eBay

willingdealer_make-me-an-offer · ‎03-25-2023

So like a lot of sellers, I see ebay is putting the squeeze on us. Its either make bigger promoted listing buys or lose views. I feel like the algorithm is kinda like a bully: it will treat you worse, the more you show you can be treated worse. By that I mean: if you always pick the suggested ad rate, the suggested ad rate will increase, if you lower it, they nerf your views, etc. It might also put your views in certain "buyer types" to the point where the same item in a different "buyer market" sells for double. I know this is long winded but at what point is it better to gradually shift to a new account, because I feel like as successful as I am, ebay has me on a bad seller track that I cant escape. I know I can work harder, but I work both hard and smart on my store. I'm sure I can improve a lot, but I also feel like some unseen metric that is basically meaningless holds me back. thanks for your time and replies. This community has helped me a lot and I respect all of my fellow sellers.

cardxcraft · ‎03-25-2023

Any experiments or changes at this point are facing an economic market teetering on recession and Ebay's massive push towards promoted listings.

Two weeks ago I made the mistake of removing 3% PLAdvanced, my sales tanked. I went from 300-500 views per day to 45-90.

In regards to the algorithm: everything that has been learned or understood about Cassini is now biased by the now inherent promoted listing model: in other words, all things being equal, you can potenially buy your way to the top.

I don't think making a second account will make a difference...

If you plan on staying here at Ebay my only advice is to keep listing, re-vamp listings, and diversify both with inventory and across platforms.

Not to make light of your issues, but you have to do like Joe Dirt says, "You gotta keep on keeping on."

Good luck, I hope you do well.

richard1rst · ‎03-25-2023

Well, I have never used paid promotions either on eBay or Google. To me it is money wasted. You said some “unseen metric that is basically meaningless” is holding you back.

Actually I would suggest that is the meaningful information that you have ignored that is the major part of your problem.

I looked at one of your listings:

Logitech MX Keys Wireless Keyboard - Black, 920-009295

In the items specifics block you say “Features: Multimedia Integration, Illuminated, Enhanced Function Keys”

Why isn’t at least some of that information in the headline?

You gave 80 characters available yet you only use 54. Drop the word KEYS, get rid of the dash between keyboard and black and drop the comma. Now you have an additional 34 characters. Even more if you drop the model number.

In the Description block you have simply repeated the headline. You have a large area to fully describe and promote the item, yourself and any other pertinent information yet you ignore that block. You say the item is “out of the box” yet you make no effort to describe the actual physical condition. Is it pristine merely missing the box or does it have any wear? A buyer would want to know.

The information in the description block is what Google’s web crawlers use to index listings.

Substantially all of my listings are indexed by Google. Over half of my page views come from Google, not eBay’s internal search engine. BECAUSE I make it a point to leave easter eggs to attract Google’s interest.

Something to think about.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

willingdealer_make-me-an-offer · ‎03-25-2023

Thanks for the reply and the time spent looking at my listings. I will definitely take the description area more seriously. I had pivoted away from it early on and my sales improved but it could be time to double back.

dbfolks166mt · ‎03-26-2023

Both pereirahawk and richard1rst provided some good advice and suggestions. I have never, and will never, use PL it just adds to my selling cost and either forces me to raise prices or lower profits/ROI. There is also no way to prove that the use of PL directly results in increased sales or whether the item would have sold if it had just been listed organically.

I used to utilize eBay exclusively to move my items but diversified long ago across multiple platforms and venues and eBay now comprises less than 20% of my sales. There are items that I simply will not list on eBay due to scammer risk. I avoid listing high value and high target items like electronics, precious metals and most coins there are other platforms/venues out there that have less risk and in a lot of cases lower or no fees.

dhbookds · ‎03-26-2023

I'm sure I can improve a lot,

If you know that.......then do it........

but I also feel like some unseen metric that is basically meaningless holds me back

If a metric is holding you back.......it's not basically meaningless in Ebay's eyes........and it could (if it exists) be related to what you can improve........

Point being..........you cannot "control" what ebay does.........you can only control what you do........ improving your listings..... Many of your pictures could be improved......lightened, cropped...