Sales are dead, but its not just GTC that's an issue, its bad algorithms!

[gamersbaystore]

While many are angered over the latest changes regarding GTC, and many others are speculating as to why their sales are dead, I suspect there's other issues than GTC that are just as bad, if not far worse. Those issues are related to bad algorithms that ebay put into place with the intent to undercut its sellers and force them to drop their prices, or risk having no sales.

What I'm referring to is ebay's habit of advertising identical products from other sellers right inside your own listings. While I've seen ebay do this in patches since as far back as 2015, as of right now, no matter what listing a buyer clicks of mine, ebay then starts promoting the exact same identical product from other sellers. The end result is a never ending price war.

Just in the last 2 weeks I've seen the prices of the games I sell fall off a cliff as other sellers try to compete for sales of the same items.

ebay has turned its platform into a dollar store.

At this point I'm not looking for alternatives, I already found one, and I'm in the process of transitioning to an alternate platform now.

But myself, like many others, are also stuck with the dilemma that we're locked into a year long contract with ebay for our stores. Even if I leave, ebay is still going to want their $60 a month. Whether to stay or leave entirely is something I'm still debating. But either way, I'm definitely focusing on an alternative platform to operate my core business; albeit, one that's far cheaper with far less costs of doing business, and one that doesn't advertise the same identical products I sell from competitors.

Your thoughts on this?

[gamersbaystore]

Something else you need to realize, when sellers list something for sale in their stores, they're paying for that space to promote their items for sale, yet ebay promotes someone elses instead. No matter how you look at it, its just not right what ebay is doing. I pay for the store because its my space to list my items for sale, and that's the way it should be.

[gamersbaystore]

Yep, ebay has invoked a race to the bottom mentality. :Let's force all our sellers to sell everything for pennies on the dollar and we'll get more sales. A very poor mentality ebay executives have to assume this would work out in their favor. Running their sellers into bankruptcy does ebay no favors over the long term.

[gamersbaystore]

That competition is also the result of ebay using the space we paid for to promote others items. Look at it however you like, but the fact of the matter is we pay for the space we list in when we purchase a store subscription. Yet, ebay is using our space to promote someone else. No matter how you look at it, its very deceptive.

[abfabvintage]

What is going on to me is like the movie "Miracle on 34th Street" where customers were being sent to other department stores by Santa Claus Kris Kringle lololol...

[jason_incognito]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

You stated "Which site do you think the average buyer would chose?" how about the one I send them too. People find content across the web via search engines, social media, etc, and people end up on platforms like ebay because links lead them there. If you control the traffic, you control where people go.

As an example, I sent millions of people to Google+ over a 7 year period. I then sent those same people to alternate platforms like Twitter, Facebook, websites, etc. Little did these people realize I controlled a lot of what they saw and interacted with, yet they didn't even realize it.

If you go to search for something in Google search, Google controls what you see on the screen.

Likewise, doing business on the web is just like doing business in a brick and mortar store, trust drives business, not just prices. People are more likely to buy from those they know and trust.

But its the lack of control over our business here on ebay that leaves me reeling. I don't control the traffic here, and when I list something, ebay promotes other sellers identical items on our listings, rather than our own. This would be akin to JCpenney advertising products from their competitors when people visit their site, not a good thing.

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eBay has flat out said that the GTC change is so that the items on eBay will show better in Google......

[castlemagicmemories]

But myself, like many others, are also stuck with the dilemma that we're locked into a year long contract with ebay for our stores. Even if I leave, ebay is still going to want their $60 a month.

I'm not encouraging you to leave; I just want to correct this assumption.

You are not locked into the year long contract.  You can still cancel, although there is a hefty fee for early cancellation.  

https://pages.ebay.com/stores/subscriptionterms.html

https://pages.ebay.com/stores/subscriptionterms.html#ETF

These may not be the latest information on this; but it seems to be as it refers to stores being renewed in June 2019.  Just confirm all information and find out what and how it applies to you before you make a decision or take any action.  I hope you decide to stay, but I understand you have to do what you have to do.

[castlemagicmemories]

As far as hoping eBay will walk back this change, this question came  up at Chat today.  One of the Blues stated in today's Chat that eBay has no plans to rescind this change.

You can read the Chat for today if you care to confirm this; there are other GTC related questions there as well.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Community-Chat-March-27-1-00-pm-PT-General-Topics/m-p/29652254...

[hillbillymedia]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

Something else you need to realize, when sellers list something for sale in their stores, they're paying for that space to promote their items for sale, yet ebay promotes someone elses instead. No matter how you look at it, its just not right what ebay is doing. I pay for the store because its my space to list my items for sale, and that's the way it should be.

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Right! The kicker is when you drive traffic to your ebay items via FB, twitter, etc. you are inadvertently also driving traffic back to ebay AND your direct competitors. It`s a win/win for ebay because the seller is doing all the legwork and they save a fortune in good advertising.

[hioctane62]

What bothers me about these ads is that they often CREATE a bad buyer experience, making ebay look bad to that buyer. Yes, it may be a lower price, but if a seasoned buyer digs deeper, they'll likely discover that the seller has terrible feedback, and a poor record of getting their dropshipped items to buyers. The seller is probably priced so low because they re trying to generate enough sales to keep from being suspended, as they are already paying the extra 4%.

Check these ads out, and that is often the case. Not always, but ebay won't hesitate to show an ad from a bad seller, price is the ONLY factor in their minds.

[abfabvintage]

I'm still waiting for the actual Stats from eBay on that.

[cs497kcpope]

You are right about the returns part! I know of no company that promotes returns like eBay does!! What idiot company does that? I have had 4 sales in the last 8 days and one of them is being returned immediately after they received the item! On the same day they received it. Now you tell me that they did not already plan on returning it? Sales are so hard to come by these days with eBay's new algorithms! We do not need that large RETURN button reminding every buyer just as soon as you find a cheaper item (PLEASE RETURN THIS ITEM)!!! Ok I got that off of my chest!

[hillbillymedia]

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@hioctane62 wrote:

What bothers me about these ads is that they often CREATE a bad buyer experience, making ebay look bad to that buyer. Yes, it may be a lower price, but if a seasoned buyer digs deeper, they'll likely discover that the seller has terrible feedback, and a poor record of getting their dropshipped items to buyers. The seller is probably priced so low because they re trying to generate enough sales to keep from being suspended, as they are already paying the extra 4%.

Check these ads out, and that is often the case. Not always, but ebay won't hesitate to show an ad from a bad seller, price is the ONLY factor in their minds.

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Agreed! Now any joker can buy premium placement with "promoted listings". They don`t have to be a "good" seller to get great placement. Doing all the right things as a seller means nothing anymore as far as search placement is concerned.

[rixstuff]

ebay has turned its platform into a dollar store.

At this point I'm not looking for alternatives, I already found one, and I'm in the process of transitioning to an alternate platform now.

I'm gonna address these two only.  

1. Ebay isn't a dollar store, it is what it has always been, A YARD SALE.

2. I have always sold elsewhere.  The grass is NOT greener on other sites.  Some are unforgiving (banning you if the CUSTOMER cancels or complains about ANYTHING), some take huge (25%) fvf and even have MANDATORY shipping costs.  Worst (and most unforgiveable) most people have never even HEARD of those other sites so don't shop there (one site I made THREE sales in a year - I do that much here in a week - tons of sellers, NO BUYERS).  You gotta hand it to Ebay for name recognition and its processes and tech platform.

[gamersbaystore]

The argument I'm making here has nothing to do with GTC, and everything to do with ebay charging me money for a store to promote someone elses stuff. This is what I'm concerned about. And I have every right to be angry, and so does every other seller.

[jason_incognito]

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@cs497kcpope wrote:

You are right about the returns part! I know of no company that promotes returns like eBay does!! What idiot company does that? I have had 4 sales in the last 8 days and one of them is being returned immediately after they received the item! On the same day they received it. Now you tell me that they did not already plan on returning it? Sales are so hard to come by these days with eBay's new algorithms! We do not need that large RETURN button reminding every buyer just as soon as you find a cheaper item (PLEASE RETURN THIS ITEM)!!! Ok I got that off of my chest!

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I just got an order from Disney. 

Included inside was a return label and the instructions on how to return the item.