@orangehound wrote:First, thanks for all that ... if I may make a few observations ...
EBay's GMV is plummeting.
I'll assume this is hyperbole. But, it isn't true ... eBay's GMV is experiencing flat growth. It might be "plummeting" at the end of Q2, but not right through Q1. It is also very much under-performing. GMV growth of Amazon is something like 15%, and Walmart and Target and others are 20-30% ... eBay is barely the same as last year, which is an embarrassment.
Not according to eBay's own data on their report. Check attached image. Column on the right.
This is in addition to eBay's stock report which also admit to GMV dropping.
The search is directly limiting people and spreading the wealth to those with low metrics. This is a fact.
Yes this is a fact, but it is nothing new. eBay has been doing this for a very long time. eBay does not let the seller with the best prices/service/products get all the business ... they intentionally manipulate the platform to spread the sales out among sellers, even the little guys.
It's new that they are guiding to people with lower metrics. It had not even begin that until October. And it has became more prevalent since the Spring update, ironically when they claimed they would be punishing dropshippers who don't match the zip code, etc. And it has accelerated to a point that is unprecedented for those at the top of categories, where the top 10 market share is more than 1/3 less than it was in the past..
There's a severe problem right now. It's been downhill since Jan 2018. The trend took a tremendous downhill slope around 2 months ago.
I know things changed dramatically toward the end of the first quarter in 2018, but I haven't noticed anything different this year. My observation has been that eBay is using inventory-wide seller click-through rates and conversion rates to increase or decrease seller sales velocity ... I have this opinion simply because (a) as I've been able to get these number higher (through dumping product dogs, relisting, etc), overall sales performance has gone up; and (b) as I let one account go to fallow, these rates dropped and the account sales stalled, even though there was plenty of good and desirable products.
I consider you lucky then that you haven't experienced these issues. Nothing we do has stopped the drop, we've had category managers for Motors assess our account, they say metrics look excellent and they can't see anything wrong and "wish they had more information for us". Once again we're in a place where they can't explain the problem, and there's no department that exists to help this type of problem. Ironically, we were instructed to "Check the community forum for help".
Honestly, anyone saying this is normal, seasonal, because of competition, and so on, is not facing reality.
So, I tested this statement. I am pretty sure I need a 2012 Honda Odyssey coil (still testing).
- Your price for a non-OEM is 23.75.
- I see an OEM for 24.95 (I don't trust the seller is telling the truth about OEM, however)
- I see a non-OEM for $15.82, one for $16.09, one for $18.00 and another one for $22.97
- I see a non-OEM on Amazon for $20.16 ... the same one is here on eBay at $18.
I know it is only one data point, and it is probably silly of me to even write this, but I wouldn't buy at your price. I would likely buy the one I highlighted, or the one on Amazon, because named brands give me a false sense of quality. Your price is not competitive for the low-priced-seeking buyers of eBay.
Ignition Coils are not our primary category that we're most competitive in (engine mounts are).
Furthermore, Ignition Coils do not sell in single often, hence different prices. Odyssey requires 6 ignition coils. Our kit of 6 is $98, the seller you linked is $104.76 even if we add on their promotional discount. Their set of 6 is actually higher cost ($112.76) than if you bought them single.
Anyway, I applaud you for actually looking up information. But as you can see we are priced competitively.
@coolections wrote:Shhhh… please don't tell him that. It has to be Ebay as he is the #1 seller. His items are hidden by the way.
We're not the #1 seller of Ignition Coils. And further research shows that we are competitively priced as listed above. And you have personally been in topics with evidence of items not appearing.
It would be helpful if you actually addressed the things you've seen rather than ignore them. But that would make it harder to continue the abusive pattern of blaming things on sellers while you pretend as if you know sellers markets better than they do.
