Creating sense of urgency - Always 1 item left

[fernendo]

Hi all

I'm currently using keysender.com to automatically set item available quantities. Their services is good in all aspects except for this feature as it doesn't work properly. I contacted their support and they said it didn't work and they weren't going to fix it so pretty useless in this regard!

My theory is having the quantity available as always one will created a sense of urgency as it says "last one left" if I combine this with a "send offer" saying special price due to it being my last one I can hopefully trigger sales.

My question's are

1) Is this a good strategy? The only downside I can think of is if someone wants to buy 2 at once but this is unlikely for this kind of item.

2) Is there a service I can use to automatically keep the quantity at 1 the whole time?

[SaiJin]

Sure thing, it's a good strategy.

[ebabe]

Originally Posted by fernendo

Hi all

I'm currently using keysender.com to automatically set item available quantities. Their services is good in all aspects except for this feature as it doesn't work properly. I contacted their support and they said it didn't work and they weren't going to fix it so pretty useless in this regard!

My theory is having the quantity available as always one will created a sense of urgency as it says "last one left" if I combine this with a "send offer" saying special price due to it being my last one I can hopefully trigger sales.

My question's are

1) Is this a good strategy? The only downside I can think of is if someone wants to buy 2 at once but this is unlikely for this kind of item.

2) Is there a service I can use to automatically keep the quantity at 1 the whole time?

I have been looking for a program that does this, as urgency does create more sales.

[Automasters]

I have found this seems to work also, except I have to manually update the quantities to 2 by hand.

[ebabe]

Originally Posted by Automasters

I have found this seems to work also, except I have to manually update the quantities to 2 by hand.

Yep, that's what I do. As long as you don't have hundreds of listings and your items don't sell at a crazy pace. This is the next best option

[Hank]

I don't know the answer, I am not in a position to say if having a stock of one generates buyer urgency.

I appreciate it depends heavily on the type of wares you sell and if they're unique then yes, I guess it could be a valid tactic. If its a common product and if it's the sort that could attract 2 or more sales then you're missing out on the multi buy promotion. Does it work? Does it catch the eye of buyers? I do not know. Just a thought.

Again, I don't know the answer but could it be said that if a seller has a stock of 100 and offers multi-buy discounts and you have a stock of 1 then the other seller will receive more favourable placement (promoted listings aside)? I know if I was writing the algorithm they would.

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by Automasters

I have found this seems to work also, except I have to manually update the quantities to 2 by hand.

I manually do everything, yes it's inconvenient unless I'm doing stuff through Auctiva. but I just don't trust any kind of app to be used on eBay.

Don't want to risk 15 year old accounts for just mere convenience and speed that'll end up wrecking everything

[solefoodbk]

I find its better for overall health of your eBay account. Adding lots of quantity to something depending on what it is can trigger the bots. Ending a listing that has a few sales on it then re-listing it is a good method to use too.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

Ending a listing that has a few sales on it then re-listing it is a good method to use too.

valid point.

[ebabe]

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

I find its better for overall health of your eBay account. Adding lots of quantity to something depending on what it is can trigger the bots. Ending a listing that has a few sales on it then re-listing it is a good method to use too.

I Always do this if a product just becomes stale with no or very little sales record, end listing, but don't re-list, choose ''sell similar''

[solefoodbk]

It also cleans the item from any reports you might have gotten off it. Generally I don't like to keep any listing up for more than 3 months unless it's a specific type of item where I want the sales to pile up overtime.

[fernendo]

Originally Posted by ebabe

I Always do this if a product just becomes stale with no or very little sales record, end listing, but don't re-list, choose ''sell similar''

@ebabe
@solefoodbk

It's very interesting you say that. I was told never let an item go out of stock and never relist as an aged listing gets ranked higher and higher as time and sales go up. They said if you relist you lose all the progress you made.

Now I'm not sure what to think as you guys say the opposite.

I think we need an all knowing insider guru that can answer all these questions once and for all.

[mexi]

Originally Posted by fernendo

@ebabe
@solefoodbk

It's very interesting you say that. I was told never let an item go out of stock and never relist as an aged listing gets ranked higher and higher as time and sales go up. They said if you relist you lose all the progress you made.

Now I'm not sure what to think as you guys say the opposite.

I think we need an all knowing insider guru that can answer all these questions once and for all.

Yes,i agree with you, i never end listings with sale history.

I heard listings without sales are adviced relist after few months,but never do by myself.