Buying from low volume, low cost sellers a disservice to them?
Debating not buying from low volume low price sellers not having known they barely make any profit. Some sellers may engage in selling on eBay for reasons that are not for profit. The Community may respond to this by saying it is my choice to buy, or a seller's choice to become a seller, but that is simplistic.
I had no idea how little - if any - profit is made by sellers. Is eBay banking on new or low-volume sellers not understanding the fee structure because concrete examples are not given ?
I would rather know that a seller will realize at least a few dollars in profit, rather than receive the incredibly-helpful support and protections for Buyers. The answer may be that I ask any seller beforehand if they are know of the cost to them for selling me a $10 item, for example.
roccotacodad54
·5 months agoWell I have read most of others responses and your responses to them.
When shopping online it's my goal to get the best price...Period. It's not my responsibility to hold a sellers hand and make sure they make a profit. It's not yours either.
Now and then I find a listing grossly underpriced for one reason or another. Example...Sterling listed as plated. If the seller isn't going to bother learning what the sterling marks are that's on them. I'm not about to message them and tell them to charge me more (Eye roll)...................................Wow............LOL.................
msha3839
·5 months agoWell said..problem is that many people on both sides, buyers and sellers, don’t have enough gray matter to do their homework and learn..being lazy is also important factor..
spark-chaser1
·5 months agoYou ask a great question!
I make a lot of international purchases, and I am very conscious about making purchases that the seller will make a useful profit from. In many places, these sellers NEED THE MONEY to live, and I cannot - in good faith- make a small purchase that the seller ultimately pays ME to take.
i always try to make purchases that I know make perfect sense, and the seller will make a profit free and clear from listing and advertising fees.
this is a good way to think - it is great as a buyer to receive our items, but in return, considering the seller’s plight is just human decency in motion.
msha3839
·5 months agoAnd how do you know if seller makes profit from your purchase? Magic ball?
spark-chaser1
·5 months agoEASY…
I don’t buy a 10 cent stamp that will cost $15 to ship internationally. Plus the associated fees to the seller.
I don’t need a crystal ball - just common sense.
spark-chaser1
·5 months agoA follow up :
i purchased from many areas such as Ukraine, where sellers NEED to make a profit. Many stores will take the risk of putting up advertised listings to get their stores onto the map, which if they sell, will end up costing the seller the entire product and shipping just to send it to me.
I don’t need a crystal ball - just common sense - that I do not make a purchase that I know will actually lose both myself and the seller money in the end. I will purchase with the intention of buying enough product to ensure I get my items and the seller can realize the most profit from it possible.
it’s not even a point to argue. Or at least, I don’t SEE the point. I don’t have to be a market genius.
msha3839
·5 months agoIndeed, luck of common sense..
kibble-net
·6 months agoCouple of things to consider:
(1) Sellers may not wish to share with you their profit figures. It's nobody's business but theirs.
(2) Not every seller is on here to make big bucks or fund a vacation. Some are just clearing out clutter from their attics. To them, even a small profit would be welcomed.
To some, ebay is a garage sale. To others, it's a way to make a living. It's not for you to decide how much profit a seller is supposed to make.
maxi314
OP6 months agoYes. I understand. I made no inquiry about net profit - I was told by a seller. I didn't want to be considering any of this. I just want to trust that all eBay sellers are fully informed when they sign up, and when changes are made, so that I can simply buy.
msha3839
·6 months agoWithout buyer’s protection eBay wouldn’t exist..and asking any seller about their margin of profit would guarantee you to be blocked by many sellers for multiple reasons…and your reason not to buy from low volume sellers is twisted at best..
mamacassidy
·6 months agoI am a seller. I sell many low-priced items. If you choose not to buy from me because my items are too inexpensive, then you are doing yourself a disservice.
As others have mentioned, many people sell for different reasons and there are many different business models. If you don't want to buy from someone, of course, don't do it. But to question their investments/ profits/ time put into listings, etc. is completely unnecessary.
I mean, would you ask any other business you're buying from to see their financials/ profit statements?
tobaccocardyahoo
·6 months ago@maxi314
Many sellers do not value their time, and would do better to have a minimum wage job. Some of those sellers cannot for a variety of reasons take a job.
There is no justification for cutting off their income because you think they are wasting their time for too little profit.
mtgraves7984
·6 months agoThe answer may be that I ask any seller beforehand if they are know of the cost to them for selling me a $10 item, for example.
@maxi314
^^^ That is definitely not the answer. It may even spook a seller to the point that you're added to their BBL. Good luck, tho.
jdbelt1960
·6 months agoWhen you go to a store do you ask the clerk the cost of the item and offer to pay more to ensure profit. I started last year with 16 items and now hover around 75-80. I have sold approximately 80 items. I was focusing on learning the EBAY system, how to ship, and growing inventory more than profit. Also, the items that I sell are not high volume quick turnaround.
12345jamesstamps
·6 months agoThere are many different forms of business plans.
I assume you don't sell but not sure.
Items being sold cheaper than $10.
There are so many reasons for that.
Just because a buyer purchases an item for 2 bucks doesn't mean he won't make a purchase for 10 items at 2 bucks from same seller.
And then there are sellers who wish feedbacks...selling items for .99 cents get a feedback usually...send 50 at that price...how many feedbacks does that seller get from those .99 cent sales.
And then 'repeat buyers' come into play...first time buyer makes a purchase for 2 bucks to see how item gets packaged and shipped(checking out a seller)...buyer might come back to make a $100. purchase the second time.
The reasons are so endless....
As an example that's like a grocery store selling something sooo cheap...will you only buy that item in the grocery store and nothing else?
soh.maryl
·6 months agoSince FB from buyers to sellers is now pretty much automated to positive by eBay (unless actual buyer leaves actual FB) , seems to me that the seller who sells fifty (50) 99 cent items has the potential to receive fifty (50) positive feedbacks.
greatstuff80
·6 months agoI don't sell much and don't have hundreds and thousands of listings. It's easy to see all I have available. Nope, I don't do it for profit...it's for fun, something to do on lousy weather days and keeps me busy. I'm not out to make a fortune or price gouge. In today's world of greed, I enjoy people getting a good deal. I know my costs. What profit I make is no one else's business.
house*of*paws
·6 months agoHi @maxi314
Your feedback ‘Left for others’ suggests that you are very considerate of your sellers … so I am a bit startled that you would be considering asking a seller about the profits/ fees involved in their sales. That seems overly nosy, regardless of good intentions.
I don’t sell myself, but I believe that newer sellers may occasionally sell at a loss while they are learning the ropes … in order to build up their feedback or until they understood ‘how eBay worked’.
maxi314
OP6 months agoThank you. I did not inquire; a seller showed me how little he made on the sale. It was a buy it now item priced very reasonably. I had asked for more information because the seller had noted its interesting provenance. Still, with the taxes, the cost to me was over what I thought I could pay, and I decided to use the Make Offer option. The seller accepted my offer. (This is not a new seller).
Seeing the seller's expenses, I proposed that he cancel the sale, relist, and I would immediately buy at the posted item price. The seller did not choose to do that. And in response to my apology, the seller agreed that yes - (you) should have paid the asking price. The bottom line is that I enjoy finding that great find, but can't simply figure that if someone is selling on ebay, a seller had better know what he or she is doing. Well, the rules and policies and fees change for sellers as often as everything else seems to change. My concern is more self-serving than concern for sellers. I want to be able to have a great find and pay what I can pay without concern that I am taking advantage.
janet9988
·5 months agoI find it very distasteful for that seller to even bring up the fact of how little profit they were making off the deal. Especially since you did not ask them.
Their response to your apology was not the sign of a good seller.
msha3839
·5 months agoYou will take advantage of others every day of your life…if you go to restaurants and shops, do you ask how much employees get paid and their margin of income compared to expenses? Most likely,no…one of the most important factors in sales is to move inventory as quickly as possible…if something not sold for extended periods of time, price drop is a must…think about it…
aeparts1
·6 months agoAs a seller, I'd rather make a very small profit from a sale, rather than no profit from no sale.
maxi314
OP6 months agoThank you. In this case, the seller showed me how little he was making from the sale. The amount was deplorable due to fees. Prior to this instance, I have read seller information to see how the selling end works and remained mystified. I thought if I posed the question in the forum I would be able to find an approach as a buyer that would not take advantage of a misstep - perhaps on the part of a seller. That was all.
maxi314
OP6 months agoI appreciate that, and you probably do not tell a buyer how badly you had made out on the transaction. Or, if you did, and the buyer (me) suggested a cancel/relist/rebuy at stated price, you would take the buyer up on it. Thank you.
As with most things, eBay is not a level playing field, but I amno longer sure if I'm taking advantage.
soh.maryl
·6 months agoYour message is puzzling. How would purchasing from ANY seller be a disservice to that seller?
Your logic escapes me.
maxi314
OP6 months agoIn this specific case, when the seller tells you it was; that they barely made a dime. And it isn't enough to take the approach that that's the way it goes sometimes. As a buyer I want to be responsible, but I also want to feel comfortable that when a seller accepts the buy it now price, or the make offer offering, it is truly fair for the seller, whether the seller is new or long standing.
As with many things, being blissfully unaware of the backstory - like seller fees - doesn't work for me, but believe me when I say I would much rather not give any of this one single thought.
simba6
·6 months agoSome just starting out will start small to build up a feedback record before selling higher price items.
maxi314
OP6 months agoThank you. Yes. I understand that building a reputation is vital for eBay placement - however that works. In this case, it is not a new seller, but I was told about the associated expenses. I knew it was probably bad, but I had no idea how bad it was - is.
soh.maryl
·6 months agoYou have taken a somewhat unique approach to sellers. Every single seller on eBay has the opportunity to set his prices at whatever level he wants. Not sure how pointing out to any seller that he may be close to losing money would be welcomed. However, you are, of course, free to handle purchases in whatever way suits you.
maxi314
OP6 months agoYes. Thank you. What would suit me best is not giving any of a a second thought. It becomes harder to escape with all the "sponsors," the "reputations," news of eBay purchasing a big company - I can't recall which - and wondering how eBay selling those items - I think it was clothing? - will impact regular eBay sellers.