Posts Tagged ‘vintage pins’

Dear eBay Queen:

I have a couple of questions.  Well, I guess I have a comment and a question.  I was at an auction this last Saturday and was appalled at how rude the people were! I’ve been to plenty of auctions, but it seems lately people are just down right rude.  No one says “excuse me,” they just barge on through.  I was standing at a jewelry table in the rain, and instead of saying “could you hand me that box,” these people practically laid their body across me to get to a box of goods on the table, that I could have easily passed to them.  I had people shove their way between my friend and I while we were standing there bidding!  Recently, I was at another auction house that has “a seat for everyone”.  I was sitting in the third row, and there were people that were standing in front of the seats!  The auctioneer told them to sit down several times and they ignored him! What is wrong with people in 2011? 

I am trying to sell a vintage crystal aurora borealis pin/brooch. I can't figure out what the best title would be for my item.  I listed it on eBay, and when I run a search for the item, I can't find my own listing, by just browsing through crystal brooches, or aurora borealis brooches or Vintage aurora borealis pins! I can find it when I go to “My eBay”—but how can I expect to sell something if it can't be found by someone looking for it?  What suggestions do you have for choosing correct search terms to name one's product?

My title is:   Vintage Aurora Borealis Crystal pin

Here is my description: Vintage AB Crystal brooch from the 40s or 50s, given to me by my grandmother in law. In good condition, 2 of the smallest stones missing (I couldn't tell until I looked very, very closely, a little bit of the gold tone on the back of the brooch is rubbing off. The brooch comes with vintage gift box. It is in bright, sparkling pink tones.

***Vintage—sold as is*** No Returns. I only accept PayPal.

Thanks for your help!

Jewels, Ottawa, KS

Dear Jewels:

Maybe we were at the same auction!  I’ve experienced the same things you have.  I don’t know why auctions have become a place for people to show their true colors.  My only thought about this is maybe people are in such a frenzy to buy stuff that they have forgotten the manners they were taught as a child.  When someone leans across me, I usually say “Would you like for me to hand that to you?”   Sometimes a simple “excuse me,” or “ouch! You just elbowed me!” etc.. will maybe shock these people out of their auction stupor.

When I search for your title: Aurora Borealis Crystal Brooch Pin, I came up with 59 items with the same words in the title. I would suggest using better keywords in your title.  What color is your pin? Is it marked? What year was it made?  When writing a title, make sure you use words that will describe your item.  Buyers search for the stuff they want using keywords. eBay gives us 55 characters to use to describe our items.  Did you know you only used 21 characters? eBay has a title helper, that might assist you in writing better titles.  http://labs.ebay.com/erl/demoto/to A better title might be: Vintage Pink Circle Rhinestone Aurora Borealis Pin.  I would make the following changes to your description: Up for auction is a Vintage Aurora Borealis, Crystal brooch from the 1950s.  This was given to me by my husband’s grandmother

• Rhinestones are a beautiful shade of pink
  
• Gold tone metal
• Pin back is in good working order
  
• Pin is 2.5” across and is circular
  
• 2 of the smallest stones missing (I couldn't tell until I looked very, very closely)
• A bit of the gold tone on the back of the brooch is rubbing off.
  
•     The brooch comes with vintage hinged gift box.

Your description is pretty good.  Make sure you put the positive things about the item first, then anything that might be negative. It’s important to remember to include, size, shape, color, age, and any damage. I would also remove “Vintage Sold as is, No Returns” While your policy is you do not accept returns, if your buyer is unhappy and opens a claim, you will have no choice but to accept a return.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 320662470743 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): All this talk about rhinestones, I thought I should see what was selling. Check out: Vintage Sherman Pin Brooch Taupe Rhinestone SOLD $411.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-SHERMAN-PIN-BROOCH-Taupe-Rhinestone-Japanned-/200580605405  

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com