Decrease in eBay Sales

[tucsontoolshop]

Have other sellers had a substantial degrease in sales over the last 2-1/2 weeks?

[matneum_15]

I went from doing ~$6-7k a month to $4k this month, and on track for sub $2k if this prior week is anything. Not sure whats going on, I haven't changed anything (prices, promotion rates etc). 

[kickedoutofbar]

maybe it has to do with the fact i had to raise prices to pay my ebay fees, paying fees for taxes and shipping collected is costing me sales. this is a busy time of season for my product. seems everyone else selling same is making out. bad enough i'm getting hit with the return scams. what other platform is avaliable for me? ready to fold my 20 years with ebay into some toilet paper and flush with the rest of **bleep**.

[june_elizabeth1971]

Been seeing it for a couple of months now.  After the first round of stimulous checks, sales were great and then after they ended, it went in the toilet.   Since all of mine are industrial products, it's easy to see why.

[buyselljack2016]

MP should have nothing to do with buyer slowdown in purchasing. No change for them.

eBay (and other online venues) collecting sales tax on internet purchases is now approaching the 2 year mark, so buyers should be rather accustomed to it by now.

My eBay fees are not 30%.

I think many CSR's are at home. Problem is most are not well trained, and besides that, they are limited in what they are allowed to do. (sometimes that is a very good thing) Seems also that they sometimes do things that they should not do. They go off script, and are clueless.  You want more time for item to deliver? OK, case closed in buyer favor. We sent a refund to the buyer from your wallet. Buyer will receive the item soon. Thank you for being a valued eBay seller.

The rest.  You have a point.  Good to have a little rant from time to time to hopefully reduce the stress level.

[1grandmashope_1]

domin-tomas,

I don't think it is an eBay issue, but a social crisis issue.  So many people are jobless, homeless, foodless and don't have the funds to buy things that are not necessities.  Not all but so very many.  

When it becomes a choice between feeding your children or buying a widget, hopefully, it will be putting food on the table.

With that said, things that people can do inside with there kids or alone seem to be a good bet.

Best of luck to everyone moving forward, and please stay safe and be well,

Grandma

[greatbooksgalore]

I sell a lot of that kind of thing (home activities): books, puzzles, workbooks for preschool and grade school, etc.  Ever since I signed up to switch to managed payments, sales fell way off. Then a couple of days ago, I was OK'd for managed payments, and I thought, maybe their search metrics are set to lower listings that haven't yet been approved for managed payments (they want that item to sell after you are approved and they make more money from your sale). Have been approved for a couple of days and NO sales.  This is unlike anything I have seen previously.  I know that the economic climate is horrible, but I can't help but feel that somehow, certain sellers are getting promoted in searches above others more so than normal...   

I think I am going to switch to monthly commitment, not yearly to save the $15 a month, and if Nov and Dec continue to be this bad, just stop selling entirely.  As it is now, I have to spend a LOT of hours on ebay to make a very small amount of money, and I am pretty sure I am not covering all of my costs at this point.

I called the helpline today, got one person who couldn't really speak English, whole sentences were indecipherable, the second person was marginally better, but she either chose not to understand my question, or else really didn't understand my question.   

Just tired of working too hard for too small of a return.  

Have never felt this level of frustration, and I have been a buyer first, then a seller on ebay for years.  It used to be fun...   not any more.

[patd3283]

Down 77%.  At least don't depend on this to eat.

[clh1]

That minor increase as of 10-30 has cost me $37.00.  Not minor for me.  Where do I get that money from?

[luckythewinner]

---

@tucsontoolshop wrote:

Have other sellers had a substantial degrease in sales over the last 2-1/2 weeks?

---

I have read this board daily for the better part of two decades, and sellers have posted here every single week saying that they have had a sudden decline in sales. 

Given that there are millions of sellers on the site, I have no doubt that tens of thousands of sellers have had a sudden decrease in sales in the past couple weeks.

I also have no doubt that tens of thousands of sellers have had a sudden increase in sales, too.  

[1grandmashope_1]

When things are not working for you, it is time to reflect, take a breath and and find a new path. 

I hope that you find what works for you. 

It is hard times, for sure.

Be well, and best of luck,

Grandma  

[luckythewinner]

---

@grade wrote:

Yes, 100%. My sales have just ground to a halt. I have been trying everything to peak interest and there are just no takers. Hoping November is better. I have heard from some others things are slow all over.

---

On this account I see: 

21 sales from Oct 15 to Oct 30. 

24 sales from Oct 1 to Oct 15. 

41 sales from Sept 15 to Sep 30. 

29 sales from Sept 1 to Sep 15. 

36 sales from Aug 15 to Aug 30. 

17 sales from Aug 1 to Aug 15. 

So if this is your primary selling account, although your sales appear to have slowed a bit they do not appear to have ground to a halt. 

[monroe67]

I have to agree with you about the election.   I think there's just so much uncertainty in the air now, what?, four days before the election.   In years when a new president has been elected, I have usually felt more optimistic for the coming year.   Yes, I HAVE voted, too !! 

[greatbooksgalore]

Yes, I have a plan in place now.  I am switching from a commitment to paying a lower monthly store rate by choosing the year-long plan, to the $15 more a month to be able to stop selling at any time with no extra charge.   Also switching some listings on here to other options.  Then, will reevaluate after Dec/Jan, and at that time go back to committing for the year, or just entirely stop selling.   This Christmas season will be telling.

I have to make selling on ebay work for me, at this point it just isn't.  I am happy with my new approach. Puts some value back on my time, which I haven't really ever done with ebay. 

We don't depend on money from here for living, I just do it because I used to buy a lot on ebay.  Then started selling and loved it.  Loved the entire process.  But that phase has passed, and now I had better start making a profit, or time to find a new 'hobby'.  It is just too much work for too little gratification, and that bar will be different for every single person.

Things work like they are supposed to.  My really bad interaction today on the ebay help line made me a little angry, and oddly, when I get angry, I think very clearly.  

I always say "every cloud has a silver lining."   I believe that.

[purrcubed]

Likely has to do with the U.S. presidential election. The world is at a standstill. 

[mam98031]

---

@kickedoutofbar wrote:

maybe it has to do with the fact i had to raise prices to pay my ebay fees, paying fees for taxes and shipping collected is costing me sales. this is a busy time of season for my product. seems everyone else selling same is making out. bad enough i'm getting hit with the return scams. what other platform is avaliable for me? ready to fold my 20 years with ebay into some toilet paper and flush with the rest of **bleep**.

---

@kickedoutofbar 

Then in time you will find you are making a larger profit.  Your entry into MP did not increase your fees.  For most it is a neutral change.  For some they will save a little.  The sellers that are experiencing an increase in fees due to MP are those that had been in MP for a long time because they lost the lower fees for early entry.