The Monocle & Moustache

Dear Katie,

I’m a huge fan of the Bath & Beauty and Bon Appetit auctions! Not only are the products great, but the Sellers are too! I did, however, notice one thing I wanted to ask about. When I was reading the descriptions of the items in those auctions, I saw that they list ingredients & allergens their foods (hello, peanuts!) or products? Should I do that for all items that come from my house, even though my items are Jewelry? I have an Alaskan Malamute that sheds enough to make a whole other dog, and my teenager sometimes likes to be a rebel and smoke in the house. Should I mention that in my listings too?

Thanks!

Worried in Waukesha

____________________________________________________

Hi Worried!

What a great question to ask! It is only required to note allergens for the Bath & Beauty and Edibles (Bon Appetit & Gourmet) auctions. This is especially important because of the severe reactions that some people can have when exposed to things like peanuts. I’ve also seen some diabetic and gluten-free offerings in the Edibles auctions, which I think is great. Just because your body doesn’t process sugars properly doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a treat now and then!

So, in response to your questions, I think that would be a great idea to note in your listings whether your items are from a pet-friendly and mostly smoke-free home or not. I took a quick look online and was surprised to find that so many people in the US are allergic to dog and/or cat dander.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America,“Allergies to pets with fur or feathers are common, especially among people who have other allergies or asthma. From 15 percent to 30 percent of people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs.People with dog allergies may be allergic to all dogs or to only some breeds. Cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies.”

A lot of people know me as a “crazy cat lady” with 6 cats and 1 dog…and I’m allergic to them. But, my allergy is not severe and I only really feel the effects when they all shed heavily. So, in that sense, I’m really lucky. On the other hand, some people have really awful and serious allergies to dogs and cats, and knowing that you have an animal-friendly home could really help! If you only have a dog, you could say dog-friendly. That way, people who only have cat allergies can still purchase your items.

As for cigarette/cigar smoke, that’s useful information for those who already have other allergies. I’m sure we’ve all heard people say that they are allergic to cigarette smoke. Technically, that’s not true. They could be allergic to a component of cigarette smoke, or it could just be that secondhand smoke is a known irritant to existing allergies, as published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study confirmed what many had suspected: “Secondhand smoke can exacerbate allergic responses and…patients with allergies should avoid tobacco smoke.”

So, noting that your items come from a “sometimes” or infrequently smoking home could be very beneficial information for someone who has bad allergies or asthma or has a child with those problems. If adding that note can prevent an allergy and/or asthma attack, then you’ve done a great thing!

Overall, include whatever information you can in your listings so that everyone can make a more informed decision about purchasing an item. Buyers will find you a trustworthy and professional seller. I know I’ve unknowingly purchased items from a smoking home, and I just remind myself to set the package aside to air out a little bit before I use it. But, if I’d known ahead of time, I could have stopped by the garage to open the package & let it air out.

Thanks for being so thoughtful when it comes to your fellow Tophatters! 

Best,

Katie

Dear Katie,

I’m new to Tophatter and see so many different starting bids on items. I just can’t figure out how I should decide on a starting bid for my items. Can you please help me figure it out? Selling my stuff is how I support myself and my teddy-bear pomeranian, FiFi.

Thanks!
Pondering in Portland
____________________

Hi Portland,

Firstly, welcome to Tophatter!

So, you’re unsure about how to price your items? There are a number of different approaches to this, so this is merely just a few of my suggestions. Here are a some things to think about…

When figuring out the starting bid, keep in mind…

1. There aren’t any reserve bids on Tophatter. The way I see it, your opening bid should be set at a price with which you are comfortable, in the case that the item is won at the price. Once your item has gone on the block and the gavel has dropped, you have a binding contract with the Buyer. At that point, you don’t have the option to tell the Buyer “sorry, it didn’t sell for a high enough price”…that isn’t going to fly. Therefore, we encourage you to keep that in mind when deciding on a starting bid.
2. With that said, how do you figure out the amount with which you are comfortable selling the item? Firstly, it’s always smart to think of the cost of materials. That works for items that you’ve made yourself…but what about other items? Some sellers use a range that is right around 50-75% of the retail price for the item. The important thing is that you are comfortable with that.
3. Is there a minimum bid requirement for the auction you’re selling in? Be sure to check the listing parameters for each auction. The parameters will state any minimum bid requirements and offer you an idea of at which price to start your bidding. Some auctions have higher minimums than others, and it wouldn’t be much fun to get everything worked out and ready to go, only to find out that your opening bid is best at $13, and the auction has a minimum of $20.
4. What about fees? Do you want to account for your Seller Fees in the base price of your item? That is, if your item would start at $5, but you have a $1.70 flat selling fee, then you may want to raise your opening bid to $7 to reflect a 10% fee. It’s really up to you, as the seller, to decide at which rate you’re most comfortable. You can check the Help Center to find the current and upcoming Fee Schedules. August fees can be found here, and September can be found here.
5. One other thing to consider…shipping materials! If you are going to charge only for the cost of putting the item in the mail, then you may want to take a look at your shipping materials and decide if you want to add a small amount to each listing to cover that expense too. You can get some great deals on shipping materials in some of the Shipping Supplies auctions on Tophatter too! Just remember that shipping costs are part of your total overhead and may be worth including in the starting bid for your item.

I believe these are the most important factors to consider when setting your starting bid. I know some people believe in starting their items at the lowest price possible, but it can be painful to do that and then watch your item sell for less than you’d hoped.

We encourage you to be smart about your listings and decide on important information, like your starting bids, based on what you’re comfortable with and what you believe will appeal to your ideal customer. It’s all about reaching that happy medium which makes the auctioning experience all that more exciting.

With that, happy bidding!

Best,
Katie (katie@tophatter.com)

Dear Katie,

I need your help! When I have an item on the block, I get so nervous that I bet you could see my avatar’s knees knocking! So I’m already a bundle of nervousness and then I’m expected to type all sorts of things about my item to get people interested in buying it? I’m lucky to remember my name at that point, and forget typing! What advice can you give me for when my item is on the block? I want to be successful, but my brain keeps freezing up on me!

Thanks!
Nervous on Nantucket

___________________

Dear Nervous,

That’s a good question! I’m glad you asked! As you may already know, I have no problem when it comes to chatting - on or off of the block! So, I’m happy to share some tips with you!

If you get nervous when you’re up on the block, here’s what you should do…have some information typed up and ready to go ahead of time. That way, you can copy and paste it into the chat window for everyone in the auction to see. The key is to keep the answers short & concise. This will also help get you some additional time on the auction block! That’s right - if you have an item on the block and plenty to tell people about, then you the clock is prolonged for just a little bit.

I found this great post on Etsy that has a lot of questions that your buyers may like the answers to. I’m going to repeat the questions for you, but I’m going to try to help you think about them in Tophatter terms.

Questions for when you’re on the block:

1. What is it? Yes, there’s a picture of it on the right side of the screen, but assume that the folks in the room still can’t tell. Just give them a nice reminder of what you’re selling.

2. What color is it, really? We ALL know that cameras play nasty tricks on us sometimes, and, the blingier the item, the harder it is to get a great picture of it! So, yes, the folks in the room can see that it’s a purple scarf, but tell me MORE! What shade of purple? Lilac? Lavender? Let us know!

3. What size is it? Yes, while your listing may already say that the ring is a size 7, and you did include that in the title of the listing, it’s always wise to mention it again. I encourage you not to assume that everyone saw the size or read the listing. I’m as guilty as everyone else when it comes to forgetting to read the listing.

4. What is it made of? Yes, I do want to know how many polyesters you killed to make that suit! (We could all use a little more Steve Martin in our lives!)

5. Who is this for? Is that crocheted hat perfect for everyone? Or, is it premade for someone who is in the pre-K set? Or is it something perfect for my Great Aunt Sally to wear when she hops on her Vespa to go play Canasta with the ladies?

6. What do I do with it? If it’s not obvious, tell me! For example, I’ve seen a vintage Melmac lunch tray in Standby for some of the auctions. I know this might be sacrilege, but the first thing I think of when I see those? SLED! We don’t get much ice or snow in Texas, so when we do, we improvise. I went to school in the Hill Country, and, when we did get ice, you’d better believe some trays disappeared from the Commons that day!

7. How does it feel? Make us feel it! Tell me how ooey and gooey and wonderful your cookies are! Make my mouth water! We don’t have Smell-O-Vision hooked up on Tophatter just yet, so you have to make sure you really appeal to the other senses; that is, to the best of your ability!

8. How does it work? In some cases, does  it work? Is that pocketwatch purely ornamental? Will it keep time, but very slowly? Is this the perfect timepiece for when I want to go back in time?

9. Why is yours better than anyone else’s? Remember that we’re all friends here! Please don’t tell me that yours is better than Frida’s and then rattle off a list of reasons why her item is inferior. Let me know what you did that makes your item superior! The beads in that bracelet? You bought them when you took that year off and backpacked across Europe? They were a thank you from a kind woman who made them herself? Tell us that!

10. Do I get all items pictured? Do I get all 743 beads in that picture (yes, I counted them)? Or are they all there because 743 beads looks prettier than 10 in a picture? Remember that sometimes we accidentally skim through descriptions and may miss something; so, please let us know!

11. What if I get them and just don’t like them? Do you have a way for me to let you know they aren’t what I thought they might be? If the necklace I bought from you happens to break, what do I do? We all plan on being wowed by the item when it gets to us, but sometimes it happens and it’s all beyond our control.

12. Any more special things to know? Is this custom? One of a kind? How does it come packaged (gift wrapped? plain paper wrapper?)?

13. Do you ship it from your house? If it’s drop-shipped, please let me know. If I see that you’re in New Jersey somewhere, that’s where I’ll expect a package from. I don’t mind if you’re drop-shipping it to me from China, but please let me know that I will be getting a package sent from there. Some countries require me to pick packages up at the Post Office, so I would love knowing I have a trip there in my future.

14. Assuming it’s with you in your house, are there any special considerations? Do you have 19 cats and 10 dogs? Do you smoke? Yes, that might mean some people won’t bid on it, but most people who are ultra-sensitive about things like this have allergies or sensitivities that make life more complicated. If I receive something that I didn’t realize came from a smoker, I have to hide it away somewhere for a few days to let the smell dissipate. Nothing personal, that’s just who I am.

15. Not so much a question, but a statement. Remember that you want me to buy this item! Sell it to me! Tell me why I need this and why I just have to buy it.

A final thought…There are specialty auctions on the site with special niche audiences who will want a little extra information:

If you’re in a Vintage or Antiques auction, tell people where you got it, how old it is, and anything else special you can find out about the item. If you need help searching for more information, you can email me!

If you’re in Edibles or Bath & Beauty, remember that you have to list the allergens in your items. Let everyone know what they are and feel free to mention any other wonderful and special ingredients.

If you’re in any of the Artisan (Handmade) auctions, let everyone know how much time and effort went into making the piece! Time is love - and tell them how much love you put in as well.

These are just examples, and I know there are other specialty and staple auctions out there. Think of those special questions you might need to answer on the spot. Add it to your document! Save it! Then, when it’s time to go on the block, you’ve got the information right in front of you. And, when you’ve done that, your time on the auction block will as simple as a cut and paste!

Best,
Katie
katie@tophatter.com

Starting soon (Friday 6AM), we’re introducing a ‘Standby list’ for the Outdoor Fair.  Rather than rushing to grab a reservation, any seller will be able to submit a single item at a time onto the ‘Standby list’ for the fair when that auction room opens.

The ‘Standby’ items will appear alongside the ‘Upcoming’ lots list in the auction room.  Buyers can peruse the Standby items and, if they choose to, can place the first bid for an item on the list.  If an item has a bid, it will be added to the fair for that auction room and will appear in the Upcoming list.

When the Fair is full, the Standby list will disappear.  Items placed on the Standby list may be removed over time if they don’t generate buyer interest.

This change will allow more sellers to get their items in front of potential buyers while avoiding the rush to list in the fair.

Hi folks, we’re planning to launch new auction rooms and we’d like your feedback on potential names. If you have a moment, we’d appreciate you taking our quick online survey. Thanks!

There are two new features on Tophatter that we think are pretty helpful:

1. Report an item or user - you can now report people or items to Tophatter staff to review and potentially remove.  We rely on the community to police itself and the reporting feature is a great tool for anyone to alert us to items that are misleading, inappropriate or spammy.  Simply click the ‘report’ link on the bottom of the lot description or user avatar page.   

2. Notes to sellers - We know that a lot of custom items are ordered on Tophatter, and sometimes communications get lost after the sale.  We have therefore added a ‘notes’ field to the checkout process so that buyers can inform sellers of their requests, and sellers know where to find these instructions.

We think these are two important steps forward. 

We hear a lot of feedback from sellers that the outdoor fair is great, but can be frustrating to get into.  You’re not alone if you’ve asked ‘Where is the button?  When will it appear?  Did I just miss it?’ - that kind of stuff.

So, we’ve implemented two significant changes to the way the fair works.

First off, rather than a button you have to scroll down to find, there is now a persistent link at the bottom of the ‘Upcoming’ lots section that says ‘Add an item to sell in the fair’.  The link is grey if items cannot be added and black when spots are available.

Second, we’re going to start offering sellers the option of reserving a place in the fair for a nominal reservation fee from the beginning of some auctions.  This feature will provide an alternative for sellers frustrated by waiting for the fair and the uncertainty of getting a spot.  Once the auction moves outside, anyone will still be able to schedule without a reservation fee as long as space is available, and we’ll continue to extend the fair if there’s interest and attendance.  The net result will be no change for those willing to wait it out as current, but an additional choice for those sellers who want it.

The first feature is already live, and we’ll be testing the second out in a few auctions early this week. 

We hope these changes will improve the overall experience for sellers on Tophatter.  Let us know what you think.

Many Tophatter sellers use one paypal address for many different shops and some even share a paypal address with other members of their family/household.  So, in the past we’ve allowed multiple accounts using the same paypal email.  

We’ve discovered, however, that some sellers have been using multiple accounts inappropriately to dominate listings - and so we’ve had to modify our policy.  From now on, every paypal email address can be tied to only one account.

For those of you interested in maintaining different shops within the same account or sharing a paypal email with other family members, we’ll be introducing a feature in the future that will allow you to create different seller profiles within the same account.

In the meantime, we’ve published our multiple account policy here.

If you are using multiple accounts currently, we’ll contact you to manage the merging of the accounts correctly.

What a week at Tophatter!  Just three months since we launched we are now seeing over 1,000 items per day up on the auction blocks.   While we’re thrilled with this growth, we know there are certain aspects of the marketplace that we’d like to improve and we’re working every day to make things better.

One initiative that we started this week was one-off promotional credits in different auctions - we ran a $5 credit in Accessories on Wednesday, a $2 credit in Accessories yesterday, and both a $2 credit in Antique & Viintage and whopping $10 credit in High-end Jewelry today.

Wendell is generously paying for these credits as part of our marketing efforts to attract buyers and boost the overall experience.  So far, it has been very successful and we plan to do more of it.  We won’t run them every day or in the same auctions repeatedly but we will use credits occasionally as a tool to increase value for sellers.

Thanks everyone for your support!  Remember to set your clock forward on Saturday night - wouldn’t want you to be late for Sunday’s Bazaar :)