A way to search for items sold on Etsy?

As far as knowing how soon an item has sold...it would be the "Luck of the Draw"
The price for which it sold will never show, that was changed years ago for Privacy purposes, and I know that Etsy will not reverse that decision..best to research elsewhere.

Geposted um 17:40 15. Sep 2010 EDT

So basically you want to see what sold so you can also list those types of items to sell too? I am confused.

Geposted um 17:45 15. Sep 2010 EDT

I understand wanting to see what has sold and for how much. I have hats in my shop and it is interesting to see the vast difference in prices that things are listed for so it would be interesting to see what they actually go for. That would help me in evaluating how I want to proceed in pricing my items, not copying someone else, just for my own benefit for what I have now.

Geposted um 17:55 15. Sep 2010 EDT

Yes, it's useful for pricing vintage items too. I can search on ebay UK to see what items have sold there and for how much. It helps me work out whether I should list an item there instead of here on etsy. Conversely, if I could check sold items here on etsy, I could work out what sort of items would best be listed here. Consumer tastes vary greatly between the US and the UK for instance. I have done a bit of market research - and have spotted some items that go for vastly more here than on ebay UK (and vice versa) - but if there was a quick way of searching sold items it would make it so much easier to undertake that sort of market research! In the absence of that, I will just have to carry on learning by experience!

However, I do understand the privacy issue. I can appreciate why many sellers don't want 'all and sundry' to know what their annual turnover is. Privacy is an issue on ebay too (where the prices of recent sold items are listed). However, if people really really want to, they can usually find a way of working out how much an online retailer on a site such as ebay (and possibly etsy too) has made in terms of turnover. See 'Goofbay' for instance in relation to ebay sales. Is there a similar site that 'hacks' into etsy sellers' sales figures? I'm not sure. But, if so, it makes a mockery really of any attempts at privacy.

Geposted um 18:25 15. Sep 2010 EDT

I am SO glad that etsy doesn't show sold $ amounts

Geposted um 18:31 15. Sep 2010 EDT

I think it would be nice, there are items I have looked for with few results, and I wish that I could search sold items to see if there would be anyone I could ask to make the items for me.

Geposted um 18:32 15. Sep 2010 EDT

happylittleknitter
happylittleknitter says:
I understand wanting to see what has sold and for how much. I have hats in my shop and it is interesting to see the vast difference in prices that things are listed for so it would be interesting to see what they actually go for. That would help me in evaluating how I want to proceed in pricing my items, not copying someone else, just for my own benefit for what I have now.
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How much something sold for shouldn't matter. You should be getting your price for your hats. Whatever price you decide, after figuring materials, overhead, labor, etc.
You should price your things accordingly.

I have seen hats priced from $10-$50 and more and there are buyers for all price points. You just need to price your items the way you see fit. Don't worry about what prices others have on their items. :)

Geposted um 18:34 15. Sep 2010 EDT

aandboriginals
aandboriginals says:
happylittleknitter
happylittleknitter says:
I understand wanting to see what has sold and for how much. I have hats in my shop and it is interesting to see the vast difference in prices that things are listed for so it would be interesting to see what they actually go for. That would help me in evaluating how I want to proceed in pricing my items, not copying someone else, just for my own benefit for what I have now.
--------------------------------------------------------
How much something sold for shouldn't matter. You should be getting your price for your hats. Whatever price you decide, after figuring materials, overhead, labor, etc.
You should price your things accordingly.

I have seen hats priced from $10-$50 and more and there are buyers for all price points. You just need to price your items the way you see fit. Don't worry about what prices others have on their items. :)
----------------------------

^^^ Totally agree^^^

Geposted um 18:45 15. Sep 2010 EDT

Sweetbriers said:
aandboriginals
aandboriginals says:
happylittleknitter
happylittleknitter says:
I understand wanting to see what has sold and for how much. I have hats in my shop and it is interesting to see the vast difference in prices that things are listed for so it would be interesting to see what they actually go for. That would help me in evaluating how I want to proceed in pricing my items, not copying someone else, just for my own benefit for what I have now.
--------------------------------------------------------
How much something sold for shouldn't matter. You should be getting your price for your hats. Whatever price you decide, after figuring materials, overhead, labor, etc.
You should price your things accordingly.

I have seen hats priced from $10-$50 and more and there are buyers for all price points. You just need to price your items the way you see fit. Don't worry about what prices others have on their items. :)
----------------------------

^^^ Totally agree^^^
__________

vintage doesn't work like that. vintage has it ups and downs so it is important to see what is currently selling and what isn't and what price range. I had a piece that wasn't even bringing $5 but I held it and when the price was up I got $40 but I would have never known if I couldn't find the info about when it was up and when it was down.

Geposted um 19:26 15. Sep 2010 EDT

ThePeacockFeather:
That is a very good point. There are ups and downs - and also vast differences between countries. It's taking me awhile to work out what etsians like in terms of vintage - and how much they are prepared to pay (usually very different to ebay UK!). It's a bit of a lottery at the moment.
And, yes, the pricing of vintage items is very different to handmade. Different considerations will definitely come into play. To a large extent, you need to 'stick to your guns' in terms of the pricing structure that is right for you and your business. Sometimes, if things don't sell immediately, it isn't actually directly related to the price you're asking - so lowering the price doesn't help. Though, equally, it can be reassuring to know that there IS a market within your intended price bracket (and searching sold items would help with that). That would certainly help you to 'stick to your guns' and hold out for the price you want - rather than being tempted to lower it prematurely!

Geposted um 19:42 15. Sep 2010 EDT