Q4 2023 Affiliate Newsletter

Q4 2023 Statistics/Milestones:

Total Auctions Closed: 1,314

Largest Auction by Sales: $494, 806 JB Equipment - Heavy Equipment & Construction Auction https://www.k-bid.com/auction/51263

 Largest Auction by Lots:  2057 Lots! Whiteford Auctions- Osseo Gun Club Liquidation  https://www.k-bid.com/auction/51553

Most Watched Items of the Quarter:  

353 Watchers - Cabin, Deer Shack, Bunk House, She Shed, Man Cave with Porch (will deliver):  View here
291 Watchers - Argo 6 Wheel Amphibious All Terrain Vehicle:  View here
263 Watchers - Classic Roadsters Marlene 2-Door Cabriolet Convertible -View Here
261 Watchers - Amazing Black Leather Octane Blaze XL900 Reclining Theatre Seats! -View Here
245 Watchers GLOCK 17 GEN4 9MM 17RD FS GNS View Here

Website Statistics:

	Bidder Registrations
	2022	2023
Jan	2,347	2,537
Feb	2,332	2,871
Mar	3,194	2,569
Apr	3,010	3,101
May	3,047	2,460
Jun	2,919	2,872
Jul	3,162	4,149
Aug	3,200	2,437
Sep	2,935	2,343
Oct	2,922	2,544
Nov	3,046	2,289
Dec	2,390	2,047

*all bidder signups, qualified (phone number verified, credit card) and non-qualified.   

	Website Sessions
	2021	2022	2023
Jan	1,043,960	1,014,746	1,105,744
Feb	939,528	956,142	1,016,737
Mar	1,062,515	1,095,367	1,089,277
Apr	1,088,584	1,145,435	1,145,840
May	1,000,205	1,075,358	1,031,753
Jun	974,208	1,071,033	1,087,464
Jul	959,755	1,013,001	1,303,314
Aug	1,008,396	1,102,699	1,121,311
Sep	943,129	1,049,079	1,051,830
Oct	996,803	1,068,170	1,177,731
Nov	930,528	1,120,425	1,108,302
Dec	935,601	1,034,494	1,076,729

*A session is defined as a group of interactions one user takes within a given time frame on your website. Google Analytics defaults that time frame to 30 minutes.

Top 10 Affiliates by Sales for Q3 2023:

	Q3 2023
1	Twin Cities Auctions
2	JB Equipment
3	NCS Auction Company LLC.
4	We Sell Your Stuff Inc.
5	Estate Sales Minnesota
6	KX Real Deals
7	Red Tag Industries
8	Surplus Liquidation Auctions
9	Auction House
10	Asset Liquidation Auctions

Customer Support Numbers: 

Number of support tickets opened:  2,900

*K-BID utilizes Zendesk support system to communicate with buyers, affiliates and sellers.  This allows us to quickly and efficiently provide answers, support and connect buyers/sellers with affiliates.  

Number of seller leads received:  149

*Potential auction sellers can reach out to K-BID via our selling page or review affiliates to work with.  These leads are forwarded to affiliates who are in the area and/or have expertise in the asset class. If you have not filled out or optimized your affiliate profile page, you can be missing out on potential auction leads!  Learn more about your profile page here.

What's going on?:

You should be well aware of the policy changes announced in late December that will be going into effect on 2/1/2024.  All auctions published after 12:00AM on 2/1/2024 will have the new BP schedule assigned to it.  

We are continually looking at ways to improve the buyer and affiliate experience at K-BID.com.  After much thought, discussion, and feedback from affiliates, the following policy changes will go into effect on 2/1/2024.  

Bullet Points: 

• Costs are increasing for everyone, and you're getting a raise (15% BP with affiliate retaining 5%) 
• BP Cap raise to $1,500 
• Reserve usage and no-sale rate has increased dramatically ($25 reserve not met fee) 
• Minimum auction BP raised from $50 to $100 

Read more about this here: https://k-bid.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/19465558556183-K-BID-com-Policy-Changes-for-2024  

Software Updates: 

You may have noticed that the default auction view is now the short version, meaning that it does not default to showing the full description.  Bidders are visual, and we are testing this new default to see what kind of impacts it will have on our digital marketing efforts.  Halted/Info lots will default to showing the full description so you can still relay the important messages.   

Of course, the default view can be changed back to short, full or grid format:  https://bkb.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/20441495796631-Changing-the-Auction-View

Marketing updates:

Since last year, K-BID has been utilizing AI and machine learning to recommend products to our buyers.  Last year, we sent out 461,000 emails to our buyers recommending auction products they might be interested in, 44% of those emails were opened.  

We've recently brought this process in house and are utilizing AWs (Amazon Web Services) to accomplish this.  AWS will analyze our data and pick products that a user is most likely to engage with based on their previous history on our site.  What they watch, bid on, view, etc. 

Those emails look like this:  

The next step in this process is to bring some of these reccommendations onto the website and the bidder dashboard.  Data is the future (and present) and we are taking steps to ensure that we can take full advantage of it.  Please contact [e-mail] with any questions or if you want to discuss.  

K-BID Auctions In The News: 

None this quarter.    

Affiliate Spotlight: 

We are looking for future affiliates to spotlight!  Please reach out to us at [e-mail] if we can showcase you.

Affiliate Name: Minnesota Elite Sports Cards

Affiliate Since: 2023

Location: Plymouth, MN

"Card collecting is special because it connects us, from young to old, well-off to those on a tight budget."

Sports card collectors come from all walks of life, each with a different story of why and what they collect. One thing I have found to be the same in nearly all collectors is how they got started, I’m no different. Many of my earliest memories are time spent with my dad and brother at Cardboard Heroes of Laurel, Maryland in the early 90’s. My brother and I would each get a couple bucks to spend at the shop culminating in Slurpies from the nearby 7-11. My dad was planting the seeds for his now world renown Cal Ripken Jr. and Roberto Clemente collection while my brother and I stretched our couple bucks as far as they could go opening packs of 1992 Triple Play. Our Childhood hero Cal emblazoned the box, we were fascinated pulling the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Frank Thomas, and local favorite Roberto Alomar. I can recite the poses of each player on the card even though I haven’t seen them in years, the smell of the shop, and the taste of the gum from the packs. Even though they no longer have any physical value, I always find myself setting them to the side when I come across them.

Card collecting is special because it connects us, from young to old, well-off to those on a tight budget. Sports cards are a hobby and past time that has endured the world’s highs and lows. While some collect for profit, most because they love it. I love it because of the people I get to meet, the stories I hear, and the rush of uncovering historic cards that may have not seen the light of day again and putting them in the hands of those that will treasure them.

I have been auctioning sports cards and collectibles on K-Bid for five months now and I truly look forward to my once-a-month pick-up days. Each month I meet new people and love to hear their stories while reconnecting with familiar faces excited to add a new piece to their collection. Last month I had the pleasure to meet a man who worked for the Milwaukee Brewers many years ago and share his memories of Hank Aaron, a couple minute pickup turned into an hour and a memory I won’t forget. Another visitor picks up items that he plans to donate to his kid’s local fundraisers. Jason frequently brings one of his kids by – who always leaves with a treasure of their choice. Louis and his son are diehard Harmon Killebrew fans, I love sending them a couple extras in their package hoping to make their day on the other end. And I always make sure to sneak something special into each auction for Karen, a local diehard Raiders fan. At the end of a busy pickup weekend, I enjoy recapping who has stopped by with my wife. While she would likely rather have our garage back, the smiles and days made are worth it.

Surprisingly to some, I took a 20+ year break from card collecting but like many started back up during COVID. One box of cards quickly turned into an office, then basement, then garage full and no turning back. My favorite part of collecting is my weekly card calls with my father. The shared excitement we have for uncovering vintage baseball cards, building sets, and those we meet gets us fired up.

No matter how you spend your time, card collecting or through other avenues, do it because you love it, it excites you, and builds friendships and comradery with those around you.

We’re here for your card collecting needs at Minnesota Elite Sports Cards. Beyond our auctions we’re happy to help you fill your collection needs, consult on any questions you may have, or just to simply talk cards! We hope to see you soon!

See this Blog Post Here - let us know if you want to be featured in future months!  

Have an idea for a future tip of the month that may be helpful for other affiliates?  Let us know by emailing [e-mail].