eBay selling prices can fluctuate wildly. It’s just part of the game, really. And, it’s not just in art.

One extreme is popular Pagan author Silver Ravenwolf (eBay username: veiledcrossroads). Her auctions came up when I was seeing who else was doing shrines, and who else was doing fairy-themed items.

One of her “magic” kits won’t sell at all, one week. Zero bids. She’ll relist it immediately, and it’ll sell for over $70 the next week, with a dozen bidders. Go figure.

(You can search closed auctions to see the pattern of any eBay seller’s sales… and many will be like this: All over the place!)

It is important to be consistent with eBay if you want consistent sales. Or just steady sales, in some cases.

When you start out–or return to eBay after a lengthy hiatus–pieces that should sell for three figures, can go for $2 with one bidder. Or something like that. It’s demoralizing.

Just stick with it, and put a reserve (or a starting bid) that’s the least you can accept without sobbing into your soup, okay?

Once upon a time, I could start all of my auctions at $1 with no reserve. Later, when auctions were closing at just $2, I changed my mind.

But, my pieces have sold for over $500. The following week, a similar piece will stall at $30. If you take it personally, and worry about the value of your art… Well, that’s a fast route to depression!

eBay has changed in recent years. Your auctions are now like your website: Get visitors to “watch” them, at the very least.

Make certain to have an “About Me” page at eBay, so people have something to bookmark. Change it regularly (do as I say, not as I do) so people check often to see what you’re selling.

Remember, your “About Me” page is like your resume, so sell the “sizzle” there, as well as in your auction itself.

And, link to your website, too. (Link from your “About Me” page, only. eBay is a little touchy about direct links from auctions to websites.)

When I run auctions every week and remain very visible at eBay, it makes a big difference in how high the bids will go.

Set your auction prices as low as you can, and not lose sleep over them.  Then, trust that your art will sell well, once you’ve established a familiar name and a track record at eBay.