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Taber, AlbertaHello. I am a newer member to teddy talk and ebay. I was wondering how long does it take to get more people looking at my bears 
Hi Brenda, welcome...it takes time with consistent listings and building up buyers....also make sure you add awesome photos too...and if you want to think of eBay as advertising you could consider doing a featured listing since it will stay on the front page as opposed to a couple hours after you list back on page 3 or more....also post pictures of your bears wherever you can, you could post what you have for sale here in the Bears for Sale section, and even look into bear pile, www.bearpile.com it gets lots of traffic a day costs $10/ month and you can sell directly through there without any auction format, people just contact you....eBay is very fical at times and if you are a new comer you really gotta do the foot work to make sure that you get noticed.....Hope this helps, we would love to see you post some pictures of bears you have for sale here, lots of collectors come here to check things out as well, so you may just find that you would notice more people interested in your auction when you let others know when you have listed a bear. Hope this helps.
Hugs,
Krista
Taber, AlbertaThank you for all the input! In the near future I will post bears up here and bearpile. Alot of times on ebay I see cute bears and yet they don't sell, but I guess everyone has been down that road one time or another. My 18 year old daughter says I give up too soon. I guess I do feel defeated pretty fast! 
Those kittens you have up are the most adorable and cute little kitties I've ever seen! 
I have 6 cats now and I think it's time to stop!
Bears by EdieBrenda, Welcome to TT from a fellow Albertan! Ebay is a mystery for sure! There are artists who sell on there for incredible amounts of money and some whose bears just do not do well - and for the life of me I can't figure out why! I've been selling on ebay for almost 7 years with continually mixed results. I've had a few bears go for WAY more than I was comfortable with and I've had some of my favourites not sell or go for peanuts (ones I was so SURE would do well that I didn't put a reserve on!) but fortunately most going for more around the amount I am satisfied with. I don't seem to get as many "watchers" as some people do and I don't really know why as I have been around for some time now (20 years!) and have had my share of publicity from awards and media articles but that does NOT seem to matter on ebay! 
I don't have a web site and that MAY make some difference.
The best advice I can give you is to keep trying, and keep trying new things. Start a notification list of your customers to let them know when you list something new on ebay (I always ask anyone new who buys from me if they want to be notified when I list a bear) - it is amazing how many people will be repeat customers.
Good luck and just keep on trying!
Another place to list bears which is similar to e-bay but not - lower fees and less chance for your auction to be stolen - is Bid 4 Bears www.bid4bears.com. Nancy Tillberg, who runs North Country Teddy Bears (which incorporated Bid 4 Bears (B4B)) is promoting Artist Power during the month of Apr - May to hopefully get regular collectors to use B4B as well as e-bay and other sites. Check it out when you get a chance. She also offers classes on building bears and different techniques etc. I have taken a couple of classes and they are well worth it.
Hope this helps!
Jane
Posts: 8,574Welcome Brenda,
I posted once on Bearpile and it sold-so it does work
I prefer B4B and ebay but.....ebay is grtting frightfully expensive. it isn't too late to join B4B- doesn't cost you to join, just sign up and activate your account. Nancy is having a special artist thingy starting in April, but if you don't feel you can make the committment it doesn't matter, you can still join and sell there.
Send Nancy an e-mail: bears135@shaw.ca
welcome aboard here too!
gollyhugs
dilu
BrisbaneHi Brenda...welcome to TT....as has been said by most of the people already ebay is a bit of a mystery, you are best to look on it as advertising. I find the biggest thing on ebay is consistancy...having a bear on there regularly every week seems to help, I also list them at the same time every week too and I think that helps. Perhaps try to get your bears noticed in other places too...sendng photos to magazines and doing a show or two can also be ways of getting your bears to be noticed.
The biggest thing I agre with Dilu....email Nancy and if you can make the commitment sign up for the bid4bears artist power campaign!!!!
Taber, AlbertaI thank you all for the advice! I guess I can't complain 
too much. My bears have sold quite well for as little time as I've been on there, but it would be nice if the price was much higher since it takes me about 1 week to finish a bear, exspecially when you start sculpting the face. I put the most recent one up a few days ago and there still is only 46 people looking and 1 watcher I couldn't believe when I read that one of the bear artists on here[can't remember her name] has had up to 20 watchers! WOW
Bears by EdieBrenda, have you heard about the bear show that Heather (psichick78) is organizing in Calgary for Aug 4th?
Taber, Albertayes I did hear about that but you must have to make alot of bears! Do you find that before a show it gets crazy busy? :doh:
PottersHouse BearsWelcome Brenda. I can't add anything to what has been said already. Just wanted to say that we're glad you're here.
Taber, AlbertaThanks Nina 
Hi and Welcome Brenda!
Yes... before a show you DO get crazy busy!!!! As for building up a reputation on eBay... it does take time.. and there's no real formula. Sarah was right though... try to keep listing a bear every week... or as often as possible. Also.. .be sure to ask your winning bidder if he or she would like to receive emails when you have new bears up on eBay!!
Taber, AlbertaThanks for welcoming me! You guys have been so nice Do you ever get stressed in trying to have a bear up all the time? since it takes awhile to make. Between demands of others in the house, cleaning, taking care of pets etc... a person can just go nuts! It's a good thing I'm fortunate enough that I only work IN the home!
