Items not selling to other listings that are more expensive and in worse condition?

[vintagesun]

I've been looking at some of my items that should have sold, but someone else's did, even though their item had more damage and was more expensive, and i'm really starting to question ebay's platform.

Example 1 - This ashtray that I was selling ON SALE for $14.40 with free expedited-same day shipping that doesn't sell but this one does WITH A CRACK for $18.99

Example 2 - This Zelda Rug that I was selling ON SALE for $13.49 with free expedited-same day shipping that doesn't sell but this one does for $14.10

There's been many more times where this has happened, and I cannot figure it out, i'm stumped.  I understand when items have variation, that the variation makes a difference, but these are pretty apples to apples, or items that are noticeably inferior that are selling for more $.  I'm starting to think the conspiracies are true and that ebay is hiding listings. Can someone point out something with my listings that I may be missing? Thanks!

[corvettestainless]

Could be many reasons; buyer saw that one and stopped looking; seller is closer to buyer; buyer used 'sponsored listings' to get seen first etc. It's not an ebay thing. When ebay said they may not show some things, they mean when there are 5000 of them. There are 35 'florida orange ashtrays'

[vintagesun]

Those explanations all work if there were 5000 items to look through, but like you said, there's only 35, and only 3 others that are exactly the same item. And even if shipping was free (which it wasn't) with the other listing, you're going to tell me someone is going to buy a broken item for $12 over a like new item just to save $2.40?

ebay limits how much you're allowed to sell a year, so why wouldn't they limit your monthly/weekly sales also? If i've hit my max for the week/month, and the other guy is nowhere near that, wouldn't it make sense to block my item so the other guy makes a sale and doesn't give up and ebay loses that seller as a customer? I'm doing just fine with sales so why would I give up? Hell, does the average seller who's doing good even notice this happening or even care?

[dhbookds]

You asked:

Your rug total  description:

Item is brand new. Everything goes through a cleaning/disinfecting & testing process to make sure it is in excellent working condition before being sold.

You do have item specifics that show the size.......

Other rug description:

Legend of Zelda Hidden Staircase Floor Mat 21" X 22"  Geek Fuel Exclusive. New, ever unrolled, free shipping.

Your ashtray description:

Item is used but in great condition. Everything goes through a cleaning/disinfecting & testing process to make sure it is in excellent working condition before being sold

(no size)

Other description:

Antique ceramic Florida orange ashtray. About 5" across. From an estate in the Pittsburgh area.

I might have bought the others also.......the rug "cleaning" info is just totally ?????? Makes no sense.

Most of us care about the size of things........so that on the ashtray could have been important enough for them to pay more..........plus it's sure more interesting........

Just my opinion........

[inhawaii]

You got lots of cool stuff. How's business?

[vintagesun]

interesting that you bring up the "cleaning" info, as that's just a boilerplate that I put on every item, so people know they aren't getting something that has dust, dirty, unclean. I make sure every item is cleaned and in the best shape it can be in - unlike the ashtray which had dirt and smudges on it.

Maybe people are reading into that wrong? I'll have to look into clarifying that better. Thanks!

[dash-2773]

Maybe they broke one that had a similar crack and wanted to replace it before the owner found out

[yuya_16]

Are you sure you have expedited one day shipping?

I see that you have standard shipping while the other seller offers expedited shipping?

[vintagesun]

Thanks for the compliment, I try to offer a lot of cool and unique stuff. Sometimes it goes quick, sometimes it just sits. Just have to keep looking for ways to improve! Business has been great, i was up 37% starting in november and now 86% in december, but A LOT of stuff I thought would move for christmas hasn't. I also have been working 10-12 hour days 5-6 days a week 😞

[vintagesun]

That's part of the problem i believe. Ebay has my shipping dates ROYALLY screwed up, as that ashtray is first class (1-3 days) with same day shipping, yet the estimates are usually 9-10 days on about half of my items. I've reported this issue for the past couple months now, and nothing has been done and i've just been told that their tech team is "looking into it".

My Thread about this issue, please post if you're experiencing the same thing!

[gamersbaystore]

Condition is a matter of perspective, and you also don't accept returns, which is one reason I often don't buy from certain sellers and end up paying more with another. If you have no faith in the products you sell, what makes you think anyone else would?

 Better price does not always mean a better product either, and buyers often pay more for a variety of reasons.

As an example, I sold 3 copies of the same game for $21 a piece this past week. Others sell the same game for half that price, and theirs have been sitting there for months on end with no sales. The buyers want mine because they like the picture and the condition of the games I sell. The pictures are 9/10 of the sale as far as I'm concerned, everything else is window dressing.

I think you have nice products, nice pictures too, but I also think you shouldn't be angry because you didn't get every sale. Buyers are the ultimate decision makers here, I think we all need to remember that.

[3eyedfishcatcher]

Are you using Promoted listings? Most likely the other sellers are?

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, there are many reasons why one item sells and another doesn't—it has happened to all of us. Some observations:

I see you do not offer returns. That is your right and choice; it is a selling point though. Some buyers would pay more to insure there isn’t a hassle if the transaction goes wrong in some way. It also shows confidence in your items. And No Returns won’t protect a seller from a SNAD claim. Determined buyers will find a way around no returns.

Next, as another poster mentioned, the descriptions are weak in some cases. On some, you broke an unspoken cardinal rule, and wrote: 

“Please see photos for accurate condition as the photos are of the actual product being sold.”

That reference would have me hit the back button. It is mega-important to describe the condition so the prospective buyer knows exactly what to expect.  Advising the buyer to somehow divine the condition themselves does nothing to encourage the sale. It is also risky for the seller as it is a SNAD waiting to happen. All flaws should be noted, the qualities described, regardless of the photos. The description field is as important as having clear photos. Both are necessary.

Your description field is not optimized for mobile device viewing. Half of online sales are made via mobile devices now, and the percentage is growing. When i click on your listing descriptions, the field is center registered with tiny font size, and cursive mixed in. Ebay recommends left registered, black letters on white background with no cursive styles.

Active content is no longer allowed by eBay. Listings that include active content “may no longer render as expected on the platform, and buyer experience may be impaired.” Which is eBay-speak for it may not be shown in Search. In addition, Google may not pick up listings with it. Below is a link from eBay help pages on how to optimize your listing for mobile viewing.

https://pages.ebay.com/sell/itemdescription/mobilefriendlyguidelines.html

These are a few suggestions. You have great items and obviously know what you are doing. I hope these thoughts are of some benefit and wish you best of luck moving forward.

[Anonymous]

I tell you what it is, ebay's throttling certain accounts based on that daft **bleep** Cassinni search engine. Since it works on AI, it learns as it goes, however it has severe learning problems and is picky. I'd find another place to sell your items. I am. Been selling for almost 15 years representing this slowly dying company, trying to represent it like an honest CEO. Unfortunately, the ones running it are inept, dishonest nerds, trying to get more money from sellers and casually overlooking the reason this company exists. It's an auction house, not Amazon.
And eBay, if y'all read this, I'll tell you right now for a fact that your arrogant attempts at competing with Amazon is failing, if not totally failed. Hey, little David, the giant's here and you forgot your stones and sling.

[whatmorefabric]

When Search Engines make the first pass,   they pay attention to the first 25 spaces.    Make sure what you are selling is in the first spaces.   Too many of your items are way down the line.

Also,  if  you have items that have been listed for a while,  take them down for a few days and than relist with  new titles and pictures.    I just download the old pictures to a file and than reload them.

Consider promoting a few listings.

Use Pinterest.  I get a lot of traffic from Pinterest.