How Many States are in the United States?

[ten_o_nine]

I was thinking 50 from last count but appears to be 4. So, I sell in the USA and attract 4 out of 50 in the last 3 months?

46 or say 40 states did not buy from me, why?

This post is not about eBay hiding or throttling, it's about sales coming from specific states.

Almost all my items go to VA, NJ, FL, and CA.

I worked as a senior business analyst for a major tech company and know trends. 

I know most of buyer from FL. buy watches. CA customers buy houseware, NJ collectibles, VA is a mix,

Anyone experiencing the same? If I knew this would be the same pattern for the next year, I could change some business strategies.

So what is it?

[caldreamer]

Because you sell a lot of heavy glassware and dishes (it makes sense that most of your sales are from the East Coast where you are located).    I live in California and shipping cost is $41 for your crystal bowl.  That would be a big deterrent to many people.

[a_c_green]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

I was thinking 50 from last count but appears to be 4. So, I sell in the USA and attract 4 out of 50 in the last 3 months?

46 or say 40 states did not buy from me, why?

This post is not about eBay hiding or throttling, it's about sales coming from specific states.

Almost all my items go to VA, NJ, FL, and CA.

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I see similar patterns (that is, lots of business to some states but none to others) with my vintage bicycle parts sales. I think it's just general interest among the population of those particular states. God knows different states attract different people; that's no secret.

In my case I have frequent sales to California, Florida, Montana, Texas and Michigan. A few other states pop up from time to time, and a few states I don't think I have ever shipped to in recent memory. It's just the way it goes. (I have Free Shipping on most of my items, so there are usually no higher costs on my items for buyers who are further away.)

[yuzuha]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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In my case I have frequent sales to California, Florida, Montana, Texas and Michigan.

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Wow, you actually get sales to Montana? I think I've had two in the entire time I've been selling here.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

My buyers are from various states. But if I were looking for a business strategy change I'd focus on individual buyers and try to turn them into repeat buyers...with newsletters, coupons, etc. I don't think I'd focus at the state level. But that's just me.

[anjofak]

I think we have hit sales in all 60 states..

They limit you to 50 states.

[chapeau-noir]

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@yuzuha wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote:

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In my case I have frequent sales to California, Florida, Montana, Texas and Michigan.

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Wow, you actually get sales to Montana? I think I've had two in the entire time I've been selling here.

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I get them to Montana - not a lot but I'm never surprised when I see one.  I've even had a couple to Wyoming but it has been a while.

[chapeau-noir]

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@anjofak wrote:

I think we have hit sales in all 60 states..

They limit you to 50 states.

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THROTTLING US!  I knew it.

[reallynicestamps]

First as another poster pointed out- heavy and bulky items have higher shipping costs, which means they are more expensive the further they have to travel.

Second- fragile things no matter how carefully packaged, will be in more danger of damage the longer and further their time in transit.

And of course, population.

The more people in a particular location, the more chance of a buyer being there.

[mn467462]

There's 50 states in the United States. 

[1tuna]

I am in PA and as far as watches go that is all I sell

here in the deleware valley watches are abundant

the big 3 as far as the watch supply goes is PA where I live and NJ NY

as far as watch buyers go, I sell many pieces to Texas California and all the reshippers

california is a huge watch buying group and is by far the best state for  watch buyers

@ten_o_nine 

[dbfolks166mt]

There are 

50 - States

1 - District

3 - Territories

3 - Freely associated states

     Like you I am also on the east coast and about 75% of my sales are east of the Mississippi river probably due to the variance in shipping costs once those costs move westward. 

[isaiah53-57]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

I was thinking 50 from last count but appears to be 4. So, I sell in the USA and attract 4 out of 50 in the last 3 months?

46 or say 40 states did not buy from me, why?

This post is not about eBay hiding or throttling, it's about sales coming from specific states.

Almost all my items go to VA, NJ, FL, and CA.

I worked as a senior business analyst for a major tech company and know trends. 

I know most of buyer from FL. buy watches. CA customers buy houseware, NJ collectibles, VA is a mix,

Anyone experiencing the same? If I knew this would be the same pattern for the next year, I could change some business strategies.

So what is it?

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I was just posting about this same thing on another thread - I live on the east coast and a disproportionate amount of my sales went to the furthest regions away from me(Somewhere west of the Mississippi) - Given the things I sold had no regional draw, it made no sense whatsoever, especially given 80% of the US population lives east of the Mississippi - It dramatically increased my fees, as I typically shipped 1 to 10 lb packages and used calculated shipping - People who posted on the thread who used free shipping or flat rate shipping said they didnt have the same results I did, but those who also used calculated shipping reported similar results...I wonder why that was...hmmmmm

[isaiah53-57]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

There are 

50 - States

1 - District

3 - Territories

3 - Freely associated states

     Like you I am also on the east coast and about 75% of my sales are east of the Mississippi river probably due to the variance in shipping costs once those costs move westward. 

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Did you mean West of the Mississippi @dbfolks166mt ? That was my experience also living on the east coast.

[johnrj1226]

Well when we sold 2010 thru  late 2021 on eBay shipped/sold 45% of 1665 items to the far western states (west of the Rockies including Hawaii, Alaska and a few to the the US protectorates.  Live and shipped from Georgia, Atlanta area.  All my shipping/handling charges was separate.  Go figure.