Looking for positive thoughts about all the changes on Ebay

[meltedicecubes]

I know. I know.  Most of us agree that things are very challenging right now on ebay for sellers. I have been selling on here since 2003 and it is difficult to be positive right now with all the changes constantly coming from ebay. This is my main source of income for my family. I really don't have a choice but to continue to make my living here. I have been looking on the discussion boards for something....anything positive these last couple of days and honestly can only find post that make me feel even worse than I already was feeling. There have to be others, like me, trying to make the best of these changes so they can keep selling on ebay. So what about some positive thoughts about all these changes? You know....how to make lemonade out of these lemons. Anyone able to take all these changes and still thrive on ebay today? Anyone want to share how to not be bothered by the reduction in seller perks from ebay.  Nothing sacastic please. Thanks for any input from other sellers.   

[d-k_treasures]

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@tunicaslot wrote:

I've made the changes and have been successful here for 20 yrs. Yes - I get frustrated with many of the changes, glitches and slow sales.

Recently viewed a couple of vloggers  - who have also said they haven't had many sales at all this past week and they are on multiple platforms so it isn't just Ebay. 

Due to the glitches that seem to persist here and aren't being fixed - I googled how long does it take to fix a glitch? Since I'm not a techie - I was surprised that you just can't put in a patch to fix many problems. Reading through millions of lines of code to find the problem and then developing a code to address the problem which may open the door to different problems was eye opening to me as I always thought these glitches should be a quick fix - now I know better.

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They should be quick fixes, since a lot were caused by 'improvements'. If they can't find what they just messed up fast, then they have no controls for software development.

[retrose1]

If you don't have anything good to say........

But I do sell on ebay and have managed how to figure out how to keep a stable income from here.

I realized years ago that the foundation that ebay expects sellers to build their business on is quicksand.  Once you get used to something and feel safe with it - ebay will change it for some fantasy standard ebay wants to live up to but many sellers don't have to.

Since I tried it the ebay way and did it my way and my sales were no different, I stopped wasting time and effort trying to jump through the constantly moving hoops ebay sets out to save a few pennies here and there and do it the basic mail order way and ignore the perks ebay sets out to get sellers addicted to jumping through hoops.

[mynewfindstore]

The banners are NOT back on the top of the photos for me!  They were there about three days ago and now gone to the bottom....:(

[hillbillymedia]

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@mynewfindstore wrote:

The banners are NOT back on the top of the photos for me!  They were there about three days ago and now gone to the bottom....:(

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That is a bummer and I`m sorry to hear that for you and for the many others out there. I was hoping this was a sitewide change. Perhaps we are on some type of rotation? So much for my positive....

[tunicaslot]

d-k - you would think they'd be quick fixes - but the more I read about coding the more I see how complicated it can be. Since I'm not a techie and there are others who do this for a living that sell here - I'm going to ask them to weigh in if they read this thread.

[rainberri]

I wouldn't recommend relying on sites like these as a primary form of income. This is a giant company and I'm sure they get the most money from other giant companies. This site is ok for cleaning out the closet but I don't trust it for much else because at the end of the day, your problems are not ebay's problems and they don't have to care.

[milady_store]

I see there are some certain changes on eBay recently which may make sellers concern about it. Some think that it cause their sales slow down. However, I think most of all eBay has been making the greater effort for both sellers and buyers the most satisfied experience. If you are the seller who takes it serious about doing business, just keep focus on simple rules: be honest, good customer service, read all tips and advices on seller info centers, do research, & be patien. Luck will come when we try hard. 🙂

[westex80]

WOW. You guys have been wonderful....thanks for all the uplifting ideas and perspectives. Hopefully sellers will continue to post to this thread to help other struggling sellers who need a prop up from time to time.

[meltedicecubes]

Yes, I also agree! Thanks to all the sellers who posted back to my request. My attitude it much brighter today because of your posts.

[paulie_58]

at least its not a sharp stick in the eye

[bargain-diamonds]

I really want to be positive.  I'm positive that ebay hasn't had an original good idea since Meg actually had sellers come to HQ for meetings to review what the sellers needed, what the sellers wanted and what the sellers thought of ebay ideas for the future.

For me, 30 day free returns puts me in the Free jewelry rental business.  Already had a bride some years ago buy a diamond heart pendant with the assurances she would have it before the wedding ceremony.  2 weeks after the wedding, she filed a case with ebay that the item was damaged/defective.  We agreed to the return.  The pendant still had the bride's body oil/sweat on the pendant.  She got to wear it for free.  I got something back that needed to be disinfected.

Amazon acknowledges that some buyers abuse their returns policy and Amazon plans to ban these people from the site.  Walmart allows sellers to require the buyer to pay to return something and for the seller to charge a "restocking fee"  if the returned item is not in new condition. - But, ebay knows better?  This a policy being forced down our throats by an entity that "has no skin in the game".  Hey ebay!  Want to give free returns on international sales, again?  You pay for the return shipping like you used to do.  Want to give free returns on USA sales?  You pay for the return shipping. And let the seller charge a restocking fee for any/all items returned that are not complete, show signs of wear/use or damage.

[lex-talon]

I experimented with 30 day free returns and so far this month,

no returns. 

[bobharrah]

"the upper policy & decision makers will someday depart, allowing ebay to thrive again." Sorry, I cannot agree. These folks will be replaced with more of the same. This is 'all about' stockholders and revenue, nothing more, nothing less. It is their sandbox, we just pay to be allowed to play in it.

[keziak]

I would put myself in the "positive" camp in the sense that I am still here after all these years. I think about downsizing but haven't taken the leap. To be honest I tend to think that my decline in sales is my fault because things have changed and I haven't successfully changed with them.  It's the same on Amazon though I sell more there. 

Up until about 2 years ago I made a fairly decent full-time income online and I had high hopes for the future (kids in college, more time to focus on the biz). But since then I've lost inventory sources at the same time as competition has skyrocketed. It's just not the same anymore.

Some also opine that there are fewer buyers in my category (books) because people do not buy and read books as much anymore. It's certainly true that donations to the libraries around here are frequently gutted because citizens are not donating as many books as in the past. You can't donate 'em if you don't buy and read 'em.