I picked the worst time to open a store!!!

[vivyscloset]

I've been an off and on ebayer for about 10 years. The last time I ebayed was a few years ago. I got so turned off by the higher fees, higher shipping costs, and loss of profits, so I stopped listing thinking what's the point, and that maybe I could try again later. But even then, my sales were way better compared to now. Since I was working, I didn't rely on eBay for income, so I was in no hurry to give away my items at a loss. This cycle repeated over a period of 10 years until now when I decided to open a store for the first time after my free listings expired recently. I felt compelled to do that because I'm having to list a lot more with much fewer sales. I never imagined that making more listings would result in crickets and tumbleweeds. I thought January, June and July were supposed to be the worst selling months for eBay, not October!

[hurryagain]

@vivyscloset 

Since you sell clothing, I am not sure that you are aware of the nightmare situation in the clothing section...read...

[FRIDAY, OCT 25 UPDATE] Technical issues reported in Seller Hub and item specifics

This has been going on for about 2 weeks now...

[vivyscloset]

I noticed that too when I made some new listings. It won't even let you post until you specify sub-categories. I've also noticed many sellers complaining about not selling anything for days and then suddenly getting purchases from a particular region in the US. I've recently moved from CA to GA to be closer to family, and my only experience as an eBay seller has been from CA, so maybe that also has something to do with poor sales.

[mam98031]

The glitches due to the changes with structured data is likely to be impacting you and your sales.  Lots of glitches happening right now while Ebay fights to get things under control.

You are also selling in a highly competitive category so it is much different than selling in it years ago.

You will just need to give it some time.  Let things iron out and you may see improvement.

FYI, while I typically do fine this time of the year, my best selling times are the week after Christmas, January and February.  Then things start slowing down a bit, will start to pick back up after tax day.  The die down again as summer approaches.  August is typically my worst month of the year.

These experiences change from seller to seller.  A lot depends on what you sell.  But the experience is just not the same for a majority of sellers, there are just too many factors.   Your truth may be very different, but only time will tell.

Good luck and welcome back to Ebay.

[m60driver]

Many of us have given up on clothing long before the recent curses that have befallen the category. The category has long suffered from an over abundance of listings as well as alternatives on other websites that have gained favor.  (Also, I noticed that you have perhaps a few too many non-seasonal items up for sale.)

[ed8108]

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@vivyscloset wrote: I got so turned off by the higher fees, higher shipping costs, and loss of profits, so I stopped listing thinking what's the point, and that maybe I could try again later. But even then, my sales were way better compared to now. 

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The unfortunate dismal reality of the present for some, who are now looking forward with great anticipation to the fast approaching holiday buying frenzy.

[vivyscloset]

I know it's gotten worse over the years, but this is by far the worst I've ever seen. I've never opened a store because I was always able to sell at least 15-30 items if I listed items using the free 50 listings each month. I always research each item before I list and make sure I'm competitively priced. That has usually worked for me, but not anymore. Out-of-season items sell less, but they still sell based on my research of sold items, but that's why I don't have nearly as many of those items compared to seasonal items. 

Before I opened a store for the first time a few days ago, I was able to sell some items using only free listings. It was much less than I was used to, but I just thought that if I increased the number of listings, I could maintain a steadier stream of sales. Instead, opening a store has caused my sales to crash and burn. Something is definitely fishy, and it could be the glitch they're talking about.

[vivyscloset]

Needless to say, I've cancelled my store subscription.