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]

ebay executives know what they're doing is wrong, they just don't care. As long as they benefit themselves, that's all that matters to them. They intentionally destroyed a lot of people's lives with one-sided policies, those are the facts. We have sellers here who supported this platform for decades who can no longer feed their families. I'm not willing to accept such an outcome, we will fight back to demand what's rightfully ours.

[gamersbaystore]

While I agree with what you're saying, we are not powerless here, and ebay would be foolish to think so. I have plenty of cards up my sleeve if it becomes necessary to use them.

[laurabeardsley]

I wish you the best .

[stuff4u518]

eBays behaviors ensure when I want something I go to the river instead.

[turquoisetulips]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

Yep, they've done it to me with my games so many times I've lost count. And I've definitely seen others state the same things about jewelry and clothing items as well. They just rent the items for free, then return them on the sellers dime with no cost to themselves at all.

Its often like 3 weeks after they purchase a game, played the entire thing, then they just return for a refund. Then I get hit with defects over it all. "Item Not As Described", because they finished playing the game now and no longer want it.

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That's why I've always thought e bay should put an exempt status on items  that are the most prone to be '' rented '' . We all know sellers can mark these items as ''final sale no returns'' ,, but we also know  buyers can bypass  that method  by filing a INR . It doesn't take 30 days to figure out  if a purchase is a true not as described or not  but a buyer can get a lot  of good use  out of it in that time frame . Tulips

[grasshopperx]

Everyone.. keep your eyes on ebays next prize.  Never mind the gtc, that's nothing compared with what's coming...The mangled payment system. To snatch up all that money paypal used to get. It will shore up the site, bring in more revenue, and make it look more profitable to the vulture investors.. Then after they get everyone tricked or forced into it. I predict the fees will start coming right off the top Of every sale. and they will increase... Why not, the snobby craft site is doing it.  There's so many fees over there, there is a fee tacked onto a fee. And doesn't amazon already do that? Why wouldn't ebay.   It will not go well when ebay decides to plays banker. and it doesn't matter if all the buyers and all the sellers are against it. They're going full speed ahead.  Ebay sees dollar signs. They wont care if they mess up your bank account.

[twnpopcards]

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@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?

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@gamersbaystore 

I did not read through all the responses to your post so this may have already been mentioned.  If you are moving your listings and have no need for the store you can cancel it early with a penalty.  The odds are good that the penalty will be less than having to pay for all the remaining months of your subscription.

I changed to a monthly subscription a couple of years ago so that when i no longer want to deal with all the Ebay changes i can easily end my store and move on.  Ebay pushes the annual subscriptions and then changes the rules all the time, even changing the price as their lawyers make sure in the fine print that they can do anything they want and you are still stuck with the annual contract.  But Karma is starting to catch up with Ebay as their growth continues to decline while all the other sites are showing double digit growth.

[hioctane62]

I changed my basic store to monthly last month, and today and tomorrow, I'm removing a bunch of listings and downsizing to the starter store. I want to be prepared to jump ship as soon as I get that notification that ebay is taking over my payments. That's not happening.

[fluffywhip78]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

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.

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I just tried looking at many items in your store and every item I looked at so far didn't have the "similar sponsor" ad or the "similar related" ad banner on them. 

I even tried to see if they show up if I found it through search so I search for "Serious Sam II" and when I click on yours I still don't see the ads.  I clicked on others selling the same game without stores and I do see the ads.

How are they promoting on your listings?

[sharingtheland]

(is it affect or effect lolol?). 

The only comment ^^^ that caught my eye in this - sorry to say it but I must - rehashing of the same old same old.  (Although, thankfully, it's not a GTC discussion.)

"affect" is a verb.  So it's sandwich "effect."

[gamersbaystore]

Go to any of my game listings through any mobile device and use the ebay app, the results are very much different. on my phone ebay shows 'Similar Sponsored Posts" at thew top of the page, along with a bunch of links to the same identical game thats in the listing.

if I use my tablet, the sponsored posts show up towards the bottom of the page, again, advertising the same identical items I'm selling.

[grasshopperx]

The Only difference between this place and the ranch is, they don't bother you over there, and you show up in the search! touché

[flo_mingo]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

While I agree with what you're saying, we are not powerless here, and ebay would be foolish to think so. I have plenty of cards up my sleeve if it becomes necessary to use them.

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I am not listing the first 2 weeks of April. I wish I could encourage others to do the same. We are not powerless and we can impact ebay with our inventory and sales - or lack of. 

[flo_mingo]

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I changed to a monthly subscription a couple of years ago so that when i no longer want to deal with all the Ebay changes i can easily end my store and move on.  Ebay pushes the annual subscriptions and then changes the rules all the time, even changing the price as their lawyers make sure in the fine print that they can do anything they want and you are still stuck with the annual contract.  But Karma is starting to catch up with Ebay as their growth continues to decline while all the other sites are showing double digit growth.

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I did the same last year. I pay monthly so that I can abandon ship. I see the iceberg. 

[abfabvintage]

Trust me, I knew the diff, just making sure someone read my post since we have so many grammarians here. Or is it grammarist? LOLOLOL. My English Lit Mother taught me well. Thanks, Sharing for sharing.