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Where have all the sellers gone?

This might sound an odd question - I've been a bit out of the ebay loop as a buyer and seller for a few years until recently, but it appears that after the new payment policy a huge number of types of items/sellers have just vanished. I even wrote to ebay about this but of course never got a reply back.

 

Where has everyone gone??

 

I used to spend hours combing through page after page of truly unique and great antiques, wonderful coffee sets, great old vintage jewelry, odd brick a brack and I noticed right after the new payments I would type in a search term and literally come back with maaaaaybe 2 pages of items. Impossible! Click 'include description' and it's not much better.  I used to get pages and pages of listings and my sister and I could spend hours combing through pages in tandem browsing pointing out great items we each might like.

 

I know something is up as this is what is happening with almost everything I'm interested in. I honestly buy more on ebay than I sell, and I know something is not right. I seem to be getting more pages of ***bleep*** now for searches with new modern items results, overseas items, nothing am interested in. My thing is unique, one-off, vintage, antique, unusual, and ebay USED to deliver those results. Sure, I found some things tonight that are 'vintage', etc but nothing quite looks or feels the same somehow. Things are either China ***bleep*** being sold as 'vintage' or it's bottom of the barrel, -where is all the old quality vintage and antiques?

Has something happened to the search function? Have most of the quality dealers left? Are the fees now just too high (um yeah, I know that's a 'yes' but ...?)? Am I the only one noticing this? 

Message 1 of 83
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82 REPLIES 82

Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Actually your difference in cost is only $3.20 not $18.00 .. the pre-managed payments sale would have also included Paypal fees totaling $14.80 .. they had a 2.9% fee and an additional .30 fee.. so .. there's that

Message 46 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Yes! I am trying more the word 'antique' etc or just 'old' haha! Sometimes we want to find something unusual that another doesn't know is 'antique' lol as that usually translates into $$$. I haven't had much time to do the heavy searching combing I used to but def noticed the search is off and very much like linus said.

 

As a side note, am I supposed to choose one of the answers here to mark as a 'solution'? lol! I hardly ever post on these things and don't know if am supposed to do that or just let the darn thread run on lol! 

Message 47 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Are there other venues that offer lower fees than eBay and also offer as much exposure?  

Message 48 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?


@sortuda wrote:

Yes! I am trying more the word 'antique' etc or just 'old' haha! Sometimes we want to find something unusual that another doesn't know is 'antique' lol as that usually translates into $$$. I haven't had much time to do the heavy searching combing I used to but def noticed the search is off and very much like linus said.

 

As a side note, am I supposed to choose one of the answers here to mark as a 'solution'? lol! I hardly ever post on these things and don't know if am supposed to do that or just let the darn thread run on lol! 


 

 

There is no solution and it isn't yours or anyone else's "job" to pick one.  

Change the channel!
Message 49 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

many other selling venues available that are totally user friendly + not totaitatian like the current ebay policies - @0 + years for me selling but it will be ending soon !

Message 50 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Well 800 is better than one page but yes, that is what am talking about also, the small sellers seem gone of just random items they might have and or ebay is not giving them up easily in results. p.s. I know also what midi is  as was alive for the first go-round lol !

Message 51 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

There is life after/beyond eBay for unique & unusual things...

Facebook Marketplace has become a great place to buy & sell collectible, vintage, antique items and yes some of us even arrange delivery/pick up &/or ship our items to those FBM customers who are located out of our local area..

Message 52 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Yes, that is my buying focus. Used to while away many hours perusing other people's stuff, maybe I'll devote a few hours tonight and try to tackle this search thing scientifically...

Message 53 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

I also noticed this in looking for discussion topics, many from years ago and either seems it's new sellers or ? Don't know but yes, everything changes.

Message 54 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Ohhhh I will have to look at your shop if you are still open, you sound like a lovely person!! I hope you are well there also and long may you run!

Message 55 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

I have had to remove or not list many items because the TOTAL price people are willing to pay, including shipping,  after fees, nets me under $10 for the: acquisition of item, time to clean, research, take pics, describe, pack, ship - And then, whoopie, I get to pay income tax on what's left... When a $24.99 'free shipping' item, that you TRIED to get more for... Sells & NETS you $6 before COGS... When you are working for nothing... And, know for 6 mos, a Buyer can do a Charge-Back... It makes sense to set up at a Flea Mkt, take $10, and be DONE.

Message 56 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

@sortuda 


@sortuda wrote:

Ohhhh I will have to look at your shop if you are still open, you sound like a lovely person!! I hope you are well there also and long may you run!


Our resident grandma is a very lovely person and I was thrilled when I seen her post. I miss her I'm sure others will agree.

Message 57 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

The $15 plus postage has a Selling & Payment Fee of about 15%, the $15 postage goes to the Carrier, so, from $30, roughly, the Seller nets: $30. - $4.50 - $15.00 = $11.50 (before taxes) for 1) Acquiring said bowl, taking pics, decribing, packing, bringing to P.O.  - Easily an hour's work.

Message 58 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?


@genv wrote:

The $15 plus postage has a Selling & Payment Fee of about 15%, the $15 postage goes to the Carrier, so, from $30, roughly, the Seller nets: $30. - $4.50 - $15.00 = $11.50 (before taxes) for 1) Acquiring said bowl, taking pics, describing, packing, bringing to P.O.  - Easily an hour's work.


I know the seller's aren't making much on the sales.  I sell too.  I am not even breaking even on my handmade items.   No offense to those sellers trying to make a few dollars.  My point was that it is gotten too expensive for buyers to buy and sellers lose money.  No point in being here. 

Change the channel!
Message 59 of 83
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Re: Where have all the sellers gone?

Smart ones left

 

Dumb ones like me stayed !??? 

Message 60 of 83
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