Tanking sales
My eBay sales have tanked . I keep about 250-300 items listed. Sales are down nearly 70% in past several months, and 4th qtr looking bleak too . I have a range of items . I’ve tried everything to spur sales but it seems the only thing that works is listing 6-7 items daily . Doing this every day to get 1 maybe 2 sales is unsustainable for a small seller . It feels like there is a trend to push small sellers out . Thoughts anyone?
33 comments
maubrn
·10 months agoI'm feeling the same frustration. The 4th quarter of 2024 was entirely different than this quarter 2025. I have almost double the listings as a year ago and better inventory. I have reduced many things to prices that hurt. I tried promoting listings and noticed no difference. Last year I sold things as fast as I could list them. NOT anymore. Feeling very discouraged
chapeau-noir
·10 months ago@maubrn For selling clothing, you're doing darned well. That's one market that's seen better days - I know, I've been in it for a while. There's simply too much of it everywhere selling for pennies on the dollar.
maubrn
·10 months agoYou're right! It's changed so dramatically. Its a soft market now. I'd do better at a fast food job seriously. 😵â€ðŸ’«
chapeau-noir
·10 months agoI worked fast food back in the day - it wasn't a bad job, actually, though I preferred janitorial.
certifiedcitynet
·10 months agoHave you tried using the 2% promoted listing feature? It literally doubled our sales volume. There is no fee unless the item actually sells. You even get the 2% back on returns and cancellations unless you have violated Ebay's policies in some way.
You can promote all of your listings at once using the bulk edit feature. But be careful to set them at 2% because the setting goes as high as 100%
guildbrosantiques
·11 months agoSince 2000 I rarely --if ever-- use fixed price or best offer listings. I only do 7 day auctions without buy it now. Just a thought. Good luck.
mam98031
·11 months agoAuctions are a great vehicle for some items and not so much for others. Each seller needs to find what works best for them and then do that. I'm glad you found what works for you.
guildbrosantiques
·10 months agoThank you mam98031!
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·10 months agoAs long as most of your buyers pay, this seems to be working out pretty good for you 🙂
reallynicestamps
·11 months agoA few of the fabric items could do with ironing.
Even though it may be the last time they will ever be touched by an iron.
duffy4444
·11 months ago@corbinsdad:
WOW! With only 301 current listings, you still have 154 sales in the last 90 days, and 10 sales already in October, just the start of the 4th quarter. That's pretty healthy, so what's your problem? No need to panic, IMHO. Your sales have NOT tanked, except maybe in relation to your own expectations.
But, since you asked for some thoughts... just two things:
Get rid of the AI descriptions on some of your listings! The eBay title says, "Item description from the seller". In reality, it should instead say "Item description from a disinterested non-human because this seller doesn't really care to be thorough".
Whenever I see an AI description, which becomes obvious within the first few words, I go on to the next seller's offer within 2 seconds. Your description should be from YOU and show you care enough about a real, non-fluffy description that actually is related to the exact item you're selling - without filler words like "must-have" or "rich philatelic history of Pakistan" or "adding an element of mystery" or "window into the past"... When potential buyers see that, they can immediately become bored and think "blah, blah, blah". Organic AI descriptions say NOTHING of real value related to the item, again in the opinion of a lot of buyers and successful sellers as well on this forum. Using AI descriptions is one of the stupidest eBay added features that goes totally against what a seller should be saying in their own words to avoid INAD complaints, again IMHO.
The other thing to help you with, if you are serious about even better sales, is to take better photos and get rid of allowing any shadows in them. And if you aren't doing so already, at least use the photo edit capabilities eBay gives you right there when you upload photos into a listing, where you have control over crop, rotation, exposure, contrast, and sharpness, etc..
Cheers, Duffy
ethylsgarage
·11 months agoThe only thing we have found that works to outwit the AI-infected search is to use Promoted Listings to get moved to the top of the search results. It appears you need to bid for at least 50% of the "suggested rate" for any category to have any effect on visibility and sales.
christworks
·11 months agoYou've been given some excellent advice. Honestly, your sell through rate is decent. It may be lower than what you are used to, but better than many. I'm honestly surprised you do as well as you do, because I just don't see the market with some of that stuff.
What I will say is that I'm not sure you have the inventory that people will be buying for Christmas, so your Q4 my stay flat.
12345jamesstamps
·11 months ago'UGG'...VGT'...are you selling these?...Put exactly what the item is in your title.
You can always add words in your descriptions.
Would everyone know what those mean...how about International clients who purchase and live with an USA address.
You are selecting a certain group of people who understand those abbreviations.
What about increasing the item price and adding 'free shipping'...maybe even in the title.
So many sellers think 'shipping price' and nothing else...Shipping price doesn't always have to be in the cost.
Buyers love to see the word 'free shipping'.
And buyers can't complain on an expensive shipping price or they paid more than the shipping because it states it is free.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@12345jamesstamps
In this case, UGG is the brand name.
But if there's room to write out the word "vintage," I always do.
12345jamesstamps
·11 months agoI had no idea what UGG was.
As for 'antique": I typed in
'Antique Grindley'...2700 items pop up
And then just 'Grindley'...7200 items pop up.
I think using the words vintage , antique, etc make less items pop up.
OP is using antique so I thought it be a good example.
Would one want to be in the 2700 or 7200 group? And which one makes better sense?
mam98031
·11 months agoHere is a link to the UGG website. They originally became popular because of their boots.
https://www.ugg.com
You may recognize them.
susanb1872
·11 months agoI don't use AI descriptions so I would suggest you get rid of them also. These descriptions do not add anything but fluff-"great addition to your collection" or "perfect for any occasion" does not tell me anything.
tobaccocardyahoo
·11 months agoI just listed a few Brand New DVDs. AI descriptions suited them just fine. The product is fluff so why not the description.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@tobaccocardyahoo
It's great that AI fluff works well with your products, but for OP's linens the J. Peterman treatment is probably just annoying for most buyers.
tobaccocardyahoo
·11 months ago@adamcartwright
Let me make it clear, dvds are the degenerate case of a listing for me.
But they suit many of the listings in certain Ebay categories.
In those categories, identical AI descriptions exist on many listing. perhaps they will lead to an Amazon like catalog. That would be really sneaky given the aversion of Ebay sellers to a catalog.
ed8108
·11 months agoBuyers want details about the item they are considering purchasing.
I consider AI fluff as an annoyance,
kandf_vintage_finds
·11 months agoyour sell through rate is better than most.
who would have thought there is a market for used bedding?
good luck to you.
animal-house-8
·11 months agoI have had to reduce prices and up ad rates and add more listings to even try to keep up with what I was selling few years ago, but that has worked to a point and the point is I am making less money. I really don't think ebay would want to push small sellers out, eBay has stock holders #1 priority. Now the Government has shut down, I have some clientele that buys wholesale from me not on ebay and they say traffic has just died, mine is 50% of what it was 2 weeks ago. You just got to wait it out, this too shall pass, I hope.
Your sales look good, of course that means nothing because no one knows what your COGS is, hang in there.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@corbinsdad
You have some beautiful things listed.
I list vintage and current linens, and I think the demand for beautiful things is still there, but not at the prices we would hope for. Try lowering your prices to get things moving.
Also, OBO never works for me; I don't get offers.
I do better sending offers to watchers.
mam98031
·11 months agoJust my personal opinion. I never use Best Offer. To me that sends a clear sign to a buyer that you have the item overpriced.
Also some sellers really abuse it. I can and have scent in offers on something that were very reasonable IMHO and likely asking for about 5% off and the seller denies it. Some sellers will only take full price or very slightly lower even though they use this tool.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@mam98031
I have always used BO sparingly for high ticket items where I want to be able to evaluate potential buyers (to the extent possible).
Last time I made a BO sale, I was able to ascertain up front that the item would be shipping by EIS, which is a major plus for me.
But I currently have two BO listings and many watchers but no offers, so will be reviewing my options.
meme6253
·11 months agoTimes are tough for many many people, & seem to be getting worse instead of better, However we as sellers just need to keep pushing on & Hope that the Holiday season makes up for things, Best Of Luck to you.
tobaccocardyahoo
·11 months agoLets consider what you are selling.
Used bedding appears to be present in some quantity. Mostly incomplete sets. Did this type of product ever turn quickly? Why have people bought it? I would question whether it was a practical need to cover a bed or pillow. Why would someone buy a sheet without matching pillow cases - a crafts project perhaps? Is your pricing attractive to someone who plans to cut up a sheet?
Lets look elsewhere. You have a Ray Charles Souvenir Booklet, listed as Ray Charles Memorabilia.
I too, sell entertainment memorabilia from the same period. I always identify what it is in greater detail. I do a better job of describing the condition than "“preowned. Some fraying at edges .no lg tears†"Preowned , very nice condition…"
This item is creased, at most is in very good condition. Entertainment collectibles of this period are slow sellers even when they are in better condition.
You have a jazz LP for sale. Obscure and not a fast mover priced above its offers and sales history on discogs.
You apparently prefer to list your LPs in categories other than the obvious one. No one who limits their search to the category will see them.
You have some items I own. Some I have not listed because they are plentiful and do not sell well. Like the Charlie McCarthy spoon.
One of the reasons sellers like you and I who sell items which are in low demand need to list regularly is our inventory gets picked over and only the slower turning items are left. By adding new items we bring in buyers who are looking for something fresh, and often in the process they find something they did not find when they previously searched.
I can list between 20 and 60 items per hour depending on what they are, how many photos they require and how much detail the product description and condition statement require. 6 or 7 per day is a trivial number, I waste more time than that takes posting on this forum. If you want or need the money this may be what you have to do.
It is not my attempt to dump on you. Plenty of people question the amount of time I am willing to wait for an item I listed to sell. If I wasn't willing to wait, I would not bother to list many of my items. Instead of being surprised by your rate of sales, expect it. If you need more money - you already know what you can do.
redlinear
·11 months agoYou can clean up stuff, take pics, inspect, describe in full detail, and 4 hours later have 160 listings on eBay?
Correct enough to maintain 100% feedback rating?
I'd pay $100/hr for that
tobaccocardyahoo
·11 months agoI clean up nothing.
I describe in appropriate detail. That means I usually have some context as well as the description of the item and a condition report which includes all flaws.
I use tools appropriate for the item to generate my pictures. From a flat bed scanner to a non-mechanical scanner which is basically a digital camera stand, to, if there is no faster and better way, - a camera.
I use software with automatic color, exposure and levels correction functions. Camera has settings for white level correction.
I group items to be listed for commonality of processing.
My internet link is faster than my computer can drive, so no delay there.
I know what I am going to charge for an item before I start listing it. If I do not, I know the minimum I will sell it for and run an auction. I am more concerned with how many relevant search results I get than what other sellers think an item is worth, so price research is minimal. I do not buy or list items which are common as dirt but if I do they get put aside for down times when I can consider lotting, donating or giving to flea marketeers.
I do not have the distraction of lots of buyer messages because most of my buyers can and do read the descriptions and the answers are there.
I do not have lots of post-sale customer service requests.
I can work when I want to work.
bonanza125
·11 months agoComes down to price and demand. I would suggest going through your ads and checking to see if your prices are higher than others listed and sold. Next thing to look at is demand. If not many of a certain item has sold then the demand or interest in what you have available isn't there. Yes listing items daily does help. You can't just expect sales with the same stuff listed. Sometimes it could take years for an offer or buyer to come around. Next you have a "No Return" policy. That's a disadvantage cause people will most likely buy stuff from sellers with a return policy especially 30 days w/seller pays shipping than someone with no returns. Yes folks do buy when there is a good deal or something they want but if you compare buyers will lean towards another seller.
mam98031
·11 months ago@corbinsdad
If you read the Seller Forum, you will see you are in good company. There are several threads on this subject. You may want to look for some of them as they may help you to.
I've seen this said many times over the years "It feels like there is a trend to push small sellers out." If that is something Ebay wanted to happen, none of us would even be here. They would just boot us off the site. It is their site and there is no legal requirement to have small sellers. So while I understand the feeling, it isn't Ebay that is causing this experience for you.
We have to take into consideration the world around us. It has an affect while some might dismiss it, it has an affect. Especially since the US government is currently in a shut down.
I encourage sellers to take this slow time to improve titles and pictures. Clean crisp pics in good lighting and no shadows is very important. The 80 characters in the title are extremely important. Don't waste the space by putting the item condition in the title, it states that just below the title. But words in the title that you think buyers might search for this item by.
We all hope things will improve soon. I wish you the very best.