eBay

luvcash · ‎12-10-2022

I sell in the Midwest. Seems like 98% of my sales go to California, Texas or the East Coast. A lot of my items are Collectibles from the Midwest. Does the Bay only send my listings to those areas or is the Midwest just not buying. I NEVER see EBay ads anywhere now days.

tealt · ‎12-10-2022

@luvcash wrote:
I sell in the Midwest. Seems like 98% of my sales go to California, Texas or the East Coast. A lot of my items are Collectibles from the Midwest. Does the Bay only send my listings to those areas or is the Midwest just not buying.

That's me in reverse.

I live in California, the most populous state. Yet only about 10% of my sales are within California.

The vast majority of my sales are to zone 8, and I always use calculated shipping. Highest shipping cost = highest shipping FVF for eBay's bottom line.

nanniestreasurechest · ‎12-10-2022

Found this interesting because I was just thinking how a lot of my sales are to the West Coast. I'm in the South.

yoonix1 · ‎12-10-2022

I'm sure your listings can be seen all over the world....

fashunu4eeuh · ‎12-10-2022

This is just a quickie look at some income level data. I believe sellers see sales being made to certain areas because that is where the money is. Below is a chart on the median income broken down by state. It is easy to see where discretionary income most likely exists, and i think you will find most of your sales go to those areas. (Keep in mind that though Texas falls in the middle of the list, it has a very large geographic area. But Texas has weathered the economic storms well and boasts a strong, stable economy.)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_income

yuzuha · ‎12-10-2022

@tealt wrote:

The vast majority of my sales are to zone 8, and I always use calculated shipping. Highest shipping cost = highest shipping FVF for eBay's bottom line.

It's the exact opposite for me. The vast majority of my sales of things that weigh over a pound are to zones 1-4.

yuzuha · ‎12-10-2022

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:
This is just a quickie look at some income level data. I believe sellers see sales being made to certain areas because that is where the money is. Below is a chart on the median income broken down by state. It is easy to see where discretionary income most likely exists, and i think you will find most of your sales go to those areas.

I think I've had exactly one sale to AR, two to MS and four to WV ever in nearly eight years of selling.

soh.maryl · ‎12-11-2022

Am in Ohio and I see 143 listings for you without a problem.

onefootflipper · ‎12-11-2022

@tealt wrote:

@luvcash wrote:
I sell in the Midwest. Seems like 98% of my sales go to California, Texas or the East Coast. A lot of my items are Collectibles from the Midwest. Does the Bay only send my listings to those areas or is the Midwest just not buying.

That's me in reverse.

I live in California, the most populous state. Yet only about 10% of my sales are within California.

The vast majority of my sales are to zone 8, and I always use calculated shipping. Highest shipping cost = highest shipping FVF for eBay's bottom line.

You have free shipping, that is a surefire way to make people in the furthest possible zones buy your products.

coolections · ‎12-11-2022

California and Texas are largest states. It is easily predictable those states will have the most sales. Please no conspiracies.

tealt · ‎12-11-2022

@onefootflipper wrote:
You have free shipping, that is a surefire way to make people in the furthest possible zones buy your products.

Um, not quite.

I have free shipping on most of my jewelry items, which are less than 6 oz to ship. Few/none of my items over 13 oz have free shipping. Yet, folks west of the Sierra Nevada's or north of the CA-OR border (zones 5-8) make up 90% of my sales.

tealt · ‎12-11-2022

@coolections wrote:
California and Texas are largest states. It is easily predictable those states will have the most sales.

You'd think so, wouldn't you.

Living in CA, I do get sales in Texas, but most of my sales are east of the Mississippi River (zone 8).

California is a big state, geographically and in population, and with the highest of incomes (nice map in post above). Why are only 10% of my sales in CA (zones 1-4/5 for me)?

iart · ‎12-11-2022

It seems that eBay used to focus views in the states most local to us. Probably over half our sales went to 4 states.

But since promoted listings, I think that's changed. Now they show up all over the country based on who pays what in promotions. If this is true, it's a hidden expense to promoted listings.

coolections · ‎12-11-2022

@tealt wrote:
Why are only 10% of my sales in CA (zones 1-4/5 for me)?

Because only 10% of the people who bought your stuff lives in California. Yes, you would assume most larger states would have the most sales, but never expect things to be evenly sold by population. The point is we can see your stuff so whatever state a person lives in has no bearing.

coolections · ‎12-11-2022

Many of the items you have listed are really not much demand. I checked 4 of your listings:

63 indy plate 1 of 20

westinghouse timer clock 15 of 1300

unico freezer tin 1 of 1

Harley flip phone 1 of 1 (you should change the title to Harley "cell" phone).

So, to answer your question, yes people can see if they choose to see your items.

kalyoth · ‎12-11-2022

I have begun to suspect - like most things - 80% of the country cares not at all for digital commerce sites. So that would mean most people potentially looking on ebay may now primarily reside along the coastlines - hence the distance I have also seen with my customer shipping. There is a very good chance, like all fads & businesses, ebay is now in its twilight phase of decline & it only has legacy users left.