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Selling on ebay is awful
Selling on eBay can be a total nightmare. It seems like they're always on the buyer's side, no matter what. You deal with scammy buyers who make up problems, and eBay sides with them, leaving you high and dry. Plus, getting your money from sales is like pulling teeth—there are always delays or issues. And don't even get me started on the payouts. After fees, it feels like you barely make anything for all the hassle. It's supposed to be a platform to help you sell stuff, but it often feels like they make it as difficult as possible. And that’s why I’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBay
32 comments
kh_nipun
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year agoOLD THREAD
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoThere's also simply an upper growth limit to a company like eBay who manufactures/sells nothing itself, but depends on the vagaries of a mostly C2C market. A great many people I suspect leave because they had a finite number of things to sell to begin with, sold them and are done. Others gave selling here a go and decided it wasn't worth it/wasn't what they wanted to do/got too busy doing other things/found it too difficult to find inventory, etc. Others have been selling steadily full- or nearly-full time, doing well. Others, like myself, stopped and started, changed markets, sold seasonally and sometimes full time and now kind of desultorily. All eBay can do is aggregate all of this to come up with some kind of market value.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoI would like to see the source too.
I believe the numbers, but anyone can make a chart.
I wonder what caused the huge jump in sellers in 2013-14.
And why the number of sellers dropped during the pandemic surge in online commerce of 2020-2021.
valueaddedresource
·2 years ago@reallynicestamps one of the reasons this data may be unreliable is that eBay changed their definition of GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) at the end of 2021 and restated figures going back to 2018.
https://investors.ebayinc.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2021/eBay-Announces-Change-to-Gross-Merchandise-Volume-Definition-and-Releases-Updated-Historical-Metrics/default.aspx
Much of the press coverage at the time focused only on GMV, but changing that definition also changed the definition of Active Buyer and Active Seller because essentially those are all different ways of looking at the same information: GMV represents the dollar amount, the other stats are the people on each side of the transactions that make up that dollar amount (if that makes sense.)
Previously, GMV was defined as "the total value of all successfully closed transactions between users on our platforms during the period, regardless of whether the buyer and seller actually consummated the transaction."
In this context, consummated basically just meant paid - so every BIN checkout or auction with a winning bid was counted, even if the buyer never actually paid for the item.
That also means that per the previous definition, active buyers and sellers were those who "successfully closed" a transaction on the platform in the previous 12 months - with closed again not necessarily meaning it was ever actually paid for or shipped.
At the end of 2021, the definition of GMV was changed to "the total value of all paid transactions on our platforms inclusive of shipping fees and taxes" and the definitions of Active Buyer and Seller were also changed to reflect that those stats only included people who participated in a paid transaction on the site within the last 12 months.
eBay changed and published the new/restated GMV and Active Buyer stats going back to 2018 to reflect what they would have been based on the new definition, but not everyone got the memo.
That has now created a very confusing situation where many websites that publish these stats have a mish mash of data, some of which is outdated or no longer accurate or at least not very helpful for analysis because depending on which data they are showing from when, it may not actually be an apples to apples comparison of numbers that were consistently measured using the same definitions.
On top of that, historically eBay has actually very rarely reported Active Sellers - it's not one of the regular stats expected to be included in quarterly earnings.
In fact, eBay only really did it in 2021 because initially it showed a positive growth trend (pandemic bump), but then when it fell down to 17 M in Q4, Wall Street did not react positively and eBay stopped reporting it again to avoid the negative press.
So outside of that year, there are very few official disclosures of the active seller stats (I've gone back in earnings reports as far as Q1 2018 and didn't find any others), which is why I suspect many of the sites that report it are averaging or estimating based on total user info rather than reporting verified numbers.
All of that is a very long way to say - remember that old line about lies, **bleep** lies and statistics and maybe a little "garbage in, garbage out" for good measure too. 😂
dhbookds
·2 years agoNo point in arguing whether sellers leave........in my opinion.......some will, for any number of reasons.
Many are here (probably too many) along with a billion or so listings (give or take)..... point being.....sellers do "make it" on ebay and one presumes they stay because they make money. The Key to staying is to understand the rules and pitfalls.......follow the rules and avoid the pitfalls..... It's not as easy as it used to be, again, my opinion........but it's certainly doable, but not if you aren't willing to put in the time and effort.....
General complaints about ebay won't help you. Asking about specific problems can....IF you want real help........
jg.mason
·2 years agoI wish all these sellers that are leaving would hurry up and get. Maybe then my sales would pick up.
stuff4divas
·2 years ago@carcr7849 Yea, those scammers are all over the place. You figure out how to stop their scams and they find another way to scam.
I've experienced them and probably will as long as I live, but my no scam sales and experiences far outweigh the scams 😠so I'll continue here awhile longer 💃🕺 Rah! Rah!
Good Luck on whatever other platform u choose
luckythewinner
·2 years agoSelling on eBay can be a total nightmare.
I am sure it can be for some. But for some of us, it is not.
You deal with scammy buyers who make up problems
I am sure some sellers deal with that. But some of us do not.
Plus, getting your money from sales is like pulling teeth—there are always delays or issues
All my buyers pay promptly.
And don't even get me started on the payouts. After fees, it feels like you barely make anything for all the hassle
eBay fees are generally 40 cents plus 13.25% of the total sale. If you are not getting a sufficient return, that would be a matter of your inventory costs and the choices you made about what to sell and how much to sell it for.
And that’s why I’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBay
Sellers have been leaving eBay daily for decades, but they generally get replaced by new sellers who arrive.
toysaver
·2 years agoSelling on eBay has not been a nightmare for me. I appreciate the opportunity they provide. I can work from home in my pjs. I've had the experience of owning a B&M store and eBay is a bargain in comparison. Younger folks have no idea how good they have it...
I can't really judge whatever may have happened to you as there is no sales history associated with your account. Is there some reason that ID is not the one you're using here? Nobody can offer help without knowing the full story, and that means both sides.
yuzuha
·2 years agoYeah, one of my friends owns a B&M so I get to hear all of the stories. People think it sounds great but they don't consider all of the work and money that goes into having a physical space.
certifiedcitynet
·2 years agoThere are ways to beat fraudulent buyers. Always ship via USPS with tracking. Always ship only to the address on file with Ebay. Always write "Do not forward" on every package. Always use the fastest USPS service appropriate for the product's value, usually Priority or Express Mail in my case. Always file a "Package Intercept" form online if Ebay has refunded the buyer's money but the package is en route. Always make a video recording whenever a package is opened or sealed. Always require a signature for $750-plus sales. Always threaten to contact the buyer's county detectives and postal inspectors if fraud is attempted, and actually do it if the buyer persists.
As for Ebay's fees, they vary by the type of merchandise or service being sold and are actually quite reasonable compared to other platforms and considering the huge advertising exposure.
My theory is that Ebay has morphed into a buyer-friendly platform because sellers can be just as "scammy".
automatic-watches1972
·2 years agoThe same things happen to me. Fraudulent buyers are a pain in the ass.
They are doing a good scam through ebay. Unfortunately, ebay is also on their side.
They open a payment objection. They open refunds for trivial reasons. They are deceiving ebay with lies.
90% EBAY ON THE BUYER'S SIDE.
10% PROTECTS THE SELLER EBAY.
OK, She's Having a Mental Eclipse.
If it continues like this, we will lose sales.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoThat's why you don't items that attract scammers.
jamedlock83
·2 years agoI agree with you. . I stopped selling on eBay years ago due to the sellers fees and they take 10% of your final sale. .
bonjourami
·2 years ago"I agree with you. . I stopped selling on eBay years ago due to the sellers fees and they take 10% of your final sale. ."
You are way behind, ten%?
richard1rst
·2 years agoSelling on eBay is a little like a Poker tournament.
Some win. Some lose.
It doesn’t matter who the dealer is.
It doesn’t matter who wrote the rule book.
What matters is how you play the hand you are dealt.
I am not vexed by any of the problems you have enumerated. Apparently I am simply a better poker player than you. (Kenny Rogers comes to mind)
And as for your statement “And that’s why I’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBayâ€
There are more reasons on earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies. At some point in the (distant) future I will leave eBay. Possibly because I have gotten tired, or old, or infirmed, or so rich I no longer feel compelled to hustle, or I have tired of carrying packages to the post office and instead wish to pack myself to the far corners of the earth. But certainly not for any of the reason you have cited and, therefore, not part of your calculations.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoAnd that’s why I’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBay
Where is your data for this? Not that I'd mind - it seems for every seller who leaves eBay two come in their place.
hbktech_69
·2 years agoHere's some data for you, ebay has lost sellers 11 years in a row.
eBay annual active sellers 2007 to 2023 (mm)
inhawaii
·2 years agoIf you found it on the interweb, it has to be true.
bonjourami
·2 years agoWith 19 million sellers worldwide, and thousands more joining every month, Ebay will never run out of sellers.And who cares if some sellers do leave? That just levels the playing field.
slyders_finds
·1 year agoI have also read that Ebay could almost stay afloat on advertising dollars alone.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoAnd that's got finite growth, too - there's only so far any company can rely on fluff.
stuff4divas
·2 years ago@hbktech_69 ........ That's Awesome news!
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoThanks for the data - but can you cite the source? AFAIK, eBay has stubbornly not published seller numbers in quite a while, and even savvy reporters like @valueaddedresource have not been able to suss out new numbers, unless she has finally, which would be great. I think those are BUYER numbers?? The buyer numbers have indeed been dropping - they're below where they were in 2018.
It's the buyer numbers I care about more than the seller numbers.
ETA: No opinion on the rest of your post - I'm just interested in the data. - Sorry, the rest of the OP's post, I mean.
More espresso!
valueaddedresource
·2 years ago@chapeau-noir @hbktech_69 just going by the numbers and layout of that data, my guess is it came from
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ebay-statistics/
If so - all I can say is that site has incorrect/outdated data for other eBay stats as well, never updated their GMV or Active Buyer info to reflect when eBay changed the definitions back in 2021 and I've reached out to the site owner with some updated data linked directly from eBay and the owner wrote back with a vague acknowledgement but never actually updated the site so....take that for whatever it's worth and big grain of salt. 😂
As far as direct eBay sources, the last time eBay actually officially stated Active Sellers in any earnings reports or other corporate disclosures was in 2021.
In 2021, the active seller stats were:
Q1 - 20 Million
Q2 - 19 Million
Q3 - 19 Million
Q4 17 Million
There has been no public disclosure of eBay Active Sellers since Q4 2021 and I've been unable to find any reliable non-public source for that info either. It's always possible someone else may have had luck where I haven't but my guess is a lot of those sites are likely extrapolating averages/estimates based on total user stats or some other data rather than having direct knowledge of actual figures.
richard1rst
·2 years agoI see the number of sellers figure somewhat differently.
I gather from previous posts that many posters seem to want to ignore the rest of the world and what effect it has on eBay as is somehow eBay exists in a vacuum.
In 2013 eBay had 18.3 sellers - in 2023 18.1 sellers. i.e. about the same. How about, in 20123 a bunch of people decided to jump on the band wagon with an additional bunch jumping on during the Covid stay at home restrictions. But unfortunately they just didn’t have “the lobes†and found it wasn’t as easy as they thought. Or due to the supply chain shortages they couldn't get replacement inventory. So they quit (or failed) and went back to their day jobs.
I don’t think it is so much that eBay “lost†the sellers as it is that the Great Material Continuum simply washed away those who should not have been here in the first place.
How many posts do we see every day from sellers whining about how it is impossible to earn a living here. Yet the fact that some of us do negates the validity of their complaint.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoThere has been a decline in active users over the last 4 years if not more. You can find the data from Ebay in there earnings reports for each year.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoThere has been a decline in active users over the last 4 years if not more. You can find the data from Ebay in there earnings reports for each year.
eBay's Q1 2024 report shows a decrease of 1% in active buyers over the same quarter in the prior year.
eBay reports active buyers, but I think they stopped reporting active sellers a few years ago.
So IMHO eBay quarterly reports do not really support the statement I’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBay".
Outside sources have put eBay's active sellers at 18.3 million in 2022 and 18.1 million 2023, but I could find no estimate for q1 2024.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoI’m starting to see a rapid increase in sellers leaving eBay.
That is what the OP is quoting. I am not quoting anything the OP has posted. FYI
I am just saying there has been a decline over the last couple of years. The earnings reports are the only way to really dig into the numbers. Relying on outside info can be flawed or biased either way not saying some sources are better than others.
The only real way of getting that info is to read the earnings report and read between the lines. There always is a bit of spin in them but numbers don't lie. If you look back at active users and sellers (go back pre 2020) from years past, you can get an idea of where things are heading.
That does not mean they are gong away or anyone should be afraid of using the platform. I still believe Ebay is one of the best ones you can use to market your goods to millions. Yes it has its faults but everyone can find what it costs to sell before using it.
There have been a lot of changes with Ebay recently and to me that is a sign of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoIf you look back at active users and sellers (go back pre 2020) from years past, you can get an idea of where things are heading.
IMHO numbers from more than four years ago will only tell us where eBay has already been.
Numbers from the past quarter or two are what will tell us where eBay is heading - which to me seems pretty much stagnant.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoThere is a reasons why they stopped reporting certain numbers and at the end of the day, the shareholders really only care about buyers, margin and profits. (Generally)