Now That October Is Over, How Much Were You Down? Worst Month?

[unusual_retail]

A lot of people say October was the worst month this year, I am in that boat. I think eBay would agree, especially after they sent out those $5 off coupons last week.

What about you? Was this the worst month? How much were you down? If not October, which month was your worst? 

I was down 47% last month, by far my worst this year. 

[wildbotanyfarm]

Worst month in almost 20 yrs on ebay. 5 sales all month with over 1000 listed. Paid out of pocket to list on ebay for the first time.

[divwido]

It's a negative number.  I paid more in fees than I made.

[kathieskorner]

Interesting that you had Sept/Oct dead period very similar to mine.  Mine went from Sept 18-Oct 5 - yours from Sept. 20-Oct 7.  

[starlilly04]

Me too. Worst in all my years in eBay. I could be wrong but I honestly think it may be the states all charging tax now?

[mvls1]

That is not our experience and the latest unemployment numbers do not show that either. It probably has more to do with EBay's issues, the sales taxes kicking in and what buyers are looking for. Hope it gets better for all sellers soon.

[uncseniorsportsfan]

I don't think it is sakes tax at all or the economy.    Most ecommerce sites like Etsy reported much better Q3s than eBay - others like Amazon have charged sales tax for a long time which would lead me to believe that the October sales problems are due to issues specific to eBay.  

[mr_lincoln]

@unusual_retail 

1. Oct this year was the 5th one on this ID ... heading in to the last weekend it was in next to last place but rallied to move in to the 2nd best Oct on record.

2. Oct last year was the best Oct out of 5 and this year sales were down 40% compared to the best Oct

3. This Oct was the lowest sales month this calendar year and 32% below the AVERAGE monthly sales on the year

4. In general sales were down but its a little subjective considering a steady slow growth curve over the last 4 years ... compared to last year's AVERAGE monthly sales it would have only been 7% below AVERAGE.

[echo_and_zip]

@kathieskorner 

We're IN another Recession... it's not you... The top 5% don't buy from most of us... THEY have all the WEALTH in the US...

While this was my worst October in 20 years - down 39% from last October - it was not my worst month of 2019 - March, June, July, August, and September were all worse.   Since the recession I have had slow but steady growth year over year until this year.    Thru October 2019,  I am down 36% from 2018 after being up  18% for January and February.   I lost my TRS on this account in July, and will probably lose it on my other former store account before the end of the year.  

[echo_and_zip]

@gamersbaystore 

Every one of these 'Tax Cuts' was designed for the wealthy, and those who make passive (not from work) income, like stock holders & CEOs who get options, etc. The average worker's buying power has gone down... Economic disparity is at an all time high, w/ the top 1% having more wealth than the bottom 90%... That bottom 90% are the folks who, during the Clinton years, rose thru the middle class ranks... They spent on fun & luxury items & wanted to make their homes look nice... The middle class is almost gone... Yet the low info keep voting for these rich liars who design policy to benefit themselves & their wealthy donors... 

Either way, the U.S. economy is not doing well, and you can thank Trump's tried and failed economic policies for running our nation into the ground. I know a lot of people like Trump, I have no problem with that, but his economics clearly do not work. That may not be what many want to hear, but that's the reality.

[flo_mingo]

Down 83 %. October is usually my slope up month. With October and November my highest sales. Now no "high" in sight.

[kathieskorner]

We are NOT in a recession - other ecommerce sites are growing very well.   Even some sellers say they are still doing well here.   

But I agree it is not me - too many other longtime eBay sellers have also been impacted by the machinations of ebay this year.   

I seriously doubt that the top 5% have ever purchased much of anything on eBay.  And they certainly don't have all the wealth.   

[plantyhuffman]

---

@gamersbaystore wrote:

Yep, October was my worst month this entire year. No doubt ebay is in serious trouble. Media reports show this platform lost billions of dollars in sales month over month this entire year vs. the previous year.

Here its the first of November and so far not a single sale today. I'm still going to remain hopeful that sales will pick up as the Holidays move forward.

Either way, the U.S. economy is not doing well, and you can thank Trump's tried and failed economic policies for running our nation into the ground. I know a lot of people like Trump, I have no problem with that, but his economics clearly do not work. That may not be what many want to hear, but that's the reality.

---

In the far distance, you can hear a calling for BUILD THE WALL!!! MAKE MEXICO PAY FOR IT!!!!

[pink.fish.rule]

---

@uncseniorsportsfan wrote:

I don't think it is sakes tax at all or the economy.    Most ecommerce sites like Etsy reported much better Q3s than eBay - others like Amazon have charged sales tax for a long time which would lead me to believe that the October sales problems are due to issues specific to eBay.  

---

While "Amazon have charged sales tax for a long time" it was only in states where they had a nexus until the Wayfair decision.

[plantyhuffman]

My sales are down cause' someone at eBay wanted a gold star. Decided to go through all my listings that said "Instant Delivery" n termed them all. Later an e-mail was sent out to me, basically telling me I'm the bottom bi*** in this relationship, that my listings, that mind you, clearly other people list as well, violated some policy of theirs and were removed without warning. Basically that I've been a bad boy whom needed to be punished.

It amazes me since by offering a DVD version with shipping cost wouldn't violate eBay's policy. My face legit everytime I get an e-mail from eBay:

What grinds my gears even more, is this incompetent company doesn't even offer a back-up of the listings. Nope, just removes them without caring for the time that was put into them. Quite frustrating.

[pink.fish.rule]

Were the 'instant delivery" items digitally delivered? If they weren't listed under classifieds then they weren't 'legit'.