How many is too many listings?

aking · #1 07-06-2015

Just curious of what the maximum number of listings of the same item per account is for others? Obviously the more listings you have, the more visibility you have which leads to more sales.

I usually don't list more than 5 or 6 items per account. I would like to list more, but I am paranoid lol.

What are othere thoughts on this?

jeffweico · #2 07-06-2015

I'm not sure I understand the question. You can only have one listing per item if they are identical, but you can list as many quantity as you want. I always like to stay under a quantity of 5 on most things.

You can list more than 5 or 6 items per month on an account if you want to, as long as your eBay limits will support it and the account has some trust built up. I wouldn't list 10 copies of Windows 8 unless you have an authorized supplier and can provide receipts to prove they are legitimate, but on generic items, the quantity should not be an issue.

Money wise, I will NEVER AGAIN do more than $5,000 monthly on any ONE account. This is where PayPal and other merchant accounts start looking at you more closely. It is best to stay under the radar and spread your sales over many accounts.

jakobrockz · #3 07-06-2015

Had an account that kept selling about 10x of an item and I would relist it the next week. I was tired of doing that and decided to put the quantity as 35x... I was limited the next day lol

I'd keep quantities under 10x and keep rotating unless you have 100% legit suppliers' documents from the US and have an EIN attached.

solefoodbk · #4 07-07-2015

I usually have one item with outrageous price and quanities so I hit my limits each month.

Have called eBay to get limits raised using the method, have YET to have a problem.

I could see if you had 400 MacBooks, duh you'll set a flag. Really depends on what the item is, like everything else with eBay nowadays..

doL · #5 07-07-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I'm not sure I understand the question. You can only have one listing per item if they are identical, but you can list as many quantity as you want.

Is this an EB rule to only be able to list one item if its identical? I'm thinking OP wants to list multiple of the same item to have overall coverage of keywords.. Just an assumption. I guess I'm answering my own question, because if you monopolize the market with your identical item in multiple listing, I'm sure EB doesn't allow that.

As far as quantity per listing:
On my original account, opened in 2005, I don't recall even having limitations. I lost the account a year ago so I never saw what my limits were. But I kid you not, I had over 200 unique items, with 10 variations per item, and 1000 quantity per variation and never had an issue (over 2m items available in my store). Account was suspended for Vero in the end.

jakobrockz · #6 07-07-2015

I've relisted the same item multiple times on auction before but I'd change the description slightly or title slightly and at the bottoms of the descriptions I'd right "lot 1", "lot 2", etc.

last3379 · #7 07-07-2015

I usually add 5 variations of the same item. Each with a different picture, slightly different title and description. No issues.

newjerseymax · #8 07-07-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by last3379

I usually add 5 variations of the same item. Each with a different picture, slightly different title and description. No issues.

If a competitor recognizes your pattern they will report you. If its an auction no problem as long as the first has a bid.

You could get around the quantity issue by using a program to keep listing at 2-3 (whatever you prefer) and add one every time one sells....

jeffweico · #9 07-07-2015

The reason eBay does this, is some sellers were creating separate listings for the same item dozens of times, in an attempt to have a better chance of buyers seeing it, which eBay frowns upon. And it also resulted in search results becoming cluttered with buyers having to scroll through page after page of duplicate listings.

dan_ebay · #10 07-09-2015

5 or 6 if its a popular item, its only a slap on the wrist warning.

aking · #11 07-09-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by newjerseymax

You could get around the quantity issue by using a program to keep listing at 2-3 (whatever you prefer) and add one every time one sells....

What program does an auto relist once an item sells? I really need this b/c I have go in an manually relist an item once it sells.

aking · #12 07-09-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan_ebay

5 or 6 if its a popular item, its only a slap on the wrist warning.

I agree, I usually only list 5 of the same item (variations of each listing and photos) per account and I try to spread them out so they aren't back to back in the search. So I'll do 3,5,7,10 day listings.

It's funny but the 5 and 7 day listings seem to sell faster than the 3 day listings. I'm not sure why. I've have 5 and 7 day listings sell almost minutes after I list them. Hmmmmm...

dan_ebay · #13 07-09-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

I agree, I usually only like 5 per account and I try to spread them out so they aren't back to back in the search. So I'll do 3,5,7,10 day listings.

It's funny but the 5 and 7 day listings seem to sell faster than the 3 day listings. I'm not sure why. I've have 5 and 7 day listings sell almost minutes after I list them. Hmmmmm...

Yeah I've noticed that, shorter BIN listings definitely show up higher despite ebay saying it makes no difference, think the 3 days might not be as good as they show up as invisible for like 12 hours on newer accounts

kozzer89 · #14 07-09-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

What program does an auto relist once an item sells? I really need this b/c I have go in an manually relist an item once it sells.

For current auctions you can auto relist as an option on the eBay listing. I assume the same would be for fixed. Do some digging and you should find it

aking · #15 07-10-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by kozzer89

For current auctions you can auto relist as an option on the eBay listing. I assume the same would be for fixed. Do some digging and you should find it

The only auto relist I saw was for if the item doesn't sell, which I use. But Im looking for an auto relist for after an item sells?

smitheym · #16 07-10-2015

I list about 200 a month, and that's safe for me. I have listed way to fast on a new account (in my early stealthing days) I created and of course I created red flags. Whenever I start a new stealth account, I list a couple items each day for the first week, then increase from there.

bjammin · #17 07-10-2015

I like to tell my account buyers to list 1 item and wait about 12 hours. This gives the first item time to become visible. Also, after 30 min to 2 hours, you are probably not going to get an erroneous ebay suspension, which seems to be the new thing. I have not seen a New MC999 since at least January, so I do not think they are doing those anymore. But I do think it has been replaced with account restrictions and suspensions.

yankee · #18 07-10-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

The only auto relist I saw was for if the item doesn't sell, which I use. But Im looking for an auto relist for after an item sells?

If you have a store this is a feature.

Smoothness · #19 07-11-2015

id say safe is 5. but ive listed up to 50 items in quantity for a certian listing before but thats pushing it, i guess it depends on the cost.

last3379 · #20 07-19-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by newjerseymax

If a competitor recognizes your pattern they will report you. If its an auction no problem as long as the first has a bid.

You could get around the quantity issue by using a program to keep listing at 2-3 (whatever you prefer) and add one every time one sells....

Good point!