Can I ask a competition seller to stop price decrease

[jason-sellz]

Basically another seller and I have similar prices, and in competition for the past few weeks after both being forced to lower our prices (for me by $3.50) a bit things have been going smoothly but before when I was selling at a slightly higher price, there were the same number of buyers as now.

Just curious is it against Ebay selling practices policy to for example make an agreement to raise our prices by like 10% or 20%? I probably won't do it because me staying at this price and not doing natural price changes as the competition changes, is because I'm kinda cautious and what if the smaller seller doesn't follow the agreement and instigates a price war? I don't know how much lower I can go to still have profit for real.

I'm sure it's not an unfair price or "price gouging" by any means.

[soh.maryl]

You're joking, right? 

[ebooksdiva]

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@jason-sellz wrote:

Basically another seller and I have similar prices, and in competition for the past few weeks after both being forced to lower our prices (for me by $3.50) a bit things have been going smoothly but before when I was selling at a slightly higher price, there were the same number of buyers as now.

How are you being forced to lower your prices?

Just curious is it against Ebay selling practices policy to for example make an agreement to raise our prices by like 10% or 20%? I probably won't do it because me staying at this price and not doing natural price changes as the competition changes, is because I'm kinda cautious and what if the smaller seller doesn't follow the agreement and instigates a price war? I don't know how much lower I can go to still have profit for real.

You can’t tell another seller how to price their items no more than a seller can tell you how to price yours. It’s ridiculous. What makes you think another seller will care about your profit or loss? 

I'm sure it's not an unfair price or "price gouging" by any means.

Price gouging only pertains to items of necessity during pandemics or other disasters. Toys are not necessities 

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[44012]

I love that you know that!

[huntfishdie45]

I knew I saw that somewhere, just wasn't sure where it was.

[farmalljr]

It's hilarious reading people slinging terms around like "price gouging" and "price fixing" without really knowing what the terms MEAN. Some here sling those legal terms around and have NO clue what they really mean at all. 

What the OP was asking, does neither of those things. I guess Google makes every ding dong a lawyer. I'm not lawyer, but even I know what those terms mean, IN CONTEXT. 

Common sense is not so common. The average IQ is not all that high. 

[dirk12955]

According to some of our posters,    At my neighborhood garage sale there are 3 families 

selling bottled water,  and they agree to set the price at a $1.00 per bottle,   They should 'all be charged with price fixing,  tried,  and sent to Leavenworth.   

[turnpiketreasures1]

You don't have a single competitor, when I put lego star wars into eBay search, 57,000 results came back. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to undersell everyone. Just price according to what you need to sell things for to make a profit. 

[ga_open_box_llc]

Not sure if it's against any ebay policy or anything of that nature, but you have great pictures,  and  it looks like you have plenty of interest. I would just leave your prices were you know they will sell and what at you're comfortable with. Never relay on the competition to be logical or willing to do anything for you. My favorite saying is " Bussiness takes no prisoners and shoots people in the face." And honestly,  from experience this can be very true.  You have alot of watchers as well on many of your items and pictures are great. If you have  large competition,  then it just may be slow sellers, but remember,  if your prices are to low, that could potentially effect sells also.

[stacy_pme]

Here's what I would do.  I would redo my listing first of all with fresh new photographs and new angles... I would raise my price to be higher than my competition, and I would do what my competition is not doing.  If they aren't offering free shipping.... I'd raise my prices more to accommodate, and offer free shipping.  Is my competition practicing 4 or 5 days process time?  I'd make mine same day or next day processing....   Is my competion not selling international?  I'd sell international....  I don't know what you are selling... but do you have something else in abundance that you can offer as a freebie add on?   Use your imagination!   This is what makes eBay FUN!!!

[mam98031]

The OP's pics are exceptional.  I would disagree that they need to do all that work to retake all those pics.  It isn't likely to gain them anything.  

The other stuff, just IMHO maybe yes or maybe no.  Sometimes there is simply no need to compete with others.  Do what you need to do and adjust as you see fit.  Keeping in mind that the OP has a whole lot more than just one competitor as legos are very popular.

[stacy_pme]

When I have things that aren't selling.... I redo the pictures sometimes.... Or just rearrange them.... The idea isn't because they *NEED* to be redone, but sometimes the changes gets people looking at the listing again... that may be just skipping over what they have already seen...   YMMV

[mam98031]

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@stacy_pme wrote:

When I have things that aren't selling.... I redo the pictures sometimes.... Or just rearrange them.... The idea isn't because they *NEED* to be redone, but sometimes the changes gets people looking at the listing again... that may be just skipping over what they have already seen...   YMMV

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The OP wasn't complaining about things not selling, they were concerned about a single competitor that they have.

They are just a new seller trying to learn and they are focused on the wrong thing right now plus the fact that they have more than just one competitor.  

As for things to do that go stale.  I bulk edit my listings.  It is easier and much faster.  I change something in them, whether it is my handling time, return policy, something that I can universally change on them all.  Then in 24-48 hours they will all re-index on Ebay.  If I changed something I really prefer not to do, then I go and change it back after that time passes.  The efforts always bring in new sales for me.

[maxine*j]

No, you are not supposed to collude with other sellers on prices.  It's against both eBay policy and the law of the land.  Even if you do it, a third or fourth or fifth seller could come in and undercut your colluded pricing.  Then what?

As a new seller, you need to concentrate on your own listings, on mastering your own pricing system so that you make an overall profit even factoring in occasional losses, on sourcing (the old adage is true that you make our money when you buy, not when you sell), on providing good customer service.

Best of luck to you!

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[ms.rodriguez*]

I am constantly shifting my photos.  I use color paper as backgrounds and I always take photos with  2 different backgrounds.  After 10 days or so, I change the first photo and I may adjust the selling price slightly.  Usually , it will sell.   Sometimes, people do not see it the first time.  By changing the photo, it looks like a fresh item and it may attract them.    Also check your categories.  Some items can fit in 10 categories.   Star Wars items  has at least 15 categories to pick from so check it and shift it to a different one if it's in the wrong one or you just want to try a different.  Also look at your title.  Can you add more key words?

Finally, to the poster, I doubt that your competitor is competing with you. There are thousands of sellers who sell Legos.

[byrd69er]

Just curious is it against Ebay selling practices policy to for example make an agreement to raise our prices by like 10% or 20%?

Well, contact ebay and ask...but I'm sure you could guess their answer without even calling.