This article explains a few things including increased returns and fraud that many have e

[glasser]

A couple for quotes since behind a paywall for most.

As Inventory Piles Up, Liquidation Warehouses Are Busy - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

"In 2021, shoppers returned an average of 16.6 percent of their purchases, up from 10.6 percent in 2020 and more than double the rate in 2019"

"The National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail calculate that more than 10 percent of returns last year involved fraud, including people wearing clothing and then sending it back or stealing goods from stores and returning them with fake receipts. But more fundamentally, industry analysts say the increasing returns reflect consumer expectations that everything can be taken back." (emphasis mine)

[fairdeal*lb]

Good read.. It's so bad now I stopped selling specialty tools all together here on eBay. That category alone accounted for more than 100k a year for us, (poof) gone. It's turned into the wild west on this platform. I really don't list anything of value anymore.  

[soh.maryl]

It seems like the statistics quoted are for all retail establishments and do not pertain to only eBay.

Am I correct?  

[fairdeal*lb]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

It seems like the statistics quoted are for all retail establishments and do not pertain to only eBay.

Am I correct?  

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Yes you are, e-commerce in general. I'm lucky enough to have a friend that owns a chain of pawn shops in Norfolk and VA Beach. He lets me put my higher end items on consignment in his stores, as long as it doesn't compete with his inventory.     

[glasser]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

It seems like the statistics quoted are for all retail establishments and do not pertain to only eBay.

Am I correct?  

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They don't but buyers and buyers and this behavior--late or fraudulent returns--on eBay seems to mirror the general retail environment. People come to these boards often complaining about people wanting a return so many days, weeks , months later. This is just a reminder that this now normalized US consumer behavior 😞

[glasser]

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@fairdeal*lb wrote:

Good read.. It's so bad now I stopped selling specialty tools all together here on eBay. That category alone accounted for more than 100k a year for us, (poof) gone. It's turned into the wild west on this platform. I really don't list anything of value anymore.  

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@fairdeal*lb This is a core issue for eBay. Their current antiquated checks--FB, MBG, etc.--are not geared toward the current environment and consumer behavior. WalMart, Target, Amazon can absorb this trend. They have volume and pricing power. 

[fairdeal*lb]

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@glasser wrote:

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@fairdeal*lb wrote:

Good read.. It's so bad now I stopped selling specialty tools all together here on eBay. That category alone accounted for more than 100k a year for us, (poof) gone. It's turned into the wild west on this platform. I really don't list anything of value anymore.  

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@fairdeal*lb This is a core issue for eBay. Their current antiquated checks--FB, MBG, etc.--are not geared toward the current environment and consumer behavior. WalMart, Target, Amazon can absorb this trend. They have volume and pricing power. 

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Agreed.. Because this platform is so antiquated. I have moved most of my high-end inventory to a chain of pawn shops. I worked a special consignment deal with the owner which happens to be an old friend. As long as my items don't compete with his.