eBay

cb-boards · ‎04-23-2018

Let me preface this by saying I understand that there is not universal acceptance that eBay throttles their sellers; I respect the opinion of those people who feel they do not and hope that they will do me the courtesy of respecting mine and to please not turn this post into a debate about whether or not eBay throttles sellers, to what extent they do, how or why they would do such etc. I do not mean for this to come off as rude, I just would like this thread to stay on point and be an ongoing discussion amongst sellers who believe eBay does throttle us with tips on how to best deal and position ourselves in such an environment.

With that being said, I have a particular listing that up until 2 weeks ago, over the prior 3 months I had sold a whopping total of 5 of these items. About 2 weeks ago I managed to sell 3 in a 2 day period to different buyers. Over the course of the next 2 weeks I sold 19...about 4x the amount in two weeks then I had sold in the prior 3 months!!! This is not an exogenous event, I have seen these types of patterns so many times that I can not possibly think it is an exogenous coincidence.

It seems very obvious to me that if you want sales, you need visibility for your listings. In order to get visibility for your listings you need sales. A classic chicken vs. eg scenario. eBay buries the listings of items that don't sell and give enhanced visibility to those that do. I usually do a few things to circumvent this sort of throttling. (This example above is one of the instances where I did nothing to the listing as an attempt to illustrate my point about eBay throttling. ) But I usually:

1) When an item that doesn't have any sales within a 2-3 week period, I will usually cancel the listing. Instead of "re-listing" I will "sell similar." This way it appears as a new listing.

2) If my sales for a particular item that I have many of are slow, I will run a sale for a 3-4 day period droping the price to pretty much break even after I factor in my shipping, fees etc. While I normally don't like to work for free this way, sometimes dropping the price will drastically will ignite sells over a short time and over the next 4 days I may sell 5 or 6. While it is true that I may not have made any profits, however I:

A) reduce inventory

B) Now have several sales that might help generate more product visibility...so if I originally had it priced at $30 when it wasn't selling and lowered the price to breakeven at $18, now it might start to sell a little more regularly at $24 now that I have a little bit of a track record.

I'd love to hear from other sellers who believe eBay throttles on what they do to deal with it. Again, for those that don't believe in eBay throttling I respect your opinion but I ask that you please not discuss that here. I would be happy to discuss this issue if you would like to start a new post. I would like this thread to stay on topic and be a forum for sellers on how to best position our listings to cope with throttling. It would be quite difficult to add value to this topic if one doesn't believe in eBay throttling to begin with. So again, I hope my desire to stay on point will be respected.

thatsallfolks · ‎04-23-2018

@cb-boards wrote:
You are absolutely right this is a free forum and you have every right to. Never debated that.
Just asked for a modicum of respect that those who don't agree refrain from posting so those who do agree could try to have a forum where they can exchange their ideas.
But that is clearly too much to ask for.

How would one know if they agree, when there doesn't even seem to be agreement about what "it" is?

cb-boards · ‎04-23-2018

Thank you for the suggestions. I agree that if something is priced too low, it will be perceived as junk.

7606dennis · ‎04-23-2018

@cb-boards wrote:
Within the context of selling on eBay, I would generally define throttling as the deliberate attempt to increase/decrease the visibility of a listing.

In that context I would probably agree that eBay does manipulate the search results, often in favor of sellers more preferred in their eyes. However, I'm not sure that there is much an independent seller can do to combat it. Other than taking one's business elsewhere, what can a customer do when a business' product is no longer of any benefit to them?

It is the seller that is the customer of eBay since they sell nothing to the retail consumer. They sell virtual space to merchants that sell to the retail consumer. If their policies with regard to search visibility has made that virtual space no longer of benefit to the customer, what else is there to do except search for some that is. Perhaps one's own web site would be a better option.

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

cb-boards · ‎04-23-2018

There are tricks like I suggested in my 1st post such as cancelling a listing after a few weeks if there are no sales and then, instead of "re-listing" hit sell similar. I'm hoping that there may be more similar type of ideas that I may not be aware of.

candd205 · ‎04-23-2018

Good grief, let CB have his on-topic discussion. Quit challenging him. Maybe someone will give some good ideas as a result of this thread, if they didn't feel like someone was going to attack. It doesn't matter if you don't agree with him. Start your own thread if you want to give an opposite opinion.

7606dennis · ‎04-23-2018

@cb-boards wrote:
There are tricks like I suggested in my 1st post such as cancelling a listing after a few weeks if there are no sales and then, instead of "re-listing" hit sell similar. I'm hoping that there may be more similar type of ideas that I may not be aware of.

Frankly, I'm not sure it would be worth the effort to search for tricks to continue what could be described as an abusive relationship. If someone had their hands around my throat and was strangling the life out of me, I would seek the best means I could to extricate myself from the immediate situation and then avoid putting myself in a position where that person could get their hands around my throat again.

The same applies to one's business and financial life. Why would you want to allow that person or entity to be able to continue their strangle hold on your business?

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

mcdougle4248 · ‎04-23-2018

I only sell one type of item in my store, so this may not work for everyone, but if it is possible try this...

Have 10% to 15 % of your total active listings on Auction with the price being the lowest you can go and still make a profit or at least break even if it is something you want to move out of your inventory.

Once your auctions are in place, create a promotion for all of the fixed price listings. I usually have a promotion for a duration of 7 to 10 days.

Next, use promoted listings and promote all of your fixed price listing at the "trending rate" for the duration of your promotion.

List new or relist by "sell similar" everyday during the promotion period.

I usually get a small increase in sales during the promotion, the bigger bump comes during the two weeks after the promotion has ended. Does not make sense to me, however, it works every time for me.

cb-boards · ‎04-23-2018

Interesting. I might be able to incorporate some of that into my business model with a litle tweaking. Thanks for the suggestions.

dr.clockenstien · ‎04-23-2018

@jonathankirkland wrote:
Okay, I'll be nice and play along. But it brings up some questions.

Why would ebay do such a thing to small sellers? For what benefit? Who gains from doing such a thing?

I believe what cb is talking about is more 'favortism' from ebay.

The term 'throttling' just seems to be the popular acception from everyone.

I believe that it Does exist.

In my field, I noticed alot of the popular sellers gaining top priority for what is shown over my listings.

I have also noticed purchases in my field that have 'slipped away' because these same sellers somehow have an inside line to the products that alot of us (in my field) are looking for, and they get it for less, only to turn around and auction it for honestly three to five times the amount.

Also, there tends to be bids that skyrocket into the 50 count range for a small handfull of sellers, as opposed to the average 5 - 15 bids.

The benefit?

Ebay definitley has a lock on these sellers because if it works for them, why not give more of a nudge if they can get 10% of 50 bids.

Obviously, ebay benefits overall.

We all hear about other complaints about ebay not backing sellers, or not backing buyers for whatever unscrupulous reason.

Let's remember that ebay has one of the worst reputations for integrity.

What they can do, is push alot more peoples listings back into the crowd.

Ex. How many times do you see listings twice in the first three pages?

I know that it happens.

I never see my items up for suggestions when, I look in the same category... and I'm not even signed in!

The 'best offer' ploy is used only on new, or sellers with slower transactions.

Iv'e read excuses from the ebay team and even called them out in their lies as to why they defend applying BO without consent.

They wouldn't dare try this with one of their 'favorites'.

As for you, cb,

Iv'e had to reword my titles to grab a category that I can display more of my product than others.

This came a little easier for me, but I typed in all kinds of titles I could think of, and picked the one with the least amount of listings.

For you j. kirkland,

I wouldn't open with "Okay, I'll be nice and play along..."

That already sounds condescending, as if you were being merciful.

All of these passive agressive comments leading to provoking someone else to reply in a negative tone is juvenile.

They ask for your cooperation, and you all just dive in like a bunch of hyenas.

-

Enticing statements like:

"What do you mean by throttling?" and "you didnt answer the question" - if youve read other 'throttling' threads, (and I know alot of you have)

you definitley know what they're talking about

"Why would ebay do such a thing?" - Because ebay does not not even uphold its own policy for starters.

"I was just ..." - that's the opening words to any defensive statement.

-

As soon as someone tells you any disagreement, or, disapproval, you get upset.

Then comes the condescending questions, "...is it too subjective a concept?"

Yeah, you can say it doesn't happen but, believe me, it shows.

If the guy wants answers, and suggestions, why do you guys just give them arguments?

Or, just take your own advice and go to another thread.

reallynicestamps · ‎04-23-2018

Perhaps one's own web site would be a better option

Before we retired we had:

A brick and mortar store
Our own website
EBay
Bonanza
Zillions of Stamps (American Philatelic Society)
Amazon
And our own catalogued public auction which included online bidding (as well as floor bidding and telephone bidding).

One month the store would outsell everything. Another eBay paid the overhead. Another the auction was king. Sometimes the website was hot.

Bonanza was a total bust, and Amazon was too difficult - we were specifically selling scarce books there and they would not accept books that did not have any other sellers.

The only consistency was that everyone paying online wanted to use Paypal.

Even our B&M customers who were on a first name basis with the staff (we had about 10 staffers) did not want to use their credit cards online.

Over any given year for the twenty years we had this mix, the store was the biggest earner, followed by our auctions, followed by eBay with our own website bringing up the rear.

In spite of being well known in our specialty market (Basically Canadian stamps).

ZoS, AZ, and Bonanza were not very useful.

All of which means, sales go up and sales go down.

Look at your sales over a year and compare them to previous years.

Compare number of sales as well as value of sales. (Which is better 50 $10 sales or one $500 sale?)

Take the long view, because there are blips every day.

I have a nephew in The City (London UK) who is a currency trader. He makes his living buying money when it goes down in value and selling it a few hours later when it rises.

bubbleman2010 · ‎04-23-2018

Throttling is very easy to spot for anyone that has several hundred items listed for sale. Its been going on for quite awhile and when you present the evidence to ebay their response is so what? If you don't like it close your account. Since the second week of Feb. they've been dumping searchers in and out of grouped listings one day on search it might show grouped the next search it might show ungrouped. For folks who happen to be selling in saturated categories grouped listings are the kiss of death to sales...

cb-boards · ‎04-23-2018

You are correct. I did violate eBay's terms for these boards in some of my responses (as did a few others.) I was out of line and I apologize.

As I stated in my original post, although I disagree I respect the opintions of those that do not believe throttling occurs. I have seen far, far, far too many examples over the years to think that it is just a coincidence. Several times, I also asked those that disagree to please refrain from posting. I would welcome the debate, but just asked for it to be elsewhere.

There are people like myself, who make their entire living off of their eBay business. This means we pay our mortgage, and put food on the table with the money we make here. Again, I believe in eBay's throttling as do many others and wanted a forum so like minded people can share ideas on what they might be able to do in hopes of making a positive impact on their business. Unless you wanted to be deliberately antagonistic, why on Earth would you ignore my repeated requests to take that aspect of the equation (ie whether or not eBay throttles sellers, why they would do , how, to what extent etc) to another thread?

Again, your denial of the existence of throttling is duly noted. Several people, I think yourself included but may be wrong, pointed out that these boards are public and I have no right to demand others to refrain from posting if they don't agree. Agreed. I never demanded. I merely politely asked and offered to share my thoughts and debate others on a separate thread. Why repeatedly disrespect someone and jeapordize their desire to share ideas on how they can improve their business so they can put braces on their childrens' mouth just because you disgaree on eBay throttling? Pardon the crassness but this is the first analogy that comes to mind. Just because someone CAN pass gas on a crowded elevator doesn't mean it is a good idea...sometimes the right thing to do is to hold it in.

emerald40 · ‎04-23-2018

@bubbleman2010 wrote:
Throttling is very easy to spot for anyone that has several hundred items listed for sale. Its been going on for quite awhile and when you present the evidence to ebay their response is so what? If you don't like it close your account. Since the second week of Feb. they've been dumping searchers in and out of grouped listings one day on search it might show grouped the next search it might show ungrouped. For folks who happen to be selling in saturated categories grouped listings are the kiss of death to sales...

_____________________________________________________

If you are selling in an oversaturated category but insist on keeping your prices high, are you really going to be selling those items anyway or just taking up space on ebay?

Some are very insistent that they are going to either keep the high price they demand or continue to list it forever. How does that benefit anyone?