What Do You Like About eBay? - Only Positive NO NEGATIVES
So I have been on eBay since 1999. I have made some negative posts about changes that have been made in the past 3 years or so. But I am still selling... and very thankful for the platform. What do you like about eBay and what it has to offer for sellers? Can we stay positive? Let's see!
89 comments
doc-holmes
·3 years agoEbay allows me to partake in a hobby that brings me a lot of enjoyment. Life comes at you hard sometimes, and little things like fun hobbies can go a long way.
natoman777
OP3 years agoI just thought of another big thing I love about eBay. I love being able to pass on items to people that are overjoyed to get them. Nothing cooler than selling an older item that someone had as a kid or something like that. I can hardly believe I have been selling on the platform since 1999. It has helped my wife and I put money into retirement and pay off our home... and go on vacation every year 😎
monster-deals
·3 years agoI've been selling on ebay before you needed pictures and you got checks in the mail. I do this as a double full time job. Here hourly about 30 hours a week and for myself about 15 hours a week.
I make my own hours, I decide (mostly) what I want to sell and for how much.
Everyday is something new and information gets packed into my overstuffed brain usually kicking out some nonsense I learned in high school like how to calculate the volume of a cone.
I did however use pi to calculate the radius of a giant globe I bought last year. So...once in 53 years some sort of geography was "important"
joels-retrocade
·3 years agoeBay has improved my life significantly lol in so many ways. When I first started selling I had a small humble collection of Action Figures and Video Games. I was young homeowner and rarely had any cash leftover for extras but eBay has enabled me to invest in myself. Picked up so much stuff in the last few years I would have never been able to afford previously. I never realized how trapped I felt working full time too, once I had all this extra cash and ability to make my own money; the "power" so to speak swung back in my favour for probably the first time in my life. I truly feel more free now than ever before and that feeling is priceless to me; all thanks to eBay. The fruits of my labour lol a pic of my game wall 😛
natoman777
OP3 years agoI honestly posted this question to try and encourage users to not just focus on all that is wrong with eBay. I have replied on so many posts that say something like "I am done with eBay"... "eBay is dead"... and I always think... why are you bothering then? Answer: Because eBay still is possibly the best platform for most individual sellers to sell items that they otherwise would have to stick with selling locally in a store or at a yard sale.
varebelrose
·3 years ago"What do you like about eBay and what it has to offer for sellers? Can we stay positive?"
I like these community boards, pretty much the only social media I use. Keeps me entertained.
Thats about it.
tammiegoldenhair
·3 years agoeBay allows me to work full time from home and that’s great to be with family . No morning commute ! just a stroll down the hall to my photography studio. I love eBay and I am thankful everyday ! I recommend eBay to anyone who wants to start their own business.
ed8108
·3 years agoThe ebay volunteer community board
shar_27
·3 years agoeBay has provided a training ground where no compensation is required for damages for some flashy techy-wanna-be to sharpen their skills for better job offers.
This really boosts our economy
evry1nositswindy
·3 years ago10 years selling and I still love it. I can work (or not work) at my own pace. If I want a day off, I take it. I work several other jobs as well, so this fits into my busy schedule. eBay money has helped keep food on the table and pay for expensive insurance. I love being creative with writing descriptions and taking pictures.
the-hook-and-the-loop
·3 years ago..........still thinking??????
oldwestcoins
·3 years agoI have been selling for over 23 years or practically since eBay began. I do have two ids. My other is my primary selling ID. I am 67 now. Over those 23 years, eBay has significantly helped pay off my home mortgage, many new car purchases, vacations, and daily bills. Now that I am retired, I have been able to expand my "hobby" and keep out of trouble, as my wife would say.
One thing that seems to have changed within the eBay organization is their willingness to work with me on a few problems whereas they were always like talking to a brick wall. Most recently, I had a (scam)buyer claim they did not receive a $1,700 gold coin. I always (over) ship items, requiring signature confirmation on items even in the $300 range if I have a concern or gut feeling about a buyer. eBay originally sided with the buyer, but after I provided USPS tracking, signature confirmation, and even a letter from the delivering USPS Office Postmaster, they reversed their decision and refunded my $1,700. And yes, tracking and signature confirmation was uploaded as required.
True, sales continue to fluctuate for no reason, but they always seem to go back to normal, whatever that is. Recently, I picked up a buyer that is practically cleaning me out of everything I have listed under my primary selling ID for the past several months. The guy will just not stop. I never thought I would be so busy as to wish for a few days or a week to let the dust settle. And yes, it is causing me to brush up on a better understanding of quarterly taxes.
Obviously, over the years, eBay has caused tons of frustrations for me, but I can honestly state at the moment, selling here is good. I did try selling on my own website, but I found that to be a nightmare maintaining duplicate inventories and relying on Freelancers for website support. I finally removed all inventory from that site and simply added a link to my eBay store. I keep the site for promotional and information purposes only.
Sorry to bore you with this long reply, but the original OP asked. 🙂 I wish every seller the same good fortunes that I have been able to obtain over the years. Remember to think like a business and don't take things personally. Good luck all!
eBay rocks - got me out of debt and helped me STAY out of debt. Love
it I can make money based on how much I put into it. Love is that the side money I make will pay for my kids’ college if I keep pace with what I’ve done the last few years. Love it that I can take my kids on vacation and just dig in more on eBay to pay for it.
an-57470
·3 years agokeeps one mentally active
krazzykats
·3 years agoWorking on the computer all day where I can take off anytime I want.
😀
redlinear
·3 years agoAbility to sell something here that you couldn't give away locally.
maxine*j
·3 years agoYES!
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linda7913
·3 years agoI like eBay because I can sell my "stuff" nationally. Before I jumped onto eBay as a seller, I was trying to sell locally with absolutely no buyers. For the first couple months, I added Local Pickup to my listings and still no local buyers. So, I have been able to sell to buyers in nearly all the 50 states. It is wonderful.
I like eBay because the new listing tool shows the item specifics in such a way that if I miss something, it is noticeable, so I can catch all that is missing. I can create a template for things that are similar, so all I have to do is change what is different in each listing.
I like eBay because they take care of sending the sales tax to each state, so I don't have to. Can you imagine the headache it would be to send a payment to each state? eBay has all kinds of reports to help me with the financial aspects of selling, and now they have Order Earnings for each listing so I can see if I made a profit on the listing. I augment eBay's reports with my own financial program reports. eBay keeps everything needed for income tax purposes aboveboard and there is a paper trail for everything. I like that.
I like eBay because I can work at my own pace without worrying about the boss or office politics or the other negatives of working 8 to 5. I am my own boss in this venture, and if I put in several hours or just a few, it matters only to me.
I like eBay because nowhere else can I find just what I am looking for. I broke a couple dishes 30 years ago, and I was able to find their replacements on eBay at a reasonable price, so I have a complete set again.
Thank you for the opportunity to be positive and to count our eBay blessings. Without eBay, the "stuff" I've sold would still be in the house.
jewelbiz
·3 years agoPix me yesterday at celebration 🎉 birthday
party 🎊 my Manhattan apartment building threw for itself being 100 years old.
Thank you EBay for helping me pay the rent all these years!
ckimodog
·3 years ago@jewelbiz
Wow! So...no recent photos of springtime in NYC? Hope you're well.
glenvonnie
·3 years agoI've been selling here for 19 years, buying longer, always part time, I've sold somewhere over $700K maybe up to $800K by now, Ebay doesn't give you totals anymore.
I've bought cars and had houses fixed, paid dental bills and other medical bills for family members, helped struggling relatives through the tough times with groceries, bills, gasoline, car repairs, college tuition, etc. , supported worthy organizations, and still do.
I have an Autistic Grandson shown in my profile photo for whom the great state of Indiana provides 50 hours of therapy per year, so I make up the difference between that and what he really needs, that has really made a difference for him.
The only thing I ever bought for myself was a John Deere Zero turn 10 years ago that still runs like new.
Ebay has let me make a significant difference in the quality of life for others.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoCourtesy of eBay profits mad money:
My elderly lever espresso machine overhauled and a new burr hand grinder for my coffee corner. This prevents me from having too much blood in my caffeine system, an ever-present danger.
My coffee infrastructure also affords endless entertainment for the DH (who is a tea drinker) as I fiddle with minute grind calibration and bar pressure with various types of coffee roasts, striving for that "god shot".
It also pays gym fees, race entry fees and pub crawls.
siamjane8
·3 years agoLove working from home
Having more time with family
Time to help others in my community because I don't have a 9-5 job
Love learning about the items I purchase to resell
It's great to help others find the needed parts for classic cars that they would not get anywhere else
oldwestcoins
·3 years agoWow, that looks way too complicated for me. I'll stick to my instant coffee. ðŸ˜
yesterdays_treasures_44
·3 years agoI love when ebay raises their fees, and cut more into my already slim profit margin.
richard1rst
·3 years agoWhat I like about eBay is that I get bigger belly laughs from some of the comments posted here than I get from the newspaper's funny pages - even bigger than classics like Mutt & Jeff or Li'l Abner.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoJust raise your prices a bit. A good thing about rate increases is that the tax deduction under fees gets bigger. The higher the fees generally the lower tax due amount.
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoThere are a number of positives but of course most of those also have negative aspects to them but on the + side.
1. The breadth and scope of the buyer base.
2. Extensive help and policy documentation available that covers about everything.
3. Site is fairly easy to navigate and use.
4. Report generation capabilities.
5. 24 x 365 availability.
natoman777
OP3 years agoI knew some wouldn't be able to resist being more negative, but I am really happy to see so many positive replies! Of course eBay has problems and I have posted about them... but it is very good to acknowledge all that is good about eBay!
hartungcards
·3 years agoIt's always fun to log-in to eBay every day and see how long it takes to find something that isn't working right that day. It's more fun than playing Where's Waldo?
rustydalmatian
·3 years ago13% plus 30 cents is a dirt cheap way to reach a few hundred million people.
martiqefinds
·3 years agoLove this thread. Of course there will always be complaints but in general, Ebay has been a good outlet for my vintage finds. It is certainly work to keep a shop going as we all know, but we can do it in our own time without someone over our shoulder and we can lick our wounds in private when we make a mistake. I know people talk about high fees etc. but having had a BM store where the rent is due, sales or no sales, Ebay suits me just fine.
rwdesperado
·3 years agoAlthough my profile officially shows that I began on eBay
in 2005, I'm reasonably certain it was the late 1990's when
I first began listing here.
In any event I have experienced a lot and have seen
a lot of changes.
In many ways I think eBay has improved over the years.
Areas of improvement could be in the traffic and reputation
fields (flea market) but overall I give eBay a ðŸ‘
The thing I like the most about eBay is, unlike Amazon,
the relationships you can develop with your customers.
It seems more personal and you are much more in control
of the customer service you offer.
It hasn't always been the way it is now but I also enjoy
the level of seller protection here that some selling
venues do not offer.
It is also a lot more fun to shop / browse here than some
venues because eBay embraces collectibles / used etc.
(as well as new)
rather than just all of the mass produced imported items.
Thanks for the opportunity to express something good!
vintagepl
·3 years ago20 years ago, we were hitting Ebay hard for $$, now retired so we can still do what we love, go out every weekend hunting, & going to auctions where we meet our peeps just at a more leisurely pace now. We'll probably be doing this till we die, hopefully that wont be too soon.
josephb555
·3 years agoHere is what I like about eBay.
1. You get a national audience for your items
2. It is very user friendly to create pages
3. If there are any problems you could call customer service and speak to a live person
4. The buyer pays shipping.
5. The fees are very reasonable.
ckimodog
·3 years ago@natoman777
Ebay was a great outlet and choice for me after I was involved in an accident from someone else's neglect. I could have gone on disability but chose not to because I still had brain in my head and was willing to learn new things, as we all should. Lately eBay has been a struggle as a side hustle, but I keep on trying and hoping for the best and better days to come. Thanks for posting.
A hui ho
epowerbargains
·3 years agoSelling here has allowed me to have some very special interactions with other sellers and customers. I once sold a jewelry set to someone who lost the identical set and was heartbroken - years later they were able to purchase mine and were so happy they told me the entire story. I sold a few things I inherited from my electrician grandfather, and I posted them for sale thinking I had researched them enough to post accurate details, a fellow seller reached out with valuable information that helped me do a much better job describing what I had for sale and I was really grateful. He did not have to do that and I really appreciated him. I once refunded a sale to a first responder who needed something during a deployment, it felt like a nice thing to do for someone making a sacrifice. The vast majority of my sales have been mutually great experiences. Hang around long enough and there is bound to be a positive experience highlight reel.
moondogblues
·3 years agoepower...love your items. I wanted to ask if you have had any issues with 'Swarovski'? I've been reading about VERO and other problems...
jhtobias
·3 years agoIt is easy to spell
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoWhat I love about ebay is that it gives the opportunity for someone like me, who is a 45 year old right leg amputee in a wheelchair and has no college degree the opportunity to still earn a solid middle class listing and not rely on any sort of government handouts.
It also gives me an excuse to have a youtube channel as well!
https://www.youtube.com/@onefootflipper
stevemartin60
·3 years agoI like the way eBay was ten years ago, and that their severe decline in users and sales will eventually force a return to that.
inhawaii
·3 years agoFALSE POSITIVE!!!!! 😉
winterpalace25
·3 years agoI sell books and dishes that appeal to me and niche buyers. In my office, I am surrounded by bookcases of interesting books and shelves of beautiful dinnerware patterns. I am a very small seller supplementing my retirement income and enjoying myself.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoOaaawawaaa...!
cardxcraft
·3 years agoBeing honest and truthful is not negative...but, to answer your question. What I like about Ebay, is the access to so many buyers, both here in the USA and abroad. I'm exclusive to the stamps category; and there's no other platform that gives sellers such a massive buyer base. As it relates to philately, its equates to being the biggest stamp expo in history, especially on weekends. For this, I'm extremely grateful.
gotta-have-it-collectables
·3 years agoMoney... I Love it from all over as you can see!
Thanx eBay!
theteamsetguy
·3 years ago@natoman777 ,
Provides a steady part time income that allows me to quite my full time job if I get sick of it. I also like the deposits into my checking everyday except Saturday and Sundays.
nuclearomen
·3 years agowhat do I like?
I'll get back to you...
nuclearomen
·3 years agoI like ebay, though have issues with them on certain things. However, one thing I like about the platform is the more professional seller hub compared to other platforms I've used, especially finding sales histories etc.. and while many of many complained about the change to MP, I have not had one issue with that part of this platform, money always arrives in my account pretty fast.
lakefor94
·3 years agoI dont pay much attention to the changes other than to know what they are. Most all of the rants about changes to the platform do not effect me or my business or I don't allow it to do that. Changes will always come. They are imminent.
I just keep on moving forward. I am fulltime here and there. Reading and understanding policies and participation here on the forum make it easy. As a seller, I have to know what I am doing. That confidence makes it a breeze and I like that. It is a lot of work but it is really not any harder than we make it.
Oh, and I was on the lake fishing for 6 hours on both Wednesday and Friday. Still got orders out before I left for the lake. I like that. We have been eating well.
I can basically take off any day(s) I need to. Just flip the switch. I like that.
nanniestreasurechest
·3 years agoI'm enjoying being able to make a little extra money now that I'm retired and on a fixed income. I don't have high expectations so every sale is a victory for me! I also like the days I wake up thinking "Wow....I've got to get dressed to go to the post office!" 😂
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago^^^ Everything you said... except that I even ship (with scans!) in my PJs, thanks to my regular mail carrier. 😊
richard1rst
·3 years agoThe success I have had here got me these.
vintagecraze50
·3 years agoBRAVO to you and to Ebay.
theteamsetguy
·3 years agoNice
joliztoyco
·3 years agoYeah....due to "Promoted Final Value Fees" I was able step into this sweet ride!!
Eat your hearts out, fellow Ebayers....
vintagecraze50
·3 years agoBut you could sell the parts on here. LOL!!!!!
ckimodog
·3 years ago@joliztoyco
😆
ed8108
·3 years agothank you for sharing how the ebay opportunity has made a difference in your life.
joliztoyco
·3 years agoAnd thank-you, for thanking me, for sharing how the eBay opportunity has made a difference in my life, Ed.
It will really make a difference in my life.😀
trainup027
·3 years agoI like being able to find whatever I need here to buy. I like being able to sell odd items. I like going down rabbit holes and learning about things I didn't know. I like being able to find whole genres and generations of toys and other collectibles I never knew about before. I like adding so many things to my wish list that eBay tells me I can't add more and have to delete some! 😆
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoI drink ðŸ·while I am working...
inhawaii
·3 years agoNo wonder you sent me a red widget instead of a blue one. 😉
maxine*j
·3 years agoHey, at least he sent you a widget, even if the wrong color. Instead of a widget, I got a thingamabob with red wine stains on it.
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ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoI love it when I sell a toy (usually a diecast car) and the buyer is so happy because they had this item as a child and they are trying to relive their childhood.
ten_o_nine
·3 years ago@natoman777
Can we stay positive?
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If you believed in freedom of speech, you would not request everyone to stay positive.
natoman777
OP3 years agoI thought we would try something different instead of only negative threads. I have done the negative myself as I mentioned.
vintagecraze50
·3 years agoWe ALL could use some positive thinking posts on here. Bring em on folks.
chapeau-noir
·3 years ago@natoman777 is not the government so 1A doesn't apply, and having started this thread this is his theme. So yeah, it would be good to stay positive in this thread - we have plenty of negative threads if people want to carry on there.
ten_o_nine
·3 years agowe have plenty of negative threads if people want to carry on there.
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Ok, now, we encounter another feel good positive thread? oh my, I feel so good now, why did think it was bad. when it's so good!
ten_o_nine
·3 years agoI will probably have to teach my brain that good is bad and bad is good, it will take time to adjust, but you never know, maybe I will make it.
joliztoyco
·3 years agoI love the way I don't have to do all that exhausting packing and shipping since my sales died because I refuse to use "promoted Final Value Fees".
Thank-you Ebay.
I'm forever grateful.
oldwestcoins
·3 years agoSeems to always be one in the crowd just waiting to pounce for no good reason. I was going to reply but then slapped my hands to stop myself. Thanks for doing it for me!
fashunu4eeuh
·3 years agoObviously some have a lack of impulse control.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoIt's a lot easier to sell here than on Poshmark. 😖
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoWelp- we got to a whole ten posts before the Negative Nellies and the Debbie Downers came out to snark.
Why is it always the same hands?
ckimodog
·3 years ago@chapeau-noir
Thanks for the heads up...I was considering selling my jewelry there, but my thoughts are the jewelry category is probably just as saturated as it is on eBay. Oh well, onward and upward.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoI do sell jewellery there so why not give it a go.
ckimodog
·3 years ago@chapeau-noir
Thanks!!
natoman777
OP3 years agoI like it how my wife can do this full time and I can do it part time. She can take off anytime to go see grandkids and kids... Beats here being in a job that she can't be flexible.
vintagecraze50
·3 years agoMy sales picked up this weekend. Over a grand in sales. Where on earth can you do this with such ease. Very grateful to be here and hope the sales keep up.
atlasesattic
·3 years agoI get to hang out in my jammies all day, take as many lunch breaks as I want, hang out with my Great Dane all day, watch TV while I work and work any hours I want.
lamber9347
·3 years agoI like that I have been able to sell some very rare collectible items for quite a good price and that has made other collectors very happy. If it weren't for eBay, I would never have been able to find those collectors....
boomersbiz46
·3 years agoI agree...I sell antiques and collectibles and unusual items that may be hard to find. I don't sell a lot but I am a senior and getting rid of my accumulations. I don't need the money but it gives me something to do in retirement. I am amazed sometimes that similar items to mine go for much higher prices and my items just get by passed. Maybe they are "too cheap" and people are wary that something is wrong with them. I don't even need to "source" as I have a house full. Selling has slowed down a lot lately, not sure what the problems are but all the awful changes have really hindered selling. Now AI is really going to screw things up. I offer all the deals, best offer, volume pricing etc. I wish eBay had a "Wish List" site for sellers, we could probably do a lot more sales. People who are discerning collectors are always looking for their items, this would help them for sure. I have a backlog of items that I may never have time to list, this would help me downsize.
moondogblues
·3 years ago" I wish eBay had a "Wish List" site for sellers, we could probably do a lot more sales. People who are discerning collectors are always looking for their items, this would help them for sure. I have a backlog of items that I may never have time to list, this would help me downsize."
They used to have a list like that. I have forgotten how many years ago it was.
rosszonebricks
·3 years agoI am thankful for making money.
inhawaii
·3 years agoI have a full time job. Ebay is a hobby/side job for me.
It allows me "pocket money", extra money that I normally wouldn't have.
They deposit money into my "ebay" checking account every day without fail.
I am very thankful for that.
toysaver
·3 years agoI can work in my pajamas.
maxine*j
·3 years agoWait! Hold on! I got up every day. Showered. Did my hair. Dabbed on a bit of makeup. Donned my crisp professional attire. You mean I could have just stayed in my PJs to sell on eBay? Well, I never!
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