How to increase sales, and get eBay to fix what doesn't work

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Any thoughts?

[reallynicestamps]

I was closing many of my listings (and one entire selling account) over the past month while Canada Post was on strike.

Now that they are back, I'm relisting/Sell Similar  and my sales are normal again, except that all but one is an International sale, with only 30% being USA and the rest overseas.

I don't have the advantage of eIS Seller Protections, but have always shipped internationally. Usually USA is about 85% of that and overseas about 5%.

[johnrj1226]

Just a  suggestion but  it  seems to me you  love to  sell "collectables". In my opinion collectables are every where on eBay, every estate sale, thrift  store, garage sale, flea market .  That  equals lots of competition and  lower price/profits  Younger generations could care less about them.  Find other products to offer that  are a bit more in demand.  Do some  research and find product you know something about and that folks  are buying and you  can source and make a profit.  Hint:  don't go fishing where all the other fisher men/women are.  Selling the  same ole, same ole won't git er dun.  If you ain't changing you are getting further behind and only the strong will survive.  Sold within the  same industry for 41  years - several different companies - increased my income nicely with each change  - had to move a  few times but change is good.

Once  upon a time eBay had a link called "Tell us what  you think"  Don't know if they still have it or it  has a newer  name.  But until they  make a change - you  need to work within the current policies and guidelines of eBay have and adjust to changes, make them  work for you the best you can and read the ANOUNCEMENTS.  eBay or any other  selling venue cannot or will not please everyone it is impossible  - very best efforts will please about 80% of the folks  = 20% will be POed.  Hint; don't pay too much attention to all the naysayers on  this discussion boards.  The old adage  "that misery luvs company is still alive & very meaningful.  Finally all sellers are not perfect and God helps those that helps themselves.

Fini! & Ciao ---  Pura Vida

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Thanks @johnrj1226  and @reallynicestamps .

Just to be clear, I am not asking anyone to review my sales, etc. This is meant as a general thread for tips on selling , what works for you, etc. I started this topic because @allthingsurplus was unhappy with the thread about our "favorite" part of selling on ebay (He apparently didn't think it was a serious enough topic) and he wanted  discussion on this topic. Not sure why he didn't just start his own, but I figured I'd try and help him out.

So , if anyone wants to discuss sales improvement and "how we can get eBay to repair all the poor working programs", here's your chance. 

[fbusoni]

Not for that seller... lousy attitude.

Let him search for forums for his "silver bullet."  😂

[mordecai8614]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

So , if anyone wants to discuss sales improvement and "how we can get eBay to repair all the poor working programs", here's your chance. 

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Sounds like a thinly veiled "lets complain about what's wrong with eBay for the 642,398th time" thread to me

[kandf_vintage_finds]

My sales are fine.  I didn't notice that eBay needed to repair its site.  I work with what's given me.  If my sales are not up to par I don't look for eBay to fix it.  I fix it!  It's my gig...not eBay's.

[johnrj1226]

It is always best to clearly state what one really meant to  get what  you really want.  Communication is a very easy word to say but is often the most difficult to properly do.  See many words  have more than one meaning according to Websters Dictionary and in the Urban Dictionary a whole new meaning to every word in the Websters.  Folks in Cali have a lingo total diff than folks in NYC or in South Dakota., etc. etc.  I am very certain no one recall all those meaning or even  more than one from the Websters

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

Thanks @johnrj1226  and @reallynicestamps .

Just to be clear, I am not asking anyone to review my sales, etc. This is meant as a general thread for tips on selling , what works for you, etc. I started this topic because @allthingsurplus was unhappy with the thread about our "favorite" part of selling on ebay (He apparently didn't think it was a serious enough topic) and he wanted  discussion on this topic. Not sure why he didn't just start his own, but I figured I'd try and help him out.

So , if anyone wants to discuss sales improvement and "how we can get eBay to repair all the poor working programs", here's your chance. 

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I'll add some info for the sake of the post.

I found that if you are the best in what you sell, things will work out in your favor. What i mean is that your focus is precise, you understand the market fluctuations and needs while continuing to push yourself to do what is needed to sell on eBay. (list more items at a fair price) I also find that when others dip their toes in the reselling game, their inventory can be too diverse. Stick to a category/item that you know and can source easily. When sourcing, buy the best of the best. (condition) Consider passing on items that may have issues with condition/originality. Building your inventory does not have to be about quantity. Sometimes it is better to have less items that are worth the same as having many items that only take more time to achieve the same profit. Time is your biggest asset and is limited. 

As far as fixing eBay... Adapt and worry about things YOU can control. The market will change and so will eBay. 

[chapeau-noir]

I'm in high school, not business, so I have no thoughts on this.

[lakefor94]

"How to increase sales, and get eBay to fix what doesn't work"

I don't have any problems with the site not working. Every day seems smooth to me. 

When the shipping labels went south the other day, all that inhibited was comparing eBay label costs with PirateShip. It was a not issue, just used PirateShip. 

I find that my sales increase when I put in the work. Listing new items to back up the existing listings is at the top.

I have not been doing much new listing so improving existing listings, adjusting pricing, implementing new strategies, ending listings and doing sell similar to about 10 or more listings per day has been producing consistent results. 

That is it in a nutshell. Best to all in sales moving into the new year.

Time to get out of my cushy chair and into the office.....

[allstar-comics]

source items that ebay is not flooded with Otherwise you get a trickle unless you massively promote/undercut 

[reallynicestamps]

Sell internationally.

[meme6253]

You have been around a long time, You know the usual posts here on how to try and increase sales, Now the other matter is a great question with no proper answer to give you.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Other than minor transient problems, I do not see signs the site is broken.

Maybe, that is because my expectations are modest or maybe because I am realistic of the limited appeal of the items I sell.

I do not sell low margin items which require I sell huge volume in order to make any money. I do not have items which require promotion because they are common as dirt.

What I sell is kind of "take it or leave it" if you want it, you will have to buy it from me at my price or look hard to find another. If for some reason it isn't that way today, it will be in the near future.

Ebay is,  at this point in time, the best place for me to sell my items and if there was a better place, I would be selling there.

Some people should be selling their items on another site. Others would feel better if they convinced themselves that Ebay is the best place for them to succeed.

Some sellers need to find a job.