Surviving the Slump
Summary: In this discussion about the current state of eBay sales, participants reflect on the challenges of selling certain collectibles and antiques in a fluctuating market. my-cottage-books-and-antiques ponders the potential reactions of characters from Walt Kelly's Pogo comic strips to today's world, citing Kelly's talent in addressing social issues humorously. tools* adds that sales aren't universally down, but the interest in some items has permanently waned, invoking Pogo's line on self-responsibility, "We have met the enemy and it is us." The exchange highlights nostalgia for the past while acknowledging the dynamic nature of the eBay market.
Just sharing my strategies. I’m retired with a fixed and steady income which used to cover my living expenses. I have been banking all my eBay profits and using that $ to spend time in Mexico each winter. But these days My eBay profits have been so low, and with the Cost of Living being so high, my steady retirement income doesn’t cover basic expenses anymore. I know, I’m lucky (and grateful) to have a nest egg that I can pull from. But my goal is NOT to pull from that. I finally made the call and set up an automatic monthly withdrawal so I can make ends meet.
I’ve also decided NOT to buy any more eBay inventory until sales pick up. I’m spending more time and energy reworking old ads, sending offers, running sales. I’m also doing a major clean-out of my garage and shop and finding lots of things I can list, so I’m still listing a few items most days. I absolutely LOVE the sourcing for new items but I hafta rein that in for now.
And lastly, I haven’t branched out to other platforms. Don’t sell clothes, mostly OOAK vintage housewares that do well on eBay. And I think I’m too old to learn a new platform now. Interested to hear how my other reseller friends are coping.💜
keziak
·4 months agoYou seem to be doing well with your glass sales. So much pretty glass. Impressed.
rokkworks
·4 months ago30 year eBay veteran here. Every single year I’ve been here, sales have slowed down during summer/starting Memorial Day.
This year isn’t unique, although the slump seemed to start a bit earlier than Memorial Day, perhaps because of inflation, economic uncertainty, and current economic pressures, such as gas prices and electricity bills.
Your photos look great! Sharp, appealing to the eye, tidy. You have a real descriptions, not AI slop. 👍🏼
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoYes - it has been a pretty steady pattern overall - not for every market, but I've noted it with clothing and accessories and computer peripherals. Bike parts pop, though - I wish I had more of them.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoInteresting. I never thought about bike parts before 🤔
lb23cavaliersmvp
·4 months agoNot sure if this was already suggested but I would suggest rethinking your decision to stop buying items to re-sell on ebay until sales pickup. First, looking for items, especially at bargain prices, is fun. Second, if you don't look you'll never know what you missed out on that would help address your financial needs. What I'd suggest is that you reassess what you are buying and how much you are paying for them. For instance, you are trying to sell a lot of odd pieces of flatware (4 pieces and up of various patterns). Unless you are sure that a pattern is really desirable I'd stop and try to focus on different items that are in demand and can be sold at a profit of least $30-40 (I don't understand why people list items for a few $ or are looking to net a few $).
Pick a new re-sale category that seems to be generating sales, learn about it and see if you can source it. For example, yesterday I went to a yard sale and found ~ 6 items in 3 different categories , that other buyers ignored, at prices which should enable me to sell at a reasonable profit. We all make a variety of mistakes buying but deciding to stop looking, rather than avoiding repeating past mistakes, isn't helpful. Best of luck.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI'm on my way to actually closing out, but I agree that some selective buying keeps the pot boiling. List some new stuff to move the older stuff, but I keep it very small these days.
House clean-out, etc. also yields some new finds.
turtles-trading-post
·4 months agoI am also a well positioned retiree. I have a niche store serving stamp collectors. I "play store on the Internet". It allows me to work business strategy, create and achieve goals and interface with fellow collectors. In short it's why I get up in the morning! We are not extravagant but we indulge in a few cheap evenings out each week using what we call "Turtle Money".
My business is doing okay. I am not promoting at all. I see the short days like everyone else. Only for me it's not no sales, its sales only to my repeat customers.. aka my followers.
Overall, Americans are an entitled bunch. I saw on the Philadelphia news that this weekend we have record road travel despite gas prices. Atlantic City hotels are sold out. Yup, Americans holding out their credit cards to get what they want, when they want it.
So what should we as sellers do? List like bandits! As others said I am focusing on the backlog of collections I have purchased. I'm breaking them up and listing. One of the goals I set is "number of listings". A week ago I finally hit 10,000 listings. After a few rainy days, I'm up to 10,250! I want to hit 10,500 by the end of the holiday weekend!
my_boston_baked_beans
·4 months agoI used to sell a lot of vintage and antiques did well for years on ebay. Enjoyed selling what I loved, but now what I love is not what is wanted. So, cleaning out the house using ebay for a few odds and ends, but not investing more $$ on this losing venture. Ebay has become more a site to glance at here and there. I sell on other sites like etsy, but it is very slow there as well. At this point; I would rather have a clean house:)
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·4 months agoI get that. Interesting how things change in the different chapters of our lives 🤔
kath.layn
OP4 months agoYes, I agree. Hold that thought
roccotacodad54
·4 months agoI don't sell on eBay but am retired with a fixed and some investment income. I don't go to Mexico but we do like to take trips in the RV and have cut way back on those. I'm not going if I have to skrimp on eats and treats because of how many hundreds it takes to fill up that big tank.
Your strategy is a good one to hunker down I think.
I also believe things will improve and you will once again be in Mexico and I'll be at some high mountain lake listening to the wind blowing through the pines at night.........................
keziak
·4 months agoYou and I are in much the same boat. I also stopped scouting and am working through backlogs though only listing auctions now. I no longer sell on Amazon and success on Marketplace is pretty low. I am also expecting to set up withdrawals from my investments at some point.
so you are not alone.
tobaccocardyahoo
·4 months agoSince no one else has chosen to point out this bad news, I feel I must.
Sales are not down across the board. Ebay keeps growing.
Some of the items which no longer sell well, are never coming back, and if there is going to be buyer interest, it is going to be well below what many of us paid for it.
This happened in many areas of "antiques and collectibles" well before there was an internet. It has happened many times in the 30 years Ebay has been in existence, often caused directly by Ebay and Ebay sellers.
As Pogo Possum once said,"We have met the enemy and it is us". Does anyone know who Pogo was? Will anyone buy a volume of Pogo comic strips?
my-cottage-books-and-antiques
·4 months ago@tobaccocardyahooOne of the first things I sold on ebay was a collection of Pogo comic strips in book form. A duplicate....I still have a bunch of the books. Walt Kelly was an amazing talent. I can't help but wonder what Pogo and his pals would have to say about the current state of the world. LOL
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoThere would certainly be no lack of material to work with.
my-cottage-books-and-antiques
·4 months ago@chapeau-noir yep, he would have a great deal to work with, as long as no one drained the swamp ... The Okefenokee Swamp, that is!
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI Go Pogo!
tools*
·4 months agochapeau-noir
·4 months agoProphetic.
kibble-net
·4 months agoI've been sourcing a lot less, catching up on my listing backlog, dropping prices on old listings, and spending more time on hobbies.
A major reason for the slowdown is outside our control, but we can still make the best of things by focusing on the things we do have the power to control.
Here's hoping that things return to normal within a few years.
meme6253
·4 months agoSounds to me like you are making all the right moves, Some smart strategy, Lets Hope we all find ways to survive!, Good Luck to you!
marine-store786
·4 months agoIs it happening due to war? I being Indian Seller also facing huge sell drop (though its same from past 2 years, and even we sell something once in a month, ebay cuts its commission and peanut is left after all conversion)
Any other platform similar to ebay?
luckythewinner
·4 months agoIf sales of the type of inventory you have been sourcing in the past are slumping, IMHO that might be an indication that you need to evaluate the type of invetory you are sourcing.
Many sellers seems to fall into the trap of blaming a drop in sales on outside forces rather than taking an objective look at the things they can control. I just don't buy arguments like "gas is expensive, so no one is buying on eBay", or "eggs are expensive, so people can't afford anything else".
Good on you for not blaming "the economy" and shrugging.
kandf_vintage_finds
·4 months agoLove your store!
kath.layn
OP4 months agoAw shucks…thank you!
adamcartwright
·4 months ago@kath.layn
Going through my dead pile to list stuff I had forgotten about.
Resolving to list the bigger stuff that will be harder to photograph and ship. But I want it out of here.
Opening cupboards and listing stuff I don't want. One sold in just a few days. People are still buying bric-a-brac if it's priced to sell.
yeswayrecords
·4 months agoEach step of the selling process is valuable, and all come together to make a successful business.
It is interesting to see the ups and downs of selling here, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it.
With the rising costs of doing business, it would seem that seasoned sellers may see less competition in the future (which would only help sell more).
Love your creativity in spending some of the winter in Mexico!
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoLearning new platforms is pretty easy - I don't think age is any barrier - it just takes a little time.
ryry-jj
·4 months agoSmart to sell items you already have rather than increase your inventory with new items. Inventory doesn't pay the bills. Technically, it can be considered profit that you pay taxes on in some cases.
My wife is similar, she loves buying and sourcing items...but I keep telling her she needs to enjoy selling and money more to be successful on ebay