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]

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@myjunqueyourtreasure wrote:

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

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.

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This has been going on for a Long long time.

That's why I just started bookmarking anything I was mildly interested in so I could find it again when Cassini decided I'd seen it once and that was enough lol

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I put things in my Watch List if I am remotely interested.  Then I go in and weed out as necessary.  

[cs497kcpope]

I already give and will always give top notch service. But it is not helping me sell! My sales are down to practically nothing! :(:(:(

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@myjunqueyourtreasure wrote:

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

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.

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This has been going on for a Long long time.

That's why I just started bookmarking anything I was mildly interested in so I could find it again when Cassini decided I'd seen it once and that was enough lol

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I put things in my Watch List if I am remotely interested.  Then I go in and weed out as necessary.  

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I don't use the watch list - EVER

They already know what I looked at - they have no need to know what I'm actually watching.

[flo_mingo]

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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...

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I was denied access to this link

[flo_mingo]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

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.

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I agree that I should not have other sellers getting free ad time on my store budget. Also so many have expressed concerns about not being able to use all of the "free" listings that come with their store subscription. We need to stop referring to our listing allotment as "free" It is not free we paid for those listings with our contracted agreement. 

[abfabvintage]

Hi, you need to go to the Inside Ebay category at the very top under Discussions and click on the Weekly Chat With eBay. Once in there, then click again on the link that is underlined to get you to the info you need. You are looking for the Chat that occurred on March 27. Hope this helps.

[gamersbaystore]

Its true, nothing is free here, just like there's no such thing as free shipping either; someone has to pay for this stuff.

While I don't mind ebay putting similar, related, or promoted posts along with my listings, I found it to be a real slap in the face when I realized ebay was using my listings to promote the same identical item from someone else.

Here we pay for our stores, then ebay uses them to promote someone elses identical item, absolutely disgraceful.

[zamo-zuan]

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@cs497kcpope wrote:

I already give and will always give top notch service. But it is not helping me sell! My sales are down to practically nothing! :(:(:(

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Yup, it makes no sense that service and feedback isn't considered... instead they focus on numbers of returns, rather than quality of service of returns.

You could be one of the great sellers that is an example of someone that will give eBay buyers a good experience, and receive nothing for it.

Meanwhile those who give eBay buyers an extremely poor experience to the point they never buy on eBay again? They are put in the same boat with the good sellers...

[zamo-zuan]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

Its true, nothing is free here, just like there's no such thing as free shipping either; someone has to pay for this stuff.

While I don't mind ebay putting similar, related, or promoted posts along with my listings, I found it to be a real slap in the face when I realized ebay was using my listings to promote the same identical item from someone else.

Here we pay for our stores, then ebay uses them to promote someone elses identical item, absolutely disgraceful.

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On the topic of shipping... eBay finally revealed where their "Shipping Discounts" are going despite not giving discounts to the USA sellers.

They have been saving those shipping discounts to "encourage" people to use their "Fulfillment by eBay" system.

[gamersbaystore]

Either way, I'm not willing accept ebay using the listings I paid for in advance with my store fees to promote the same item from someone else. Totally unacceptable. Its my store, not someone elses, and ebay needs to respect that.

If ebay wants to promote similar or related items, fine, but identical items, not cool.

[fultonfalcon]

Yes, it's quite annoying to search for an item, find what you want.. see that the seller has a great feedback history, go to buy the item... AND THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS 8+ ITEMS PRICES FOR LESS BY SOMEONE ELSE, USUALLY CHINA VENDERS OR THEIR U.S. WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS.   Really?  Sometimes there is so much **bleep** in front of what I came to look at I lose my place..   EXAMPLE :  Yesterday I wanted to buy some Ant / Insect powder to put around the house.... I went to a seller I always buy lawn and pond chemicals from and when I typed in Terminex I got ads for everything but his first.  REALLY?  I don't want this seller to quit selling..he gives great service and fixes any problems immediately.  He's available to give suggestions... can't beat the guy.... but there it is right in front of my face.... HIS product is $16 but there is an ad " IN HIS STORE"  for the same product for $10. with free shipping.  I like the guy, but $6 is still $6 so I passed on buying from him.  Had those ads not been stuck in front of my face I'd have bought his product and he'd stay on eBay where I can get to him.  He'd be happy and I'd be happy and now well now.... I feel like a jerk.

[abfabvintage]

GENERAL COMMENT:

To clarify my post on how to get to the March 27  Chat: you no longer have to click on an underlined link. It just starts with the active beginning of the Chat. Good Luck! 

[abfabvintage]

I get that about not bothered by similar items, but why have your item sandwiched between whether similar or identical? Your item is listed now between a rock and a hard place. It should show your item first, then all of the other minutiae at the end?

Just like I brought up yesterday: when you want to see the description of an item that sold, but before you can click on the "original" block on the right side, an active seller's items are right there in your face WITHOUT the sandwich affect? (is it affect or effect lolol?). 

[cs497kcpope]

I was denied access also! :(:(:(

[abfabvintage]

See my post 81 on how to access.