eBay

dcmerc2012 · ‎04-09-2019

I have read all of the threads about the GTC issue and most of them are people **bleep**ing about fee renewal... which, honestly, is the least of my concerns at this point.

I am not a high volume seller but made at least a living selling various items on eBay. It covered my bills and was my main form of income. MY concern is the fact that my sales have effectively ended since the policy was implemented. Here's the thing...

I list (or used to list) all of my items via a 3-day Buy-it-Now with Best Offer. It was simple, direct, quick and I had a very successful turn around, selling pretty much everything I listed for at least 3-5 times what I paid for it. The fact that my sales were only going for three days meant that they were browse-friendly. In my experience, a HUGE number of buyers browse eBay by looking at the "Newly listed" or the "ending today" in their favorite category and my 3 day listings made sure that my items were seen in either category at any given time.

The moment this new policy was implemented my sales have effectively stopped.... dead. Nothing has changed in regard to what I sell or the quality of items I am offering, in fact, several of the items I am selling at the moment are ones that would have normally not lasted a day without someone grabbing it up. But now? Nothing.....

I am showing lots of views and plenty of "watchers"... but no sales.... nothing.

I am not seeing a decline in items selling, I am seeing effectively a dead stop.

I have converted all of my items over to the Auction format, which in my experience from the past is NOT nearly as successful but it seems that it makes little difference because as of right now I have 61 listing and only one of them at the time of this posting has a single bid for $15.

In the 60 days previous to the GTC policy being implemented I had nearly $8,000 in sales. Since GTC started I have made about $400 or so.

The problem as I see it is the fact that via GTC items will show up as newly listed for the first day or two, then they simply vanish into the abyss of back pages, never again to be seen unless someone actually searches specifically for it. Many of the things I sell are collectibles and are not things that a person searches specifically for but instead will browse a category, checking to see what has been listed in the last couple of days or what is getting close to ending and ripe for a "best offer"... Now all of that is pretty much gone. The GTC policy has effectively ended the impulse buyer from my sales, which was pretty much all of my sales.

At this point I am considering just listing my items via GTC and then cancelling them after four days and then relisting them so at least they will always be in the "Newly Listed" browse window. I don't know what else I can do. I certainly cannot survive at my current rate of sales.

crownsfieldcellular · ‎04-09-2019

@dcmerc2012 wrote:
I have read all of the threads about the GTC issue and most of them are people **bleep**ing about fee renewal... which, honestly, is the least of my concerns at this point.

I am not a high volume seller but made at least a living selling various items on eBay. It covered my bills and was my main form of income. MY concern is the fact that my sales have effectively ended since the policy was implemented. Here's the thing...

I list (or used to list) all of my items via a 3-day Buy-it-Now with Best Offer. It was simple, direct, quick and I had a very successful turn around, selling pretty much everything I listed for at least 3-5 times what I paid for it. The fact that my sales were only going for three days meant that they were browse-friendly. In my experience, a HUGE number of buyers browse eBay by looking at the "Newly listed" or the "ending today" in their favorite category and my 3 day listings made sure that my items were seen in either category at any given time.

The moment this new policy was implemented my sales have effectively stopped.... dead. Nothing has changed in regard to what I sell or the quality of items I am offering, in fact, several of the items I am selling at the moment are ones that would have normally not lasted a day without someone grabbing it up. But now? Nothing.....

I am showing lots of views and plenty of "watchers"... but no sales.... nothing.

I am not seeing a decline in items selling, I am seeing effectively a dead stop.

I have converted all of my items over to the Auction format, which in my experience from the past is NOT nearly as successful but it seems that it makes little difference because as of right now I have 61 listing and only one of them at the time of this posting has a single bid for $15.

In the 60 days previous to the GTC policy being implemented I had nearly $8,000 in sales. Since GTC started I have made about $400 or so.

The problem as I see it is the fact that via GTC items will show up as newly listed for the first day or two, then they simply vanish into the abyss of back pages, never again to be seen unless someone actually searches specifically for it. Many of the things I sell are collectibles and are not things that a person searches specifically for but instead will browse a category, checking to see what has been listed in the last couple of days or what is getting close to ending and ripe for a "best offer"... Now all of that is pretty much gone. The GTC policy has effectively ended the impulse buyer from my sales, which was pretty much all of my sales.

At this point I am considering just listing my items via GTC and then cancelling them after four days and then relisting them so at least they will always be in the "Newly Listed" browse window. I don't know what else I can do. I certainly cannot survive at my current rate of sales.

Im experiencing exactly the same thing...Exactly to the T..I used to use Buy it Now 3 Day listings to sell my phones..Doing this I got top dollar, and all of them sold FAST...This is the way I have run my business with these phones for almost a year...Just like for you? This was working excellently for me..

As soon as this GTC change took effect? My sales dropped like a rock off a very high bridge...It's absolutely ridiculous, and like you? I don't think I can survive this..ebay has killed my business..

I am usually running around buying phones and then running back to list them non stop..I really liked my business and selling on here...Now I'm sitting on these phones because they just are not moving, and I'm afraid to go out and buy more and tie anymore money up in inventory, which is not going to sell...I simply cannot wait a MONTH or more for sales to happen...

I did probably close to $20,000 in sales on here in January, about $15,000 or so in Feb (but that drop off was because I only worked for 2 and half weeks)...March was actually going good until GTC hit..And I ended up with I think under $8000 in sales..Which may sound like alot but it isn't..Its horrendous for me..Its one of the worst months I've had in almost a year..

And to give you an idea of how bad this is? iphones that I sell have one of the highest sell through rates on eBay of any product..

So when I stop making sales?? And this is happening to me? That is a very, very grim picture for this website as a whole...

Personally? I cannot **bleep** ing believe they did this..I am totally in shock, totally depressed...And I just cant process I don't think mentally that they could have done this to me and millions of other sellers like us..

I'm trying to understand in my mind if this was purposefully done to put us out of business..I really don't know and I cant think of how that would benefit eBay exactly..Because I think 7 million sellers of their 25 million they have now are small sellers like us, who had a business model like we do (did)...

So the loss is fee revenue they are going to experiencing is absolutely unfathomable...By putting us out of business? They are also destroying themselves...So I can't for the life of me see what they are trying to accomplish here..

If this is in fact just a horrible, horrible, totally insane blunder on their part? I think its going to be one the last ones they ever get to make...

I am very, very worried here..

(I also couldnt agree more with you about all these people complaining about possibly paying more in fees...I would have HAPPILY taken a fee increase if someone gave me that choice, or going out of business!!)

18704d · ‎04-09-2019

GTC is not a horrible blunder for eBay, designed to destroy small sellers.

It has many benefits which the majority of people posting here, haven't taken the time to study. GTC is designed to give sellers continued exposure (more sales) by keeping their listing (viewable? is that the right word?)

... so , when they're out of stock, they can simply replenish the inventory amount and still keep their visibility.

GTC is not designed for a lot of sellers who think people won't buy unless they feel a 'time pressure' to get it before someone else does (ending soonest)

Myself? I'd fear that strategy.

..Trying to get people to hit the Buy button because they're afraid the listing is ending soon. (the Money Back Guarantee allows them to later, review their purchase and evaluate if that 'quick decision' was a good idea, or not)

Instead...

If you were getting 3-5 times what you paid,

try GTC at a price 2.5 - 4 times what you paid.

See if that helps.

I'm doing ok with GTC and I had been using 7 and 30 Fixed Price.

in my opinion,

if you're offering a good item at a good price,

then it doesn't matter when a viewer views it...

It'll sell based on it's own merits.

without added time pressures for a buyer.

jmtcw,

Lynn

Lynn

You love me for everything you hate me for

.

vinylrecon · ‎04-09-2019

Same here,very significant slow down in sales since GTC was implemented....yawn....

creekcoyote · ‎04-09-2019

@18704d wrote:
GTC is not a horrible blunder for eBay, designed to destroy small sellers.

It has many benefits which the majority of people posting here, haven't taken the time to study. GTC is designed to give sellers continued exposure (more sales) by keeping their listing (viewable? is that the right word?)

... so , when they're out of stock, they can simply replenish the inventory amount and still keep their visibility.

GTC is not designed for a lot of sellers who think people won't buy unless they feel a 'time pressure' to get it before someone else does (ending soonest)

Myself? I'd fear that strategy.
..Trying to get people to hit the Buy button because they're afraid the listing is ending soon. (the Money Back Guarantee allows them to later, review their purchase and evaluate if that 'quick decision' was a good idea, or not)

Instead...
If you were getting 3-5 times what you paid,
try GTC at a price 2.5 - 4 times what you paid.
See if that helps.

I'm doing ok with GTC and I had been using 7 and 30 Fixed Price.

in my opinion,
if you're offering a good item at a good price,
then it doesn't matter when a viewer views it...
It'll sell based on it's own merits.

without added time pressures for a buyer.

jmtcw,
Lynn

I do not understand why so many sellers are in denial over what is happening to some of their fellow sellers who have been forced to utilize GTC instead of the format that has been successful for them over many years.

COYOTES RULE!!!

dcmerc2012 · ‎04-09-2019

What the hell are you talking about???

Not everyone is selling chinese t-shirts by the millions.... I am selling antiques and collectibles of all sorts. My "inventory" doesn't need to remain visible because what I have posted today will not always appeal to the same crowd that I will sell to tomorrow. One day I am selling a vintage portrait camera and the next I am selling a parachute from 1961. No single individual is keeping an eye on my "inventory" because my inventory is never, ever the same. I rely on buyers the same way a person who runs an antique store does. I rely on someone browsing and finding something they want on impulse. The GTC policy effectively cancels out browsers and impulse buyers, which by the way makes up well over half of what ebay sellers sell.

EBay has shot themselves directly in the foot and they will either have to reverse this decision or I absolutely believe that eBay's days are numbered, because this lack of sales is going to hurt them... big time.

The GTC has effectively ended my business on eBay. I currently have a little over 60 items listed and NOTHING is selling, nothing.... I have items on there that without GTC would have absolutely sold by now. Instead they are just sitting there.... gaining views, getting watchers.... BUT NOT **bleep** SELLING.

And on a side note, I don't even trust the view counter anyway since the last thing I posted had 7 views literally the moment I posted it. The next had 20 views within seconds of posting it.

havemyfaves · ‎04-09-2019

And this is exactly everyone else's problem. And the sad thing, is that eBay doesn't care.

gamersbaystore · ‎04-09-2019

Agree with everything you stated, and I really can't believe others are still in denial that there's a problem with these changes. How can anyone act as if nothing is wrong when you have decade's old sellers with thousands of listings saying their business is dead. That's what I've seen day after day in these forums for weeks on end. I have over 500 listings right now, and I'm getting an average of 1 sale a day if I'm really lucky.

And GTC......yeah, a total trainwreck. For those who keep touting its quote "good for SEO", just forget it with that argument. Anyone who believes that doesn't understand SEO nor search engines.

I now have a ton of watchers and no sales as a result of the new GTC changes. As others have stated, there is no sense of urgency to buy, because there's no time limit on listings.

bermudawrecktangled · ‎04-10-2019

Dear 18704d,

What are you talking about? Looking at your profile you have nothing for sale, and have sold nothing in the last 12 months, so how can you post such a ridiculous reply? The thread Originator has very real, and valid concerns, and it is IN FACT impacting the small seller! I'm in that group, and since the implementation, I'm experiencing the same thing. I have never strayed to this area of Ebay until the GTC was implemented; to see if my off sales were me, or everyone. What I did find out is that most of the post as yours, are coming from members, that really have no 'SKIN' in the game, but are pretty much professional 'posters'.

creekcoyote · ‎04-10-2019

@bermudawrecktangled wrote:
Dear 18704d,

What are you talking about? Looking at your profile you have nothing for sale, and have sold nothing in the last 12 months, so how can you post such a ridiculous reply? The thread Originator has very real, and valid concerns, and it is IN FACT impacting the small seller! I'm in that group, and since the implementation, I'm experiencing the same thing. I have never strayed to this area of Ebay until the GTC was implemented; to see if my off sales were me, or everyone. What I did find out is that most of the post as yours, are coming from members, that really have no 'SKIN' in the game, but are pretty much professional 'posters'.

Since you don't come here often, you may be totally unaware that many sellers use a posting ID and have a separate ID for selling. Even if the ID that is showing here shows zero sales, the same individual may have thousands of sales under another ID.

There are several reasons for doing this. One of the most important ones is that sometimes when members dis-agree, some are inclined to buy from the individual they have dis-agreed with and then give them a negative or cause other issues.

It is just a good idea, if you are going to use these forums regularly, to have a posting ID.

COYOTES RULE!!!

bermudawrecktangled · ‎04-10-2019

Hey... I do appreciate that information... I didn't know that. But, that mentality is part of everything that has accumulated to be the 'Great Train Wreck' that is today's society. I'm all about transparency; if buying from me, and then cancelling , reneging, leaving negative feedback stimulates their 1st grade intellect... so be it. I'll wear my 'Scarlet Letters' proudly.

Back to the point... how much can you really contribute hiding behind an alias... Absolutely nothing that would establish any 'honest' ~ credibility.

cleopalmbch · ‎04-10-2019

I sincerely understand and Thank You for expressing how the GTC change has affected your business on eBay.

I also sell collectibles and experience the ABYSS. as you clearly described.

Leaving notes throughout the listing hasn't helped me sell a book...No one sees the listing only 2 days max.

You have effectively communicated the "PROBLEM" ... " THE ABYSS".

automatic relisting throws everyone into the "the abyss" ... for 28 days out of 30 fixed days.

sellers who DO NOT OWN a STORE MEMBERSHIP will be looking into purchasing a store membership.

i believe SELLING STORE MEMBERSHIPS ... was the intention.

I thought your selling technique, brilliant.

I have to take the leap of faith, as I also was able to pay my rent with my small collectible business here.

sales have trickled to zero not even groceries can I afford. its that bad.

many people who voice opinion here are angry. initially i was angry too. some can only write negative demeaning rants against one another. coping mechanism? dont know.

Wanted to let you know, your communication skills are excellent, you've helped me.

Thats a good thing.

In the little spot eBay allows you to describe "the seller" I thank everyone for stopping, as they help me afford to take my happy little pup Cleo to the Vet. Unfortunately as sales go to zero...so does her medication for allergies and her vet visit too.

I hoped eBay would consider giving the sellers an ability to choose to accept the update *as an added benefit*

I Thank You so much.

Respectfully,

Rose

dcmerc2012 · ‎04-10-2019

Rose,

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it. I don't think a lot of these large volume product sellers really understand how the GTC change effects sellers like us. However, I really don't understand how buying a Store Membership will change any of it, unless it gives you the ability to once again list an item as BIN with a 3 day posting?

As far as I can tell, a store membership will have no benefit for someone selling one off collectibles and antiques.

spittser · ‎04-10-2019

I think you're on the wrong board. You need to go to Chinese discussion board where your analogy applies. Yes, I'm sure there are US sellers who come on here and have multiples of items and a supplier to replenish their stock but most of the sellers who are coming here to voice their displeasure do not. When I sell something, as in ONE, I don't replace that item, unless by some crazy coincidence, I find another one. When the Pierre Omidyar sold his broken laser pointer, he didn't call someone and ask them to send him another supply of broken laser pointers. Once it was sold, he just found something else to sell. GTC does nothing to benefit that business model, the one most people who have been selling here any length time uses. It's great that it works for you but your business model is not what created eBay, mine is.

mokagroup · ‎04-10-2019

GTC is only good for people who sell constantly the same type of items that can be replenished in their inventory. However, sellers who sell individual items, not **bleep** by the thousands from China, is not so good.