Discussion - The Modern Buyer: Evolving Buyer Expectations and How Sellers Can Meet Them

[scene.of.the.crop]

Buyer expectations continue to change as new technology makes shopping faster, easier, and more convenient. In a four-part blog series, “The Modern Buyer,” we’re diving deep into the shopping experience today’s buyers expect, and what this means for eBay sellers.

Check out the first post, The Modern Buyer: Evolving Buyer Expectations and How Sellers Can Meet Them, and let us know what you think about the way today’s buyers shop. What changes are you making to meet these new expectations?

I’m Jennifer Deal, eBay Marketing Manager for Trust and Inventory, and I’ll be popping in and out of this thread to answer your questions. Join the discussion below!

We had a great discussion about the Modern Buyer yesterday on Facebook, check out the recording:

[sockmonkeydave]

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@scene.of.the.crop wrote:

Buyer expectations continue to change as new technology makes shopping faster, easier, and more convenient. In a four-part blog series, “The Modern Buyer,” we’re diving deep into the shopping experience today’s buyers expect, and what this means for eBay sellers.

Check out the first post, The Modern Buyer: Evolving Buyer Expectations and How Sellers Can Meet Them, and let us know what you think about the way today’s buyers shop. What changes are you making to meet these new expectations?

I’m Jennifer Deal, eBay Marketing Manager for Trust and Inventory, and I’ll be popping in and out of this thread to answer your questions. Join the discussion below!

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I am not trying to be a jerk, I love me some ebay...

But just what inventory are we talking about... ebay inventory...

Sorry, I will pop in to take a look.

[scene.of.the.crop]

No, problem, @sockmonkeydave.  eBay Inventory. 

You probably already know that we offer inventory and pricing guidance in Seller Hub, so I support the effort to you let you know what's happening with updates in the growth tab. I also help notify sellers of in-demand inventory on eBay to help planning and sourcing for the site. 

[dtexley3]

Sorry, but the pricing guidance (for non-new items) is still a joke.  If I want a good belly laugh I just look through what is recommended in the listing guidance for pricing, it never fails to amuse me.  I've supplied multiple examples of how bad the pricing estimates are, and so have others.  We've seen little or no improvement.

[gracieallen01]

Tread carefully.

[plumbingspecials]

Okay, guidance is wonderful if and when it applies to us, as individuals. However, eBay does not need to auto-fill our listings with what is in their "catalogue". Please tell the developers to remove that feature. I do not trust eBay's catalogue on MY items that I am responsible for; and nobody should, because that catalogue information is not always correct.

[chrysylys]

Buyers want stuff free, by any means necessary.

Corporate makes that possible, by every means they can.

[chrysylys]

Buyers want to rent things, not limited to designer clothes.

Corporate says 'Sure!  No problem!  We'll even make the seller pay for the return!!'

[chrysylys]

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@scene.of.the.crop wrote:

 eBay Inventory. 

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Aside from some packing supplies for sale to sellers, you don't HAVE ANY inventory.  You don't Sell any thing.

You rent ad space to sellers.

OK, you have been known to sell information about sellers, and buyers.

[dbmm-media]

Buyer Expectations

Buyers want their purchase delivered for free before they even buy the item.

Then they file a bogus NAD claim, seller provides a return label.

Buyer then sends back a rock or some other garbage, money is stolen from the seller, buyer keeps the item and gets their money back.   

[tina06457]

Pricing guidance is a joke. You expect us to price our items to compete with all the junk the sellers from China sell.  You push and push sellers to offer free shipping. Your so called pricing guidance doesn't take that into account. Are sellers supposed to follow your pricing and just eat the cost of shipping? Arrange for US sellers to have low cost or free shipping options with USPS. You could also put the Chinese sellers on their own sight and help your US buyers and sellers.

[doubledz-a2z]

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@chrysylys wrote:

Buyers want stuff free, by any means necessary.

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I was a flea market vendor before internet and when ebay came along I jumped on in early 1998.   I loved it and did well.  It was FUN and payed my bills.   2018 I am back at the flea market.   It now is FUN with little stress of returns, no pay etc.   However I see the same pattern as here on ebay.  Buyers want stuff for cheap and most sellers give away their stuff for free just to make it disappear.

Us older folks, or me personally, was not raised with gadgets and electronics and I just cannot get interested in all that.   Rode our bikes, played kick the can at night in our neighborhood and had a dime in each loafer in case I needed to call home.     Folks are moving way to fast and are missing the simply aspects of life.   

[lookng2015]

@scene.of.the.crop

So, in other words - you actually mean OUR inventory, not eBay's, right?

[gracieallen01]

So, to cut to the chase and without the hoopla and fanfare, is ebay going to be 'consulting with the 'Foreign Sourcers' to meet the needs of the buyers on those 'hot items' that are going to be advertised to the sellers - through the Seller Hub(?) - as 'really needed to sell this week'?

[chrysylys]

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@scene.of.the.crop wrote:
and pricing guidance in Seller Hub, 

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You mean like this: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/I-m-a-special-kind-of-idiot-according-to-Ebay-s-relisting/td-p...

Do you think suggesting $4.13 for a $50.00 item is helping sellers?