Help! not getting views, and hardly any sales. I'm "selling similar". I'm promoting, I'm discounting

[jimw1776]

Help! I'm not getting views, and hardly any sales. I'm "selling similar". changing wording, and pictures. I'm promoting, I'm discounting. I'm relisting some items, but  I'll wait about 2-4 weeks from when they expire... not relisting right away.  I'm adding new items.   I'm just not selling. I know what I sell (mostly clothes) aren't the best sellers right now, but I have other items. I search other sellers...I see apparel and clothing are selling.  I write down my views and watches (I'm getting so I don't trust eBay  views and watches numbers) and I see days that my views and watches stay the same. I'm a top rated seller w/ 100% positive feedback.  During this pandemic and stay-at-home- time, I don't know what I'd do without eBay...selling is something for me to do. But I am really discouraged! And we can't even talk to someone at eBay.  How do I get views on my items?   (Thanks for listening to my venting)

[sophies*finds]

Ahhh, lucky, THANK YOU for saying that “seller rating, feedback, pictures, wording, promotions, discounts” may not be the issue.  And THANK YOU for not adding the economy and the pandemic to your list.  It’s all about potential buyers’ interest in your item.  I’m a small seller who has been here since 1999, and I completely agree.

That’s why I was shocked when one of my items recently “disappeared,” after having substantial interest.  During the first 30 hours of being listed, my item had 53 views and 2 watchers.  Then it disappeared, or at least I couldn’t find it among the first 200.  By the end of the 7-day auction it had only 4 more views and no additional watchers.

As you have stated, some would say it could be the wording or the pandemic or some other common excuse, but it most certainly was NOT for lack of interest.  And that’s very discouraging.

[luckythewinner]

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@sophies*finds wrote:

Ahhh, lucky, THANK YOU for saying that “seller rating, feedback, pictures, wording, promotions, discounts” may not be the issue.  And THANK YOU for not adding the economy and the pandemic to your list.  It’s all about potential buyers’ interest in your item.  I’m a small seller who has been here since 1999, and I completely agree.

That’s why I was shocked when one of my items recently “disappeared,” after having substantial interest.  During the first 30 hours of being listed, my item had 53 views and 2 watchers.  Then it disappeared, or at least I couldn’t find it among the first 200.  By the end of the 7-day auction it had only 4 more views and no additional watchers.

As you have stated, some would say it could be the wording or the pandemic or some other common excuse, but it most certainly was NOT for lack of interest.  And that’s very discouraging.

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I decided a long time ago that demand for an item on eBay is measured by bids and sales, not views and watchers. 

[doubledz-a2z]

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@jimw1776 wrote:

Help! I'm not getting views, and hardly any sales. 

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This is what happens when folks scream for free listings.  Ebay listened and gave nearly every seller hundreds through July.  THE SITE IS CLOGGED.  

[jimw1776]

Great suggestions. Thank you. I'll definitely do that

[chapeau-noir]

The one single thing that brings in sales for me is the consistent listing of fresh items, and, since I sell mostly in Fashion, in-season merchandise.  I've never had luck with off-season stuff and actually don't waste my time on it anymore - I just don't run the number of listings that can support out of season stuff without unbalancing my store (cohort of listings).

What I do with the off season stuff so I don't lose the listings is just make a folder and a Word document and copy the photos and listing verbiage into that directory - that way I don't have more and more out of season/stale stuff in my store, which I believe drags one's entire store or cohort of listings down (on the same principle that selling something often floats like items up in search), but they're all ready to be launched as fresh listings when the time comes.

Some people like to say "it's always (off season, i.e., summer/winter) somewhere!" which sounds all chirpy and optimistic, but for most of the stuff I sell "somewhere" is in another hemisphere with a much smaller population base and much higher shipping costs, particularly these days for me to carry six months' worth of out of season inventory. 

This is for what I sell, which is kind of niche.  Some things sell great all year round.

So that's what I know.

[jimw1776]

Thx for your suggestions. I'm sure you're right about out of season stuff and those listings should be filed away. I'm embarrassed to say this, but I am not computer savvy. I don't know Word or how to do as you suggest.

[sophies*finds]

Hi, jimw.  I hear you.  I'm not computer savvy either.  I've tried using Word, and haven't had much success copying and pasting from Word to ebay's seller form.

Instead I use ebay's TEMPLATES.  After you sign in, go to the top of any ebay page (including this one) and click on SELL at the top of the page on the right.  Granted, you're allowed only 50 templates, but you can delete them as items sell.  And sometimes, when a template is really old, I have to reload my pictures (which I keep in a separate computer file).  But overall, the templates have been a God-send for me.  Hope you give them a try and that they help.

[kathieskorner]

I decided a long time ago that demand for an item on eBay is measured by bids and sales, not views and watchers. 

Absolutely true.

What I have found for the past ten weeks is that while views and watchers are way down - sales are up.    Last week I put up 10 new fabric listings - all but one were sold within 24 hours.   Most of my old fabric listings have also sold within the past two months - fabric is a demand item right now.  

On the other hand, collectibles aren't a demand item, yet my sales are better than  usual for this time of year, and it is not new listings selling - it is the old inventory even though views are down more than 50%.  

AND, I don't use promotions or discounts - my photo skills haven't improved, and I rarely list more than one photo.  I have no explanation for the increase in sales except that these aren't normal times.  

[freedomp69]

Hello, Like others have mentioned, you have great pictures.  Unfortunately,  the vast majority of the people have been quarantined at home and may not need the type of clothing you offer.  With the states reopening, you may see an uptick in sales.  Also, you may want to think about diversifying the products you offer.  This has helped me to keep things going until the main bread and butter picks up.  I hope that helps!  

[jimw1776]

Thanks. I few people have suggested this...I'm doing it, and getting a few sales. It's sure nice to print those shipping labels!

[baantiques]

None of that stuff works except for listing new stuff.  I try to keep a flow of new items but you can only get sales up as high as the hidden limit on your account.  One thing I would suggest is to branch out and try selling different types of things.  I’ve been selling here since 1998 and I’ve sold the gamut and finally found a niche in 2013 that works well.

I was going gangbusters in March, then made the mistake of listing a car for sale in an auction with a reserve.  I figure the reserve price counted against my hidden limit because sales immediately fell off a cliff, and then picked back up again after the auction ended and the car didn’t meet reserve.

I ended up selling the car on CL for my reserve price and I got to keep all of it.  I’ve got another one on CL now - not making that same mistake twice.

[jimw1776]

Glad you sold your car. I've been doing better...new items, sales...changing pix. I actually sold a gown today...are getting back to normal?

[sfau]

 I would add in either men's or women's to the titles.  Also you have a lot of ? by words.  I don't think many people search for sizes like 8? so that is probably not coming up for a size.  You could say fits 8 or about an 8 so the 8 would show in the search.   Good luck!

[karthok.of.daolodus]

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@jimw1776 wrote:
Glad you sold your car. I've been doing better...new items, sales...changing pix. I actually sold a gown today...are getting back to normal?

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you are just doing the right things to get better sales.  there is no 'normal' - that's the biggest lie people tell themselves - the target is always moving.  but you're doing the right things to stay ahead and that's good.