You seem wise, but I am going to stay off eBay because lately, my neighbors and I have gotten really rotten things that we bought and just threw them away because it was not even worth the time to return them, and we are getting the same from amazon, complete junk that works for a few weeks, then just breaks. The added pressure of trying to find unique good condition collectibles and antiques to sell and compete while we are bombarded with ridiculous low ball offers is demoralizing. The whole online experience is crumbling to all of us, it seems. Records all say mint then when we get them they are gritty and scratched, our time is just not worth the people, and the trouble anymore. I will just take a break from eBay until I can find something that I can sell regular and is in high demand, after 8 years of learning and trying to do that, all I am is frustrated and becoming mentally ill.I live 40 miles from the nike factory headquarters and have access to hundreds of pairs of them and feel I should not even dare to try to sell those that my brother inlaw gets because he works there, he offered me a few crates from 6 years ago, I say forget it, you just cant win because some dood in china will out sell you. Our neighbor sell one arm shirts, and that is what happened to them, china stated out selling after they invested ten grand in equipment, now her fabric shear sits unused, same with my rock saw, you cant win, you cant recoup your investment or break even, all the while eBay want to lend us more money, then you get behind and they slap a lien on your house. But thanks
EBay can be a stressful environment for a seller but like a lot of sellers I continue to post and sell here but I have vastly diversified in the last 10 years to multiple ecommerce platforms/forums. Some buyers and sellers are enthralled by eBay that they fail to see the forest for the trees. Given the items you sell you may want to explore other options available to you that are tailored to your product line and there are a bunch of them out there.
Like you there are a LOT of things that I would not ever list on eBay either because eBay prohibits it or the risk is too great, sneakers being one of them. I seldom buy anything online these days simply because I live in a large metropolitan area and can find most things locally, don't have to pay for shipping, I can inspect the item before I buy it and if there are issues returns are simple.
The counterfeit issue is becoming a major problem for almost everything out there and China leads all countries in the production of counterfeit goods. Estimates are that 80% of the counterfeit items are produced in China and that as much as 20-30% of the goods coming out of China are in fact counterfeit. They are also getting VERY good and doing so and the quality of their counterfeit items continues to improve. I will never, knowingly, buy from or sell to China or this very reason.
I wish you the best in whatever future direction you choose to go.
