Falling Sales on Ebay!!!

[mpcac]

My sales started to drop in August 2018 and continued thru the end of the year. So far this year my sales are off 70%. I realize that maybe the market for what I sell could be changing, but this has been a very sharp decline and I would expect a more gradual decline with the loss of interest. I was wondering if my sales on Ebay are off because I'm not participating in the  " Promote Listing " option? 

[dhbookds]

I doubt it, but why  not try PL for low rate on some of your items?    If they don't sell, you don't pay...........

[accessoriesetcplus]

I have tried PL on many items I have listed and has not helped at all. My sales have really declined.

[lex-talon]

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@mpcac wrote:

My sales started to drop in August 2018 and continued thru the end of the year. So far this year my sales are off 70%. I realize that maybe the market for what I sell could be changing, but this has been a very sharp decline and I would expect a more gradual decline with the loss of interest. I was wondering if my sales on Ebay are off because I'm not participating in the  " Promote Listing " option? 

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You are charging too much shipping for cd's and fountain pens. Try offering free shipping on those items. 

[juststuffisell]

It might be. A lot of sellers are participating and your competition may be doing just 1% and listing above you and in your listings. I run it just for that reason. Everything at the 1% rate.

Sales are slow across multiple venues.... so I don't think it is just an eBay issue.

Cheers

[weschurch]

My sales are fine and steady at other venues. I don't use Ebay anymore other than to buy, and i'm even having trouble finding anything to spend my money on here anymore. Just not the inventory that it once had. Getting to the point I might just hang it up as one of the daily sites I search. Seems to be a waste of time anymore

[timzbiz]

Many sellers have noticed the sharp decline in sales since late summer 2018. If you do not offer the lowest price, your items will not be shown. Ebay is now all about the lowest price.

[duncanvr]

Seller does not accept returns. This is one of the biggest reasons for slow sales. I'm sorry but if you buy a pen in a retail shop you expect to be able to take it back for refund or swop. I recommend 30 day return policy. Lets face it buyer can open a PayPal case on sellers with no return policy anyway.

Promoted listings works better if you do higher than trending rate but make sure your sales would cover the fees.

Maybe consider changing your images to a white background. Pictures are everything the blue background not very attractive.

Overseas shipping $15.75 is to high in some case its as much as the pen and many countries also have to add GST tax on top of foreign purchase to. The fact is with that postage rate its cheaper for Internationals to buy from local eBay sellers.

Try running a 15% off sale.

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@mpcac wrote:

My sales started to drop in August 2018 and continued thru the end of the year. So far this year my sales are off 70%. I realize that maybe the market for what I sell could be changing, but this has been a very sharp decline and I would expect a more gradual decline with the loss of interest. I was wondering if my sales on Ebay are off because I'm not participating in the  " Promote Listing " option? 

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I am not using the PL and my sell thru is about 60%. 

[weschurch]

I disagree with this post, sorry

As a buyer I could care less about refund policy. I don't buy expecting to have to return. If you have buyers this is important to those are the buyer that WILL be looking to return an item. Its the Ebay rent-a-center buyer. Best avoid buyers like that anyways.

Secondly, the picture thing is to me is silly. If I want an item I buy it. I dont care if you took a picture with a fliphone with a ugly background. 

And lowering the price is pretty generic. Sounds like Ebay telling you to do that. Just keep lowering prices til it sells. Gee, what a concept Ebay!

Some people want to try to have an explanation for poor sales. The reality is 

[weschurch]

Continued - 

Ebay just doesnt have the buyers it once did

[sakic92710]

I've never used the promotions option & my sales can be really good or pretty pathetic from week to week.  Last week, I had 17-18 sales.  7 this week + one I had to cancel due to a ridiculous 'buyer' who want to pay AFTER he received the item.  Right!  Unless you have a large inventory of item(s) people always want, eBay is an unreliable source for real earnings.  Especially when your listings are not available to ALL buyers at ALL times.  It's random viewing.  I'm not giving up...….just yet.  lol   Best of luck.     🙂

[Anonymous]

Ebays Crazy new rules, And Changes is Running off Sellers.. Who You Guessed was Also our BUYERS.........

[mr_lincoln]

@mpcac   There is something about this thread that sounds familiar ... I think one issue is folks don't write like the used to and if they do they're happy with one of those pens on the counter in a cup at most businesses ... fine pens like you sell may simply be on their way out ...

You may want to consider diversifying what you offer ... I checked pages 1, 4 & 7 and basically saw fine pens and DVDs ... if those two niche categories are not selling then it is time to expand some of those horizons ...

[greg5000]

Had to wait for the punch-line ......  but I Fully Agree! 

I'm a very frequent buyer since 2010 and and I'm ready to jump ship too.  The reasons are the perfect storm of too many recent Technical Issues, Poor Customer Support, and lack of any Real Leadership.