eBay

gpnexus · ‎03-09-2018

Hi everybody!

Is something going wrong on Ebay?

Is there a huge decline in sales in general?

gpnexus · ‎03-10-2018

I can see that all my sales come from promoted listings only. No base sales.

I think that Ebay has lost its power though. It is not as it used to be. My personal opinion.

My shops on other marketplaces are going really good.

bigchief2472000 · ‎03-10-2018

Ebay is beginning to lose it's "power" in my eyes as well. Anytime I wanted to buy something that wasn't readily available locally, Ebay was the first place I checked. The more they try to mimick other sites, the less interest I have in them, since I'm not interested in those sites they're trying to mimick either.

leftnotselling · ‎03-11-2018

sales what are sales mine are down 95% even with promoted listings and price drops. Listings that do not show up in search results for weeks off and on. ebay removing items for wrong catagory when they are placed properly. Their message even states they need to be in that catagory. And the not as described you pay for return shipping are a joke.Example a item is green picture is green color states green in listing. Ebay allows not as described seller pays return shipping why item is defective for not being the color red. Yet my sales are up over on the river same items same prices. Ebay is broke and just not worth the huge fees any longer.

uncseniorsportsfan · ‎03-11-2018

There are many factors that affect ebay sales from month-to-month, and a lot of them have little to do with ebay itself - like weather events. There are even things that are a result of what the individual seller is doing.

For example, I closed my ebay store at the end of December so of course my January and February sales declined. When it comes to sports collectibles - February is a transitional month. The NFL and college football are over. NASCAR and MLB spring training are starting up. NCAA basketball is getting ready for March Madness. NHL and NBA take a backseat until the playoffs begin. So unless I get free promotional listings - I concentrate my 50 listings on what is in season and maybe a few new items I come across. I'll bring back NFL stuff in time for Father's Day after the NHL, NBA, and college basketball have ended.

The items that sell steadily throughout the year are in the minority. For many things new models come out - new fads take hold - and the number of sellers selling them increases. Ecommerce is not a static environment - inventory can become stale overnight as buyers change their shopping focus.

Ebay is just one increasingly smaller spoke in the bigger ecommerce wheel.

mr_lincoln · ‎03-11-2018

@bigchief2472000

@bigchief2472000wrote:
Ebay is beginning to lose it's "power" in my eyes as well. Anytime I wanted to buy something that wasn't readily available locally, Ebay was the first place I checked. The more they try to mimick other sites, the less interest I have in them, since I'm not interested in those sites they're trying to mimick either.

You hit on an extremely keen observation in your post ... I for one dislike shopping on several other sites because they limit the items I see in Search, sort of like they are trying to make my Buying selectioon for me. The other sites just don't flow as well as the classic eBay page layout. Gallery views simply give me a headache ... in trying to find something going left to right then down and back is ... well, stupid. I prefer a vertical list of items to lookt hrough ...

I really wish they would stop trying to keep up with the Jones ...

Best regards,
Mr. Lincoln - eBay Community Mentor

coolections · ‎03-11-2018

@timemachine777wrote:
Only with some sellers, like you and me right now. Others are doing fine.

The ones who are doing fine made changes that where needed to get sales. Those who refuse to make changes and continue to complain and blame Ebay will continue to NOT get sales.

lancelotme · ‎03-11-2018

It is not Ebay,it is the Ebay sellers.

If you are selling used clothing,trinklets or any thing large retail stores and your wholesalers are seling,buyers can buy from them instead of you.

Retailers are gearing up their online presense ,blame it on AMZN,all the WMT,TGT,KR,JCP,Wayfair,Macy,Nordstrom,BBY are trying to hold on to their customer base.

mr_lincoln · ‎03-11-2018

@lancelotme

@lancelotmewrote:
It is not Ebay,it is the Ebay sellers.
If you are selling used clothing,trinklets or any thing large retail stores and your wholesalers are seling,buyers can buy from them instead of you.
Retailers are gearing up their online presense ,blame it on AMZN,all the WMT,TGT,KR,JCP,Wayfair,Macy,Nordstrom,BBY are trying to hold on to their customer base.

No blame to be placed anywhere ... years ago when the first department store was created guess what ... it was successful and more retailers started to gear up to compete. How about when the old style gas stations started to be replaced with the convenience store that had gas pumps? Online sales was bound to grow and change and have new companies trying to get their cut of the pie. But trying to compete with New Products ... well, just look at those other examples I mentioned ... eventually a few rise to the top to grab most of the business. What eBay had that really no other venue has come close to competing with is the antique, vintage and collectible market.

Best regards,
Mr. Lincoln - eBay Community Mentor

luckythewinner · ‎03-11-2018

If you are selling used clothing,trinklets or any thing large retail stores and your wholesalers are selling,buyers can buy from them instead of you.

If you are buying from a wholesaler, chances are a hundred other eBay sellers are too. And if those products are available in big box stores, they have a cheaper wholesaler than you do.

Retailers are gearing up their online presense ,blame it on AMZN

They are doing more than just gearing up their own online presence. For instance, searching the WalMart site will now show you items from third-party retailers.

The best way to compete against big box stores is to either (a) not sell things that big box stores offer, or (b) have a significantly better price.

Just as the best way to compete against eBay sellers is to (a) not sell things that other eBay sellers offer, or (b) have a significantly better price.

If retail was easy, everyone would be rich.

kim_y_buran · ‎03-11-2018

My observation is that my sales depend only on my ability to list and charging what the market can actually bear. And, FWIW, I don't think 0.1% of the buyers are aware of the impending payment processor change.

grasshopperx · ‎03-11-2018

Like what kind of changes do you speak of?

laurabeardsley · ‎03-11-2018

What other market places are doing well?

timemachine777 · ‎03-11-2018

@mr_lincolnwrote:
@lancelotme
@lancelotmewrote:
It is not Ebay,it is the Ebay sellers.
If you are selling used clothing,trinklets or any thing large retail stores and your wholesalers are seling,buyers can buy from them instead of you.
Retailers are gearing up their online presense ,blame it on AMZN,all the WMT,TGT,KR,JCP,Wayfair,Macy,Nordstrom,BBY are trying to hold on to their customer base.
No blame to be placed anywhere ... years ago when the first department store was created guess what ... it was successful and more retailers started to gear up to compete. How about when the old style gas stations started to be replaced with the convenience store that had gas pumps? Online sales was bound to grow and change and have new companies trying to get their cut of the pie. But trying to compete with New Products ... well, just look at those other examples I mentioned ... eventually a few rise to the top to grab most of the business. What eBay had that really no other venue has come close to competing with is the antique, vintage and collectible market.

Very important word..."Had".

tunicaslot · ‎03-11-2018

@gpnexuswrote:
I can see that all my sales come from promoted listings only. No base sales.
I think that Ebay has lost its power though. It is not as it used to be. My personal opinion.
My shops on other marketplaces are going really good.

There is your answer right there - there are oodles of marketplaces for people to purchase on. We're not going to see the sales we saw 5,10,15,20 yrs ago because there is so much competition now. You have to pick and choose what to sell and know when to sell it.

bigchief2472000 · ‎03-11-2018

@tunicaslotwrote:
@gpnexuswrote:
I can see that all my sales come from promoted listings only. No base sales.
I think that Ebay has lost its power though. It is not as it used to be. My personal opinion.
My shops on other marketplaces are going really good.
There is your answer right there - there are oodles of marketplaces for people to purchase on. We're not going to see the sales we saw 5,10,15,20 yrs ago because there is so much competition now. You have to pick and choose what to sell and know when to sell it.

And by going in the direction ebay has been going, they have been steadily putting themselves (as well as all it's sellers) into direct competition with all these other marketplaces, instead of standing out from the crowd as a unique marketplace.