@tahoe-sports wrote:
The Christmas season is wrapping up and I'm looking at my seasonal sales data. Now, I sell in a niche (hockey jerseys) but looking across platforms (Amazon, Fanatic, etc.) there are a few things that strike me. My pricepoint on most items is below what is the best price for the same item on Amazon and Fanatics, but my sell through doesn't reflect that. They sell multiples more of the same jersey at higher prices. This leads me to believe that shoppers have either lost confidence in Ebay for one reason or another, something about the Ebay platform is turning off casual shoppers, or something else is going on. I sell jerseys to newbies (less than 20 feedbacks) at low price points (less than $50 including shipping) and I get lowball offers from flipper wannabees. Items that have great value, but are priced in the $50-$150 range and retail in the $139-$300 are slow sellers. A decent jersey is going to last decades longer than a cheap replica, but they just don't generate volume like the cheapest jerseys do. Average transaction price sucks. Where did the shopper that understands quality go? What's going on?
Hi! Well I have some general thoughts on this in our society.
One thing that is changed is the constant need for instant gratification. (Want it here, want it now!) Fashion and style is ever changing and we are mesmerized by the new. To supply that newness, there is a rise in cheap duds and other goods that fall apart quickly, then get replaced by a new piece of low-quality stuff. When the newness wears off, to get that constant parade of new items and not break the bank, lower price points are more attractive. Supply and demand.
We are a throw-away culture. As a wealthy nation, the trend is movement away from quality goods that last a lifetime to "Its broken, don't repair. Toss it and replace instead." Stuff is not being made to last-- and it's good for business, they'll sell more. There's even a term for it: planned obsolescence.
There is also a trend towards convenience. We seek to maximize output while minimizing input. As consumers we are getting lazy, and no longer hold industries and manufacturers to high standards. We have a "drive-thru" mentality. In addition, there is an overall decline in customer service. We expect lower standards to be the norm, and often demand no better.
But if your question is where are eBay's high standard shoppers, I have less to offer. Because so far, haven't drawn many conclusions from the current eBay climate. What i can say is that i never have problems with the customers willing to buy at my higher price points. As you say, it may take longer to sell those items, but i can wait for them. (Not every seller can, I know, but this isn't my main source of income.)
Customers looking for quality are still here, it may be harder for them to wade through the glut of cheap products flooding the marketplace from Asia. To help them find my items, I follow eBay's best practices. Strong titles, detailed Item Specifics, appropriate selection of categories, clear descriptions, and good photos. My listings are mobilized for smartphone viewing and have SEO. My terms of sale are buyer-friendly. This is my strategy for selling and for the most part works to my benefit. (Knock on wood.)
