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?

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@gamersbaystore wrote:

I'll disagree with what you're saying as well. Consider this, a buyer purchases a game, plays it for 3 weeks, then returns it for a full refund. If you can't see how this system would be abused, I don't know what else to say. free returns = a free rental service for buyers, those are the facts, no denying this.

---

I never denied this.  There can be abuse by anyone, buyer or seller, and I am well aware of that and have posted it many times.  Good buyers and good sellers, bad buyers and bad sellers, both exist.  Beyond that abuse, which is clearly understood, my statement is true.  A buyer who is satisfied with their item is not going to be enticed into returning it just because the return this item button is there.

[hioctane62]

---

@this*old*attic wrote:

Stitch Fix does the same thing

---

@this*old*atticplease use the quote button above the dialogue box.

"Stitch Fix does the same thing" means absolutely nothing when I read it, unless I go back and try to figure out what you are replying to.

[creekcoyote]

---

@jason_incognito wrote:

---

@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!

---

I just got an order from Disney. 

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

---

I don't know about the sites you shop on but almost everyone of the on-line retailers that I deal with  includes a return label.

HOWEVER over 90 % of them, if not a higher percentage, expect the return postage to be paid by the buyer.

Label is easy to use but in the small print, so much money, usually $9.99 will be deducted from the buyer's refund.

These businesses may make it simple to return an item but they are not being forced to pay for that return.

Buyer is responsible for the return costs.

[zamo-zuan]

---

@gamersbaystore wrote:

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?

---

This is what I've been saying! (Please check my post history lol).

The main thing that is happening now is GTC is making the problems with algorithms more obvious! <=30 day listings largely avoided the algorithms all together. Now people are seeing the actual problems with search, the lack of visibility without beginning/ending bonuses on placement, and that you literally need to invest more $$$ to get visibility which only HURTS your business instead of helping it. 

I've researched this issue extensively. I've posted about it extensively. I've even discussed this issue in person with eBay category managers.

I 100% believe the real reason for GTC changes are so that everyone has to follow their algorithms and new policies. But now, it's basically making the problems with their policies "go viral".

Nearly a year ago I did my first extensive post regarding this issue on here and even back then, I realized the only way this will ever be resolved is if we band together.

I never realized how many people didn't use GTC, but now it makes sense as to why more people didn't see these issues earlier.

I can only try to hope for the best here, and hope this bad situation works out for the best, with people finally realizing the truth about eBay's search/catalog system and the unsustainable design behind it that is killing businesses & the potential of sellers on eBay. 

Hopefully this finally pushes them to realize there's a problem and/or finally make a change.

[gamersbaystore]

I noticed that too. I often back to look at my previously viewed items, and find myself drowned with irrelevant listings I never viewed to begin with. Then I can't find the listings I was actually looking for.

[zamo-zuan]

---

@jason_incognito wrote:

So look at this from a buyer's point of view.

eBay has your back and gets you a good deal. If what you receive isn't right, they'll make it right.

or you can go to that other site. The one all the sellers dream of.

You're on your own. It is up to you to price compare, read all the fine print and become an expert in buying stuff.

Which site do you think the average buyer would chose? As a seller, the smartest thing you can do is go where the buyers are and play the game that site plays so that you can be favored and get the sale.

Or list the stuff "over there" where there is no price competition, where all sales are final, where the buyer can't do a return even if they get a box of rocks..... and watch your listings gather dust.

I've done physical retail the majority of my life. I can't tell you how many places I've seen fail just because they chose the wrong location, or how many poorly managed, poorly run stores I've seen thrive just because of their location.

---

While I agree with your sentiments, we also have to consider price. EBay prices are no longer the cheapest. If we look at the competitors, they are cheaper, AND offer better security/shipping.

Why would buyers choose eBay?

[gamersbaystore]

I think the point that matters here is that ebay encourages buyers to return everything. Its not ebay just offering free returns, they encourage it by constantly shoving it in buyers faces.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

---

@gamersbaystore wrote:

I'll disagree with what you're saying as well. Consider this, a buyer purchases a game, plays it for 3 weeks, then returns it for a full refund. If you can't see how this system would be abused, I don't know what else to say. free returns = a free rental service for buyers, those are the facts, no denying this.

---

I never denied this.  There can be abuse by anyone, buyer or seller, and I am well aware of that and have posted it many times.  Good buyers and good sellers, bad buyers and bad sellers, both exist.  Beyond that abuse, which is clearly understood, my statement is true.  A buyer who is satisfied with their item is not going to be enticed into returning it just because the return this item button is there.

---

Ran out of edit time.

So it seems you are saying that since there is abuse of returns, there should be no returns.  If you say there should be no returns, there should be no selling, either.

I bought a very expensive, extremely limited edition item that came with undisclosed damage that you might see if it was disclosed, and other damage from improper packing.  Filed SNAD, sent it back, seller claimed it wasn't his item, when it absolutely was.  This was such a limited edition, maybe 5, that the odds that someone would have one to substitute were in the realm of almost impossible, and I would never do that, anyway.

Abuse of returns can happen on either side, although buyers are protected by the MBG.

[gamersbaystore]

The ebay rep I spoke with this morning said they've had nothing but a flood of phone calls and complaints regarding the way's in which ebay promotes identical items in others listings. They too stated they were concerned by ebay's decision to do this and thought it was a terrible idea.

As for GTC, the biggest problem this presents is the fact smaller sellers have all their listings drowned out in search results very quickly. They're forced to either purchase a store subscription, or wait forever to sell anything. How ebay thinks this is a good idea I don't know, it definitely is not.

[castlemagicmemories]

HOWEVER over 90 % of them, if not a higher percentage, expect the return postage to be paid by the buyer.

That's true and thank you for bringing that important point forward.

[this*old*attic]

Or you could click the hot link where it states who I’m answering 

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@gamersbaystore wrote:

I think the point that matters here is that ebay encourages buyers to return everything. Its not ebay just offering free returns, they encourage it by constantly shoving it in buyers faces.

---

I understand how you feel but respectfully, I maintain that a satisfied buyer isn't going to return just because they see something that says they can.

If you mean they are constantly shoving it in buyer's faces, by having the MBG logo on listings, that is to protect buyers from receiving items that aren't as described.  Buyers won't buy if they are stuck with anything they happen to receive.

Flip the coin.  You buy here.  You get the item and you are happy with it.  You go to your purchase history and you see the return button.  Are you suddenly seized with this uncontrollable urge to return the item because you saw that button?  Or because you saw the MBG?

[hioctane62]

Thanks. I now remember that I can do that. And then scroll back to your reply if I have something to add.

EDIT: Which in this case would be: If you bought something from Disney, you already paid for return shipping and then some.

[abfabvintage]

I'm sorry. Can you explain your last post? Am having a senior moment about the buyer was happy and saw the MBG? If you could explain that, would be helpful to me. Thanks as always.

[rock_crushers_unlimited]

I too find it very insulting. I take my time out to take great pictures of my items, I do my best to make nice ads and describe my items to a T and what do I get in return Ebay shoving all these other **bleep** and items on MY PAGE. Thats my page that I pay for. I do all the work so ebay can put other sellers items on my page. Between their stupid computer match ups like people that bought this also bought and 9 times out of 10 have absolutely NOTHING to do with the other items. Then there is a second row of items  from other sellers with  here are some more like the ones your viewing. Then there is a third row saying explore more options and sometimes even a forth saying More like this. UUggggg where does it end. Oh and thats only the ones with photo then the are all the ones in writing like other sponsors as they say. So I do all the work and thats what I get. Now even worse did you ever look at your description before they MAKE you go to the READ MORE. The little part they put there are usually something in the way bottom of your description. WAKE UP EBAY sellers usually start out describing the item at the beginning. Use the first couple lines not the shipping info as your description. I take my time to make a nice looking ad with HTML code nice banner on top great pics and you cant see it untill you hit Read More ??? What the hell ebay. No problem putting other sellers stuff right up in there but cant see my ad tilll you hit READ MORE. Now all the GTC bull. I loved my 5, 7, 10 day ads. It was actually fun watching everyday as the days closed if maybe I sold something. It was like a little game and was actually something I always looked forward to. Now im stuck with a store style business when thats not waht I want. Its not what I signed up for. I been selling on ebay for a little under 15 yrs and now ..... well i just want to move on somewhere else.