Selling is getting so bad that sellers make no money for their hard work.

[catmond9sik]

Buyers want everything for nothing. If you go onto Etsy sellers sell for the correct amount.  There are sellers that sell their items for nothing on Ebay and so buyers think that is what it is worth.  It is not like it use to be. Sellers could sell for less and make money but now Ebay takes so much and shipping is so much the seller makes nothing and they do the hard work. 

[dbfolks166mt]

I hear you catmond9sik.

So if 100 item ZEDs are listed on eBay and sell for an $80 average price on eBay AND eBay buyers are willing and happy to pay approximately $80 for the item; then 50 new sellers wanting to clean out their garage and sell items ASAP without concern for profit list their item ZEDs for $20:

A) Buyers are still willing to pay $80 so they continue to buy the $80 item ZEDs and ignore the $20 ZEDs.

B) Buyers would have been willing to pay $80, but since the market is flooded with $20 item ZEDS we come to the conclusion buyers are now only willing to pay $20 for item ZEDs.

C) Some enterprising seller buys up the 50 $20 ZED and flips them at $75 undercutting the market average and turns a hefty profit. 

So you are both right. 

Come on sellers! Let's see who can win the race to the bottom! The lower sellers go; the less buyers are willing to pay. Must be coincidence.

[chariot_badges]

---

@catmond9sik wrote:

Buyers want everything for nothing. If you go onto Etsy sellers sell for the correct amount.  There are sellers that sell their items for nothing on Ebay and so buyers think that is what it is worth.  It is not like it use to be. Sellers could sell for less and make money but now Ebay takes so much and shipping is so much the seller makes nothing and they do the hard work. 

---

EVERYBODY will be able to tell when I'm not making money here.

I won't be here.

"Hey, were did The Chariot go?"

"I dunno.  He's gone baby gone.  Didn't even say goodbye."

I have quit jobs because they wouldn't pay me (enough).

It doesn't bother me a bit.

[az93]

You can export your listings to etsy. You do know that, right?

[chapeau-noir]

---

@fbusoni wrote:

The lower sellers go; the less buyers are willing to pay.

(Cannot tell if you are being sarcastic or not.)

I have not had that experience.   I have found over many years of selling that there are many buyers who will gladly pay more money to me for the same item that can be had for as much as 20% or even 30% less.

I reckon it's mostly because I ship same day / in 24 hours and pay for all returns.   My buyers tend to spend some time leaving very complimentary feedback, which also may give prospective buyers a feeling that they are safe.  (My demographic is older and wealthier and they do pay attention to feedback.)  Presentation, vocabulary and overall listing quality is also important.  

I also make crystal clear that buyers are paying extra to me to ship their fragile items in a way that ensures items will arrive undamaged.   Many appreciate this and are happy to pay a few dollars more. 

It's easy to conclude that people are cheapskates and/or always seek a "deal."

But ultimately, consumer psychology is really a big mystery.   Just like the weather and the stock market.

---

And traffic flow - don't forget traffic flow, a mystery apparently deeper than the Mary Celeste.

ETA: Though seriously, I think the "reasons" many people choose for slow sales devolve onto what bothers them the most and are mostly subjective.

[mybigsale]

@dbfolks166mt 

C) Some enterprising seller buys up the 50 $20 ZED and flips them at $75 undercutting the market average and turns a hefty profit. 

I tried that with Beanie Babies, but it didn't work out so well 🙄 

Maybe buying all the $20 ZEDs will be the answer to my financial dreams 😀

[wheredidiputthatremote]

How's that work without paying for a third party app?

[mam98031]

---

@az93 wrote:

You can export your listings to etsy. You do know that, right?

---

Not everything sold on Ebay can be sold on Etsy.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

@az93 wrote:

You can export your listings to etsy. You do know that, right?

---

Not everything sold on Ebay can be sold on Etsy.

---

Unfortunately, that's fast eroding. Etsy is swimming with cheap mass-produced junk and the clothing area has increasing amounts of thrift shop contemporary flips. One seller is just selling random stuff out of her closet and house, none vintage. Yoga mats, mart clothing, etc.

TBH, I don't think it would make a dayum bit of difference - people just put some bogus designation on the listing to fake it.

ETA: Yes, I know they shouldn't and it's against whatever "rules" Etsy has, but an auto-import will probably encourage it.

[mam98031]

I know a lot of sellers here sell clothing, but there are a lot of other sellers that sell other stuff that can't be sold on Etsy.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

I know a lot of sellers here sell clothing, but there are a lot of other sellers that sell other stuff that can't be sold on Etsy.

---

People are listing contemporary electronics on there! 😂

It's pretty ludicrous.  I used to love selling on there, too.

[fbusoni]

And traffic flow - don't forget traffic flow, a mystery apparently deeper than the Mary Celeste.

ETA: Though seriously, I think the "reasons" many people choose for slow sales devolve onto what bothers them the most and are mostly subjective.

Haha.  Yes, traffic flow. 

I should have noted that there is still no proof that the weather does not impact the stock market, the vagaries of which can in turn affect buyer thinking.   And if enough buyers pray for rain, well, it might rain.

All in all a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, to quote one of my heroes.  

[baydealz]

Don't take this the wrong way, but your sales are up with that inventory?  I'm not judging, I just find it hard to move such items.  Yours are probably better priced and more unique.  I'm really just curious.

[luckythewinner]

Selling is getting so bad that sellers make no money for their hard work

Perhaps for some sellers. I get good money for my hard work. 

Buyers want everything for nothing.

Perhaps for some sellers. My buyers generally don't even ask for discounts, let alone unreasonable ones. 

It is not like it use to be

No, it is not. Sellers must constantly adapt and evolve their businesses, just like the bricks and mortar world.

Sellers could sell for less and make money

To some extent. But at some point, they lose money. 

Ebay takes so much and shipping is so much the seller makes nothing 

eBay has increased fees modestly over the old eBay/PayPal model. The pressure from shipping on profits is something sellers should have seen coming a decade ago, and adapted accordingly. I did. 

[cheers2all]

I agree, I have to ask myself if selling on eBay is worth my time and the work that it takes.  I have been with eBay for years and it just is not the same.  It use to be GREAT!

[catmond9sik]

I was not being sarcastic. It is just that it seems like everyone sells their items for $5 or less so it is hard to make any money. I feel the items are worth more money, but I think when they sell, Ebay has a suggested amount and that is what they use. But Ebay uses the amount the item sells on auction which is not the amount the item is worth. I also ship and package my items good, but I think everyone should.