EBay Tips on How Buyers Can Benefit This Holiday Season
In eBay's Holiday Selling Hub for sellers, buyers can read through the lines to get tips on how to benefit themselves this holiday season. Sellers are being prompted to offer great deals and selection, and other incentives. Here are a few ways you can benefit when doing your holiday shopping this season:
- Ask for a Better Price and Look for Markdowns.
EBay is encouraging sellers to create markdowns on prices and special promotions: "Research shows it's the items that include a promotional offer that tend
to get the sale, so consider adding compelling offers to your listings
via eBay Stores tools like Promotions Manager." If you don't see a markdown, and the item has Best Offer, go ahead and make a fair offer.
- Free Shipping
Another thing eBay is pushing is free shipping. You should be able to find many items available with free shipping, though bear in mind sellers will often build that in to their base price.
- Expedited Shipping
Need it faster, especially as it gets close to Christmas? Go ahead and ask the seller if they offer expedited shipping. Depending on the item and its weight, you may be able to get it for little extra cost.
- Shop Early
Worried those holiday items won't be listed yet? EBay is pushing sellers to get all that holiday merchandise up now. Here are some interesting stats:
- 20% of U.S. internet users started their holiday shopping during the summer
- 40% of consumers planned to shop on Thanksgiving Day
So go ahead and buy those Christmas ornament gifts early and check those off your shopping list!
- Selection
EBay is also encouraging sellers to offer a wide selection. Don't see something in the color you want, or style? Try asking the seller if they can offer it...some sellers do custom orders. (Custom orders are also something Etsy is known for, so consider looking at that site for some unique gift ideas).
- Gift Wrap
Many sellers are willing to gift wrap an item. Don't see the option on the listing? You can still ask the seller if they are willing to gift wrap or a least include a special little bag or box for the item, such as jewelry.
So be sure and leverage all that sellers are being encouraged to offer this season.