Where are the Trade Me buyers?

[princess52]

I think you will find that many TM sellers are finding the same.

I've always said that TM is random with it's sales, and it is always a bit hit and miss, no matter the time of year.

I'm a seller too, and I had a really good week the week before last. Last week was average, and today I've had some sales already.

I'm really not sure that pricing is an issue. I do know that it's never been the same, since Covid hit, for me. But, I do ok. I always retain my TS status, and always have consistant regular buyers, and always new buyers come in and buy.

I do sometimes like to mix it up a little, and add in some $1Res. That can be a bit hit and miss as well, and I do think it depends on when they finish. I did some a couple of weeks ago. I made the listing time shorter...to 5 days, and it ended on a Saturday, which was a mistake I think. I sold bugger all this past weekend. However, the dollar reserves bring in alot of watchers at least, and sometimes they don't buy from the dollar res, but will buy from my other items. They can work well. Have done them in the past, and have done really well...sold items for a bit more than I'd have listed them for.

I reckon, add 1 x $1RES...so it has to be something that you don't really care what you get for it, basically. You might take a loss, but you can also gain, buy watchers buying something else. Again, a bit hit and miss, but you know that old saying that goes "if what you're doing isn't working, try something else" :-))

I was thinning out my Crown Lynn collection this year. I tended to put at least one $1 reserve on each auction. It might be a piece that was really stained or had a lot of crazing. Sometimes they went for $1 and sometimes quite a bit more. I’m really honest on my listings. I think you have to be.

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We're selling some very good vintage stuff and some scrappy stuff. People are watching the good stuff but not buying, even when we lower the price. The only stuff selling is around $10 or less.  We've been selling on Trade Me for years and this is usually the high sales time of year. What's going on? People are buying online elsewhere, judging by the courier delays. Has the interest in second hand decorative pieces disappeared?

I got a very interesting email from Farmers about the courier system in lockdown. I’ll see if I still have it. Back in a mo’ 

This email is to provide you with an update on the status of deliveries from our distribution centre situated in Auckland. 

Our courier partner, NZ Post, has significantly limited both the number of parcels they will accept each day into their network for delivery as well as the size of products they will accept for delivery. Furthermore, once your delivery has been accepted by NZ Post, we are seeing delays of up to 5 days or longer before NZ Post delivers your parcel. 

We are working with other courier businesses to try and put in place additional delivery capacity to get your parcel to you as soon as possible. We sincerely apologise for the delays and thank you for your understanding as we work through this process. 

As always, Farmers Club members will still earn Points and Rewards when purchasing. 

Please be reminded that, as was the case before the Covid-19 lockdown period, Farmers Club Rewards cannot be redeemed online. 

We will continue to extend any Farmers Club Rewards and Points due to expire during the Covid-19 Level 3 lockdown period, and these will remain valid for two months once we resume full trading. 

The Farmers Team.

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Most of the TM stuff way overpriced now in the A&C categories, $50.00 EA for a mediocre Feltman Langer no spill mug??? No thanks!

You can't put a price on not spilling.

The ever increasing postage is probably not helping matters either. Being rural, it's adding up to $15 to the price in some cases, so buying frivolous junk is hard for me to justify nowadays.

I was using TM’s book a courier service yesterday. It said something about NZPost and not being available. Try again later it said. Luckily my purchaser had chosen Aramex. It’s a bit slack of NZPost.