eBay

angelsfan55kj · ‎12-07-2019

I'm not interested in anyone's critique of me or my store. I just want to make everyone aware of something. I have three stores on ebay, three separate types of items. As we all know, sales have turned incredibly slow, and I have no idea why. This is the same pattern, in three different stores, with three different items. I used to average a pretty decent amount of sales, with this store being my smallest. In May, I had a few items end up being late shipments, primarily because I was on vacation. Now, that sales have plummeted, when they average all of my shipments for the year on a rolling review, my average has skyrocketed. When I sold 100 items per month, it wasn't an issue, not that it's 8 per month, It has made me drop from a Top Rated seller! That also ends up affecting my sales, so now they have gone even lower. So, my question is, if I am paying for a store, why is ebay allowed to manipulate the numbers like that? And, are they trying to drive a small seller to close their stores? I just want your opinion on this! Thanks!

coast_of_maine_antiques · ‎12-07-2019

Why would 8 sales per month drop you out of TRS status? Is this something they do to Angles fans? It’s a big drop for you, for sure but 8 sales a month should not boot you from TRS status? Go Sox.

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gracieallen01 · ‎12-07-2019

As you say, sales seem to be down for many. However, ebay revenue seems to be up. I suppose the way for that to happen is for the sellers and advertisers to make up the difference and for someone finding inventive ways to accomplish that.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

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dhbookds · ‎12-07-2019

Having a store doesn't have anything to do with you dropping from TRS.......or with any sanctions ebay would put on for whatever reason.

pink.fish.rule · ‎12-07-2019

@coast_of_maine_antiques wrote:
Why would 8 sales per month drop you out of TRS status? Is this something they do to Angles fans? It’s a big drop for you, for sure but 8 sales a month should not boot you from TRS status? Go Sox.

Because you have to have 100 sales @ >$1,000 to qualify for TRS. Slow sales affects those numbers.

loveyourimagination49 · ‎12-07-2019

You’re not TRS because you dropped under 100 transactions. Is that what you’re saying?
You’re no longer on a 3 month look back because you don’t have 400 transactions, correct?
So your complaint is slow sales.

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.

pink.fish.rule · ‎12-07-2019

Pretty much.

Luckily, lack of sales don't cause you to fall to Below Standard from Above standard, (only bad metrics and defects do that) so all you need to get back to TRS is more sales = )

Easier said than done though.

lex-talon · ‎12-07-2019

In May, I had a few items end up being late shipments, primarily because I was on vacation.

There's your answer right there.

nc-daydreamer · ‎12-07-2019

So, my question is, if I am paying for a store, why is ebay allowed to manipulate the numbers like that? And, are they trying to drive a small seller to close their stores? I just want your opinion on this!

My opinion?

I am unsure who would have the governing ultimate authority to stop them from manipulating their business. Wish I did. But they apparently believe they are right. So I go with the flow and surmise it's their ballgame and they can pick up their ball and go home anytime they decide to. Unfair? Unethical? Certainly. But until then, the situation is what it is and until a Judge (or higher authority) who sells has enough of the nonsense and who has the knowledge and resources and who also cares comes along with the gonads to do something legal about it - the injustice of it all will remain.

As for your second question - while it is illogical and ill-advised (again my opinion) - it would appear that they are sadly doing exactly that. My forecast for this by the time the head haunchos smell the coffee - it will be too little too late.

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corvettestainless · ‎12-07-2019

@angelsfan55kj if I am paying for a store, why is ebay allowed to manipulate the numbers like that? And, are they trying to drive a small seller to close their stores?

First, glad you're a fellow Angels Fan (OC Born & Raised here); Anyway, you asked 2 questions.

1.) Ebay is not manipulating numbers if they clearly state how they will be rating you. It's all in the percentages. If you have 10 late shipments in 1000, you are 1%. If you have 10 late shipments in 100, you are 10%. The more items sold, the 'problems' become a smaller percentage.

2.) No, that would be the opposite of what they want. Stores make them money. Sales make them money.

If sales are down, it's your mix or supply & demand . You have to look at your products,:

1.) Are you selling what people are buying?

2.) Are you the cheapest, shipped to door?

2.) Are there 10000 sellers now selling what you are, when there used to be 2000?

3.) Is your 'pet rock' or 'happy face t-shirt' old and stale, nobody wants it anymore?

mtgraves7984 · ‎12-07-2019

I, too, am forecast to drop from 'Top Rated' to 'Above Standard' within the month... so I've been told. I can't tell that my sales have dropped drastically, as they've never been through the roof... but I enjoy selling here as a hobby and take pride in my performance and feedback rating. With that being said, I think the reason for my 'downgrade' belongs on me. With the induction into Managed Payments, I changed my listings from a timely 2-day shipping to (up to an embarrassing!) 14-day lead time, just to have capital for shipping costs, with the reason for the delay written in my listings. To your point, I wonder what the change from 'Top Rated' will do to me, too. This small store's Premium subscription is set to renew in March... hmmmm.

coffeebean832 · ‎12-07-2019

@angelsfan55kj wrote:
I just want your opinion on this!

You caused the situation yourself by not extending your handling time before you went on vacation.

pink.fish.rule · ‎12-07-2019

Tbh, the only difference I've ever really noticed between being TRS and AS is that I don't get the TRS postage discount. Oh, and I guess now the enhanced "seller protections", which from what I've been reading, don't actually happen anyway.

Doesn't seem to affect sales one way or the other imho

kathieskorner · ‎12-07-2019

I also have multiple accounts selling different types of items, but closed my two stores at the beginning of 2018 as I couldn't justify the subscription fees any longer. My two smaller accounts have always been above standard, and have no defects or returns, but will never meet the TRS threshhold for both sales dollars and transactions.

I am still TRS on one of my ex-store accounts, but I lost TRS status on this account back in July - not due to defects or returns or sales, but because the number of transactions fell below 100. I currently have 97 transactions and $1600 in sales, but I doubt that I hit the 100 threshhold by the 20th as I haven't had a sale since Dec. 2 and will close down on the 11th for two weeks.

The interesting thing is that my sales did not drop for over a year after closing my stores - only since March 2019.