Thoughts About Ebay

Posted by Jenn Greenleaf Apr 8, 2008

I’ve had discussions with both novice and experienced artists when it comes to using ebay.com as a selling platform for art. I’ve walked away with mixed feelings. Not because these artists didn’t give me good answers to my questions, but rather because there was no consistency in them.

For example, I spoke with two artists who created and attempted to sell art that was very similar (not identical, but close). One artist sold out consistently, while the other sold maybe one or two pieces of art. It was strange considering I didn’t see one artist promoting their work more aggressively than the other.

It left me wondering:

1. Did the artist that did well have a lot of friends and family members purchasing from them?
2. Was this a hit or miss fluke that could happen to anyone?
3. Did one artist have more face to face word of mouth promotion happening offline where it couldn’t be tracked and measured?

Pricing is also another thorn in my side. Let’s face it, ebay shoppers want rock bottom prices. So, are artists shortchanging themselves because people want such low prices? I have seen art move off the site for great ending bids, so don’t get me wrong on this. However, I have also seen art move for $.99 or less. That’s what frustrates me.

What are your thoughts on this matter?