Slow Sales!!!!

[geraldbell]

We sell approximately 30 to 40 items a week.  Since the middle of March, the sales of dwindled to the point of almost no sales on a daily basis.  I understand shipping, inflation, etc.  but even when we went through a severe, drastic recession when Bush and Obama were in office, we never saw the bottom fall out like this.  I have ended and relisted items to have them go to the top - no sales, I have Make An Offer on all items, and I have promoted those items at $100 or more.  What am I missing?  Is it time to go to Ruby Lane, Facebook Marketplace - I don't know?  I have been on eBay for 18 years.  What are your thoughts?

[soh.maryl]

Not setting myself up as any kind of an expert, but, think back to last year at this time.  We were just tiptoeing cautiously into returning out again, going to local stores etc.  Now I believe we are more courageous in regard to shopping and are actually going out and shopping at B&M businesses.  This could account for some of the downturn, just a suggestion.  

[geraldbell]

I agree.  For the past two years, we were selling and shipping over 60 items a week.  Now sales are almost non-existent.    So, when we started just selling 30 items a week, I felt it was attributed to people being more mobile and feeling safe.  

[dnasilver]

So you slowed up a bit but still are selling better than most. People are busy springtime and last minute taxes. How does this time period compare to the same time period in 2015 to 2019? We would not panic at this point. 13 items in the first week and see where you stand after the week ends today. Would not panic if off by 50-60% based on a few weeks.

[geraldbell]

Between 2015 to 2019, we sold between 2200 to 2600 items per year.  

[powapar-0]

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@geraldbell wrote:

We sell approximately 30 to 40 items a week.  Since the middle of March, the sales of dwindled...
What are your thoughts?

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You don't want to know what I'm thinking right now.

[heckofagame]

Talk to many of your smaller local retail stores. They are very slow right now as well. 

[aeparts1]

There have been a lot of threads like this lately.

I'm a curious sort, so I always check to see what the seller with falling sales is listing. In most cases, they have some, if not all, china, glass figurines, painted figurines, breakables, stuff like that. Forgive me if my descriptions are not accurate, those items are completely out of y wheelhouse.

I'm inclined to  think that those items are not as popular as they used to be.

[heckofagame]

The collectables market is down as the younger generations do not collect, so there is definitely something to that.