eBay

dusabwl · ‎09-23-2021

Are other small sellers seeing low sales (and views) in 2021? I had a similar (lower) number of sales YTD in 2020 which I figured was due to COVID, but I'm 50% down from the number of sales (not $$, but that's another story) vs. 2019 YTD. I have lots of items listed, however I'm also seeing low views. And those with high views aren't selling, even with me lowering prices weekly. Not sure if it's my particular items, or whether other small sellers are also seeing lower sales in 2021. What am I missing? Advice on what I can do differently? Thanks in advance for any insights.

kathieskorner · ‎10-23-2021

I have one account strictly for books - both views and sales have declined significantly since the 10% increase in media mail shipping was incorporated into my listings in September. I sell primarily nonfiction and vintage books and magazines - try not to list what the likes of thriftbooks does. September was OK - October has been dead which is unusual - have sold nothing since 10/3 although one of my October sales was an $85 book. I rarely pay more than $1 for a book to sell here - as you've found it is not worth the time and effort.

kathieskorner · ‎10-23-2021

While I am sure the PLA campaign push is part of the problem as are the holiday shipping rates, I think for collectibles and vintage items the biggest problem has been the changes to categories and item specifics and whatever search algorithm changes were made to accommodate them.

My sports stuff account which was not impacted by the categories changes this time around has been operating normally - this account for collectibles has been a disaster when it comes to creating listings as well as when it comes to views and sales. I'm spending more time listing and editing items on this account than my other three combined and have yet to be rewarded with any sales since 9/26.

rosesbooks2017collection · ‎10-23-2021

Thank You. I appreciate your time. I'm hopeful ... and push away the distress. I dont understand. If people doing business here are not doing well, why would the platform be satisfied within management teams? I was hoping to upgrade and try social media to guide / link people to my store here. October always picked up until after Christmas. Not now. I believe the larger stores have the overhead to purchase more promotions and spend more money on extras to have optimum visibility. The algorithums are programmed to meet eBay's goals, not mine I suppose. I do see many more duplicate listings, listings without store names. Listing that are empty, without pertinent information yet they sell way more items then I do in a year. Bottom out prices for books. I cant compete. Even if I pay say a dollar for a book, selling it at 4 or 5 dollars doesnt make much sense, I ship free and the time factor. I could do okay if I had several sales a week. Thats certainly not happening.

respectfully,

rose

12181977 · ‎10-25-2021

I used to sell a lot but I sold nothing Saturday, Sunday or today. Friday I sold 1 item. About to close my store and take time off.

Anonymous · ‎10-28-2021

I have been.

dottie1986 · ‎10-28-2021

Same here! Very discouraging, especially when you spend so much time listing (I don't use a phone).

jade73 · ‎11-11-2021

WHATS GOING ON WITH EBAY EVER SINCE THEY DID THERE STUPID UPDATE ON OCTOBER 12 MY SALES HAVE DROPPED BY NEARLY 60%. I AM LISTING ITEMS THAT WOULD NORMALY SELL AS SOON AS I WOULD PUT THEM ON, NOW I DON'T EVEN GET INSULTING OFFERS ON THEM, SO EBAY WHAT HAVE DONE TO SCREW THINGS UP SO BAD, AS A TOP RATED SELLER WHO HAS BEEN ON EBAY FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW I THIK YOU OWE US AND ANSWER TO THIS ? OR ATLEAST FIX WHAT YOU HAVE SCREWED UP.

elevationmotorcompanyllc · ‎11-11-2021

Same here and now ebay has hit me with a 5% fee increase because of it so now I'm at the point where the profits gone. Shipping cost have risen added with the fees going up 17 years with ebay and now ebay wins no reason to keep supporting them maybe start selling on another platform that doesn't **bleep** you on Fees

kaylybon0 · ‎11-17-2021

blame it on COVID everything else is blamed on it

jnsocal · ‎12-07-2021

Same here. Sales have been very slow for last few months. NOT SURE WHY! Read a lot of sellers comments, It seems this SLOW SLAES has been started from Sept 2021 since ebay changes/updates categories ( I guess ).

Normally I sell 2-4 items a day and very consistent for last a year or two. Now we have NO SALES for few days which including the weekends.

Any ideas what is going on? Any help or hits are very appreciated.

sakic92710 · ‎12-07-2021

August to now has been awful. Random good days in between. November was the worst month since Jan. 2020. Sold enough to pay half of my rent, Should be able to sell enough to cover all of my monthly bills! This week looks bleak, as well. $20 since Sunday is just absolutely pathetic! Even the flea market is dropping off. This close to Christmas & people are not shopping? Give me a break! If December is as bad as November, I'll need a warmer car for winter??? 😛 Good luck to us all! 🙂

grandmasjewelry123 · ‎12-07-2021

I think what you are missing is the page may be showing up blank to buyers. So ebay records a hit to your page, but click through doesn't reflect the hit because when the buyer reaches your page, it may say "page not available" I couldn't figure it out, until I stopped going directly to my store. ( I know how to get to my store) and tried getting there the way a customer might view it, who doesn't know its there.

I have never seen it this bad. People are shopping. Ebay has serious tech problems with search engines and I think its under attack. There are some serious back door shenanigans going on to wipe out the mom and pops. We built this country. We have to find a way to fight back, and ebay has to fix its technical issues.

linus.hux72fe · ‎12-07-2021

I do empathize with all of you who are suffering with low sales. My sales are not as I hoped either and not what I was accustomed to as far as the Christmas rush on Ebay especially on this account.

What I did on my other accounts and am in the process of doing on this account is rebuilding. I'm taking apart the listings, remaking some from scratch, adding new listings, new pictures, rethinking prices, and the like.

As well I am listing elsewhere and having VERY good results. I could swear the seeming slow down in vintage and collectibles is only on Ebay but I cant swear that's a fact outside my anecdotal situation.

But there comes a time when we have to make some business decisions. We can't force Ebay to change its decisions, in the short term especially, so I had to change if I wanted to keep selling. Whatever argument you use, be it the update fallout, managed payments, the economy, the governmental administration, inflation, it still comes back to a seller's response to those things. I have literally barnfulls and buildings of stuff. I want to get rid of it before I die or the piles smother me. Therefore, I had to make some changes and see if I could make things work for ME. Dont get me wrong, I understand the almost comforting feeling of sharing and knowing others are in the same position. We all need that at times and without the snarky replies from some who talk without thinking first. But, for me, I wanted to pay my bills and sell inventory not fight a battle I wasn't sure I could win.

I now list several places, have an estate sale business, sell well on FBMP, and have the beginnings of our own website that is doing surprisingly well for a pair of old dogs like my husband and myself. That's in addition to working and farming. Not bad for a couple that is older than dirt. Do I wish I didnt have to try new things? Sure, at times, especially when I'm dog tired. But its what's necessary if I want to keep selling. Hedging my bets so whatever happens I'm ok. I know my solution isnt necessary feasible for everyone but for me it's a win-win no matter what Ebay or the economy or the weather or inflation or whatever does. Perhaps its coincidental or busy work but I cant argue with the 86 packages I took to the post office Monday. (That's a bunch for me!)

I wish you all Happy Holidays and a prosperous new year.