eBay

ci1000 · ‎12-01-2017

What is eBay doing that would cause sales to drop for days on end with zero sales and then have a couple of days with excellent sales? This is so bizarre!

I don't understand what's going on with all of these variations in sales. Not just yearly but day to day. It seems like the there is a tap that is on for a period of time and then it gets turned off. Sales are up for a few days and then zero sales. Is this just happening to me?

This is the worst Holiday season I have ever had on eBay and I would really like to know what the hel is going on..... Customer service asks me if maybe I'm not promoting enough......

nowthatsjustducky · ‎12-03-2017

And not intending this as boasting, but more as encouragement for others to not give up and also to further illustrate my approach to selling, here is what I have staged for packaging and shipping tomorrow thus far...

Seven items thus far for a total before fees of $159.69. That is 3 Etsy sales totalling $59.85 and four here on the 'bay grossing $99.84. Not bad for being only 3 days into the new month.

Hang in there, people. It is still possible for the small seller to not only survive by selling online, but also thrive.

If it works, sell it. If it works well, sell it for more. If it doesn't work, quadruple the price and sell it as an antique.

-- Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #80

nessas_nook · ‎02-04-2018

I think that you have hit on the answer - diversify your venue not just the items you sell. I have just started using another venue as well as the eBay. Though it may take time to get the new venue going, I am hoping that between the two I just may hit the monthly totals I need. If not, I just may have to find another venue and have three 🙂

papyruspapillo · ‎02-04-2018

That first-and-fifteenth bit has been going on for ages. Just ebay making sure that there is money in your paypal account to cover your fees.

laurabeardsley · ‎02-04-2018

Must say I have serious concerns about how slow sales have become. Does anyone think there is any hope for this to turn around ? I have tried everything I can think of but it just seems to be a steady decline. Only very specialized things seem to be selling no matter how much I lower the prices. Do not know if things are not being seen or just there is no interest anymore.

sodelight · ‎02-04-2018

wrote:
I have noticed the bump in sales around the time "Fees" are due.......
?????.
I am Struggling to make ends meet.....E-Bay makes sure their ends meet!!
Over a MILLION buyers out there ,,,,,,come on E-Bay, lets us make our ends meet!!!

There's over 20 million sellers here and well over a Billion items listed. It's simply not feasible for all these sellers to have daily sales. The number of active users ebay counts INCLUDE sellers, many of which have numerous accounts. There are way more Active Sellers than Active Buyers! It's unrealistic to expect daily sales anymore on this platform. There are dozens of other places for people to shop online too.

Can't help but wonder what all these ppl would do to make a living if there was no internet. The internet is relatively new, while people have been making a living for centuries. Folks think all you do is come here, set up shop and presto, your able to make a living and pay all your bills....Nope! Perhaps, supplementary income, but as a reliable source of solid income, that's difficult for the majority to realize, unless you have practically no expenses. Not to mention you have zero benefits working here that may be offered by an outside employer.

ci1000 · ‎02-05-2018

Just curious. If there are currently 20 million sellers and over a billion items for sale on eBay today, what were the figures for a year ago? Actually, what were the figures for the last half of 2017?

If it's unrealistic to expect daily sales in the current market then why was the market so different 4 to 6 months ago? It wasn't Christmas and I had daily sales that I could count on.

demyan1978 · ‎02-05-2018

I have the same situation. I think the buyers are waiting. February is not good month. One yeare it can be good but this year not. Last year February was very good for me. This year only few sales.

chicboutique31 · ‎02-06-2018

you are not alone... i was consistantly doing very well all year round since i started selling 3 years ago and as of november, BOOM..my sales are dropping off the grid. i am down 50% which is huge and continuing to go down. i have called customer service countless times and made all the changes they guided me on and it still hasnt helped my sales to increase. im very disappointed as i really enjoyed selling but you cant enjoy it if you are no longer making money. Best of Luck to you

sumthinforevery1 · ‎02-06-2018

Hi...I have been wondering the same thing myself. I have been a seller for 19 years and have never had the problem like I've been having for the past year. I am extremely frustrated because I love selling on here and want to make it a full time business...but sales are never consistent! I've been trying to change my product lines, etc. and I research everything that I list. I'm at a loss...any advice would be appreciated!

Kathy

fuzzface50 · ‎02-06-2018

"What is eBay doing that would cause sales to drop for days on end with zero sales and then have a couple of days with excellent sales? This is so bizarre!"

First i want to say i Didn't read the other posts in this thread

anyways it isn't just here. I have the same thing at other sites including CL. i will have no calls for a week then you get a bunch of calls, texts and sales in one day like last sunday thinking it was going to be quiet because of SB but i had a busy great day selling.

So i will say it is just a coincidence do to timing, weather, what else is going on, etc.

Just like at the store, if you could predict when we will be busy or not we could plan employees around it. you can guesstimate but you never know 100% and quite often we are either understaff or overstaff at times.

ci1000 · ‎02-06-2018

Market fluctuations and variables are always a factor in any retail environment. What I don't understand are the radical changes that have been happening over the past 3 months. My overall sales for the 12 months of 2017 were down 8%. My sales for the month of November of 2017 were down 35% and my sales for the month of December 2017 were down 45%. In other words I had a great year up until November of 2017. Something has changed.

My sales for January 2018 were dismal.... down 52% and I'm seeing the same thing for the first few days of February. I usually do really well in January and February because of Valentine's Day.

What I'm seeing is not normal.

rschissler · ‎02-06-2018

wrote:
"What is eBay doing that would cause sales to drop for days on end with zero sales and then have a couple of days with excellent sales? This is so bizarre!"

First i want to say i Didn't read the other posts in this thread

anyways it isn't just here. I have the same thing at other sites including CL. i will have no calls for a week then you get a bunch of calls, texts and sales in one day like last sunday thinking it was going to be quiet because of SB but i had a busy great day selling.

So i will say it is just a coincidence do to timing, weather, what else is going on, etc.

Just like at the store, if you could predict when we will be busy or not we could plan employees around it. you can guesstimate but you never know 100% and quite often we are either understaff or overstaff at times.

I worked at B&M stores for 35 years and it was the same thing. Also, busier on the 1st and 15th of the month. papyuspapillo and others will say that is a conspiracy that only affects eBay sellers, but of course ignore the fact that a lot people get paid on the 1st and 15th of every month.

papyruspapillo · ‎02-06-2018

In the "old days", when I ran a profitable business full-time, I also sold on ebay, and my ebay income nearly matched the income from the business. That could never happen today.

papyruspapillo · ‎02-06-2018

What you are seeing in this sales slump is not normal, you say. Maybe this is the NEW NORMAL? Gosh, I hope not. Anyway, I am in the same boat. Whatever the cause(s), I think that ebay is finished.

pyrabluestudios · ‎02-06-2018

YES! I've had this same conversation with other friends here! You get a quick bump up right before your fees are due. Soooo nice to know someone else thought about this too! 🙂