Dealing in antiques and collectibles is a strange affair - face to face customers like to think that they are getting a deal so always ask for a discount - fair enough. Of course, dealers know this - so if they need to sell something for £50, they're almost certain to price it up at £65 to allow for such negotiation.
But how does that translate online? I have been selling online for a couple of years now and got myself into what I nicknamed the Dfs trap - the eternal sale. On my etsy, when listing items, I priced my items at 15% higher than I needed for them because my shop was always offering a 15% sale.
Frustratingly, the upswing in orders when in sale mode was massive! And of course, I could carry on doing that - but I have decided not to. I feel it is wrong and it just doesn't sit right with me - so I have made the decision to offer my "best price" both on etsy and direct through my Wix store. I have also decided to offer free UK shipping and to reduce the cost of my international shipping.
It does help me out massively if buyers pay via my own site which can be accessed here and via the Wix Spaces app - however, I understand that many people prefer the security of etsy, particularly if ordering from me for the first time. Sales I make through etsy will be less profitable for me because of their fees but I am now absorbing that cost completely - I will not increase my prices there compared to my direct prices. I really think honesty, openness and transparency are important cornerstones of business and am putting my money where my mouth is!
I am hoping that this transparency will not have a negative effect on sales and that orders will continue to flow nicely across both channels. The prices you see on the site and
on etsy now represent my best prices and I hope you will agree that they are competitive. I appreciate all my customers very much and hope to continue providing high quality antique and vintage items for years to come!
Thanks for listening!
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