October sales way down?

[custom_z_scales]

Hi,

My October sales are way down.  Anyone else?

  I've consistently enjoyed a 35-40% increase year over for the last 5 years and always steady week to week, month to month sales numbers.  Other than the usual slow seasons for what my product pertains to, spring and summer, I am a little stumped as to understanding this current drop in sales.

Traffic to my listings is only down 8% from the prior two weeks, but sales down 31%.  They should be up 31% or more based on this being the start of busy season for me (from past years consistently )

80% of my sales go to the US, so I am wondering if anyone has any insight?  Economy?  Elections distractions?  Civil Unrest?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[custom_z_scales]

Sorry, didn't realize this post already exists The great October Slowdown in sales 

[slqmaven]

you not alone. My sales are way off as well

[duncanvr]

HUB says I am up 49% things haven't been to bad for me.

[reallyhardtofind]

Way down here to, actually selling more on other sites. Its a shame cause I liked ebay at one stage.

[m60driver]

Some more narrow product niches are doing well but those like myself who are shameless generalists and will list anything to make some lunch money, I am not trying to make a living here, tend to be seeing a downward spiral in sales.  I have seen a 30% drop in sales since the middle of the summer but sales were up that same amount last spring.  This is all based upon my 60-day sales numbers shown on the classic all selling page.

[tomcat0_140_0]

My October sales have taken a drastic plunge from almost 3 a day in September to just 24 in October so far?  I called Ebay to see if something was wrong with my listings and was told nothing is wrong and other sellers were complaining too.  Historically my sales have increased the last 3 months of each year and I have been selling 16 years.  I am beginning to wonder if the change to adding item specifics has something to do with it?

[teltuooutlet]

October is my worst month this year but I looked at my Oct 2020 and it was my worst month of 2020.... so I guess October is just not a good month for my business.

Note to self, close my shop and go on vacation next October.

[sakic92710]

It is extremely discouraging & frustrating!  Last week, from Sun-Thurs, my total was about $120.  On Friday, $230 in sales!  Since then, barely over $20 in 2 1/2 days!   This is how I make a living!  Fortunately, I try other venues to get sales like the flea market & FB.  They brought me in $400 in 2 days.  Still not even close to getting caught up on Oct. bills!   The eBay ship is sinking for me!   Good luck to us all.    🙂

[sakic92710]

My mistake.  $20 in 3 1/2 days!

[chapeau-noir]

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@teltuooutlet wrote:

October is my worst month this year but I looked at my Oct 2020 and it was my worst month of 2020.... so I guess October is just not a good month for my business.

Note to self, close my shop and go on vacation next October.

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@teltuooutlet  December is really slow for me - used stuff (at least what I sell) isn't in demand as everyone runs after the latest plastic.  I close down for a few weeks then.  In January sales pick up when people buy what they *really* wanted for the holidays!

[yuzuha]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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In January sales pick up when people buy what they *really* wanted for the holidays!

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Yep, I've definitely noticed that my collectibles sales pick way up in January... people have Christmas money to spend on themselves, so they buy the things they've been eyeing.

[vintageentertainment]

Ebay is not doing a good job of Advertising.  If they would invest in a National advertising campaign, it would help us all.  Sales are terrible on Ebay right now.  Never seen it this bad.  

[dethoma-78]

WHEN ON A SELLER'S PAGE EBAY SHOWS THE SAME ITEM FOR LESS AND FREE SHIPPING. VERY HARD TO COMPETE WHEN THE EBAY GREED IS AGAINST SELLERS. IT'S FUNNY THEY ADVERTISE OTHER SELLERS ITEMS WHEN LOOKING AT YOUR ITEMS. GUNBROKER OR GUNS AMERICA DO NOT INCLUDE OTHER SELLERS INVENTORY AT MY PAGE. HOPE THIS HELPS zee10103

[cidsa_dragoon]

Sept and Oct have been very poor for me, even compared to years prior (I do better in other months.) I have noticed that traffic has tanked and sales from the US have been drastically cut, which would explain the sales dropping but I'm not sure why.

It could be anything from people not having money, saving for the holidays, the recent changes messing up the site. No clue.