Declining Sales

[theoldpro2003]

I wonder if any of you have experienced a decline in sales in the past 3 or 4 months.  I don't know if buyers are afraid of all the recession talk or if money is just getting tighter.  My sales are down by at least 50% since January or February.  I'm retired and this is more of a hobby than a needed source of income, so it's not that important income-wise.  I deal primarily in sports memorabilia, books, music etc., mostly low-cost, low-profit items.  My prices are competitive and I offer free shipping on many items.  Just wondering.....   

[ed8108]

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@paleadhead wrote:

 Ebay is the problem in my humble old school dinosaur view.... reach around tactics they employ for more fees turns buyers and sellers off. People spending money want ease, sellers want ease, old school principals that are no longer employed on this platform.

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It was also predicted that inappropriate behavior by some sellers with the result of unhappy ebay buyer experiences would likely negatively impact sales.

[chapeau-noir]

Doesn't ANYONE realise that this is inevitable? eBay has a smaller and smaller share of online real estate due to competition, and far more sellers than it ever needs. Duh. 

[gamersbaystore]

No, ebay did not do $75 billion, its a ruse. ebay counts every return and refund as a sale in their figures, artificially inflating their numbers for investors. This is easily provable given the fact ebay reports all returns and refunds sellers make to the IRS as if they were sales, despite knowing very well they are not.

ebay is lying to the IRS and their investors and its only a matter of time before the SEC catches wind of what they're doing.

All one has to do is look at their 1099's from ebay to see that ebay is falsely reporting income that was never earned.

[liawri-75]

0 Sales in Apr on EB.  1 Sale in May.

I am however, getting sales on other platforms:  M** and P** and AM**.  Like you, "hobby" business, but I file taxes and had to pay $800 this year.

It's the economy.  It's after Tax season, some folks had to pay or took their refund & paid bills. High credit card balances.  Student loans have to be paid.   Plus, if you look at economic indicators, retail is doing poorly, esp. Target.  I'm waiting to see what happens to AMZ with the tariffs.

Oh yeh, the tariffs.  Across the internet, I see TT videos  and Buzzfeed articles about small businesses being slammed with high import fees.  It's all circular.

[powell-collectibles]

I think that you are confusing eBay’s financial filings with your personal 1099. eBay is very clear about what GMV is and what it includes. A 1099 issued to you is a very different thing. And nowhere on eBay‘s income statement will you find GMV. 

[paleadhead]

Yes, and finally someone else sees their manipulation. They consistently promote a false market. When I sell a item with a minimum best offer or a minimum acceptance offer, Ebay then shows my original buy it now price as the completed selling price, even though I have accepted 100 less. At some point on my records, that I receive monthly this is adjusted but who knows. I just sold a fruit jar box for 500 and it shows on my page, and the completed listing page as 225 for the selling price another glitch perhaps. I wish they would have only deducted fees for 225. LOL. The only way to see the correct selling price is through a buyers feedback on a P.C. and not on a phone. Anyhow my point has been taken incorrectly by most people. I luv Ebay or I wouldn't still be here since 1998. They just need some semblance of order and less continued unnecessary changes, and also to get their feces together. I'm a antique and collectible seller in my own little world and I freely admit I don't understand selling new and used items in bulk. It's not the technology I don't understand it's the business model. I'm sorry if I offend the die hard Ebay lovers, no offense meant, but in my opinion I just want it to be better for everyone , so we can make more money instead of making Ebay, the insurance companies and the shipping carriers richer. From reading replies to my posts to get better sales, I'm am supposed to pick up my game but what about the above and their declining services. 

[gamersbaystore]

Sit in denial if it makes you feel better. ebay should not be reporting income that was never earned to the IRS, yet they are doing so anyway and my own 1099's from this crooked company prove it.

Contrary to your ignorance, reporting returns and refunds as if they were income is absolutely fraud!

[powell-collectibles]

I don’t get it – eBay puts in their financial filings what goes into their net revenue. They aren’t reporting gross revenue. No, you will not see a returns line item. that’s because eBay doesn’t have returns. Sellers do.  What you will see is an allowance - in their net revenue calculation for fee reductions.  

hey, I can see that you might be better at analyzing financial documents than I am. I think I get around fairly well – but, absolutely, there are plenty that know the ins and outs better than I do. Maybe you can help me by pointing out where these returns are going in their income statement.  And, if this is against SEC rules, it should be fairly simple for you to package this up and provided to the SEC.