Is it market, or is it me? My experiences.

[kcastore]

Well, I've had a bad year last year. 2020 was an exceptionally good year. Since March 2020 when the pandemic started, sales suddenly jumped several times higher than before. But good times don't last. Since April 2021, the sales gradually dropped back down. Now it's January 2022, and I'm back to what it was before the pandemic. And this is not just eBay, I've had the same experience in another online marketplace. So I believe this is the market's doing.

What's your experience?

[kcastore]

Yes, this is what I suspected, 'cause the sales on AMZN are the same trend. Thank you for sharing.

[kcastore]

Thank you for sharing. Fishing IS somewhat seasonal. But my experience is a whole year's trend. 2020 surged up abruptly several times as much, 2021 went down gradually, now I'm back to 2019. LOL.

[kcastore]

Looking at another record year? Good job. Thank you for sharing.

[kcastore]

Oh, the handout. I forgot about that. That probably makes sense, I don' t know. But thank you for sharing.

[selsa84]

You have some great flies my friend!! Had to buy some. Hope things pick up for you. BTW Hell yeah fishing is year around, 5 feet of snow or not.

[kcastore]

Ha ha ha, blunt but nice to hear. Thank you.

[femmefan1946]

Mostly market.

As you say, 2020 was an exceptional year for online sellers.
If we want to make comparisons, we should be looking at 2019 and 2018.

The unemployment rate in the USA is now below the level of 2019-2020, the real economy (not the stock market gamblers) is stable to strong.

Enough people are vaccinated and masked that going out is now a matter of caution but not of fear.

[coastaltechsolution]

According the the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment is hovering around 3.9%  so no it is not the lowest 

since 2018-2019 , in 2019 it had fallen to 3.6% 

[chapeau-noir]

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@coolections wrote:

@chapeau-noir 

Yes trillions can make a vey big brush. You didn't get anything ? Maybe I am mistaken but I thought most everyone did except for those making $150K or more.

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Got a check from Trump, yeah.  So did two of my friends, both hard working individuals in their 60s who were practically in the streets when they lost their job and couldn't find another, but the unemployment benefit kept a roof over their heads.  My own check went right back into the economy.  They're back to work without losing everything.  It was one of the decent things Trump did (the other was to jerk the UPU around to start changing China's status in the organization).

But it's not everybody and far as I know most people do want to work, though not for starvation wages anymore - I've been in the labor force for over 50 years and remember the days when one could live simply and very quietly on minimum wage, which was its purpose, not to provide "kid jobs" and saw that coming.  But I don't have my head buried in the sand, either.

[katzrul15]

@kcastore

You have really nice items and great pricing.  

Might be the time of year, but also, I know so many right now that are "under" employed - many working 2 jobs to try and bridge what 1 job used to do.  Money is tight for so many right now.

Folks would certainly rather be fishing or whatever - would really like for things to get back to normal sooner vs later.  

[johnrj1226]

Many states have a trout season - e.g. Michigan opening day is on April 24,  Washington State the day before Memorial Day,  Wisconsin general trout fishing May 1 - Catch and Release Jan 1 etc..   In Georgia season is open year around but don't think many trout fishermen/women will be tubing down the "Hootch"  in January or bug (flies)s  hatching on the waters - too **bleep** cold.  Business should pick up in a couple months.

Now  my fishing addicted 35 year old son is fishing bass tournaments but  is dressed up and looks like the Michelin man.  Yeah I'm to blame for his addiction - got him started fishing when he was 4.  Won his first tournament at age 6  at a  Junior Bass Anglers Club Tournament at Jones Lake, Baytown Texas.  We fished  just about every weekend - when the temps were decent - 70+ for me.

[johnrj1226]

Full US employment  is now considered when the unemployment rate is  between  3.5 to 4.0% depending on what  economists you talk to.  Back in the mid 60's  it was 3.5% (it calculated differently than it is today. - recall that from college Economics 101 in 1965.  The 3.5 -4.0 % is basically people that are in transit between jobs/careers - due to  job changing, businesses closing, seasonal/construction related adjustments  (post holiday  cut backs, agricultural cut backs, construction cutbacks due to weather etc.)

[luckythewinner]

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@kcastore wrote:

Well, I've had a bad year last year. 2020 was an exceptionally good year. Since March 2020 when the pandemic started, sales suddenly jumped several times higher than before. But good times don't last. Since April 2021, the sales gradually dropped back down. Now it's January 2022, and I'm back to what it was before the pandemic. And this is not just eBay, I've had the same experience in another online marketplace. So I believe this is the market's doing.

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Simple common sense suggest to me that March 2020 to April 2021 coincided with a worldwide pandemic during which many people were isolating, millions lost their jobs, panic buying was rampant, the US government was handing out cash in lump sums and 350,000 people died. "Good times" indeed!