Competitors Pricing Items Way Too Low and Driving Down the Selling Prices of Items

[consolidatingkinsman]

I've noticed a trend of a lot of sellers posting items for sale way below trending selling prices, which is driving the prices of a lof of the items I sell much lower.  I have messaged a couple of sellers regarding competitive pricing and trying not to drive down the prices of items, but have gotten no response when I have messaged.  I really wich other sellers would pay attention to the trending prices and price completitivley, instead of just trying to make a quick buck and driving down profits.  I see no way these sellers could possibly be purchasing these items, if they were they would be losing money.  I guess I'm just wondering if other sellers have been experiencing this problem?  

[tunicaslot]

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@ladykathy100wrote:

Don't worry about this. eBay has a few surprises with the new changes they are making. You shouldn't be watching the prices of good go down, because of the new seller's fees they are planning are going up. Surprise to all the sellers. You might want to pull off your account too!

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@Would you like to enlightenus on these supposed changes??? We've had a couple of people now come to the boards with all these revelations and no info to back it up. Being many I know are seriously involved in Ebay and sometimes get insider dirt - no one has mentioned hearing anything and none of them are running scared or changing their business practices.

As far as the race to the bottom - the past few years with everyone jumping on selling platforms - there is often too much poduct and sellers price low to get rid of things rather than getting stuck with it. It's happening on the other venues too - it's not just an Ebay thing.

[tunicaslot]

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@ladykathy100wrote:

Don't worry about this. eBay has a few surprises with the new changes they are making. You shouldn't be watching the prices of good go down, because of the new seller's fees they are planning are going up. Surprise to all the sellers. You might want to pull off your account too!

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Would you like to enlightenus on these supposed changes??? We've had a couple of people now come to the boards with all these revelations and no info to back it up. Being many I know are seriously involved in Ebay and sometimes get insider dirt - no one has mentioned hearing anything and none of them are running scared or changing their business practices.

As far as the race to the bottom - the past few years with everyone jumping on selling platforms - there is often too much poduct and sellers price low to get rid of things rather than getting stuck with it. It's happening on the other venues too - it's not just an Ebay thing.

[ladykathy100]

Spoiler

Sorry no can do. You would think I am crazy, but I am not. The links I found have been pulled off. I am already getting static for one of my posts. If I could find the link, I would post it. All I can say is, with the new seller's fees is that the fees are going up.

[chrysylys]

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@tunicaslotwrote:

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@@Would you like to enlightenus on these supposed changes??? We've had a couple of people now come to the boards with all these revelations and no info to back it up.

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I conjured up something in my wee widdle bwain recetly based on not a whole lot other than disconnected bits and pieces of threads and seller updates.

Consider if you will .....

Adding best offer against sellers' wishes, some with auto decline levels

Pushing lower prices to 'sell your item' emails.

Pushing free returns

Pushing free shipping

The Valet services.

Authenticators.

Discussion of a return service of sorts to validate claims in disputes.

Pricing guidance emails.

Add in 'the catalog', standardized images and elimination of seller branding like watermarks.

Add in the standardized listings (elimination of active content).

Add in mandating UPCs and controlling item specifics.

Then, the new payment system.

A number of others that I can't recall at the moment.

Roll all that together with a healthy covering of tin foil .....  suppose, just suppose .....

Sellers list, get notified of a sale, then ship.  Did I leave something out about setting the price?  Nope.  Suppose the site determines the price without seller intervention.  Suppose they also set shipping and return terms.  Suppose the seller of the past is reduced to the role of consignor and shipment processor.  Suppose all sales show Corporate as the seller of record with sellers becoming nothing much more than data entry and dropshippers of sorts.

Suppose I've gone totally 'round the bend.

Or not.

We now return control of your television set to you.  Until ....

[siler_j]

I had one seller contacted me for one item that i coudn't find anywhere online  it was book stoper and she just told me that my pricing was very low for that item and i usely don't sale book stoper, i sell mainly vintage clothing, and so i went to her store and saw she mainly sales that brand i have and thought "ok i think she knows what shes talking about" so i thanked her for helping me and i raised my price, i had that thing for months lol and after listening to her it sold withing a week  and then i got neutral fb cause it got small dameged on the way to her i felt bad but it was not my fault.

so what am saying is that, i understand what you are saying and i see nothing wrong with what you did.  some sellers might thank you for trying to help and some will ignore the hack out of you. 

I would love for seller to help me about my pricing or description i won't mind 🙂

[tunicaslot]

chrys - I love your theory but kathy seems to have proof of wht she's saying and I'd just like to know what it is.

If your theory comes to pass - TG but there are more than enough platforms for sellers these days to move their businesses and have been for years - it will be Ebay's loss. I love Ebay and do the best here - but I've started moving things to other venues to get rid of inventory and capture sales. Even we  "trolls", Ebay employees ect.. are going to do what's best for our business if Ebay blunders.

[tunicaslot]

I totally agree that helping others is not against the rules - especially if they have their merchandise selling for too low - but in your instance it was because you didn't know the market value of what you had.

The OP is sharing his concerns with other sellers of like products - which is good - but you can't assume that these sellers haven't already researched what the item actually is selling for across a variety of platforms on the net and decided to go with flow rather than be stuck with something because you don't want t lower your price.

I see too many sellers who dig their heels in and say well this is what it's worth instead of looking at solds and see what the market will actually bear. I'vebeen guilty of that myself and lost money because as time went on - the item lost it's value.

[Anonymous]

I don't think your looking at the situation right. I have stuff I have been trying to sell on eBay for years, it's way past time to sell it for what it's worth, it needs to go, even if I have to sell it dirt cheap, or my floors are going to collapse, will you buy some?

[swenson8781]

@chrysylys, somehow I feel like I just left an episode of the Twilight Zone...?

@consolidatingkinsman, you are not wrong about people pricing items too low, however, there is truly no way to control another person/seller.  So the problem is, that there is ALWAYS going to be someone lower.  That's just the name of the game, whether it's a new seller that doesn't know they can get more, whether it's a seasonsed seller that knows they can undercut you by a few bucks and sell more quantity, or whether it's a ocassional seller that simply wants to unload them and doesn't really care for how much.  But there are too many individual & unique reasons it could be to 'reason' with, does that make sense?

Frustrating? yes.  Resolvable? not likely. Sorry.

And @tunicaslot, thanks for the 'discount' laugh! 

[thefriedp_24]

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@ladykathy100wrote:

Spoiler

Sorry no can do. You would think I am crazy, but I am not. The links I found have been pulled off. I am already getting static for one of my posts. If I could find the link, I would post it. All I can say is, with the new seller's fees is that the fees are going up.

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Ugh..not this again. 

If you're going to make statements about upcoming policy changes you need proof not just your word.

[dhbookds]

it makes me question how these sellers are aquiring their stock

You will never know.......as said could be stolen, could be someone used a gift card to buy that they didn't pay for, or any of a variety of others things..... 

Some want quick turnover versus bigger dollar profits....... 

Point being, it's a waste of time trying to influence/control other sellers or prices.  You will continually be running after those that list at lower prices.  If you should happen to get some to raise the price, more will come in at lower prices and you will have to chase those also. 

Best to research your own items to find the ones that can be sold at profitable prices.....and that has to be constantly reevaluated also. 

jmo

[ebbyisme]

Why don't you raise the price of the $69 item because some people have them listed for over $100? .... seems greedy and unfair..... you are driving the price down...

....... just saying.....

[thefriedp_24]

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@consolidatingkinsmanwrote:

I've noticed a trend of a lot of sellers posting items for sale way below trending selling prices, which is driving the prices of a lof of the items I sell much lower.  I have messaged a couple of sellers regarding competitive pricing and trying not to drive down the prices of items, but have gotten no response when I have messaged.  I really wich other sellers would pay attention to the trending prices and price completitivley, instead of just trying to make a quick buck and driving down profits.  I see no way these sellers could possibly be purchasing these items, if they were they would be losing money.  I guess I'm just wondering if other sellers have been experiencing this problem?  

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Why not buy their stock and corner the market

[luckythewinner]

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@consolidatingkinsmanwrote:

I have messaged a couple of sellers regarding competitive pricing and trying not to drive down the prices of items, but have gotten no response when I have messaged.  

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If you are attempting to collude with other sellers in setting prices in the marketplace,  that's illegal and would explain why you have gotten no response.

[doubledz-a2z]

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@fashunu4eeuhwrote:

The "race to the bottom" is a noticeable concern. I keep an eye on what the competition is doing but i don't sell my items strictly on price.

Price-based will be the future of ebay searches as they strive to copy the big A.