eBay

yesterdays_news_vintage · ‎10-08-2018

I have been selling on eBay for two years, mostly vintage finds. I am up to nearly 800 items in my store. I have 60 day FREE returns, one day handling time, 30 day listings (with automation rule to relist), 10 percent promotion level, and I list at least one item every day, usually more, although once in a great while I will miss a day.

I called eBay yesterday morning and they did some sore of reset/refresh on my account supposedly and it did nothing. I have had the worst few weeks since starting eBay. I am just really disgusted with eBay and I know I am not the only one, but PLEASE does anyone have any secret tips. I know I am grasping at straws, but this is my only source of income and I am trying to support a family of four. My kids are still too young to stay at home alone and I am doing this to avoid childcare costs that would eat my paycheck if I worked outside of the home.

I know my inventory isn't exactly high demand, but this is the kind of stuff I have always sold reasonably well. I do not have the funds to improve my inventory, shop clearances, or anything like that, especially after paying all the selling and store fees. I do have maybe a few dozen **bleep** things on there because it was from when I first started and had no idea what I was doing or what sells. But I also have lots of stuff that typically sells within a week or two. But not lately.

I hate feeling desperate, and I am painfully familiar with eBay's ebbs and flows, but this is ridiculous. I feel like giving up on eBay, but it is really the only thing that is compatible with my family responsibilities right now.

Anyone?! LOL. I will be forever grateful if someone knows a real way to fix this. Although I am sure many sellers have similar problems right now.

tiramisu41 · ‎10-09-2018

@tunicaslot wrote:
I have seen where many havesudden drop offs - but I wonder how many of these sellers have gone back into their listings and checked to see if they have UPC or MPN filled in or checked Does Not Apply - instant drop in search, is the item modified - checked y or n, bothered to fill in the item specifics. In T-shirts alone - they ask about fit, neckline, length ect.... Sweatshirts - they want to know all of the above as well as closure and activity. The more you fill in the better your search placement. It's a daunting task but I've noticed results.

Couldn't agree more, @tunicaslot. Instead of relisting my items this last time through the Bulk Editor I went through a looked at every single one. I was amazed at how many of my vintage items didn't have the UPC field filled in with "Does Not Apply." But then again, I'm not surprised. When these items were first listed, that field wasn't present or wasn't required. So, every time I "rolled them over" via Bulk Editing, I never saw that field was blank (nor unfortunately, did eBay send me an error message).

I also found due to one of the infamous eBay glitches, some of my items were missing photos which I wouldn't have realized otherwise as the primary photo was still showing up when viewing my Actives list. It's a pain in the patootie, but it doesn't hurt to actually go into your listings and take a look around every so often, especially when there have been changes made to "the system" by eBay -- not all of these changes are reliably applied to your listings and can hurt your visibility/sales.

tiramisu41 · ‎10-09-2018

@yesterdays_news_vintage wrote:
So we are really expected to pay to dry clean leather, silk, wool, other delicate fabrics and antique clothing? I always just considered myself the middleman between second hand sources and the buyer, as in: this is how I found it, and you can deal with the rest! It isn't like I am dragging clothes out of a dirty laundry hamper. Most of this stuff has been hanging in a closet for 50 years. Lol. It's enough I am out driving around searching for this stuff, and all the handling involved. I feel the buyer is basically paying for that service to find something that is hard or impossible to find elsewhere. For me, adding that extra expense and time of cleaning items that can't be washed at home just wouldn't be worth it for me to make 20 bucks minus all the selling fees and cost of item and gas money and supplies. That said, any items that I am able to safely wash at home in a washing machine, I do. Oh well.

All depends on your perspective @yesterdays_news_vintage. If you don't want to clean such items and avoid a higher return rate when your buyers get them and are not pleased, then I just wouldn't sell that sort of thing.

If you do want to sell such items, have some special pieces that you know have appeal, then IMO it's definitely worth the investment. Case in point, a couple of years ago I sold a pair of silk Korean War-era pajamas and a elaborate quilted bed jacket from Japan both which I had dry-cleaned before listing. The cleaning cost me about $30 and the ROI was more than ten times that.

Had I left the pajamas in particular as I had found them -- brand-new, stored away for 75 years, but had some water stains which is not uncommon for silk, I guarantee you I wouldn't have gotten more than twenty-five bucks if I was able to sell them at all. The vintage shops which bought the two lots turned around and sold them for over $1,000.

However, it sounds as though your business model leans more toward seeking a quick turn-over with little/no investment. Nothing wrong with that, but if that's the case, I wouldn't get into trying to sell vintage/delicate items that need or should be dry-cleaned/hand-washed before resale. There's plenty of other stuff out there to sell instead that is less "hassle" and you'd do better on selling volume over fewer, higher-quality/maintenance pieces which it appears for the most part is what you're doing already.

abfabvintage · ‎10-09-2018

@tunicaslot

Don't laugh, my listing program (and I think ebay) max for IS is 21. I get error messages when I hit over 21. Overkill? Maybe. but other than offering up your first born, will try everything.

I ain't got the brains to make this up (Fantastic Beasts)

tunicaslot · ‎10-09-2018

Just watching a vlogger - I haven't watched before - they changed things up and have seen a 71% increase in sales since last month. He stopped GTC, has starting running sales after 14 days, stopped free shipping and now charges for it but did enroll in Free Returns. He's a clothing seller.

I went back to free shipping - but expcept for larger items - where buyers look at the ship costs and are turned off as they have no idea what shipping costs these days - I'm starting reverting back to buyer pays shipping. It's a try it and see change - may not work for me but we'll see.

yesterdays_news_vintage · ‎10-09-2018

In two years, I've never had an item returned because of vintage odors, stains, or being "dirty". I have never even had a buyer message me about this to complain, or receive negative feedback. I think that is why the blurb helps, but I can see how it might be a turnoff.

I think what everyone is telling me is I might have MORE sales if I put more time and energy into making them clean and fresh and make that known in the listings. That may be true. 🙂 I have to consider the cost/benefit in doing so. I'm not sure sales would increase that much, but maybe I am underestimating the issue. I could be missing out on all kinds of potential buyers for all I know!

I spend between $1 and $5 on a vintage piece of clothing. They usually sell between $10 and $30, depending on the item, of course. Other pieces, like certain Gunne Sax dresses, will sell for twice that. Several of my buyers have bought vintage dresses from me to use as wedding gowns. Vintage clothing is a huge part of our sales. While I don't consider myself an expert at all, I have learned what does and doesn't sell, and I am still learning. That inventory is very important for my income.

I will look into the Woolite system, however, I am very sensitive to perfumes and chemicals and I know many others are as well. Plus the cost of the sheets. Bleh.

yesterdays_news_vintage · ‎10-09-2018

I watch and try all the video tips from fellow eBay sellers. I stopped GTC as well. I also stopped free shipping, with a few exceptions, but I do have current listings with free shipping.

You are right, some buyers have no idea how much shipping costs. I am in Missouri and anything shipped to CA over a pound is minimum $9.00. I try to shove things in padded flat rate envelopes when I can.

I've gone back and forth between free shipping and not free shipping on first class shipping. I have never noticed a difference in sales at all. It seems to be an impossible question to answer - does a lower price plus shipping appeal more than a higher price and free shipping?

I have tried so many changes over the years, I am starting to believe there is absolutely NO rhyme or reason to any of this and everybody has their own ideas and some things work for some and not for others. Just like life in general! lol

tunicaslot · ‎10-09-2018

I do launder my clothing - but there are some spots/stains - that don't come out in the wash. Rather than ruin an item ( and I have done that by trying to remove a stain ) I describe it in the description and condition box. If it's popular - it still sells. If a shirt is missing a button - I just mention it. If stitching is loose - I just mention it. There is one vlogger in particular that doesn't do anything with the price tag residue or marks an item may have - she notes it in the listing and her sales are great. For her - time is money and if she spends 1/2 hr cleaning an item - just to get $10 more - is it worth it? To some yes - to her no.

zamo-zuan · ‎10-09-2018

@tunicaslot wrote:
Just watching a vlogger - I haven't watched before - they changed things up and have seen a 71% increase in sales since last month. He stopped GTC, has starting running sales after 14 days, stopped free shipping and now charges for it but did enroll in Free Returns. He's a clothing seller.

I went back to free shipping - but expcept for larger items - where buyers look at the ship costs and are turned off as they have no idea what shipping costs these days - I'm starting reverting back to buyer pays shipping. It's a try it and see change - may not work for me but we'll see.

Please keep the forum informed on how it goes!

I think us sellers need to keep communicating as to what actually works and what doesn't, in each new eBay update.

Personally, I have found that free returns has been giving a boost since June, and the biggest improvements we've seen beyond that was actually getting our items added to the new catalog. The catalog DOES improve your visibility, even if your category is not one where the catalog is mandatory yet. Despite what many may say. By our sales graphs alone, you can easily pinpoint at which date our items were added to the catalog finally.

Free Shipping has given a boost, as long as the shipping is not significantly higher than the price of your item.

EBay's search does NOT consider all aspects of shipping to decide which is "better". Basically it just looks at price, and then for things like free shipping/returns/etc, it "boosts" you up the list a bit.

So if you have a $5 item with $12 shipping, and try to have a free shipping item for $17... your price will be so much higher you won't be competitive, even with the "boost" from free shipping/returns/etc.

Stopping GTC does help, but at the same time, can be detrimental if you have an actual team or time dedicated to marketing. New listings have a decent boost. No history is better than a poor performing history, but at the same time, GTC with a stellar history outperforms any newly listed items.

abfabvintage · ‎10-09-2018

@yesterdays_news_vintage

Hi, again. Your comment about using Woolite At Home Dry Cleaner and chemicals. That is why I put in the listing what I am using to refresh/clean vintage pre-owned items. I will not go into what "chemicals" the product uses. If a buyer is allergic to whatever, I leave it up to them to decide to google the ingredients. If I have to go that route and identify every nuance, then it isn't worth it.

BUT, if it makes you more comfortable using that product, there is a Q & A on the product brochure (or google the product) that says in laymen language: "environmentally safe and nontoxic. Does not contain Phosphates, Perc or Trich which is used by some dry cleaners." This Woolite product (not like the Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret, do not buy that) is safe for Silk, Rayon, Cotton, Cashmere, Wool, Nylon, Linen, Poly, Acetate, other synthetics. Do not use on fur, leather, suede or velvet. Now, if it is cotton velvet, I have used it and no adverse effects.

Of course, for the silks I would test at the hem but I have cleaned using this and no spotting, no damage. I, too, have a lot of 70's Gunne Sax. Usually turning them inside out and for a short spin, they come out wrinkle free and not spotted, but you have to test the fabric first.

P.S. I do not own stock in the Woolite company lololol. I have tried Dry-El, costs a lot and doing the bag thing is tedious. So for 20 minutes in your dryer it is worth it. Again, you will still get those who don't understand vintage and come up with a smell scenario, but to me most of them use the smell as an excuse for not fitting, or just didn't like. I rest my vintage case.

I ain't got the brains to make this up (Fantastic Beasts)

abfabvintage · ‎10-09-2018

@tunicaslot

I am supposed to be taking a long awaited Nap lol. But once I list an item as newly listed (always, never a relist), I get the first 1 Bot, then 2 Bots=3. It sits there for maybe 2 days (even if I keep accessing it). So the Bot thing goes through at least 3 for I guess their indexing.

I ain't got the brains to make this up (Fantastic Beasts)

abfabvintage · ‎10-09-2018

@zamo-zuan

I love love your succinct posts. You should be hired by eBay lol. Really.

But with true vintage, that catalogue is a death knell right now until they figure out where to put US. Doesn't work, will never work. And not being seen in Search unless, as a vintage seller, you start adding in NEW like vitamin bottles and such.

And as I said on other posts, there is no eBay advertising going on related to collectibles, i.e. pottery, vintage clothing, vintage collectibles. Not in any TV Ads, not on the main page, no where on this site. I don't care if Millenials don't get it, that Boomers like me are selling their collections which may be clogging the site. What is clogging the site for search (although search doesnt work anyway), giving out free listings to everyone and their mother, including Mother China, is not helping. And the new Seller Metrics. Just charge me an additional 2% or whatever and not do this 40% Seller Metric. Sorry for the rant. But it is what it is...love your posts.

I ain't got the brains to make this up (Fantastic Beasts)

zamo-zuan · ‎10-09-2018

@abfabvintage wrote:
@zamo-zuan

I love love your succinct posts. You should be hired by eBay lol. Really.

But with true vintage, that catalogue is a death knell right now until they figure out where to put US. Doesn't work, will never work. And not being seen in Search unless, as a vintage seller, you start adding in NEW like vitamin bottles and such.

And as I said on other posts, there is no eBay advertising going on related to collectibles, i.e. pottery, vintage clothing, vintage collectibles. Not in any TV Ads, not on the main page, no where on this site. I don't care if Millenials don't get it, that Boomers like me are selling their collections which may be clogging the site. What is clogging the site for search (although search doesnt work anyway), giving out free listings to everyone and their mother, including Mother China, is not helping. And the new Seller Metrics. Just charge me an additional 2% or whatever and not do this 40% Seller Metric. Sorry for the rant. But it is what it is...love your posts.

lol, thank you for the kind words.

Regarding the catalog, I do think that's one of the legitimate issues.

There's a lot of misinformation with the catalog, but it really does have an affect in search even in the non-mandatory categories.

This does have very obvious issues for vintage items. Or anything used in general.

In my opinion, "new" and "used/collectibles/vintage" should function like entirely different sites.

EBay used to be THE PLACE for used/collectible/vintage sellers. Now eBay is focusing more on new, which is a good thing in itself. But I don't think it's a good idea to leave all the legacy sellers out to dry, as they are the ones who built eBay up.

We don't personally sell used items on our store really (people don't want most auto parts to be used) but I definitely see why this could cause major issues.

It wouldn't/shouldn't take too much development investment to have them function on the old system rather than the new one. But I'm not sure if it's too late for changing the direction at this point.

But making catalog tools easy to use would be better for ALL of us, new or vintage/collectable sellers. They actually promised to have tools to add your own brand in "Summer 2017". Yet they are STILL not readily available and/or working correctly.

If you check the eBay documentation, it mentions a "Add a Product" to the new catalog button, that isn't even there...

rixstuff · ‎10-09-2018

Two things:

What's hot

What catches the search engine

You have a few items that actually ARE hot but there needs to be more detail and the right key words so that buyers can find them. and THAT is where the search terms come in.

Consider WORTHINGTON Women's Blouse MEDIUM

Should say Worthington Brown/Beige Geometric Print Sheer LS (for long sleeve) Empire Blouse M

Brand, color (pattern), style, item name, material, size.

Heres another one Vintage Women's Juniors Acrylic Sweater Little Lisa Hippie 70s Size Small

Girls Vintage Little Lisa 70s Colorblock Hoodie sweater S

Im a guy but I would never search for JUST mens pants. I can tell you exactly what size, style, color (wash), cut, brand. I feel ya - I sold a TON of clothes for my mom and aunt so I had to learn WAY more about ladies clothes than I ever wanted to know but you gotta learn some more and give details that buyers will search for.

VTG 70s Women's Gown Formal Dress Silver Sparkly Festive Long Sleeve ILGWU M ILGWU is the international ladies garmet workers union, it isnt a brand so you can call it unbranded.

Vintage 70s Unbranded Silver Formal Long Sleeve Vneck Chiffon Sweater Dress M

rixstuff · ‎10-09-2018

And I always like to do lots when things are slow. Put together several same-size (or same style) t-shirts and offer them as a lot for one (reasonable) price.