me, and as such, it will never have a twin.
For those of you who love unique works of art, this is for you!
This set is fully functional, and will be a fun addition to your hostess pieces, as well as being a conversation piece!
Use and care instructions are included (do not talk about 'repairs' because a buyer might read "you mean I have to worry about doing repairs to it??" and that would scare them away)
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay, try it now? It does sound better and I think still honest
mmqchdygg
16 years ago
Forgot to add on the silver notes...I didn't mean to suggest that you are trying to pass it off as real silver...all I'm saying is DON'T say it's not real silver, and also don't say it's a cheap, non-valuable tea set.
If you say "It's not real silver" then people will read "it's cheap" and hit the back button.
If you say "It's silver plated" or "it's not real" then people will also be turned off because those are negative connotations.

What I mean to say is that BOTH descriptions (saying it isn't, and saying it's cheap) read negatively into your auction. Avoid any sort of negative about your item, and simply leave that part out. Besides, it's not about the substrate...it's ART.

The closeup pictures will show the viewer what it is, and like I mentioned, if they are THAT concerned about it, they'll ask.
bianchi3
16 years ago
I hate to see $55 on the beautiful set. I hope it goes for $500.
mmq; great description.
Bianchi
stjohnsgypsy
16 years ago
Nice...$55.00...wow......you should get a lot more than that for that beautiful set.......Someone might buy it and resale it for a wad!!! Hopefully there will be a bidding war and you will get a nice profit!!!! Good LUCK!!!! Keep us posted!!
tamar_422
16 years ago
I'm watching it!
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
Tamar, now you're 1 of 4. Who else has it watched? you're creep'n me out! LOL
ladyronnie
16 years ago
Just now read this whole thread, and now I'm watching!

Wish there was some way we could help bid it up FOR you then let someone else pay the big bucks TO you :)
cindiloo
16 years ago
WOW! That's a really beautiful set! I agree about the not setting a reserve price...I shop on ebay all the time and I usually just click on past anything with a reserve.
Try not to watch it constantly...every time I sell something on ebay I get frustrated that there are no bids and then the last couple of hours it goes crazy! Good for you for trying this...Can't wait to see how many hundreds this goes for!!
chickeemama
16 years ago
Nice it looks alot better. BUT....I have bought a lot of stuff on ebay and I refuse to bid on something that I think they are overcharging for postage. So far everything I have bought they kept the postage even if it cost them $1.00 but charged $5.00, that said can you put something about only charging the cost of what the actually price of shipping will be??? Unless of course the $20.00 bucks is really what shipping will cost..then just disregard my remark!!! This of course is just MHO!
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
well, I sent that gold mirror for 11.00 but today I sent that tray out for 21.00. have used all my squirreled away packing materials and boxes and will likely have to purchase stuff to pack this up so I'm gonna stick with the 20 just to cover my tail. The teapot alone weighs in over 4 lbs and when I figure on the double boxing, it could be quite wieghty
crackpotannie
16 years ago
O.K. Nice I'm watching...it looks much better good for you,now you can see the pretty colors better. Good luck,maybe this is a new beginning for you.
icheer
16 years ago
I think you've started a new career! Kudos!

Chickee - something else to consider when thinking of postage costs vs. the actual postage amount on the package is the cost of the packaging itself and the gas & time the seller took to haul it to the post office. I don't sell on Ebay, but don't begrudge sellers passing their mailing related costs on to me, especially when the item arrives undamaged and on time :-)
crystal01
16 years ago
This is great Nice! I'm watching too! I think you'll do real well with this beautiful work!
texaswild
16 years ago
Oh, good for you NT. I think you'll spend more than 20 for postage on this, but since it's your first time, you'll learn from it. I suppose you could have packed it up, weighed it and called the p.o. for a price check to get it exact. I think this is gonna definitely be a good seller. Anxious for you.
shrty411
16 years ago
I think you are low on postage too. All the major shippers have online postage calculators. Most do zonal pricing. I figure on sending to someplace In Calif and use that as my estimate (or just do calculated shipping..you can add in extra for packaging etc)

Maria
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
okay I added these 2 pics, is that better? Maria, it won't let me insert html? ??? so I paid 30 cents to add these

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}
chickeemama
16 years ago
My bad....I didnt take weight into the equation. When I was buying stuff it didnt even usually weigh a pound so when they would charge so much more it would just burn me....anyhow....this is not about me is it!!!! Ha ha!!

Nice I like the new pictures you added. I havent got to go check how its doing yet today so I think I will go check it out. Are you nervous?? Yeah I know stupid question!! Im nervous for you I so want this to sell big for you..you deserve it!!!
toomuchglass
16 years ago
187 hits !!!! I wouldn't doubt if 150 of them were ours -- just oohing and ahhing and wishing you the best of luck ! LOL I hope you don't mind If I Watch .... I'm probably as excited as you are !!
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
there are no bids but that's to be expected, I'm aware that savy bidders will wait till the last minutes... but there are now 17 people watching it - I'm guessing that's all of us (with baited breath! LOL)

I'm just glad to have final gotten some shots that show the opalesent grout and the rebuilt chintz pattern
rosemarythyme
16 years ago
NT: Have you ever checked out the "Torpedo Factory" in Alexandria, Va. as a venue for selling? There are some wonderful artists representing many different mediums.
toomuchglass
16 years ago
That happens all the time with our auctions ..... the last hour or two - it's a free for all !
Good luck !

PS .......... Just a quick note about E Bay ... My DH is a railroad engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railroad ...
he gets alot of stuff that he won't use - so we sell it on E Bay --- and collectors snatch it up . He got issued a timetable - for employees only . He found 2 more laying around. We listed the first one he found and it sold for $75 !!!!
We have one listed now .... one bid .... ends Monday night - I can't wait to see what it goes for !!!
crystal01
16 years ago
If anyone ever comes to visit the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria make sure to contact me! I'm 20 minutes away from there!

Here is a link that might be useful: Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA
seaglassic
16 years ago
I'm right there with the rest of you, hoping it goes for a huge price.
you did such a nice job on it, I just hope it gets the appreciation it deserves.

Becky
kudzukween
16 years ago
OOOooooOooooo, worth way more than $55!!! I'm making several sets and worry about how much to charge...I think I made a mistake in only asking $35 for my child sized set. Of course, I always want to keep everything I make!!
Good luck!! I may join you and become an E-Bay-er even though I've only ever bought but one thing off EBay... I,too,would worry about shipping costs...in a description of my child sized set, I just put " childs vintage tea set given new life with fresh paint and bits of old china and pieces of stained glass" you could leave out the "fresh coat of paint" and put "vintage tea set given new life with"...etc..everyone LOVES the word VINTAGE,don't they?? lol( I always use the words bits and pieces in my descriptions of everything because Bits&Pieces is the name of my "thingie"...LOL! I LOVE yours, it has beautiful colors and will go with any decor...add that,too!!
texaswild
16 years ago
There you go, NT - the Torpedo Factory - one of my favorite hang outs when I was living in the area. CRYSTAL - I checked your page and found the concrete patch album and those cute tiles. Please show and tell on a WIP thread, if you have finished a project w/those.
shrty411
16 years ago
Better pics NT. I'll fool around with the eBay sell form and see if I can get the HTML code in.

Kudzu - Your're right VINTAGE is a VERY popular term on eBay!! LOL

Maria
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
well, ladies the Torpedo factory is a JURIED organization. No way I could get my stuff in there.

Kween, you bet 35 is way too cheap! 55 is way too cheap for mine agreed but I can't see starting it so high that no one risks bidding. I would hope to see it at least above 100.00
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
274 views?????? is that all of us?
texaswild
16 years ago
I beg to differ w/you on your art not passing for a juriored studio. Think about it, NT - that would be a great place to put your work. Does anyone know how much a shared space w/be? How far are you from Alex?
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
bout an hour & 1/2
shrty411
16 years ago
Slow's right!! GO for it!

Maria
texaswild
16 years ago
Popping back in cuz I remembered the table. First thing you could tell them is the price that table brought!!!!!!!
crystal01
16 years ago
NT one way to learn about descriptions and pricing is to look at other sellers.

Check out vintagedragonfly She starts her pieces around $30. (when you open an item click on History)

Also look at romancingtherosestudio

I hope this helps.
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks Crystal! I've been trying to look over closed auctions to study what goes and why... art is such a hit or miss.

I'll take a gander at those!

incidentally, we're at 300 views now...
chickeemama
16 years ago
328 now....

I just dont know how to price things..I went to the places crystal101 had mentioned and wow was I surprised at what their stuff went for. Nice dont give up hope...your set is great and hopefully the right person will come by and buy it!!! For more that $55.oo though!!!!
wackyweeder
16 years ago
Do you know about Etsy? You have a store and sell your stuff, you set the price and people buy it, so its not an auction, you can ask what you want. Go there and do a search for mosaic- there are tiles, works, etc. Alot of artsy people shop and sell there. Im not sure what it costs or anything, but maybe it would work better for you? Ebay is so fickle sometimes!
nicethyme
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah but Etsy is gluted with mosaics

hyperventilating... just lost my virginity

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