What is going on with eBay?

[somethingneat]

Maybe someone in here can give greater insight to what is going on with eBay.  

I've contacted eBay by phone several times and have received different answers every time.  

But are servers down, is there a "glitch", are they throttling accounts? 

I've gone from about 200k in impressions a day to under 60k in less than 3 weeks.  I've been told that there was a "glitch" with my account, and a I.T. ticket was being submitted.  Called back to see resolution, and and have been told that there was never a ticket submitted.  

I list daily, submit offers, use promotions, "sell similar"  but the more I do, the worse the symptoms get.  Anyone have answers? 

[ten_o_nine]

This may help explain.

eBay Sales Down? Here’s How eBay Might Be Working Against You – Webretailer.com

[dbfolks166mt]

This may help explain.

eBay Sales Down? Here’s How eBay Might Be Working Against You – Webretailer.com

   One of the best reference links I have seen regarding this issue. Thank you. 

[somethingneat]

It's an overall eBay issue.  As I've stated to someone else.  I sell on other platforms and the sales are about the same.  However eBay has fallen off a cliff lately.  It's not one specific item or group of items.  It's overall, traffic and sales.  There is an issue with eBay, every time there is a update something gets broken.  The answer is most likely know within but they are just going to speak about it.  

[mam98031]

@somethingneat 

So is the only thing you are having a problem with is the amount you are currently selling?  If so, why would that equal a "glitch" or something on your account? Sales up and down, slow and fast, is all a part of selling on the internet.  It is rarely the same all the time.

Looking at your items sold, overall you are doing great and it does not appear that on an average your sales are down.  

IT tickets have numbers.  If you are ever told there is a ticket open again, always get the number.  But they never would have opened one for this complaint.

As we all know, impressions are not sales.  Don't get so wrapped up in the numbers that you can't see the forest for the trees.  Have you looked at your calendar recently??  Federal tax returns are due in about a week.  It has been my experience that this will affect sales until buyers figure out what their tax impact is going to be.

Be patient, you'll be fine.  And these slow downs will happen from time to time.  It doesn't mean the sky is falling.

[somethingneat]

Hmmm? 

Thanks for the reply but, I'm not sure how my message came across as the "sky is falling".  

There is 100% something going on with eBay. Either overall traffic, algorithm, throttling, or the overall system is broken. 

Tax returns have been coming since January, most have already filed and received.  I understand impressions are not sales, but when impressions are down, views are down and sales are down.  They all correlate with one another.  You can't make sales if you don't have customers.   

Looking at my sold, I'm down huge over the last couple of months.   When I pay eBay's high fees on tax and shipping, plus pay for a "store" monthly, and promote, I'd expect something in return.  

I received a I.T. ticket # and recited it to the agent when I followed up.  I've had tickets opened prior and had resolution.  

Thank you for your response but the eBay apology not is not welcomed.  If I make a mistake or error, I'll own it.  That's all I as eBay or anyone else to do as well.  

Have a Great Day

[mam98031]

When we see a change in our sales doesn't mean that EBAY is doing something right or wrong.  Meaning it isn't always Ebay's fault when are sales go down or up, it is just something that has always happened with internet sales.  There simply is not always someone to blame for this stuff.  It is just in the nature of the industry.

IDK if most have filed their tax returns.  Let me go see if there are any stats on that...................This link below says about 40% have filed.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2023/03/17/last-minute-tax-advice-for-the-half-of-amer...

So that does leave a lot of people out there.  It is fine, you have no need to agree with me on anything.  I shared with you what I have experienced most every year in the 24 years I've been selling here.  It doesn't matter to me if you believe what I shared.  You need to do what is best for you.

You are assuming all those numbers are correct.  And that over the years simply is not true.  Ebay frequently has issues with collecting these number accurately.

Just my point of view, but I don't see Ebay has having "high" fees.  Now I don't like the FVF being applied to the sales tax at all and Ebay is the only site that I know of that does this, but all the other sites have applied fees to shipping, even before Ebay started to do that..  You will find with some research that Ebay is NOT the most expensive site out there [likely closer to be Amazon] nor is it the cheapest.  But then all the other sites also do not offer you what Ebay does.  Some that want lower fees can find a site that will do that for them.  It is like to cause less sales due to less traffic.  But for those [not necessarily you] that are more concerned with the fees, there are options.

IDK Ebay apologized to you.  What did they apologize for?  What did they say?

[blue_opal]

I've noticed a decline ever since halo went live.

I don't know if this was an older change and I just never noticed it until last week, but when you jump on someone else's listing, it gives you bars of 'similar items, inspired by recent views' ect. This used to be about 50/50 promoted and organic. Now almost every bar is sponsored listings. Which would mean the only rabbit hole buyers are going down through clicking on those would just be cruising through the top couple pages of listings.  Thus dooming any listings that don't make that cut.

Biggest decline I've seen though was from the 12th of last month. If you click on your listings traffic and check the 12th, it's not there. Many of my listings have been in free fall from that date.