Sales are terrible and eBay just wants you to promote and give them the little bit of profit
Summary: The discussion revolves around fluctuating sales on eBay, with participants sharing their experiences and strategies. Some noticed that their investment portfolios now often yield more than their eBay sales. A key concern highlighted was the competitive nature of selling on eBay, particularly in used clothing, and the challenges of promoting listings. There was also a side conversation about the inconsistency in the quality of store-bought taco shells compared to restaurant ones. Overall, the conversation reflects frustration over eBay's promotion fees and strategies to improve sales.
Anyone else see a slow down on sales? I may have one sale a day on ebay, other sites are doing well, so I am confused. I just stopped promoting because that is not helping me. Why give them 15% of one sale? Any body else seeing slow low sales?
chamblea
·3 weeks agoIsn’t eBay committing fraud? They get us to pay for a store and tell you that they are going to promote and list your items and then they tell you that your sales slowed down because you won’t pay extra for promoting. I’m only doing this to keep busy now that I’m retired and to make some extra cash on a fixed income. If eBay is going to take 12-15% even on shipping costs, which we do t keep…we have to buy shipping labels, why would I pay them another 15% to promote the items. I tried promoting a couple of items and nothing, not even any views. Guess I need to contact a lawyer about fraud. Anyone with me?
ed8108
·4 months agoReality requires you to adapt ,lower
profit expectations & cut costs where possible
bashort
·4 months agoThis is my response to ebay begging for you to use promoted listings
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoThats funny. I miss Alice
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoWhat a Beautiful Day 😎
onefootflipper
·4 months agoOriginally poster never responded to this thread and is still steadily plowing in the same low demand brands and off season clothes. They listed even more sweaters today.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoNot much need for a sweater this time of year.
reallynicestamps
·4 months agoThe first complaint about slow sales on eBay was made October 23, 1995.
ed8108
·4 months agoThe eBay opportunity for wealth creation is still in existence , eBay must be doing something right ?
linenandlaceltd
·4 months agoThe fact I'm selling more on Poshmark, and Depop of all places over eBay is concerning. If people just weren't buying, I wouldn't be selling elsewhere.
This week I'm lucky just to get 1 sale a day on eBay.
I've been wondering if having a sudden spike in returns (ordered by mistake/doesn't fit) + a cancellation (ordered by mistake) + an issue on eBay's end where shipping and tracking went fine on a package through USPS but on eBay's end none of the scans ever showed up, so I have a late package, is negatively affecting me. It all happened within a 2 week time span.
There's summer slowdown too, but again, I'm selling elsewhere about as much or more in Depop's case, than I have been so there are still lots of buyers out there.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoI had to check them out and it looks like they only deal in clothing 😔
jbbowers12012
·4 months agoHi Everyone, Sales are also pretty lite here in New Jersey - Had a Great (for us anyway) February, March & April then slid downhill for May. So far June remains a bit sparce. Just the normal ups & downs of retail I would guess.
jrkirk
·4 months agoIf the eBay site is not working for you, either move your items to another site, or stop selling. Paying more in fees does not make for more profits!! I've sold here since 1996, and still have items listed, but almost no sales also, but I refuse to pay more in fees than my business can afford!! If it doesn't make a profit, it doesn't make a profit............and if it isn't profitable, why are you still selling here?
carip17
·4 months agoI like how the commenters about numerous posts on how slow it is were present years ago or in the 1990s or in the 80s. Yes that is exaggeration, but you catch my drift.
Yet the difference about that is how AI is becoming more prevalent these days. You can see how much it screws up everything. Not to mention how they fired numerous staff and allowed AI to make all the decisions and possible changes to the site.
Even other platforms like Poshmark and mercari are facing the same thing. They employed more AI and less human intervention. It's not because economy is bad, people are still buying.
Just because one commenter says a taco shop wasn't packed doesn't make it true everywhere.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoOh it was packed alright. Kinda makes you want Tacos for dinner tonight now doesn't it 🤣
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoYeah, he said it was packed - Taco Tuesday? I wouldn't pass that up! Soft tacos with blackened cod and pico de gallo. Mmmmm...
gurlcat
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir Here's what I've always wanted to know: why store-bought (box) hard taco shells taste SO different (crappily so) from restaurant ones? And I don't just mean good restaurants -even Taco Bell's, the ones served at their chains vs. their own brand of them in grocery stores. And I worked at TB when I was 18, so I know they're not homemade, not even fried on-site; they come ready-to-fill, IN BOXES! So why can't those be the same ones they sell in grocery stores???
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI don't know, but I've experienced the same thing and I thought it was just me.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoWhen I was in undergrad school and stony broke, a big night out for me was two bean burritos from Taco Bell and a large diet cola.
gurlcat
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir Definitely not. And it doesn't matter whether they're Taco Bell, Ortega, Old El Paso, they all taste the same, and haven't changed since at least the 80's when I was a kid. I just can't figure out why because it can't just be a "shelf life" thing with preservatives and whatever, because like I said even the ones served at TB chains come pre-made from warehouses. Also there are store-bought corn/tortilla CHIPS that are pretty dang tasty.
OMG speaking of, in my opinion the very best grocery store tortilla chips are (inexplicably) also the cheapest, Walmart brand!! Try them sometime, and tell me if you don't agree. Man I wish they made these in taco shell form!
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoAlas, they have to be unsalted. I really like the thin, crispy style, though!
But what I really crave are Fritos. Salty, salty Fritos.
gurlcat
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir I don't understand. Are you saying you have to eat unsalted ones? CHIPS? I can't even imagine how sad that would be.
reallynicestamps
·4 months agoWhy give them 15% of one sale?
Good point.
But the minimum is 2% and there does not seem to be any difference in sales between items promoted at the minimum and at the suggested fees.
Additionally, I found that using PL made my Views rise on all my listings, and the non-PL sold somewhat better than the PL did.
Any body else seeing slow low sales?
Yes.
But having sold here since 1998, with three very different category products, I have learned that Q1 (Jan-March) is my strongest sales period and Q4 (Oct-Dec) is my weakest.
So having slow sales at this time of year is normal for me.
I am spending the extra time updating old listings, delisting deadstock, and adding new items.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoMmmm...tacos.
gurlcat
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir I KNOW!!! Now I want a whole plate of them, soft ones and crunchy ones. For just a split second I could smell them in my head.
Ugh. Intermittent fasting isn't very hard, except when it is.
fastriderz_dc
·4 months agoebay started a new thing a few months ago where many buyers can't use the app to purchase anymore. so they just go to the next seller that they are able to buy on the app
gurlcat
·4 months ago@fastriderz_dc Got any proof of this? Sounds like someone's interpretation of things they don't understand.
wpt05
·4 months agoThe last time I promoted an item it got zero bids and zero views.
The same item when listed another time without promotion got views, but no bids.
ed8108
·4 months agoAnother possible reason sales are down of some items may be in more people are realizing that memories don't lie in possessions , they lie in people
More buyers may be asking themselves when considering purchasing an item, am I buying this item because it will add value to my life & need it ?
tweetyboyd1971
·4 months agoI would be THRILLED to have one sale per day. And Ebay is already taking 15% from me, without my using promoted listings. When I did try to promote a couple of listings at low ad rate, Ebay cautions me that I need to use a 13.5% ad rate for better results. I hate that Ebay is all about promoted listings now. I also dislike seeing other sellers' listings inside my own listings, encouraging customers to buy from someone else
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@tweetyboyd1971
I get it…I practically jumped up and down this morning when I had one sale…
powell-collectibles
·4 months agoOne sale per day is a pain. Give me seven sales on one day. Heck I’d take five in one day over one each day of the week.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·4 months agoMay was my worst month since about 2009.
I haven't had any zero sales days but this is the very first time I have had 10 consecutive sub $100 days.
One account is down 38% and the other 45%
It's definitely not user error
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@grand-and-glorious-purpose
Almost same percentages.
powell-collectibles
·4 months agoI don't doubt that there isn't something other than normal sales ebbs and flows + economic-climate changes. Absolutely, a seller/store with enough items shouldn't see such a dramatic drop. Sure, it happens, but there are times that the number of "sales have plummeted" reports have been so numerous AND those drops have been so abrupt and deep that it seems like something else is going on. We've seen plenty of sellers see drops that make no sense at all. Heck, we've had plenty of sellers that I think should be doing even better with the current economic situation have massive decreases in sales.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@powell-collectibles
You are absolutely correct. People still shop, but they are likely more cautious…
I was just digging around some lipsticks under my sink and was thrilled to find some Chanel that I had forgotten about. At $53 for a new one I will use those.
On another platform I offered a $59 baby monitor to a customer for $20. She declined. Brand new and boxed.
I think it is economics. Of course there are naysayers, but we watch what we spend, and the latest expense we had to choose from was my dental work or a nice cruise..unfortunately it was the dentist.
gurlcat
·4 months ago@frugalmarketplace Anyone who claims a large portion of consumers aren't cutting down their spending on non-essential items right now has either incurable idiocy or is incurably brainwashed. Normal "ebb and flow" assertions are so absurd I just can't even. 🤣
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoAnyone who claims a large portion of consumers aren't cutting down their spending on non-essential items right now has either incurable idiocy or is incurably brainwashed. Normal "ebb and flow" assertions are so absurd I just can't even.
We just went out to eat at the Mexican food restaurant for Taco Tuesday and all i can say is it was a mad house. It was standing room only. So i don't know what to tell you considering it was on 6-2-26 and everyone just made their house payment or rent. I guess everyone has different circumstances 🤔
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·4 months agoI've been around long enough to experience ebay update brownouts and survived multiple once in a lifetime economic crisies.
This isn't like that at all.
Something broke and they are not telling us what.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·4 months agoWe used to be able to tell when server brownouts were happening before they changed how views were calculated.
It used to be if your listing had zero views after a day and not even an ebay bot had come by to scan your listing meant that ebay screwed up another update rollout.
Now we don't even get that
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI hear that!
chrispass918
·4 months agoYour sales are terrible cause no one wants to buy what you’re selling, simple as that.
sakic92710
·4 months agoThis is the kind of question where you get the same crew answering with the standard excuses. It doesn't matter if you were getting 30 sales a week over a month ago & now you are down to 6 a week. You are told you need to sell what people want for the prices that are reasonable. As if you have no idea how to generate sales. Only you are to blame for the decrease because you need lessons in the general basics.
To make sure I'm not just being negative towards eBay, I am very pleased that I listed a very rare collectible on Friday & it sold after only a few hours. For a high price & not only that - the funds were never put on hold. Even the processing time was much less than 24 hours. eBay stepped up! 🙂 I commend eBay on their speed & the opportunity they provided. This is how I see eBay now. Not a provider of an income, but as a source to assist at particular moments.
I would like to add that I rely more on Marketplace & it has dropped off quite a bit, too. I just get random 'hot spots' where many sales will occur then nothing for 7-10 days.
stainlessenginecovers
·4 months ago@alliern you NEVER should have been 'promoting' as that is basically for NEW items that have MANY competitors.
You sell mostly 'used' clothing where:
a.) this time of year is Swimsuit time
b.) there are a 'few' (sarcasm) sellers of 'used clothing.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@stainlessenginecovers
Also disagree on what to promote.
When I did promote I NEVER promoted things that I knew would sell. For Example I sold a Louis Vuitton bag that was mine, and pristine..just not carried …did not promote it because it didn’t need any boosting. it sold in a week.
As far as “this time of year clothing” trust me I have found even new bathing suits hard to sell….obvious it is not a good time to sell a winter coat. You probably do not know about women and swimwear..plus the ick factor if they are not NWT.
chapeau-noir
·4 months ago"New" doesn't matter when it comes to clothing - it's brand, secondarily size and type. Plus there will be a deeper selection in the pre-owned clothing market than the new market, as there are more years of production in any particular brand so competition will be heavier.
In fact, I rarely promote anything new.
ETA: Agree, though, that trying to sell heavier winter items in spring/summer is kind of a waste of time. The old saw 'well, it's always summer/winter somewhere' applies to such a narrow sector that it's not worth devoting store space or listings if more in-season merchandise is available.
gurlcat
·4 months ago@stainlessenginecovers You contradicted yourself there. You said only sellers of NEW clothing should promote, then went on to point out there are a lot of used clothing sellers (as in competitors).
Also (and this isn't just about you) I am always amazed at how many non-clothing sellers have such bold opinions about what clothing sellers should do or not do. When I went from never selling clothing to almost exclusively clothing (practically overnight in 2019, after winning a 2000 cubic feet storage unit full of clothes), it was an extremely eye-opening experience. Just about everything I assumed turned out to be wrong!
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI think because everyone wears clothing, they feel like an expert in it. Wearing/buying is a whole lot different than selling, though.
tarotfindsandmore
·4 months agoNot me! I have 3-4 brands that I like and that accommodate really long appendages. As a tall (5'11"), relatively thin (6-8 until my early 50s) woman I was just grateful to find anything that didn't make me look like Olive Oyl. I wouldn't presume to know what an average human is looking for. Jeans and t-shirts (Boden & J. Crew for work) have evolved into yoga pants and t-shirts. My mother taught me to sew as a girl so I know how clothing should be made, but I have zero clue when it comes to how the retail clothing world actually works.
Come to think of it, there are a lot of categories/niches that I know zippity doo dah about...
stainlessenginecovers
·4 months ago@gurlcat No, I did not contradict.
2 different thoughts
2 different sentences
Promotions are great for those selling NEW items that have MANY competitors, where said promotions can get you off page 34 and onto page 1 (although you ARE bidding against other sellers- the SAME formula that 'Pay per Click' on Bing/Yahoo and Google have done for over a decase.
The 'other' thought was the typical 'used clothing' where 9 out of every 10 threads started about 'slow sales' are from those same 'used clothing' sellers.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@stainlessenginecovers
“The 'other' thought was the typical 'used clothing' where 9 out of every 10 threads started about 'slow sales' are from those same 'used clothing' sellers. ”
That is wrong.
Maybe car parts are a good item to sell…New car sales are down… So parts are in demand. However everyone who is discussing this doesn’t sell used clothing. I do sell a few listings in that category, but a small percentage.
People are spending less money, sellers are fed up with the EBay algorithm, sellers and buyers are disgusted with the insane shipping costs. It is a lot of things. I won’t mention any names.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI see a pretty equal number of markets discussing slow sales - since I sell a lot of clothing, I'm pretty alert to reported sales trends. IMHO, the 'answer' you are selling wants, not needs seems to be given more to collectible sellers, whether it's true or not.
As I say, because everyone wears clothing there seems to be an assumed expertise in selling it. It's tempting to start selling clothing without knowing what one is doing because it's more easily acquired. I recall one person posting here that he sold his late wife's wardrobe here, and it sold so well that he was going to go to the thrift, fill a cart with clothes and just list them (woohoo!). That, I thought, is the way to madness.
stainlessenginecovers
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir @gurlcat may be 'elsewhere' but on this forum, the threads that are started about 'slow sales' are almost ALWAYS a 'used clothing' seller. At least that has been my experience when I click on the thread.
My 'auto' sales go from $1500 on Monday to $0 on Tuesday to $30 on Wed to $100 Thur to $500 on Fri to $0 on Saturday and EVERYTHING in between.
The overall YTD is the number that tells the story. If you are selling 'used clothing' and your 'sales' are lower than LY, then it's 1 of 2 things
1.) There are MORE competition
2.) The 'things' you had last year were simply 'liked' MORE than the 'things' you have this year.
How can it NOT be the case? Like any Garage Sale, the 'best stuff' goes out Sat morning and by Sunday, more than 50% of the 'good stuff' is gone.
20 years of doing an 'annual' and we'd sell $700 on Sat and $70 on Sun. EVERY time. All the 'good stuff' is gone.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@stainlessenginecovers
another expert 🥱
stainlessenginecovers
·4 months ago@frugalmarketplace Yes; Many years Big Box District Manager of over 100 stores doing $100,000,000+ a year as well as been advertising/running my own internet business since 2011 including Pay per Click advertising on Google & Yahoo (Bing).
I know a thing or two but if you want to dismiss an 'expert', go right ahead. Only trying to give the REAL story.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoThough I agree that increased competition can be an issue, clothing sales, like anything else that trends, are not static. A garage sale isn't really a good comparison because online (and B&M) stock is constantly replenishing (or should be). As well, trends are always changing, brands quit making a popular style so people seek it out online (usually with a several years' lag when that popular style wears out and people want another). Size runs for women's sizes are usually manufactured with more units for middle sizes and taper off on either end of the size range. Men's clothing is similar. So there are people starved for choice in that less manufactured sizing (the fashion industry doesn't seem to do a great job of deciding popular sizes and have an entire other philosophy of what makes their brand look good or not). They'll shop on the secondary market.
Let's not even get into the presentation angle. Clothing sales can be tough because it's like shifting sands. IMHO, it's both the easiest to get into, and the hardest to make a go of.
fabrics24
·4 months agoI'm seconding everyone saying ebb and flow, as well as those saying that people are pickier about their necessities. People are scrutinizing the items in demand; if they have to spend money, they want it to count.
I'm a notoriously stingy clothing shopper (just bought a couple of new outfits over the weekend, and I still winced at spending a mere $60; it's that bad), and I think in the current financial climate, a lot of people are the same.
Right now, I'm looking for comfortable, warm weather clothes that are unique additions to my wardrobe. I don't need any more basic shirts skirts or pants, anything better suited for cold weather, or anything pricier than it needs to be. I'm also wanting stuff I can wear either around the house or to work; I don't have the cash for separate wardrobes. Other people are thinking the same way; they want as many comfortable clothes that suit their style, for as far as they can get their dollar to go.
As for slow sales, I can't say I'm experiencing any such thing. I'm popping off now that all the crafty people want to buy really nice fabrics for their sunroom and patio projects. I don't think I'll have the same luck come September, but hopefully I'll have different inventory for then XD;
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@fabrics24
I am also somewhat stingy when it comes to shopping. I needed some hair spray and stopped in TJ Maxx. I didn’t like the price, so went home and ordered it from EBay.
‘I work from home, and normally buy linen clothing on eBay. The prices are better and I love the convenience of not having to go shopping.
Honestly if things were better with EBay I would spend more money…
gurlcat
·4 months agoI can't believe someone named @frugalmarketplace would say such a thing. Color my world ROCKED. 🤣
christworks
·4 months ago@alliern
Supply and demand. Whatever you are currently selling has a lower demand on eBay, a higher supply, or you've priced yourself out of the eBay market, or some combo of those three.
Other sites may be doing better because they represent a different buyer group, where demand may be growing or there is less supply.
The fact is retail businesses ebb and flow. It doesn't matter whether it is online or a brick-and-morter store. Your sales are down. My 30 day sales are up 33%, and about that for both gross and net income. YOY they are up 12% over last May, with gross up 121% and net up 164%. My YOY sales dating back to February 28 dropped to a peak of 34%. Throughout May that has come back up and I'm now only down 4%. Normally it starts slowing down for me the last two weeks of May as school gets out, college kids graduate, people sell their house and move, and others go on vacation. This year I'm not seeing the drop. I am seeing increases across the board. I'm starting to see the first glimpse of the early shoppers for fall and Christmas. My views for those items have been going up and I sold a couple of ornaments last week.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@christworks
I am going to have to respectfully disagree with the “what you are selling” theory.
I honestly don’t think that would cause the drop in sales. people will buy..and if sales have been consistent ..they don’t just STOP!
It is the promoted listing, as that is what keeps showing the quarterly profits that eBay stockholders want to see.
I have four orders to ship today from PM and Vinted. Nothing from eBay. I am not going to cave to the PL game..even my spouse who only listens to me complain about eBay made the comment about listings not being seen.
An example is I have some fine jewelry that I listed recently. When I sell this type of item it always sells quickly…not now..nothing …
christworks
·4 months agoMost of what I sell are items that are not promoted. You do not have to promote to get sales. Keep telling yourself that you do. It comes down to what you are selling. You are correct that people never stop buying. They don't. What changes is what people buy. It changes for a variety of factors. Your job as a seller is to be ahead of the shift. I realize it is easier to keep blaming eBay.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@christworks Please stop telling everyone what to do. I am not blaming eBay …I am blaming the current state of affairs…We of course don’t agree on anything most likely.
Please don’t save the Sarah Palin photo for me. Do not take this as a criticism, but as they say “what is one man’s treasure”.
frugalmarketplace
·4 months ago@christworks
A question …You have two religious names..one for your store and then this one.
Then there is quite a blurb in your listings that is about your personal beliefs. That appears to me to be a marketing tactic
. eBay clearly says “eBay is strictly an e-commerce platform for selling goods. You cannot use product listings, store pages, or message systems to proselytize, spread doctrine, or run general religious ad campaigns. “ Now I would never buy from any seller that had all that on listings, but many people would “want” to support you. I would like to know how you are able to do that and get away with it.
That seems to me as “target marketing”.
When I was doing my store the last time, I realized that the picture at the top had an African American male with a cell phone in the banner. My thoughts were “how do people see that” Some years ago I had some nice men’s Kuhl shirts. The ones with dark skinned models didn’t sell well, as did the light skinned. I actually ask my Facebook friends what they thought…Being equally open minded they couldn’t see any reason it would matter…but remember we are a very progressive group of people. My store banner remains the same..as I never gave it a thought. …except it was one I liked !
So do your religious beliefs or not have a subliminal message to some potential customers and should it be there?
ed8108
·4 months agoBe grateful for the good , I suspect there are unfortunately others that may not even have a sale a day
Good luck
pls-consignments
·4 months agoLol... Its the "drug-dealer" model. eBay is banking on sellers to increase their PL rates when sales become slow due to external circumstances and desperation sets in. The lesson? .... Say no to drugs!
mam98031
·4 months agoIt happens all the time. On any given day of any given year you can come to the threads and find others speaking of slow sales. The world is full of reasons, not always just what is happening on the site, but what is going on out in the world at large. So many variables. Could be what you sell, pricing, shipping costs, demand for what you sell, customer service, how much expendable money buyers have and so forth.
You are entering the Summer season which is often a much slower time for many types of sales like used clothing. But come late Summer, early Fall, it should pick up for back to school and likely other reasons as well.
I hope everything goes well for you. From your list of sold items, it appears you are doing a pretty darn good little business.
zzuby
·4 months agoYES!
I promoted my store for 24 hours and cancelled. Have had NO sales since. Two weeks now. Unusual to say the least.
hartungcards
·4 months agoYou promoted your store for 24 hours and cancelled? Well, that was quite the scientific experiment. Are you familiar with the expression, "small sample size?"
frugalmarketplace
·4 months agoMy sales are down 35% in the last 30 days. Nothing has sold all weekend.
I sell on two other sites and sales have been moving…
jundedh2012
·4 months agoim going to be honest, sales have not fully recovered from months ago. ive been making some decent sales but shipping costs are eating a ton. i also think that ebay has not fully recovered from that hack not that long ago.
hartungcards
·4 months ago"i also think that ebay has not fully recovered from that hack not that long ago."
I also think that I haven't fully recovered from that hack not that long ago.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoYa about that 🤔
bgt_masters_of_tiki_d
·4 months agoMy sales went off a cliff when that happened and haven't recovered. I hit my lowest week last week since Covid first hit in the $600's which includes shipping/taxes collected. That's a horrible week for me, and the weeks prior were a huge decline as well. Only once have I been close to that bad. Being under $1800 is a slow week for me.
To make matters worse, even with slow sales my returns picked up 8-9 in 2 weeks. With 2 bogus INADs costing me roughly $80 in shipping costs alone. The one even apologized for filing it wrong and said they'd cancel the request but never did. I'll keep trucking and ride the wave out until it no longer makes sense. You can only work twice as hard to make half as much for so long.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoI wonder what happened ?