Would you use a cigar auction site?

[RJT]

I am looking at buying or building a cigar auction site. I know a lot of members here use a few auction sites around here to make purchases. I was wondering if you would also use one to sell some of your cigar and cigar items also?
Registration would always be free and the listing fees would be reasonable. Probably flat fees for listing based on dollar amount. Also you would be able to re-list your items a second time for 1/2 the fee if it did not sell.

All cigar related items would be allowed, even ISOM sitcks because it will serve an international audiance.

I would like any feedback you guys can give me about your thoughts. Thanks, Robert

[altbier]

nice idea but I dont know how well that would work unless you had a store to keep it well padded. When the auction site craze hit a few years ago there were a ton of specialized auction sites that went the way of the dinosaur. People would log in ,see 1-2 items and never come back. You need at least 200 items at all times or people lose interest. Good luck.

[RJT]

Originally Posted by altbier

nice idea but I dont know how well that would work unless you had a store to keep it well padded. When the auction site craze hit a few years ago there were a ton of specialized auction sites that went the way of the dinosaur. People would log in ,see 1-2 items and never come back. You need at least 200 items at all times or people lose interest. Good luck.

I agree, I have the capability to supply my own items in the site. Also I think with out advertising you are going to be a flop. Advertising on forums like this site is a good start. I am a frequent user of a popular auction site and they are too restricitve on what they allow. So I thought a specific product site that is pretty liberal in what they allow would work well. I am just gathering research before spending too much time or money. Thanks for the help, Robert

[Navydoc]

5 or 6 years ago a wine auction site I frequent started and for the first 2-3 years had no fees at all. Everything was free. They used sponsers to fund the site. This enabled them to build quite a large registered user base and helped build the reputation of the site. Then over the last 3 years they have slowly introduced listing fees and sellers fees. These fees are still extremely reasonable considering what other wine auction sites charge (typically 12% to the seller and 15% to the buyer...which I think is a rip off but hey....) Now this site has 1000's of listings and quite a large following. Just a thought if you are really serious about this. Also consider partners! The wine site BTW is winecommune.com. I have mentioned this site several times but have no interest in the company....too bad for me...I just utilize it's services.

[RJT]

Originally Posted by Navydoc

5 or 6 years ago a wine auction site I frequent started and for the first 2-3 years had no fees at all. Everything was free. They used sponsers to fund the site. This enabled them to build quite a large registered user base and helped build the reputation of the site. Then over the last 3 years they have slowly introduced listing fees and sellers fees. These fees are still extremely reasonable considering what other wine auction sites charge (typically 12% to the seller and 15% to the buyer...which I think is a rip off but hey....) Now this site has 1000's of listings and quite a large following. Just a thought if you are really serious about this. Also consider partners! The wine site BTW is winecommune.com. I have mentioned this site several times but have no interest in the company....too bad for me...I just utilize it's services.

I thought about flat fees based on dollar amount listing. Someting similar to this setup. Let me know what you guys think. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Robert

.01 to 24.99 1.50 listing fee with 1 picture and no final value fees

$25.00 to $99.00 listing fee 3.00 with 1 picture and no final value fees

$100.00 to $299.00 listing fee $6.00 with 1 picture and no final value fee

$300.00 to $499.00 listing fee $12.00 with 1 picture and no final value fee

$500.00 and up $18.00 listing fee with 1 picture and no final value fee


1st picture is free
All other pictures are .25 each

Optional Features
Home Page Featured - $5.00
Category Featured - $2.00
Gallery - $1.00
Highlight Listing - $1.00
Bold Listing - $1.00
Dutch posting - $ 1.00 per item listed up to 10 items and .25 for every other item.

[Pablo]

Good Luck. I had the same intentions with Club Stogie Auctions. It didn;t draw much attention, even though it was attached to these forums. It is now free to use for Club Stogie members, and still doesn't get used much!

[SeanGAR]

Nope.

Critical mass is tough to come by.

I'd rather give cigars away than have them go to a lowball bid or not meet reserve because too few people access the site. In any case, I smoke my cigars or gift them .. not much interest in auctions.

[quibbly]

I have an ecommerce site that I created for my wife. We are ranked well in Google and have frequent advertisment in town. Sales are ok, but to date, we are in the hole. Only good thing, I have superfast cable at home, nice server and have a bonus as a tax writeoff.

[Ninja Vanish]

I don't know if I would use a site like that or not. I guess it would all depend on the amenities. I can tell you that if I did use it I would be alot more likely just to use it to buy smokes rather than sell them. I also would rather gift my smokes away than sell them off.

[Shaggy17sc]

I would use an auction site to buy, prob. not to sell. I belive it is better to give than to sell