Many Ebayers are Complaining about the lack of sales

[jersey..authentix]

I can open these discussion forums and find Many Ebayers are Complaining about the lack of sales. You can put me on that list. 

So I am just posting my reason for one possibility. Wrong or right.

Ebay is a dinosaur. There are a lot of fresh faces now in the online sales arena. 

Ebay doesn't stay current. They lack any effort to remind people that they are still around. I live in Canada, and I can not remember the last time I have seen any advertising. I hear they had a disastrous Comercial in the US that they had to pull due the flack they received. Goodgoing Ebay

You look at Amazon and Wayfair. They advertise the heck out of their site. Where would you go to do your online shopping? A Place that tells you every day "hear I am", or to a site where the only time you hear the word Ebay is in a Joke. Whats really bad is lately you dont even hear that much of the jokes anymore. Ebay is getting lost and forgotten.Ebay needs to pickup there sox and get the word out. Not just collect the fees.

[yuzuha]

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@doubledz-a2z wrote:

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The site is clogged with stuff I can get locally.   Baby boomers are retiring and sadly passing away.  No one collects anymore so their stuff is worthless.  

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It's not that younger buyers don't collect, it's that they don't collect the same things that the older generations did.  I sell loads of collectibles to younger buyers and I and pretty much all of my friends collect something.  But people my age and younger aren't into useless, expensive tchotchkes whose only purpose is to sit around and be dust collectors-- the things we collect tend to be small and fairly inexpensive and/or things we actually use.  One of my friends collects souvenir keychains from every place she's ever visited.  My old boss was super into anything Star Wars.  Another friend has a black cat and collects (mostly useful) stuff with black cats on it, like mugs, towels, etc.  Another friend loves a particular movie and collects merchandise for that movie.

But expensive glassware, porcelain figurines, things like that?  Nuh-uh.

[monstertoybox]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

Well, I use my real ID and my sales are fine. Very consistent, too.

That's important to consider when you realize I struggle to get more than 20 or so items up at any given time, and I've only added items 4-5 times in nearly 2 years (long time seller but took a 5 year break).

That doesn't mean the site hasn't changed. I used to basically have a 100% sell through over the course of a month, if you count items I stuck in my store (which cost 5 cents to list and weren't even in search back then) when they didn't sell at auction. 

Sales are much slower now, and items need to be more desirable than they used to be. Ordinary used to sell (I think because people didn't realize they were common when the site was new) but not so much now. Fees were also low enough that you could make a profit on a $14.99 item.

On the other hand, my average sale price has more then doubled. I used to "plan" how to list items at $34.99 instead of $24.99....... now my average price is somewhere around $60-70.

Selling is super fast and easy, too, with the phone app. I used to spend WHOLE WEEKENDS editing pictures and writing code and creating dramatic text for my listings and fiddling in general. Now I can list a batch of items in 2-3 hours.

So..... Ebay is different but by no means dead or ruined yet (although search IS seriously broken).

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Congratulations on your sales! And your items are truly beautiful! Everyone has there own opinion on what equates to good sales, so if you are happy getting sales every few days, that's great. 

My sales have completely tanked on here. I used to get 3-8 sales a day, now I can go 4 days without one sale and then get a $6.30 sale, then go more days without sales. With $39K listed and over 600 items those are not good sales figures and reading the majority of the posts, there are a lot of other sellers in the same situation.

I have my own ideas as to why this is happening in my own post: 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Am-I-closed-Ebay-I-m-so-tired-of-NO-SALES-What-is-happening/m-...

Condensed version Page 14 Message 320

I'll agree Ebay is not dead, but it is definitely controlling and because of that, it is getting more sickly by the day.

[monstertoybox]

Sorry Page 16 Message 320!

[this*old*attic]

I don't agree with that as a blanket statement - Martha Stewart, Shabby Chic, country décor and the magazines catering to them are still going strong.

But there are more recent trends, like mid century modern, that started gaining steam a number of years ago.

[this*old*attic]

@monstertoybox

Don't dismiss my point.

My point isn't that I'm so great or perfectly talented, or satisfied with just a little. And Ebay certainly isn't giving me any red carpet treatment in the area of visibility.

When I list more, I sell more. And people find my stuff when I don't play by any of the logical rules.

I have a friend who started on Ebay 15 or more years ago, added local antique store booths, and ultimately went to a brick and mortar store. She sold vintage clothing and collectibles, and she was very good at it. Had a following, too.

But when she opened her storefront in our adorable historic village, which touches the border of a campus containing 7 famous private colleges..... sales weren't great. She did figure out the college kids liked old flannel shirts and cut off jeans. But she also realized things just weren't working, even though the model had been successful both in the past and as it slowly expanded.

Expensive lease, newly divorced, child to feed. Uh oh. What to do?

She paid attention to what WAS selling, did a ton of research, and slowly dropped the vintage and went trendy modern.

She still wasn't happy, so she pounced on a main street facing storefront, in the new restaurant/movie theater plaza village expansion, when it was available..... and 5 or so years later now has TWO store fronts there because she added a home goods shop when space opened next door.

My point is that:

1. Customer tastes change.

2. Customer demographics change.

3. Trends change.

4. Expenses change.

5. Competition changes.

All of these can positively or negatively impact sales. My friend is successful because she paid attention, put her thinking cap on, and completely changed what she was doing. I am successful because I spent 2-3 months combing the vintage sections of Ebay and looking at completed listings that sold or failed to do so (side note: good thing I came back when I did because mandatory GTC has killed completeds as a research tool).  I'm doing fine because I basically curate what I put up now - and I have 2 bedrooms, a garage, and outside storage that's sitting unlisted because it has a lower likelihood of selling. Given that I also have a real world full time job, it isn't worth my time to list stuff that might not or even probably won't sell.

There really  is no logical reason for anyone to have a ton of listings and not have sales. 

If that's what is happening, it's probably a good idea to look at one's business model and compare with known successful competitors, considering one factor at a time to see if a new combination of goods and practices might do better.

The sad fact of the matter is that strong, long time businesses fail and close for a variety of reasons. Owners can often prevent that from happening, like my friend, by re-thinking their business plan.

JMHO YMMV

[monstertoybox]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

@monstertoybox

There really  is no logical reason for anyone to have a ton of listings and not have sales. 

If that's what is happening, it's probably a good idea to look at one's business model and compare with known successful competitors, considering one factor at a time to see if a new combination of goods and practices might do better.

The sad fact of the matter is that strong, long time businesses fail and close for a variety of reasons. Owners can often prevent that from happening, like my friend, by re-thinking their business plan.

JMHO YMMV

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I definitely get what you are saying. And IF Ebay was normal, what you mentioned above would probably work. But I have done that and more, but as I have shown in my posting (that I mentioned in my other response) Ebay is controlling when and where my listings are showing. And because that is happening, it really doesn't matter what I do, it is up to them when I will get a sale. And there is where my problem is.

I have given up on growing any kind of business here, because the floor fell out on me a few years ago, which opened my eyes (thankfully before we went completely bankrupt). I stopped buying new inventory 2 years ago this month. I refuse to put any more money, time and effort into Ebay, when they are controlling the switch. I basically am limping along, trying to get rid of what's left. I will be ending my store in January, so they will at least not get that money from me any longer. 

Good luck to you! But I don't think you need luck, because your items are so unique and beautiful. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

[luckythewinner]

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@monstertoybox wrote
I know this is your posting ID, but are we able to see your sales ID? I would love to see what it takes to have great sales on Ebay now-a-days.

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I said I have no problem with my sales. I never said they were "great" - that is a subjective term that means something different to everyone. But I can say that I have not experienced the sudden drop in sales that some sellers have been reporting on this board. 

I sell mostly rock music memorabilia  - records, tapes, CDs, press kits, posters, promotional items, tickets, sheet music,  backstage passes, photos, performance contracts, souvenirs,  etc. Many of them are long-tail items that while somewhat unique on eBay also have fairly low demand - so they only sell when you to catch the right collector at the right time. But I have no issue with listing an item occasionally for several years until it sells. 

I also have a few dozen bread-and butter items that I have acquired in quantity that sell reliably in the $10 to $25 range with virtually no effort. 

I only use my free 50 listings on my selling accounts, plus any specials that come my way. So generally, that means somewhere in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 listings per year. 

My sales for the past 15 years have been remarkably consistent. My year-end number show that I net 70-75% of my selling price after all expenses (including inventory costs) and my annual sales rarely vary by 5% in either direction. 

I wouldn't say my sales have ever been "great", except for the few times when I found extraordinary inventory. For instance, I once found a nice cache of 1968-1970 concert posters from Boston with bands like The Byrds, The Velvet Underground, and The Who.

In fact, it is these occasions that remind me that having high quality inventory is 98% of the battle for eBay sellers - and that (bluntly) most eBay sellers do not have high quality inventory. If it were easy, everyone would be rich 🙂

[monstertoybox]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@monstertoybox wrote
I know this is your posting ID, but are we able to see your sales ID? I would love to see what it takes to have great sales on Ebay now-a-days.

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I said I have no problem with my sales. I never said they were "great" - that is a subjective term that means something different to everyone. But I can say that I have not experienced the sudden drop in sales that some sellers have been reporting on this board. 

I sell mostly rock music memorabilia  - records, tapes, CDs, press kits, posters, promotional items, tickets, sheet music,  backstage passes, photos, performance contracts, souvenirs,  etc. Many of them are long-tail items that while somewhat unique on eBay also have fairly low demand - so they only sell when you to catch the right collector at the right time. But I have no issue with listing an item occasionally for several years until it sells. 

I also have a few dozen bread-and butter items that I have acquired in quantity that sell reliably in the $10 to $25 range with virtually no effort. 

I only use my free 50 listings on my selling accounts, plus any specials that come my way. So generally, that means somewhere in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 listings per year. 

My sales for the past 15 years have been remarkably consistent. My year-end number show that I net 70-75% of my selling price after all expenses (including inventory costs) and my annual sales rarely vary by 5% in either direction. 

I wouldn't say my sales have ever been "great", except for the few times when I found extraordinary inventory. For instance, I once found a nice cache of 1968-1970 concert posters from Boston with bands like The Byrds, The Velvet Underground, and The Who.

In fact, it is these occasions that remind me that having high quality inventory is 98% of the battle for eBay sellers - and that (bluntly) most eBay sellers do not have high quality inventory. If it were easy, everyone would be rich 🙂

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Selling collectibles, I know about the long-tail stories. I do have some items like that. There are some items I have that no one else has on here and I refuse to lower my price, because on Amazon they are selling for 2-4X the price. 

Selling music memorabilia is probably not going to be affected like something like toys, because there probably aren't many sellers like you. You are lucky (just like your ID!).

The problem with Ebay, and what I sell, is they lump all the toy sellers together (whether you are good or bad and no matter what you sell) and do whatever genius magical thing they are doing to give us all sales or whatever other brilliant idea they are using to control how and when we sell. 

I've all but totally given up that they are going to help me now. They are just hoping I completely go away, but I'm going to at least have the satisfaction of letting everyone know what is happening to my store, because I didn't put me out of business, they did.

[iamonourside]

Seconding @monstertoybox  comment, eBay interference has blossomed from site administration into acting as a "super seller" and a "super buyer."  The result is distorted market signals.  I often feel I am not so much selling to people as I am selling to eBay. 

[dasarock]

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@iamonourside wrote:

Seconding @monstertoybox  comment, eBay interference has blossomed from site administration into acting as a "super seller" and a "super buyer."  The result is distorted market signals.  I often feel I am not so much selling to people as I am selling to eBay. 

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you are right.  ebay needs to focus on one thing and getting it right.  the marketplace platform.  all of these little 'cosmetic' changes and attempts to fix working pages and processes has resulted in disasterous performance of the platform as a whole.  when you lump in all of the ill-thought policies and implementation of the same … it resulted in a inept and broken site. 

the first items fixed should be search, so it is reliable again and gives clear productive results.  adding the new 'promoted listings' policies to search has been a nightmare.  showing all of the totally unrelated listings on top of the promoted has clearly made search results even nastier.

ebay also needs to clearly define all processes and policies … in layman's terms and in one-page definitions.  then the need to apply all policies evenly across the board and persistently.  applying it only here and there as inconsistently as they do means favoritism and is.

ebay is a business, but so it is for most of the sellers also.  ALL ebay policies and procedures need to be clearly stipulated and able to be seen and followed by both ebay and sellers.  

fix all the so called glitches that have been around for years, AND the new created 'glitches'.  when you go to bulk edit and use a function there … that should not enable other functions that were previously turn off in a seller's listings for example.

take a good look at seller and site preferences as they related to the new changes and policies … and give the seller the ability to manage their OWN listings.  such as the hidden/inherent placing of best offer and acceptance price ebay hides on some of it's listing forms.  as well as giving sellers control over easy pricing.  all of these toggles can be on listing pages yes, but defaulted to off unless the seller wants them individually or set into site preferences so sellers can manage them globally throughout their listings.   for examples

there is much more I could mention, i'm sure, but ...

[trustedbasset]

I agree. They shot the foot when they allowed China to sell 99 cent sterling silver(not) jewelry, coins and antique Chinese antiques!
I am so over scrolling through the cheap crud to the actual crud I am looking for.

[dasarock]

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@coolections wrote:

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@poke_magz wrote:

I'm getting tons of sales, the problem I have is eBay brands themselves as a bargain site so it's hard to sell anything remotely close to it's actual value for new products.

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That is what Ebay started out to be and most every buyer in the world still thinks Ebay is.  Sellers like the OP trying to get retail prices wont see many items sold no matter what they do.

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@coolections 

actually, you might be slightly out of time cool.  for many ebay was seen as a place to find things easily and affordable with choices and various delivery methods.  many of the items being hard to locate in B&Ms.  

ebay slowly changed this perception of the buyers by bringing in and favoring cheap-junk sellers and changing coding and search to show their items even when these same items were not even close to search.  and acquiring warehouse space and such for them to store their junk in the U.S.    these changes by ebay, including coding and preference to favor these sellers resulted in the garbage search results more than anything else.  and the garbage search results resulted in the buyers moving away from ebay as a whole and viewing ebay as the new electronic dollar tree type of store.

and yes, we all have our opinions...

[this*old*attic]

No, I’m sorry - you didn’t show or explain what was happening. Not at all.

You showed a few items that sold for more than yours (often for mere cents more), but you don’t know how the buyers searched. If it was ending soonest or newly listed, you might have been pages away from the first page. Or they could have been repeat buyers of those dealers. Or used some other search term.

Did you go into each and every individual listing and compare Item Specifics or any other factors important to your category and compare to your own listings?

Also, I don’t believe you compared solds to ALL completeds and analyzed those findings. That could reveal important info for you.

You described a day or two of closely clustered sales. Have you ever studied statistics? That can happen naturally (or even turn out NOT to be happening once you plug in the true total numbers). Your 600 listings are a big platform to you, but not large enough a proportion on the site to be a statistically relevant sampling. That means you can’t draw valid conclusions from your sales patterns. Literally. I know you wish you could, but it’s just not how the math works. My major was Physical Anthropology with an emphasis in Population Genetics (and I went on to get a Master’s Degree); I know what I’m talking about mathematically here.

 I do think it was wise to stop buying inventory until you figure out why things went south. But as long as you insist that what’s wrong is out of your control then that keeps you from examining ways to fix the problem.

 I really hope some of these research ideas can help you.

[monstertoybox]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

No, I’m sorry - you didn’t show or explain what was happening. Not at all.

You showed a few items that sold for more than yours (often for mere cents more), but you don’t know how the buyers searched. If it was ending soonest or newly listed, you might have been pages away from the first page. Or they could have been repeat buyers of those dealers. Or used some other search term.

Did you go into each and every individual listing and compare Item Specifics or any other factors important to your category and compare to your own listings?

Also, I don’t believe you compared solds to ALL completeds and analyzed those findings. That could reveal important info for you.

You described a day or two of closely clustered sales. Have you ever studied statistics? That can happen naturally (or even turn out NOT to be happening once you plug in the true total numbers). Your 600 listings are a big platform to you, but not large enough a proportion on the site to be a statistically relevant sampling. That means you can’t draw valid conclusions from your sales patterns. Literally. I know you wish you could, but it’s just not how the math works. My major was Physical Anthropology with an emphasis in Population Genetics (and I went on to get a Master’s Degree); I know what I’m talking about mathematically here.

 I do think it was wise to stop buying inventory until you figure out why things went south. But as long as you insist that what’s wrong is out of your control then that keeps you from examining ways to fix the problem.

 I really hope some of these research ideas can help you.

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Not at all. OK, wow you must have not gone in with an open mind, only with a mind to disprove what is obviously happening. Since you seem to want to see what you want to see and I see what I am seeing, we'll have to agree to disagree.

What I showed in my post are only the most recent things at that time, there's plenty more. I have always evaluated all the sellers, and I never see anything (except that they have higher prices and some even have lower feedback). This is after years and years of trying to figure out why things were happening the way they do. This is not something that I'm just coming up with this week. 

I'm sorry, but there is no way you can tell me those sales (that I showed, which is a small most recent sampling, but I could give you many more, but I'm not going to show everything as it would get redundant) at 3:50ish am for 3 days straight (and those were the only sales for those days) are "happening naturally". That is very funny! Out of 50 states and 24 hours in a day a miracle happened on my account at 3:55am, OK.

I know for a fact my sales are being completely controlled by Ebay. So I think at this point I see your opinion and you can see mine. It's totally fine if you don't agree with mine, just as it is totally fine if I don't agree with yours.

[johnson.girls]

I started selling in 2003. I have a basement filled with stuff that I can't get motivated to list. It's just no fun anymore. Why buy from me when you can get the cheap Chinese version for less than a dollar? I also sold a lot of things internationally. That market is completely gone.