Is it logical to start selling on other sites if eBay and other platforms compete together on Google

[americainabox]

I've depended on eBay and have done well last year. This year is starting out slow and every time I start thinking about other sites I think    If I am looking for something I want don't most people automatically go to Google search then decide based on the item not the site?  Is this logic costing me? I am not very trusting in having a lot of my bank info spread out across other sites....if it's not necessary and all those trolls...

[ebooksdiva]

If you aren’t comfortable selling on other sites, then don’t. 
People will Google search items they are looking for whether you want them to or not. 
I Google search for the best price, why shouldn’t other buyers too? 
What trolls are you talking about? If you’re talking about the responders in this forum you’re asking a question in a public forum so you’re going to get responses from many buyers and sellers, each with their own take on your question. 
Some answers you may not like some you will. 

[ckimodog]

@americainabox 

Happy New Year! January is always slow, at least that's been my experience.  There are different venues out there besides this one and it certainly can't hurt to try.  I am on 3 different sites, as are a lot of us here & to be honest I do better on those other venues given what I sell.  I did ok during Christmas on eBay, but not much since then.  Like I stated there's nothing wrong with venturing out.  It may help your bank account to increase.

I wish you well what ever you decide.

Happy Selling

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

More and more sellers are multi channel these days. Many cross-post ( same items on the different channels). Others post different items on different channels. If you want to cross-post there are a number of tools (Vendoo, List Perfectly, and others) that help you list on multiple channels. I have not heard of any problems with banking info. 

It's a business decision, and only you can decide whether to try it or not.

[dhbookds]

Don't know about other sites.........but some should use paypal.......and if you already have that, wouldn't be a problem.  More exposure couldn't hurt.......if you have the time and inventory.........

[americainabox]

I get  messages on my board I see as **bleep** or harassment on certain items I am old school maybe trolls is the wrong persona didn't mean to offend anyone here on the board.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you can find a site which has different buyers for what you are selling than the buyers who shop on Ebay, you should consider selling there as well.

I looked at your listings and no specific site which would be good for your eclectic assortment comes to mind. Sites like Amazon would not allow you to sell used collectible toys, and might require proof of authenticity which you could not provide, on some of what you sell.

Your bank account concerns could easily be dealt with by having separate bank accounts. Many of us old-timers always kept PayPal away from the main bank account for our family because we felt it was no safe there.

[krazzykats]

I use another site with PayPal, which has had my information for probably 20(?) years already.

[gloryglorygifts]

I have a friend that sells items similar to yours and does very well, but, she does it through her following on Facebook (personal and business page). She also does shows pretty much every weekend.  I don't think I have ever seen any of her items on a Google search. She was on ebay for a while but no longer sells here. So not everyone in your market depend on the Google search. I guess it depends on what you are selling. I know that in my market everyone does go to Google.

[bashort]

I sell mainly industrial type items and when pricing items I look at what the item can be bought for anywhere and price accordingly because the only thing that brings people to ebay is either the item is not commonly available or it is significantly cheaper here.

[richard1rst]

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@americainabox wrote:

I've depended on eBay and have done well last year. This year is starting out slow and every time I start thinking about other sites I think    If I am looking for something I want don't most people automatically go to Google search then decide based on the item not the site?  Is this logic costing me? I am not very trusting in having a lot of my bank info spread out across other sites....if it's not necessary and all those trolls...

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I would say that is a logical statement (although "most" is a relative term). In fact, according to eBay's own statistics (although the percentage changes month to month) anywhere from 40 to 60% of my eBay pages are viewed as a result of a Google search, not an eBay search.

In addition I have my own independent site where I can sell items eBay does not allow. That shows up on Google also.

[rugerskick]

Yes.

At any time any one site could ban you, rightly or wrongly.

Further some items sell better on certain sites than others.

[americainabox]

I really appreciate all the feedback.  I think the best strategy for my site in particular would be to take items from inventory that can be safely sold locally thru FB marketplace. I'm also renting tables with a friend at the largest flea market here  in Florida called Websters. Those items are the large bulk items with high ship with lots of local interests, saddles, cast iron, Antique floor lamps ect.  Then of course keeping eBay as my main e-commerce site. 

[luckythewinner]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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I would say that is a logical statement (although "most" is a relative term). In fact, according to eBay's own statistics (although the percentage changes month to month) anywhere from 40 to 60% of my eBay pages are viewed as a result of a Google search, not an eBay search.

In addition I have my own independent site where I can sell items eBay does not allow. That shows up on Google also.

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I think it depends very much on the nature of the items.

I have one of the largest inventories of sealed LP from an obscure record label from the 1960s and 1970s. They are listed on eBay, my own site, and another venue that specializes in in records.

All are visible on Google, but 99% of those sales still come through eBay even though the other venues have them at the same or lower prices. 

So I would suggest measuring your efforts to determine which venues (eBay or others) are worth investing your time and effort in, and which ones are not. For me, eBay is king but other may have a vastly different experience.