GTC default screws Basic Store sellers

[dand-ks]

Now I have to manually end underperforming GTC listings early to prevent automatic relisting. This may cause me to miss a sale from a buyer who may wait until the last moment to buy. For once eBay, listen to your customers and make a fair decision. I am fine with the fixed price listings options of 30-day or GTC.

[crescentstation]

GTC aside, I have never understood why people wait until the last-minute on a multi-quantity Buy It Now listing. I often get requests, "When are you going to re-list blah, blah, blah?", right after it ended. It was out there for 30 days! The fickle consumer mind is very hard to predict.

[dr_donn]

You are right. It takes away our ability to choose how and in what order we present our listings. If your store has a fixed amount of listings, GTC will cause you to exceed your number of listings since there are a different number of days in the month.  I now have to keep fewer listing in my store to avoid this. I am not convinced that this was not the intent of GTC. ebay programmers have a long history of fixing things that are not broken. Instead of trying to re-invent the wheel, they should try to fix real problems that cost sellers and ebay dollars. Prime example is buyers not being able to request an invoice so shipping can be adjusted when ordering from a phone or tablet. Since most orders are made by phone this has had a real impact on me and ebay seems to not have any interest in fixing it.

[postcarder5]

I am a small seller of cheap books for a charity project. After eBay & Paypal fees, I make about 50 cents per book. How can I afford a 35 cent automatic relisting fee? I've been deleting listings before they expire, but sometimes that doesn't work. I wasn't able to access eBay for almost a week & you can imagine that mess. I've sold on eBay & Half.com for 20 years & now am gradually getting out. EBay isn't worth the time, money & time.

[jayjaspersgarage]

These are the reasons I am downsizing my premium store to a basic store in a week. I am closing hundreds of auctions per day now to be sure I have less than the new maximum of 250 / 250.

[planet_power]

My sales are down 70% since 30 day fixed price listings were eliminated.  Maybe it is good for some ebay users. Maybe it is good for ebay corporate profits and stock price. I don't know.  In my opinion, it is the worst policy change, ever.

[collectfest]

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@jayjaspersgarage wrote:
These are the reasons I am downsizing my premium store to a basic store in a week. I am closing hundreds of auctions per day now to be sure I have less than the new maximum of 250 / 250.

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I agree. I have already done the same thing. Actually I have no store right now. I am busy at shows. I might go back to the basic store as you suggest in the fall selling only rare items that are less than a pound. 

Good luck Regards

[mdrca]

I did the same a while back and pulled listings a few days back from the end of the month so eBay couldn't get a bunch of pointless extra quarters from me. Kind of a relief, highly recommended.

[mrjasparks]

I agree 100% ~ I find most buyers wait until the last minute to bid hoping they can get it for the lowest price. When We have to end it early to avoid ANOTHER Listing FEE we miss out on that Buyer. Do not Like Automatic re-listings by eBay ~ Let the Seller make the decision ~ what Day and Time to Re-list if they want to.

[treasured-trash]

I missed something!  What is the "new maximum 250/250?  Thanks-

Jeri - 

[kraftyrose]

I do the same thing - I have a premium store and have plenty of free listings so I pull them down and relist - and now I am not even going 30 days. Ebay sure screwed all of us with this one.

[kraftyrose]

I think for a basic store you get 250 free listings

[mam98031]

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@dand-ks wrote:

Now I have to manually end underperforming GTC listings early to prevent automatic relisting. This may cause me to miss a sale from a buyer who may wait until the last moment to buy. For once eBay, listen to your customers and make a fair decision. I am fine with the fixed price listings options of 30-day or GTC.

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I know that your concern is a popular one as we see it many times on the threads.  But it isn't likely that the buyers that are watching your listings are waiting until just before it ends to purchase it.  ESPECIALLY if you only have one available.  Buyer's know that any other buyer could purchase the item at any time.  So if a buyer actually wants the item, it serves no purpose whatsoever to wait until almost the end of the 30 day period.

Certainly there may be some buyers out there that do that, but after they lose and item to someone else a couple times because they waited too long, it is likely they will change their shopping methods.

It's your choice of course.  To end listings or not to end listings.  GTCs have been around a long time and are an effective way to sell stuff.  But I know that there are many sellers that prefer the control they have over 30 day listings.  Good luck in whatever you decide to do and I hope it works well for you.

[mdrca]

Sure feels that way. As if eBay really can't stand it when someone tries to sell rather than buy.

[mam98031]

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@mdrca wrote:

Sure feels that way. As if eBay really can't stand it when someone tries to sell rather than buy.

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@mdrca 

People can't buy if no one is selling anything.