Where are all the customers?

[movieman630]

Did somebody forget to put out the "open" sign?  Are we closed?  I can't support a family on this!  I've been working hard to keep my site updated.  I add new listings constantly.  I use promotions above the "suggested rate". 

Where are the customers?  They were just here not to long ago. 

Or is it just me?

Sincerely,

A man with 3 children to feed...  Including one that's only 6 months old. 

P.S.  Please fix whatever is broken.

[slippinjimmy]

Peak vacation time

Schools just about to open up (some already have)

Flooding

Baking heat

Olympics

and on and on and on.

I am on a whole bunch of discussion boards (not related to selling) that are as dead as I've ever seen them. Even this board has fewer posts that "normal", my email inbox is getting about half the messages it usually gets, even the companies that flood me with marketing spam (except for Temu and Groupon) are sending out a lot less.

Looks like you are mostly getting buyers for auto parts, people buying that stuff usually need it and need it now, people looking for discretionary trinkets are busy doing other stuff.

[714ricki]

Did you forget it's the end of summer & people are away, people are busy prepping for school, people ultra focusing on the olympics, or people aren't spending for obvious reasons? Just list your items, take good photos, have a fair price, & wait patiently......it might be a long wait in today's economic climate. 🙏

[kensgiftshop]

With school starting up, people are having to buy school supplies, which goes up every year.

[12345jamesstamps]

I remember it picking up the middle of September a year ago.

But I did promote heavy in September last year due to August was rather bad last year.

And I listed hundreds of new items all month at 2% promoted with little results.

[movieman630]

I've heard all that stuff before.  It really doesn't play a big part.  I've had years where August was one of my best months of the year. 

No,  Something is off.  Ebay messed something up with the algo.  I just know it.  I've lived through too many "update glitches" to not know when something is off with the whole show. 

Yes the economy and "routine slumps" play a roll but it's been a slow and steady decline since May.  The numbers show it. 

Maybe it's just me.  Maybe it's just "my turn" for the hurt locker brought on by the almighty unforgiving ALGO! 

[12345jamesstamps]

I usually will have 2-3 days with only 1-2 International Buyers and then it pops backs to 4 days with only Domestic Buyers.

Of course my 'repeat buyers' are excluded from this algorithm.

If I have no domestic sales I am on the International algorithm of sales.

If I can block buyers in a second who's to say eBay can't....just my own crazy thoughts.

This has been rather constant with my sales.

And I usually have 1 or 2 great days out of each month.

[powell-collectibles]

Might sound cruel, but better to get it through your head - eBay doesn’t care about your family, nor should they.  You can’t rely on eBay to support your family.

[movieman630]

---

@powell-collectibles wrote:

Might sound cruel, but better to get it through your head - eBay doesn’t care about your family, nor should they.  You can’t rely on eBay to support your family.

---

Well "Might sound cruel" thank you for your thoughtful insight. 

I've been supporting my family with ebay as my primary selling platform for over 15 years.  I'm also a shareholder. 

PS. Ebay SHOULD care about their sellers families.  Without us, they don't have a purpose. 

It does them no good to wipe out their sellers.  It's M.A.D.

[selsa84]

Every time eBay decides to "fix" the search and algorithm sellers suffer. One of their own higher ups even called it the "ad algorithm".  I'd bet money that this year there'll be more sellers who quit eBay than any other year. Here's a pic of my sales as of recently. Use to do a steady 1,000-2000 a week and I'm at 480 now. Not listing much or buying much any more, don't see the point. I use to purchase probably 20-30k a year on ebay but not any more. Anything expensive I ship it to an auction house where I know it'll be seen and sell for 10 times more than on eBay. Good luck to y'all and I sincerely hope ur sales pickup. 

 

[movieman630]

The "Ad Algo." isn't driving sales. It's literally stopping them.

The formula is simple.  If I sell 3k in a week...  Ebay is paid their share of that.  If my earnings are cut in half... So are ebays. 

I already submitted to the promoted listings plan.  I promote every listing.  I paid an extra 5k in fees last year just because of the PL's. 

Trying to force me to use the ads is ridiculous.  Now the crops won't be harvested, will spoil in the field and we'll all starve.  All because our "landlord" won't unlock the "toolshed". 

[selsa84]

The toolshed was demolished. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

It's nothing but the typical eb/flo of selling. Selling is cyclical and NOT necessarily the same as LY.

My last 10 July's have looked like this: (can you explain why?)

2014 $10941

2015 $10845

2016 $12995

2017 $7046

2018 $11088

2019 $5673

2020 $7236

2021 $9395

2022 $12754

2023 $10109

2024 $12910

[powell-collectibles]

I can guarantee you that every single business decision you’ve made over the past 15 years regarding your eBay business is based on what it would do for you. I can’t imagine that you would ever be faced with a decision on inventory to buy, and ask yourself how much eBay would get out of the transaction, and make that the deciding factor and what you do. You are out for yourself and your family – that is the way it should be. eBay is out for itself – that is the way it should be. You don’t care about eBay, eBay doesn’t care about you. eBay doesn’t have the capacity to care about you – it is a corporation. The sole focus is to make money for shareholders.  Your family does not come into the picture when eBay is making decisions. 

[selsa84]

July August and December were always my best months before this year. Summer slow down never affected my business.