General comment

[briawashingto-1]

Morning Ebay!  

I have loved my experience on this platform.  I was **bleep** near on the street when a friend told me about it and I got started with my account of 50 free items. I've been working diligently everyday for about three years and my store and sales grew.  It was fantastic. 

That said, I have a background in business and the only thing more coveted then a secure bankroll is consistency.    Consistently good or consistently bad. 

This year it seems, unfortunately this platform seems to have run out of consistency.  It doesn't really matter what aspect we are talking about, views on items listed, sales, mobile app bugs, promotion listing analytics etc.    I can very well run a promotion at 7% and get 100 clicks on Tuesday, and 40 clicks the next Tuesday there is really no rhyme or reason.  I can have $3000 sales in a month or $800 sales the next month.  

It is really hard to build any type of strategic action plan for growth or decompression when there is little to no consistency, except the fact there is little or no consistency. 

The only think I know for sure is Ebay did provide an decent, consistent income for a few years.  Other sellers who are going through the same frustrations I am by these consistences, my heart goes out to you.   That said I have been in business long enough to know that sooner or later you have to cut strings on the service, product, or employee that has no consistency.  

I have a month or two left in me but after that I'm not sure.  Comes down to the opportunity cost.  How long do I continue to work diligently with a platform who's obvious  concern is not  growing revenue through their advertising, but growing revenue through forced competition and marketing by there users. 

 According to there First Quarter results "In advertising, eBay grew promoted listings placements and eligibility. In the first quarter, there were more than 800 thousand active sellers who took advantage of the program, promoting over 200 million listings. This drove over $65 million of revenue in the quarter, up nearly 110% year-over-year."

It also seems Ebay has very little to say about this inconsistent as I've spoken with managers and the such and the answer is always the same.  "We're sorry to hear about your frustration but we value you as a seller."  Yeah I bet. 

[castlemagicmemories]

I'm so sorry you are finding these inconsistencies, but I understand you are not alone.  If you read threads on this Board, you will find that many have said what you have expressed here.

Many are facing difficult decisions such as you are at this time; you can see that through threads on this Board as well.  

My heart goes out to all who are wrestling with this issue.  I wish you great success.

[southern*sweet*tea]

I have been selling here for 16 years, and the one consistent thing I can count on with Ebay (and selling online in general) is the inconsistency.

[castlemagicmemories]

Touche!

[gracieallen01]

Consistency is good, but it isn't a part of human nature - unless you consider inconsistency as being consistent.

ebay is run by people, who are subject to 'human nature', and thus, inconsistency.

[briawashingto-1]

Thanks for your comments! I will work hard in May as well  and see what happens.  Good luck!  Even though luck is not sound strategy. 

[gracieallen01]

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@briawashingto-1 wrote:

Thanks for your comments! I will work hard in May as well  and see what happens.  Good luck!  Even though luck is not sound strategy. 

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You might be better off trusting to luck on ebay, rather than consistency.  Much better chance of finding luck.  

Good luck!

[18704d]

ebay is run by   Buyers are people, who are subject to 'human nature', and thus, inconsistency.

I know about 60 other vendors who rent antique mall space.

All have complained of a nose dive in sales over the last few months.

Lynn

[tunicaslot]

Best to you - I've been here 20 yrs and struggle more and more as each year passes. There are so many other venues out there for both buyers and sellers and unless a business has a plan to consistently draw buyers as well as keep the sellers happy - it won't succeed.

Ebay is like many businesses I've worked at - there is always someone else to replace you but often the replacement doesn't have the same work ethic, productivity and interest in the company itself to replace the person they lost. You'll find most of the highest rated and successful companies - also keep their employees satisfied. When I see constant turnover within a business - I'm less likely to patronize that business because to me there is a problem - and if the employees aren't happy - the service, food, merchandise ect will reflect that.

[bonjourami]

Ebay is cyclical, always has been in the twenty years Ive been selling here...up and down...and the summer slowdown has already begun..it gets earlier every year, but good luck to you.

[ed8108]

Reality 101

As ebay continues to increase the number of new revenue streams derived off it's sellers, sellers take more hits to their profits.

This does work well for ebay, with the result of continued profit growth for ebay.

Good luck & Happy EBay Selling

[gracieallen01]

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@18704d wrote:

ebay is run by   Buyers are people, who are subject to 'human nature', and thus, inconsistency.

I know about 60 other vendors who rent antique mall space.

All have complained of a nose dive in sales over the last few months.

Lynn

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Ahhh, there ya go, trying to disillusion me!    Now ya tell me! 

[castlemagicmemories]

There have been a lot of articles on store closings, both B & M and eBay stores.

[ed8108]

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@ed8108 wrote:

Reality 101

As ebay continues to increase the number of new revenue streams derived off it's sellers, sellers take more hits to their profits.

This does work well for ebay, with the result of continued profit growth for ebay.

Good luck & Happy EBay Selling

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Ask not what ebay has done for itself, ask what has ebay done for you, lately

[popeye3165]

The sad FACT is it is not just eBay but eCommerce in general that is being manipulated and folks better wake up!

IMHO the internet is going to start looking like today's Main St. America nothing but the big corporations FEW if any mom and pop shops.

Good luck to ALL the small sellers out there!