eBay

allthings-collectible · ‎07-13-2023

Although I realize that titles like this will inevitably draw out those who feel that it's their duty to not only defend eBay, but even blame sellers for doing something wrong, then so be it. We know who you are due to your condescending consistency.

Yet, this year is shaping up to be the beginning of the end for eBay. What caused them to try to change so many aspects of eBay's front-end and back-end systems? Greed perhaps. Or maybe desperation, in an attempt to stop the bleeding of lost year-over-year market share. Their motivation to add PL coupled with a revised definition of impressions shows that they no longer care about sustainable sellers, let alone the overall effect on fair market values of resold goods.

This current system has only one outcome, which is to drive sales by price competition. This includes parading identical items with lower prices in front of buyers AFTER they made their purchase. It's no wonder why cancelations are up and sales are down. All of this ocurring during a time when eBay is losing over a million sellers each year since 2018, all the while it's competitors are gaining sellers and market share. The writing is on the wall.

allthings-collectible · ‎07-14-2023

Welcome, we've been anticipating your arrival!

"By the way price competition to get sales has been around since the beginning of time. I will lower my prices (if I can afford to) lower than yours every single day if possible."

I think you just made my point. However, in addition to lowering prices, eBay wants sellers to bid against each other for visibility. Since eBay is the only one benefiting from this, sellers are forced to sacrifice their margins to pay for it. That's not easy for most sellers who buy their goods to sell. Therefore, sellers can only give up so much, which results in fewer sales. The only way to sell YOUR item is to keep lowering your price, which will also drive down FMV, especially for vintage and antique collectibles.

allthings-collectible · ‎07-14-2023

Yes, similar to your account as well. This is just one niche store of several, including a non-profit.

Been at it since early 1999. I know my numbers well, and perhaps like many long-term sellers, its easy to identify trends as well as anomalies. From what I can see in recent months, this current trend has got some footing to it. Sure, it's easy to blame a publicly-owned company where, like most corporate entities, extreme greed is the driving factor in every change that is made. But when the livelihoods of millions of sellers are at stake, I will at least express my opinion.

windycityart4u · ‎07-14-2023

I think this is the million dollar question. eBay was a place to sell antiques/ collectables. You are brave to stay in the game. I think most people have just thrown in the towel and given up because there are not really many places to go. Try some local options such as auctions. They might help.

bonjourami · ‎07-14-2023

"Yet, this year is shaping up to be the beginning of the end for eBay. "

Its been a while since we've had a 'the sky is falling thread'.

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“Never pick a fight with an ugly person. They don’t have anything to lose.” ~Robin Williams

stainlessenginecovers · ‎07-14-2023

@allthings-collectible wrote:
Welcome, we've been anticipating your arrival!

"By the way price competition to get sales has been around since the beginning of time. I will lower my prices (if I can afford to) lower than yours every single day if possible."

I think you just made my point. However, in addition to lowering prices, eBay wants sellers to bid against each other for visibility. Since eBay is the only one benefiting from this, sellers are forced to sacrifice their margins to pay for it. That's not easy for most sellers who buy their goods to sell. Therefore, sellers can only give up so much, which results in fewer sales. The only way to sell YOUR item is to keep lowering your price, which will also drive down FMV, especially for vintage and antique collectibles.

This has been going on with Search Engines for over 10 years and those with Websites, trying to 'get to the 1st page'; you are 'bidding' for clicks.

It's actually a good thing that there is an avenue for a seller to get to the top; after all, how would you get to the top of 1st Page of something that has 5000 listings?

inhawaii · ‎07-14-2023

This "broken" ebay sight keeps depositing money in to my bank account EVERY DAY! 😃

I Don't Want To Live Without You. - Foreigner

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎07-14-2023

ebay reports its Q2 2023 results (that's April through June) on Wednesday July 26th. For those who might be interested.

dubsteesllc · ‎07-14-2023

This is a great read. Thank you for putting it into words.

allthings-collectible · ‎07-14-2023

Thanks for the reminder. I always tune-in to their earnings reports....especially this one! 😊

kensgiftshop · ‎07-14-2023

@allthings-collectible wrote:

Yet, this year is shaping up to be the beginning of the end for eBay.

Don't think it'll be the end of Ebay, but might be the end of a lot of sellers if something don't change.

Have a great day.

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎07-14-2023

@allthings-collectible I usually tune in to hear the numbers....my own interpretation of those numbers doesn't always align with ebay's opinions about them, but I like seeing the actual numbers. The other reason I tune in is because they sometimes provide some clues about upcoming changes, although lately they have been playing things pretty close to the vest when it comes to that sort of thing----possibly because they don't really have much in the way of upcoming changes of even modest significance.

mam98031 · ‎07-14-2023

You are a newer member of Ebay. How you started this thread is simply unnecessary and sets a negative tone for the thread. You will likely get what you asked for as there are others that are upset with Ebay for one reason or another. That is just a fact. Not everyone is happy about stuff all the time. It just isn't possible. But if you actually want to learn and grow, you might consider a different approach. There are MANY things you can learn from the seasoned sellers that frequently travel these threads.

"Although I realize that titles like this will inevitably draw out those who feel that it's their duty to not only defend eBay, but even blame sellers for doing something wrong, then so be it. We know who you are due to your condescending consistency. "

For the record if you believe that the seller is always right, that simply is not true. But then again neither is Ebay. Sometimes things are Ebay's fault and sometimes they are the seller's fault. If you can keep an open mind, you will learn things that can really help you to become a better seller.

As for "Greed". Ebay is and has always been a corporation for profit. Sellers are and have always listed here to make money. We are ALL here to make money. Why is that wrong for Ebay but not for Sellers?

I wish you a long and successful selling career.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

mam98031 · ‎07-14-2023

@cardxcraft wrote:
Inadvertently, you hit the nail on the head. You mentioned 4 platforms but there are many more emerging. So, you don't go to one platform, but as many as possible. Good for sellers, bad for the platforms.

One important piece of technology is missing and stopping widespread cross-listing: there's a lack of programs that can affordably manage cross posting: more importantly, when an item sells on one platform its removed on the other sites. There's one program that exists thst can perform this task, but it's not economical.

Not sure why any seller would practice this. Cross posting is so dangerous, not to mention against the selling rules on Ebay.

The only site that I'm aware of that you can do this cleanly and without risk of sanctions by Ebay is Bonanza.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

mam98031 · ‎07-14-2023

@windycityart4u wrote:
I think this is the million dollar question. eBay was a place to sell antiques/ collectables. You are brave to stay in the game. I think most people have just thrown in the towel and given up because there are not really many places to go. Try some local options such as auctions. They might help.

@windycityart4u

Much of the changes happening in antiques and collectables is because buyers are changing. Older buyer may be retiring or moving on to greener pastures so to speak. Much of things in these categories are collected by Older people. Younger people are not as interested in the same stuff. So your audience is getting smaller and smaller each year.

You may consider researching and finding out what younger folks are collecting as seeing if you can source any of that. I hope it all works out for you.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999