Are You Ready?

[pls-consignments]

Without sounding like a "Debbie Downer" or "Negative Nancy" (sorry to all Debbies & Nancys), this upcoming summer slow-down could have all the makings for one of the worst in many years due to obvious economic uncertainties. The timing of "cause and effect" could greatly impact discretionary spending, putting many vulnerable sellers at risk. Of course, this is just one guy's opinion. 😉

Regardless, what steps are you taking to minimize the impact to your bottom line this summer? Your incite will be helpful to other less experienced sellers.

[cardxcraft]

I would admit it; check my history, I never blame eBay.  I criticize eBay but I never blame them, for anything; as I'm extremely grateful to have an opportunity to sell to customers across our wonderful country from the luxury of home.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@pls-consignments  At present, I have plans for 2025, but they haven't really been influenced either by the recent state of the economy or the potential state of the economy (for better or worse). I will alter them if necessary. Since ebay sellers are such a varied lot, with different inventories, goals, etc, my basic advice would simply be: be willing to pivot if necessary.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@meme6253 wrote:

Yep i'm here, but my opinion on Mr. Orange will never change!, I basically know that whatever he says, believe the opposite & you have the truth most times.

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I am glad you are here as well meme6253

Difference of opinions is healthy.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@bashort wrote:

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@pls-consignments wrote:

Without sounding like a "Debbie Downer" or "Negative Nancy" (sorry to all Debbies & Nancys), this upcoming summer slow-down could have all the makings for one of the worst in many years due to obvious economic uncertainties. The timing of "cause and effect" could greatly impact discretionary spending, putting many vulnerable sellers at risk. Of course, this is just one guy's opinion. 😉

Regardless, what steps are you taking to minimize the impact to your bottom line this summer? Your incite will be helpful to other less experienced sellers.

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I refuse to participate, really makes me no difference what the sky is falling people are saying.

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@bashort wrote:

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@pls-consignments wrote:

Without sounding like a "Debbie Downer" or "Negative Nancy" (sorry to all Debbies & Nancys), this upcoming summer slow-down could have all the makings for one of the worst in many years due to obvious economic uncertainties. The timing of "cause and effect" could greatly impact discretionary spending, putting many vulnerable sellers at risk. Of course, this is just one guy's opinion. 😉

Regardless, what steps are you taking to minimize the impact to your bottom line this summer? Your incite will be helpful to other less experienced sellers.

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I refuse to participate, really makes me no difference what the sky is falling people are saying.

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Technically you just did participate. 😀

[linus.hux72fe]

Why thank you!

Let's see...

I do not and never have promoted or used social media for my eBay sales so I'm afraid I can't comment knowledgeably on that. 

I was given a store for 3 months free from eBay. (Oct. Nov. Dec.) Seemed to help because I could list more for free for those months although I haven't really organized it like the instructions said.

I try to list daily but have failed in January and my sales have decreased (frequency).

I still take kinda iffy pictures so there is room for improvement there.

I tend to have some odd things listed (my taste tends to weird or strange as does that of my family's things I've inherited.) So not as much competition perhaps.

I'm not much of a price checker in that I tend to think many of the asking prices of things are darn crazy.

And I'm usually pretty critical of what I'm listing so my descriptions are a list of faults. I could probably stand to improve the descriptions but can't stomach the automated eBay thing that writes a bunch of long winded stuff. 

When I "feel" like I'm not "visible" I tend to walk away (take a break) from eBay and list elsewhere for a few days. I know that's not the recommended thing but it keeps me from obsessing about the Cha Ching sound and increases my sales elsewhere. I know I can't be top center all the time. And I do get mad at eBay for things like algorithms and lack of advertising but then I remind myself, it's just business and if eBay can't/won't get the job done, I have other options aside from swearing at the computer and the Ebay monster inside it.

I've made a concerted effort to ship things quickly even though I have a 3 day handling time due to still working and farming.

Lastly, I'd say I have been very lucky in sourcing things cheaply and easily that for some unknown reason appealed to people this past year.

Anyway, in sum, I don't think I'm doing anything particularly right or special or different than anyone else. Just sort of plugging along 

Thank you

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@linus.hux72fe Thanks so much. I think you actually provided the Super Secret to ebay Success, especially for long tail sellers: "Just keep plugging along"

And I , too am finding it helps to have some additional venues to shift to when ebay gets too frustrating. 

[inhawaii]

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@tools* wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

The longer away from selling I am, the more I want to get some other job, or stick to doing audiovisual for data companies (not steady). But I do have a house to clear out.

With that addle brain Musk (whose business acumen can be gauged by his shipwrecking Xitter pronto and having an entire team at spaceX devoted to keeping him distracted and away from the levers of power there) letting a bunch of his grubby young fanbois get access to the US treasury, I'm in a wait and see mode to see how fast they loot the treasury and if our spineless politicians do anything about this serious hack.

At least Trump closed the de minimis threshold with China; however, since the Chinese already knew this was going to happen, they've switched more to on-shoring here and they have to pay freight (a whole other fraught subject, but their problem). Still, that stops a lot of the more peripheral stuff. This may make a difference competitively for us.

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To be more accurate, the politicians lacking a spine are the ones who control congress and are so afraid of losing their power that they're willing to confirm the least qualified candidates in recent history.

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Even though the investigation has not been completed, as a matter of fact had just begun, didn't our new commander in chief say the plane crashed because of  DEI?   How does he know this, because he has common sense. "We need the most competent people in these positions" ... YET ... look at these clowns who are getting white house positions.  Does anyone see the irony here?

[meme6253]

It can also lead to poor health such as high blood pressure.

[meme6253]

I see the irony & dire times ahead.

[vintagecraze50]

Loud mouth bass is WAY too impulsive. You can see that acting out right here and right now. Results of impulsive acts are usually not that great.

[jg.mason]

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@pls-consignments wrote:

Let me just add that this is not meant to be a political conversation. Many newer sellers rely upon the experience and wisdom of other sellers. 

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Too much TDS in here for that to happen. 🤣

[tefka]

2024 was a great year for me sales-wise (books) on three platforms. Last two weeks have been slow and I have already started being more cautious in my scouting. I will run a spring sale to help spur sales if the slowdown continues. 

I typically sell a lot through ebay global shipping, and I'm worried that the words, bullying tactics and actions of our president have done irreparable harm to our reputation, and that may have an effect on buyers even wanting to buy from the U.S. Is this a valid worry Canadians, Europeans, and others? I know many here in the U.S. feel like me and don't support the psychopath, hate him actually. I sold a book to the UK this week and I couldn't help feeling embarrassed when I was packing it. 

[cardxcraft]

Clowns, as opposed to what, career politicians enriching themselves; giving us the worst 4 years in presidential history.  I'll take our clowns any day, every day over your woke, forever war libs.  The Don is independently wealthy, whereas your "reps" are puppets to the MIC, USAID and Big Pharma.  Elizabeth "Pochahontas" Warren, grilling RFK jr over vaccines, meanwhile, Big Pharma paid her $6.5 million usd last year to do their bidding.  Bernie Sanders, $1.5 million usd received from Big Pharma.  The Don accepted no Big Pharma dollars.

[animal-house-8]

Have seen a big downturn in traffic across 10 selling sites, I hope this is not going to continue.

[inhawaii]

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@cardxcraft wrote:

Clowns, as opposed to what, career politicians enriching themselves; giving us the worst 4 years in presidential history.  I'll take our clowns any day, every day over your woke, forever war libs.  The Don is independently wealthy, whereas your "reps" are puppets to the MIC, USAID and Big Pharma.  Elizabeth "Pochahontas" Warren, grilling RFK jr over vaccines, meanwhile, Big Pharma paid her $6.5 million usd last year to do their bidding.  Bernie Sanders, $1.5 million usd received from Big Pharma.  The Don accepted no Big Pharma dollars.

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@cardxcraft 

If you truly think this RFK clown is the best person to run health and human services, something is wrong with you.

My plumber would be a better choice.