They Broke eBay - How Sad

[allthings-collectible]

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]

"Sellers, like me, of old stuff, do need to be aware of shifting market demands, which is a constant, but the real problem is, if you have items that are in demand, the buyers aren't only looking for it here. You can stay here and deal with a declining buyer base, or extend your reach to include other platforms and venues, in an attempt to do what resellers have always done: go to where the buyers are."

I agree completely. 

You are also correct in the need for "shifting market demands". This is especially true for sellers of vintage and antique collectibles. Why? Because the buying demographics are changing rapidly. The Baby Boomer generation of buyers and collectors are thinning faster every year. This is the generation of hard-working, far-sighted planners, who recognize value much differently than younger buyers who grew up in a life of immediate gratification and convenience.  I don't really see a sustainable, long-term market of pre-internet collectibles on eBay. Therefore, I'm already exploring "off eBay" markets. 

[traditonalproducts]

Ya know, it's amazing how often this type of post slams the seller site. All of the other platforms are thriving right? Google their numbers, look at the stock reports, and we are in a huge economic upswing, correct? The end is near, I better cancel my membership not for the fact that retail is an up/down industry. Collectables, they are down everywhere in most categories. Living expenses are up, selling platforms are trying different marketing techniques as some are good and some bad. You did not state how many sellers Ebay is gaining per month which offsets somewhat the ones leaving in a semi-natural progression. So what, I don't care as long as I am selling product, can make money, & be happy. Here is what I would worry about; UPS striking, expanding one's product mix, projecting better photos, and thinking outside the box. 

In your case, you have 26 items that are bundled into one category. Your chances of maintaining a certain sales volume every week is slim to none.

Lastly, when I ask a question here, I get a fair and equable answer. People have been good to me & I appreciate their honestly in trying to assist me with an issue. 

[allthings-collectible]

You hit it on the head. I've seen more local antique stores go up for sale or close in the last 3 years than I have in the last 20. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

I've seen many open, but most are not strictly antique malls anymore.....they are more often a mix of antiques, vintage, crafts, and, in some cases, stuff like pallet returns. And I've seen more "pop up" sales, which are somewhat similar to flea markets. Many antique shows----the real stuff---are actually doing pretty well, and have been attracting younger buyers.

I think the business is in flux, and I think certain categories or sub categories face challenging times while others are doing very well. And, continuing a trend that has been going on for years, the business is more influenced now by home decor trends than by a respect for the past or history (as always, with some exceptions).

Also, trends come and go, and I think the Internet has ensured that many trends are fairly short lived. 

But there's still a market for this stuff, and its out job to try to keep up with what is in demand (or be willing to recognize that long tail is not going to sell as quickly as the stuff that is "hot" right now. 

[yuzuha]

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@allthings-collectible wrote:

You hit it on the head. I've seen more local antique stores go up for sale or close in the last 3 years than I have in the last 20. 

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There are a large number of them in my area that have closed over the past few years. Yes, part of it was the pandemic, but a good portion of it was simply them not having the traffic to support themselves anymore.

And it's not a surprise, really-- most of my friends are in their late 30s-early 40s. Many of them have young children. They don't want fragile tchotchkes that they have to constantly worry about the kids damaging or breaking, and they don't want heavy furniture that is a pain in the *bleep* to move if they want to relocate.

[greatmidwestcoin]

I would have to disagree after being on eBay for over 23 years. My sales under my primary ID show my best year yet. It's all about adapting, being creative, great customer service, and value. So sorry I couldn't agree. Well, not really.  Have a good one!

[allthings-collectible]

Very impressive. Since your coins have limited sales, what is your main category? 

[greatmidwestcoin]

Bingo! Anyone that has gone to flea markets, antique shows(if there are any anymore), or anything to do with collectibles knows that markets and customers have greatly changed over the past several years. Not one antique dealer would be able to look you in the face and tell you that things are normal. For the most part, today's crowd does not collect. Thankfully, I have been in coins for over 50 years. There is a strong market yet for investments, metals, and coins. I guarantee that will be ending also in the next few years. 

[greatmidwestcoin]

Unless it's digital. 🙄

[greatmidwestcoin]

I highly doubt you could find just one brick-and-mortar antique dealer that could agree with that. I communicate with them daily all over the US and I haven't found one yet that has said things are turning around, especially in the furniture area.

[cardxcraft]

This is why I mentioned when the programs/software running cross posting get better, it may be more advantageous.  Its not dangerous if the software removes the listing from said platform once its sold. 

I really didn't know cross-listing was not allowed.  I also wonder how Ebay would police this.  I'll have to research ToS to see it myself.    

Thanks for mentioning this.

[chapeau-noir]

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@allthings-collectible wrote:

"Sellers, like me, of old stuff, do need to be aware of shifting market demands, which is a constant, but the real problem is, if you have items that are in demand, the buyers aren't only looking for it here. You can stay here and deal with a declining buyer base, or extend your reach to include other platforms and venues, in an attempt to do what resellers have always done: go to where the buyers are."

I agree completely. 

You are also correct in the need for "shifting market demands". This is especially true for sellers of vintage and antique collectibles. Why? Because the buying demographics are changing rapidly. The Baby Boomer generation of buyers and collectors are thinning faster every year. This is the generation of hard-working, far-sighted planners, who recognize value much differently than younger buyers who grew up in a life of immediate gratification and convenience.  I don't really see a sustainable, long-term market of pre-internet collectibles on eBay. Therefore, I'm already exploring "off eBay" markets. 

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Just because younger generations don't like collectibles doesn't make them inferior people. I'm really sick and tired of this gross and untrue generalization. Sorry if they don't like knickknacks, neither do I.

[greatmidwestcoin]

Can you site some of the new B&M ones that you claim just opened? I would think you should be able to list at least 4. The new generation of people with money today do not want family hand-me-downs or antiques in their new houses. The whole Midwest, East, and South are graveyards of antiques as I travel it every day. There have been so many flea markets and antique shows shut down over the past 3 years, you almost can't find one. I have been doing this for over 50 years. You may be in a unique area, but yours is not the norm of the country.

[chapeau-noir]

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@cardxcraft wrote:

This is why I mentioned when the programs/software running cross posting get better, it may be more advantageous.  Its not dangerous if the software removes the listing from said platform once its sold. 

I really didn't know cross-listing was not allowed.  I also wonder how Ebay would police this.  I'll have to research ToS to see it myself.    

Thanks for mentioning this.

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They can't, and I'm not sure where this myth started. I think it was a mistaken deduction from the fact that eBay does not allow a single listing to be posted twice.

ETA: They *do* have rules against negotiating a sale off-site and penalties for ending listings early for some situations - this is tracked through messages.

[yuzuha]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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Just because younger generations don't like collectibles doesn't make them inferior people. I'm really sick and tired of this gross and untrue generalization. Sorry if they don't like knickknacks, neither do I.

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And that's just it-- they DO collect, just not the same things that the older generation collects. I sell collectibles aimed at younger people. I go to conventions and see people there spending hundreds of dollars on collectibles. What they DON'T collect is stuff like Precious Moments or Hummel figurines, Thomas Kincade plates, etc.