Freebies & Promos

[upgradedendmills]

It seems sometimes like the posters doing the most and loudest ranting, whining, and complaining about eBay and their policies are those who in their own words will never list anything unless the listing is free.

     I don't like the recent changes in eBay any more than anyone else, but my options are to work with them or not do eBay. I absolutely love the promos and use them when given. I don't consider them an entitlement or base my business on them. They are an unknown and it is more efficient for me to concentrate on the known.

     When my store no longer works for me, I will end it and move in a different direction. For now, it is in a slump along with just about everyone else, but, I am looking at it carefully to see if there are changes I can make to fix it. Good or bad, I don't expect this to happen overnight .

     If you expect to do well in online sales you can either make a financial investment in it and depend on eBay to do the rest for you or you can use some sweat equity to build your business. Really smart sellers do both and have a good chance of making money at it. Freebies and promos are simply tools for learning and expanding so you can invest in better tools.

[kathieskorner]

eBay has never been a one-size-fits-all operation.    I have been selling here for 20 years - there were no such thing as free listings (or fixed price listings for that matter) when I started out on eBay.   But most sellers could afford the fees because there was little competition, and 90% of what was listed sold the first time around.  

But all good things come to an end, and many things have changed over time.   For the most part I have adapted.  I switched from auctions to fixed price listings when auctions became less popular with buyers.  I have had two basic stores until the increased subscription fees and FVFs coupled with declining sales made it fiscally unprofitable.   

I sell as much with free listings and promos with multiple accounts today as I did with two stores two years ago although I have lost my TRS on this account.  I see no advantage to promoted listings, best offers, free returns, or free shipping to me as a seller.   It has not been my experience that increased "financial investment" results in better sales - for some sellers it might, but not for everyone.  

Not everyone selling on eBay is trying to build a business - some of us are just trying to find new homes for "stuff" rather than have them wind up in landfills while adding a little to the household income.   Most of what I sell are family items, but any inventory I purchase comes from a charity run thrift store or a yard sale.   I stopped running this as a business ten years ago when I became eligible for Social Security and Medicare - now I am a paid recycler.   At the same time, if I can't make a reasonable profit for the investment of my time, I can always have my own yard sale or donate items back to charity run thrift stores.   I'm not here to give things away.  

I don't rant, whine, or complain - except about eBay technical issues - but I have evolved into one of those that won't list anything unless the listing is free - eBay is well paid with FVFs on sales and shipping for the few sales that they help deliver.    Until eBay makes an effort to fix their technical and search issues and return to a level playing field - they are not entitled to listing fees.     JMHO

[tunicaslot]

Kathy you couldn't have said it better!

OP some sellers here have spent years growing their business on Ebay only to have overseas sellers come in an decimate their sales. They have done everything asked of them and are still failing.

You're in a niche from what I can see you sell - and at least this acct - it doesn't look like it's the only income you receive. Others quit their jobs and worked hard to grow their businesses and don't have any other income. Those who only use free listings have been burned due to paying for stores - with no or low sales, policy changes that allow buyers to rip them off, tech and server problems wherein their items aren't seen ect.. I don't blame them.

In all these months with the "Oops - it's not you - it's us - we're having server problems" has Ebay even once offered to extend listings? They use to in the old days.

There is not one vlogger that I listen to - and they are all Ebay sellers - that have not had to cross post to keep money coming in. Two are Ebay cheerleaders who have doubled the amount of items, they have followed all Ebay suggestions and still have to cross post to grow their business as their income from Ebay stayed in the same ballpark. Even the vloggers are honest and realistic enough to see there are problems on this venue - and when they bring it up - they get a call from corporate as Ebay doesn't want them talking about it. These are all eBay's golden children - shine award winners, TV show  personalities and Ebay Open Speakers.

If people want to complain - hit the back button. Although I try to console myself when things in life don't go right - by saying someone else has it worse - which is true and makes me realize how lucky I am compared to some - a little pity party once in awhile is not a bad thing. Get it out of your system - then pick yourself up and get back to business.