The Myth of the Election Slowdown.

[onefootflippers]

I hear the "Things are slow because of the election." theory floated every single election. 

You hear sellers who are extremely emotionally invested in politics continually floating the idea that other people are not spending because of the upcoming election. What I have never heard once was an actual person saying that they were putting off making mundane purchases because of the election. 

The huge majority of the population is not all that interested in politics and does not follow them all that carefully even if they do have their favored party.

The amount of people not shopping because they are afraid of the election outcome is so tiny that it could never be more than a blip in the data.

[selsa84]

I agree, sounds like another way to avoid saying what the actual slowdown in sales is caused by.  

[wastingtime101]

Night of the last presidential election I had a big sales burst - sales were non-stop for a few hours. That was pretty awesome. I'm hoping for, but not counting on, a repeat this November.

[fbusoni]

The intersection of politics and economic policy is a black hole for even the most sophisticated observer.

More to the point, one will never, ever be able to divine a new administration's economic approach during an election campaign because elections campaign are just that - campaigns.  

I've never in my 65 years met another person who said they were going to defer a purchase of a teddy bear because of the uncertainties of an upcoming election. 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Elections are just another distraction from normal times.

Many was the year when I had a great sales day online on Super Sunday. Back when I had items which appealed exclusively to women it was common, and my sales of items which usually sold to men were off.

Stock market drops, elections, major terrorist incidents, and all sorts of headlines distract from discretionary purchases, and some necessities too.

So do extreme weather events and riots in the streets.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

https://www.nationwidegroup.org/is-the-elections-effect-on-retail-a-real-thing/

[dirk12955]

What does a future election in the U.S. have to do with my 

50% drop in sales to Canada,  the UK,  and Australia?

[12345jamesstamps]

Some people are known to tune out during the election and politics in general.

I would say weather plays more into purchases than anything else...period.

We have Super Bowl...holidays...etc...etc...

Weather and power outages are where purchases can fall off...the election doesn't do anything...it's business as usual for selling and buying on eBay and other sites.

[bonjourami]

Thats the worst excuse yet that Ive heard for poor sales. Sellers would do better to consider the items they are selling.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@dirk12955 Did you read the article I posted?

The article basically reviews data and concludes that the run up to an election has little if any influence on retail in the US. 

So, my guess would be: the US election has nothing to do with your international sales decline.

[sakic92710]

I feel the same way about the excuse being higher prices for groceries, gas, etc.  The people who only have an extra $50-100 a week are not eBay shoppers.  A very small % are.  Not enough to affect the significant drop in sales some sellers face.

[animal-house-8]

Nothing slow about my sales, or the brick and morter stores where I live. 

[bonjourami]

Good for you, nice sold items!

[chapeau-noir]

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[pickapaper]

That "theory" has been around for every election for as long as I can remember...and I'm old.

I think it pertained more to large purchases like houses or cars rather than small or everyday purchases; things that might be affected by interest rates.