eBid February Newsletter

News from Gazza

3,032,116 Live Listings
13,940 Categories
$1,152,648,741 Gross Listing Value
Welcome to the eBid February Newsletter.

Hi Everyone. Hope you've had a great February. We've had a great one at eBid, visitor numbers are up over 20% compared to last year, sales are up by a similar amount also with a few of our quieter territories performing well, showing us just how important it can be to make your listings available to other countries whenever you can. There are millions of shoppers out there that could be looking for just what you have to sell. It only takes a sec to add a shipping option to the rest of the world.

The eBid back-end team have been slaving away all month readying a few new very important additions to the site. Firstly is a brand new import system to allow users of other marketplace sites to import their items without the need for the eBid Ninja Lister which is currently the only method for importing listings. We are tying the new import system in with our new "Listing Variation" system which is the reason of it's delay. Variations will allow your customers to view a single listing and select colour and size options without having to browse elsewhere to view your other listings which is the current method.

We've had quite a few requests for support this month via our forums and also our support ticket system that have had similar traits. The requests and reports have been very vague in their first instance. This requires us to respond with a request for more information which ends up taking a lot longer to find a solution to the problem. So, a personal request to all eBidders, please make sure you include as much information as possible when you report a problem. Let us know when, what, how, where it happened. Include listing ID numbers, page URLs, bulk upload ID, bulk edit IDs, listing titles, any screenshots that will help us and best of all take a screen-cast (video capture) of what you are seeing using http://screencast-o-matic.com/ .. As they say a picture is worth a thousands words and a screen-cast is worth 10 thousand!

We've added this month a new possible option to use when you set the "Item Condition" of the item you are selling. The new addition is down to the many requests we've received for this option recently. The option is entitled "Parts or Not Working". It basically allows you to list items that are not up to scratch, are broken or can be broken down for parts. Always take care when selecting the correct value for this field. Choosing the wrong one can lead to returns and complications later on.

Our new mobile app is in the works still. It will see a lot of improvements especially with the browsing of categories. From the feedback we have received this seems to be the most popular request for improvement. The next version will see listings appear without the need to drill down to a bottom level categeory.

More improvements and fixes that were placed live during February :

UPDATE - Added tabs to "/Sell" page to separate "Browse"/"Search" sections.
UPDATE - Added "Recent Categories" tab to "/Sell" page.
UPDATE - Cleaned up closed listing search results pages.
UPDATE - Cleaned up "Recent Search" links on top level category pages.
UPDATE - When shipping price is clicked on listing details page the shipping calculator will now show by default when auto-scrolling down.
UPDATE - Added "Parts or Not Working" option for "Item Condition" field when listing
UPDATE - Improved new user registration confirmation page.
BUGFIX - Buddy Point allocation incorrect for feedback reception on some occasions.
BUGFIX - Greek characters were being corrupted when being transmitted via API.

eBid Pulse News from Debbie

Smart Shoppers (and Sellers) ...
Christmas cards in January, winter woollies in June – sounds crazy? Not at all, savvy shoppers know how to grab a bargain by snapping up "unseasonal" items at bargain prices. Have a look at our recent blog with smart tips of what to buy and when to buy to get the best deals.

Prices of seasonal stock like garden furniture and barbecues are ramped up in the summer. Come the first frosts and drizzle of the autumn, those same products go in the sale and then get stashed away to be re-sold the next time the sun comes out. Shopping on eBid means you can get the better of this cycle and be one step ahead of everyone else.

If you are a seller looking to reduce your stock of "unseasonal items", the same principles apply – why not consider special deals on these items to entice people to buy out of the normal buying time? After all, who doesn’t love a bargain?

Apples and Pears ...

Many eBidders, if asked why they have come to eBid, would mention that we have an attractive, affordable fee structure. Often they are comparing it to what other marketplace sites have to offer in the way of fees.

As the old adage goes, you cannot compare apples and pears. To help you make a decision on which of our subscription packages best suits your needs, let’s take a look at what is on offer. We appreciate that a "one size fits all" subscription does not meet the needs of everyone. For this reason, we offer a number of different options. To read more about which subscription package best suits your needs, see our Blog on Understanding your eBid Subscription Options.

Blooming Beautiful ...

Spring is upon us and we can all look forward to warm spring and summer days (and evenings) spent in our beautiful, bountiful gardens – the work starts now!

Whether you have a large garden, or a couple of window boxes, and whether your garden is a beautiful, serene showcase garden, or a place to enjoy a BBQ with friends and family, you will find all manner of wonderful ideas to inspire you in our Garden Category on eBid. From garden furniture to seeds and gardening tools – it’s all here.

With more than 8,000 listings, you are sure to find what you need.

eBid & Social Media

Research shows that "Social" is now the top internet activity. The chances are that you have at least one, if not several, social media accounts. We value your comments, Likes and participation on all our social adventures. Just click on any of the icons below and Follow eBid on your favourite social networks.

Follow eBid on Instagram

Spring has sprung ...

If you have been inspired by our “Blooming Beautiful” words above, check out some of these beautiful ideas for spring planting in your garden.

Velvet Queen Sunflower
Sweet Pea 'Spencer Mixed'
Nigella Blue Persian Jewels Mix Seed

15 Bloodroot bare roots
Lilac Oldfashioned Mixed
Mixed Snow Crocus 10 bulbs
Competition Time

Last month's question :

What is the new option for the "Item Condition" field that has been added during February?

The correct answer was c) 5th February. Congratulations go to olivia8143 from Haverfordwest, United Kingdom for winning last month's competition, your eBid Goodie Bag and iPod should be with you now.

And now for this month's question :

What is the new option for the "Item Condition" field that has been added during February?

a) New
b) Old
c) Parts or Not Working


Answer to the competition question
Your eBid username
Name and address for sending out any prizes