How many of you have noticed what is going on with traffic? Pay more for less

[jathibo-12]

How many of you have noticed what is going on with traffic? Pay more for less.

My interpretation, they are attempting to upcharge us for watered down liquor.  Paying double the ad rate to receive 2/3s less traffic.  Yeah this stinks, they have actually diluted their own product. I can't see a reason to stick around.  There must be better options then to sit here and be taken advantage of. 

[inhawaii]

I don't keep track of traffic. 

I only keep track of sales.

I don't think ebay charges for traffic.

No matter much you pay ebay can not guarantee you traffic.

[caseypl]

I actually like being able to use ad rates and set them as high as I want. I often get about 10 items that are similar in condition. Used to sell these around $14. Then I used ads. I'd set some at a 23% rate at like $35 and would scale down the ad rate and the price, but kept the lowest price around $20. Now it averages $25 with an 8% or so ad fee. 

Imagine if I just kept selling these things at $14 and no ad fee. I recommend seeing if you can use ad fees to your advantage. Other sellers cannot see what ad rate you use, but they often price their items based on historical sales. Help establish new price floors by getting one item to sell at a higher than average price using ads. 

[jathibo-12]

So increase my prices by 300% and promote at 23%, how exactly does that increase a buyer's interest in shopping on ebay.  (Okay I make one sale  but that buyer will not be a repeat buyer once they realize they where taken. Also its kind of hard to sale something at 300% normal cost when other listings are set at 100% cost.  If I bought that item at 300% and later found out, I would stop shopping here. Already have stopped buying here due poor treatment of sellers and the way things are going. 

[soh.maryl]

You have apparently made at least nine sales in July.

And you state that you made one sale, but that buyer won't be a repeat buyer "once they realize they where taken".

What does that mean, exactly? In English, "taken" usually means taken advantage of in some way, like cheated.  Am sure that's not what you meant.  

[mybigsale]

@jathibo-12 

"Paying double the ad rate to receive 2/3s less traffic.  Yeah this stinks..."

Paying a higher ad rate may increase traffic, but it may also increase your position in the traffic. So, paying double the ad rate to put your item number 1 or 2 in search rather than near the bottom or on page 2 (paying a lower ad rate) may be worth it (Just explaining - not supporting the eBay ad system).

[jranfo_3]

I was speaking hypothetically about a sale one would increase price 300% with ad rate of 23%; and yes I would consider this hypothetical buyer was taken if the sold price was 300% of market value.  No, they would not come back once they realize what happened    

[meme6253]

Your Right they can't guarantee Traffic, But they defintely can Improve on our listings being seen, which in turn would produce more traffic, More traffic,Probably more sales!, Isn't that what we all pay for anyway?

[dhbookds]

Kind of like saying newspapers dilute their classified ads by running display ads......????     Yep, they'd probably get alot more classifieds if they didn't do display ads.....but they get more $$ for the display ads and those  work better for THOSE kinds of sellers.......

A seller has to decide what works best for him..........