After 20 years I'm quitting, the fees are too high, managed payments suck, seller page is too hard

[forward-motion]

These are the headlines this board is littered with.

July 2021 is my 20th year anniversary. And I want to say to everyone of those headlines is that it's not easy to win, it's not easy sometimes. But it is worth it. 

I consider myself a small seller. Several years ago I broke into the power sellers group and have grown in small steps from there. Four years ago I had the best year ever at $17,200. I felt it was a big accomplishment.  Last year I broke that at $17,800 and costed through December. I had the best month ever last year at $3,200. This year in 2021 my first quarter was the best ever quarter. And now at the half way point I am at $13,600. I project to break my best year by $10,000. 

I say all of this to combat the neigh Sayers,

The fees are too high. I raised my prices. 

Manage payment sucks. Yeah, I didn't like it. But I still collect at the bank so change and adapt. 

The page changed. Seemed easy to me. But again change and adapt. 

I feel all the people who quit or claim to don't want to or just can't seem to roll with the changes. 

Some say there are better venues out there, but when I ask, tell me one better or who is the best, I get no answers. For me I have found my grove,  I have learned how to do it. I don't get paid by ebay to say nice things, although they did send me a mouse pad when I became a power seller, so maybe that counts. 

I expect this tread to be full of the people who will show me the math of how they are loosing money, how it is too hard, how ebay is going down etc. Folks, I'm going to keep doing this thing until it doesn't work anymore. And to the ones who are struggling, keep going it can be done. Keep listing and keep selling. 

[slippinjimmy]

I've been involved in a lot of different businesses over the past 50 years.

eBay is not for everyone, operating a business is not for everyone but for those with experience, skills and achievable expectations eBay can be an incredibly easy place to make a modest amount of money with VERY modest effort and almost zero risk of a cataclysmic event.

Many businesses I've been actively involved in work on the 90/10 principle, they loose money on 90% of their activities and make giant piles cash on the remaining 10%. Very few sellers who post here understand that losing money on individual transactions is just part of making the big bucks, if you don't have some losses you are unlikely to ever see the big bucks.

[pikabo-icu]

Oh my stars!  You got me..

I thought this was another dramatic exit post..

I was a little shocked you would do that- then I read the post.. 

[divwido]

eBay is hard.  No one is disbuting that.  I"m letting my listings end right now because I have no sales and I have other far more important things that need to be done.

[divwido]

Sorry, disputing.  I'm tired.

[kath.layn]

What a breath of fresh air!  Such a nice change from all the complaints.  Although, if I had experienced some of the awful things described in here I’d be livid too.  I’m puzzled why there isn’t a class action suit already.  Sounds like plenty of evidence of fraud.

I started selling about 6 years ago and my goal was $300 a month. I was thrilled when I reached that!  My sales have steadily climbed as I’ve gotten better at sourcing and pricing and writing ads. When things get slow I list more stuff and drop my prices.  It works for me and I still enjoy nearly every aspect of my eBay thing.  Now goal is $100/ day.  That’s just selling price, not including the shipping.  I haven’t quite made it yet, but I’m getting close.  My average sale has gone up from 15$ to almost $30.  

Of course I get the occasional A-Hole, but most of my buyers are just fine.  And it really is true that people don’t READ!  So when I write ads now I keep it very short and sweet.  Let the photos tell it all.  I suppose certain products attract more scammers and cheats.  I sell mostly Levi’s and dish ware. Nice folks.  

[buyselljack2016]

Your title had me all excited. More of the competition leaving, and then I read your post😊

Like you I have adapted, and adjusted. I'm in my 21st year of selling on eBay.

Those refusing to adapt, or can not adapt will have to seek more fertile fields, but like you, this is the spot for me, and what I sell. 

Now that I think about it a bit, perhaps I will depart.  I never got a mouse pad.

[inhawaii]

I've noticed that when sellers come here to rant, they almost always mention how many years they have been here or that they gave a "perfect" record.   Like that really matters.

"So you've been here 20 years and have perfect feedback, well then the new rules don't apply to you."

[jayjaspersgarage]

This won't help much but I had a 29K month last year but it sure wasn't here on epay.

[gjs_16]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Your title had me all excited. More of the competition leaving, and then I read your post😊

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Hahahaha me too!

I've been selling here for 10-12 years.

My sales are near record levels now.

[postingid7659]

I had a sold item today and I thought it was in my old van with the rest of the items I take to shows in the fall/winter seasons.  Dug through it all in 95' heat with about 10,000% humidity and not there.  Okay I had a little of that stuff in my current vehicle for the summer trade shows (where I sell mostly different stuff).  .... not there.  What the bleep?

So I go back through old van and look through the trays (covered) and there it is, in a tray I never put items like this in before.  Of course after I find it a thundershower breaks out and I get soaked a second time as I put the rest of the stuff away (that fits like a jigsaw puzzle in there).   I have to wait it out a bit with a bunch of the stuff pulled under the eaves of the garage so it's not getting soaked.  

So I go in and change to shirt three on the day and go out as the rain stops and start putting the rest away.  Of course it seems like each time I start the 12 feet or so with the next box it starts to rain again. 

TL:DR I about had a heat stroke then got soaked in the rain just trying to pack one item that was not quite where it was supposed to be


Yeah eBay is hard.  I'm not the most organized person but I'm not usually this bad.  Had to keep ducking thunderstorms all the way to the post office, too. 

[luckythewinner]

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@forward-motion wrote:

These are the headlines this board is littered with. 

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And you should take them with a grain of salt. I went back to threads from last year to find messages from sellers who indicated they were leaving: 

06/2020: "I've had enough of ebay. In July, I'll be closing up ebay sales. Off to FB & Craigs list I go!" Update: Still selling.
07/2020: "And YES I am out on the 15th!" Update: No longer selling.
10/2020: "After 22 years, I am thru with eBay" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "I'm done with them as well" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "I decided to have no part of this new payment nonsense" Update: No longer selling.
10/2020: "I'm pretty sure ebay is thrilled to see us old timers leave" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "I am with you!" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "Yes I am slowly leaving" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "Managed payments was the topping on the exit cake" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "I have basically let this one go dormant" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "How do I just close out all my ebay accounts?" Update: Still selling.
10/2020: "Looking elsewhere" Update: Still selling.

[chapeau-noir]

I swear, there must have been a real traffic jam 20 years ago when all zillion people signed up here all at once.

One thing I do wonder about all of these 20 year seller posters - some seem not to have realised that 20 years is like 10 lifetimes in etailing world.   Yes, things do move a little fast, but gotta keep up.

 

[forward-motion]

That is why I started it out that way I've been on here for 20 years.... 

[forward-motion]

Oh yes! I forgot I'm starting a class action lawsuit.