Changing stuff

Well, the bonanza on Bonanzle was a bust. I didn't sell a thing.

So now I've made a change on eBay. With all the changes eBay has put into place lately, I decided it was time to reevaluate what I'm doing there. I did some figuring, and found that to keep a basic store open and have it be cost effective, I would have to keep 49 inventory items in it at all times.

Since I only have 15 items on line right now, that doesn't make any sense.

So I closed the store and converted everything to .99 cent-start auctions to try to get rid of it so I can start fresh. That also puts me at a better place in the search function.

So now I have a whole bunch of watchers and some bids. Go figure.

Making changes......

After giving it due consideration--like about 5 minutes' worth--I've pulled the plug on my eCrater store. The sellthrough on eCrater stinks, but people are making sales on Bonanzle and Etsy. Those appear to be the most viable competitors for eBay at this point.

eBay surely isn't making things easy for sellers. And they're creating a lot of ill will in the process. At the rate they're going, there won't be enough sellers to keep them going before long.

For what it's worth, I've put my entire Bonanzle inventory on a 50 percent markdown on Sunday afternoon only..........if you're interested, stop by the store at www.bonanzle.com/booths/artemistradingco.

After the sale

I hadn't been to Ellen's Auction in a while, but I went on the last night. I mostly just wanted to support her and tell her how sorry I am that things didn't work out.

There was a good crowd, but they sure didn't bid like in the old days. The days before this recession, I mean. About halfway through the auction, the bidding just died.

Trays of gorgeous pottery, porcelain and glass started going for $10 a tray. So what was I supposed to do? I can't pass up a bargain like that, because I know each one of those trays is worth well more than that--so I loaded up the front of my truck.

I didn't get home until after 11 PM, even though the auction house was only 15 miles away. I was so exhausted it's taken me until today to write about it.

Ellen was, as always, a class act to the end. They sold everything to the walls, and I thought it felt awful. But she had a smile on her face and a good word for everyone.

Rumor has it that she's going to continue doing quarterly auctions, where she doesn't have to work 7 days a week like she has been. I like that idea. I still want to go back to work for her.

Meanwhile, let's hope the economy improves and all the small businesses that are suffering so badly right now get a reprieve.