eBay

allthings-collectible · ‎08-16-2023

Before I begin, let me first acknowledge those of you who have been unaffected by all the glitches, all the down time, and all the effects of eBay's "exciting new features!", that we've experienced in the last 6-months or so. In fact, you may even be unaffected by our slumping economy. If that describes you, then congratulations! Does this mean that you have achieved some kind of eBay seller "guru" status? Well, um....nope. Because if anyone followed your advice, then they would see their sales normalize, improve, or maybe even increase right? Unfortunately, that ain't happenin'.

So, if in fact your sales are normal or even increasing, great, but you cannot expect that the majority of sellers represented here are less experienced or doing it all wrong. As a 24-yr seller, I've endured countless changes, including policy & platform changes, buying trends, changing market values, 2008, and I sold a few things along the way. But this year is significantly different, especially as a "for-profit" business. The numbers speak for themselves.

In fact, below you will see the YTD sales data from one of my stores. What do notice? Anything stand out to you?

coolections · ‎08-17-2023

@cardxcraft wrote:
the mall owner has put their locked door in front of our door and the only way to let a few customers in is we have to pay the mall owner an extortion fee, a percentage of our sales. The more extortion money we pay the mall owner, the more customers he'll let in. Then one day, the mall owner, feeling more and more like a mobster, decides that a percentage of the fees aren't enough. So, he comes up with a shakedown method where we pay him up front, cold hard cash, to let customers in.

WOW

joliztoyco · ‎08-17-2023

You would sit there and tell us this is some sort "natural" decline?
It's evolution? That's funny.
How about:
eBay's management has made frighteningly inept decisions in how to "evolve" their selling platform.
And caused the decline we're witnessing.

"I'm not sure why this is so hard to understand".

coolections · ‎08-17-2023

@joliztoyco wrote:
eBay's management has made frighteningly inept decisions in how to "evolve" their selling platform.
And caused the decline we're witnessing.

WOW

joliztoyco · ‎08-17-2023

When someone's take after looking at the OP's original post is:
"Gee...your sales are up".?
They're purposely missing the point.
Or don't have the IQ to grasp it.
Why listen to that?

soh.maryl · ‎08-17-2023

After reading all of the posts, comments and replies, this is my take on the situation:

Someone mentioned somewhere awhile back that today's buyers may be tapering down because young people are more interested in EXPERIENCES than in THINGS.

So, as us older relics die off, there are not going to be enough new kids on the block to keep up the pace of several years ago. Personally, I believe that Covid had a greater impact on everything than we want to admit.

gone.c-33 · ‎08-17-2023

Many malls charge a percentage of the sales on top of a base rent. I’m pretty sure they charge more for stores to have bigger/more signage inside and outside. Plus maintenance, your share of yearly property taxes, parking and/or loading dock access.

Except for sponsored listings, the analogy is not that far off.

joliztoyco · ‎08-17-2023

Here's the problem.
They aren't "making the same".
They're making LESS.
eBay's sales have been declining for over 2 years.
And if you owned a B&M store, shouldn't this be a concern if it was happening to you?
Or am I missing something?

yuzuha · ‎08-17-2023

@gone.c-33 wrote:
Many malls charge a percentage of the sales on top of a base rent. I’m pretty sure they charge more for stores to have bigger/more signage inside and outside.

They do. Rents also vary based on the location in the mall-- a store on the bottom level near the entrance will pay a higher rent than one on the second floor, for example.

ed8108 · ‎08-17-2023

@cardxcraft wrote:

... we pay him up front, cold hard cash, to let customers in. (PLA).

The answer would appear to be to simply raise prices, but how manny sales will never happen because some buyers will not pay higher prices to satisfy wants or decide to look somewhere else & find better prices.

allthings-collectible · ‎08-17-2023

You are correct. I used to own a regional chain of specialty kiosks in the 90's. Rents varied on location and co-tenancy. After three years, the mall property was purchased by another firm and rents increased 30%. Since my price points were associated with my items, I couldn't afford to raise prices.....so I left 😉