Selling different items from different categories on eBay

[devika_ajantha]

Hey guys,

so I've been wondering whether any of you guys have sold totally 2 different categories on your same eBay account for example : You are selling both Men's clothing and Musical Instruments 

So is this a good thing to do, like does eBay lower our results and stuff .

We all know if we could sell different products it is more profitable so I m wondering about this.

Anyone here has done something similar 

Please let me know
Thanks 😊 !

[femmefan1946]

I sell sewing patterns and science fiction books on this account.

When I am listing I try to list no more than five of one category before switching to the other. My theory being that if someone moves from a particular listing to "other items" or to my store, they will still see similar items as well as the other category.

OTOH - between cosplay and a strong female fandom, there is a lot more crossover than you might think.  And both groups are those most loved customers, people who read.

[coolections]

I doubt it makes any difference at all. IMO very few shop by categories & very few search out peoples stores. Even if they manage to see one of your items, if they are interested, they will just hit the see sellers other items button. I have sold in easily over 20 different categories and never had a problem.

[chapeau-noir]

I've sold vintage restored hats, car parts, bike parts, books, vintage audio equipment and goth clothing all at once, all on one ID/store.  That's basically mostly all I've ever had - one ID for everything, including posting.  Once someone purchased several hats and several books from me, at all once (challenge to pack, though).

It's fine.

[herbaearth]

I doubt eBay “lowers our results” when posting to several different categories.

The new eBay algorithm is focused on a ‘product forward’ approach so it really depends on the items you’re selling, the rarity or how limited the supply is, and the seasonality of demand on your items. 

If you have great products, eBay seems to put them forward for the masses. GL

[inhawaii]

I sell everything from clothing to electronics.

I don't think it matters.

[richard1rst]

I have about 50 major categories, many of which with sub-categories for a total of about 300 categories with 11,000 listings (I would have more categories but 300 is all that eBay allows).

https://www.ebay.com/str/lionheartdesigns

I am like a department store. Very little of what I sell relates to anything else I sell.

The theory is that on any given day something from one category will sell that won't sell tomorrow. But tomorrow something from a different category will sell that didn't sell today. So sales tend to even out day to day over the long term instead of severe up and down spikes from a single category as moods and fads change.

Now extrapolate that 300 times.

[johnrj1226]

Why not.  When we shop on line or at a store we most generally are looking for something specific.  Most of my sales  have been single items and every once in a great while a couple of things once  had a purchase of  8 items  relatively small item that I "talked" a lady via  eBay messages into buying based  on the shipping savings as  they would fit into a Regional Rate B Box I was using for her initial purchase of two items.  But that was a once in a blue moon event for this seller.  She was Happy I was Happy - Life Is Still Good.

[herbaearth]

You have a good account to study as a research case for niche categories. Most community shills just talk a big game without any results or practice solutions.

It’s smart to see intelligence on action so this is a great example the original poster can use to see what works. Thanks!

[chapeau-noir]

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@herbaearth wrote:

You have a good account to study as a research case for niche categories. Most community shills just talk a big game without any results or practice solutions.

It’s smart to see intelligence on action so this is a great example the original poster can use to see what works. Thanks!

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Say wut?

[fab_finds4u]

Community SHILL?

Are you calling @richard1rst a community shill?   

Referring to anyone in here as a shill is an insult.

[luckythewinner]

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@devika_ajantha wrote:

so I've been wondering whether any of you guys have sold totally 2 different categories on your same eBay account for example : You are selling both Men's clothing and Musical Instruments 

So is this a good thing to do, like does eBay lower our results and stuff .

We all know if we could sell different products it is more profitable so I m wondering about this.

Anyone here has done something similar 

---

I sell in different categories, and I suspect millions of other sellers do too.

I cannot imagine why eBay would care at all, let alone  "lower your results and stuff". 

[bashort]

Yes, all the time,  I see no benefit in more than one account.

[postcardcountry]

There was a time when separate accounts were often used.  eBay at one time, seemed to push stores, giving their items higher placement in search.  Beside the 'niche' store, a seller would gain more free listings.

Then eBay changed and practically abandoned the store concept.  It's been slowly creeping back.

But, eBay gives so many free listings per each store level many people have found it easiest to handle all their listings under one store.

Consider this as you think about having 2 stores - each store requires it's own email, gets it's own seller hub with no ability  to combine the two (two monitors, one on each account), has it's own selling limits, needs it's own payment certification, each task you perform (listing, shipping etc) is done for each store separately.

My advice - start out with one store selling two different 'categories' of inventory.  If it doesn't seem to be working, then go to two stores.  As you are listing, keep in the back of your mind what you would have to do if you had two stores (log out, log in, do the task, repeat).

[devika_ajantha · Accepted solution]

Thank you guys 

Every one of you saying it is not a problem , yes you guys are true .

I emailed eBay to ask about this and here's what they said ;

So it is not a problem at all!

Thanks everyone 

(I want to accept you responses as a solution but then I would have to select all of them as a solution so I m sorry about that but thanks a lot everyone! )