Why does Ebay keep asking me to reduce a price over and over again when it does not sell?

[detur3926]

I have listed for 24 years now - and this last couple of years have been a disaster with selling.  Many times (and my prices are probably the lowest of anyone) I list an item and it does not sell - so Ebay tells me to reduce it by 1.00 or 2.00 or 3.00 or even 5.00.  I do this many times over.  Then i dont sell it the second time so they ask me to reduce it again and again - I may as well put it in the trash ... yes shipping fees are very high in the entire world now - but if I have to sell an item for $5.00 and shipping is $20.00 nobody will buy it because of the shipping charges... i have been told by ebay employees on a few occassions that i should put the item price low and charge high shipping???  this is not the way to do business..at all.  I have tried everything - i was selling for example  Lovely china cups and saucers at list of 10.99 - 14.00 or 15.00 and could never even sell them at all - and finally put them down to $6.95 and sold one - the rest i gave away to somebody.  Ebay really is confusing sellers and buyers both to no ends.  It is not a good thing to keep changing your rules -regulations - etc... who can remember all of this stuff..... make it simple like it was years back and only small changes ... i am really appalled at all these changes and cannot figure out half the time what i can do and have to call or chat online and many times do not get a straight answer at all.  I have a lot of items to sell on here but will soon end my relationship with Ebay after my 24 years as it is insane the way you have to guess and keep on contacting Ebay online or phone and then get no firm answers... or they keep passing the call on to someone else... 

Sad indeed to something that could be even something bigger.... i am a senior and lost to no end.

F D

[releasethekraken_1 · Accepted solution]

Selling low-priced items with high shipping cost is a terrible business plan for this platform. $10 plus $20 shipping costs you $4+ in fees.

[luckythewinner]

Why does Ebay keep asking me to reduce a price over and over again when it does not sell?

Because eBay knows that a smaller fee is better than no fee. 

[collectfest]

The sad reality is some items that could be sold on eBay in the past no longer make since now to sell. An example for me is low priced car catalogs. Due to shipping cost and what the market wants to spend on such items, it just is not worth it to me.

I see others doing it, even if the item was free, the most they could make is a buck or two. My time is worth more than that.

I've been selling vintage items much longer than eBays existence. I know what is not sustainable. eBay is becoming less relevant when it comes to some items as I see it. Not all their fault, they cannot control shipping companies, fuel costs etc. Some is.

Anyway, I get your frustration but I'd just let it go and do your thing. I am getting back to shows, they have been on fire for me so I'm doing very little on eBay. I also know time's will change and who know eBay may be a good choice for me.

I buy a little on eBay, quite frankly the sellers service has been awful including bad photo's, absurd descriptions with all policy and statements and see photo's/they are the description, unresponsive to questions, 

One thing is is for sure, I am THEIR (eBay's) CUSTOMER. If they cannot deliver, I will identify a different way or platform to sell on.

Take care

[jayjaspersgarage]

One thing I like to remind my potential customers is that every time they drive to a store they are spending money.  We risk having our vehicles damaged or broken into every time we drive somewhere.  We are literally risking our lives when we go out to shop for groceries.  I'll keep charging for postage and handling and for saving people the cost of driving to the stores.  Oddly enough if you leave a listing up long enough many items sell and the ones that don't make good skeet targets.

[north40sales]

because they want you to make a sale so they can make money on the FVF and transaction fee.  

[chapeau-noir]

You've been here longer than I have, so are two things I would think you'd know:

1.  Don't take eBay's recommendations on how to sell and for how much - you already know more about your items than whatever marketing intern or mail room kid who writes this stuff.

2. Demand changes - right now it's VERY difficult to sell china, cups and saucers, etc. to any extent (has been for a while, I think) - there's a huge surplus of things like that, no matter how nice they are. That may change down the road, but right now it's better to source other things.

PS: I'm also a senior - please, don't play the "I'm a senior and lost" card - you know a LOT more than you may give yourself credit for.  Do a little exploring and put your experience to work for you!

[stainlessenginecovers]

Everything stated in Post #7 is spot on. 

Ignore their 'suggestions'... and remember, 'Suggestion' is just that, not a demand. 

[dubiousgain]

Any more, when I buy estate sale stuff, I wonder if I'm not buying MY estate sale stuff. 🙄

[u_cant_take_it_with_u]

---

@dubiousgain wrote:

Any more, when I buy estate sale stuff, I wonder if I'm not buying MY estate sale stuff. 🙄

---

No doubt, the *dust collector* genre does not sell as well as it used to.

[*_forum_id_*]

I went to a local consignment store years ago and inquired about their sell-thru rate.

Their comment has stayed with me.   "Everything sells eventually.  The right buyer will enter store to make the purchase, eventually."     I realized that we can't put a time on 'eventually.'

Keep in mind this is for local stuff.   eBay items are available to be viewed by more than just local buyers.

Take eBay's suggestion as a grain of salt.  Your items are fairly priced.   You are in Canada so shipping will never be as competitive as US shipping costs (you are asking on a US site). 

[inhawaii]

Why does Ebay keep asking me to reduce a price over and over again when it does not sell?

That's a easy one.

They are hoping you will lower the price so that it will sell and they can take their cut.

[reallynicestamps]

but if I have to sell an item for $5.00 and shipping is $20.00 nobody will buy it because of the shipping charges..

So price it at $25 with FREE SHIPPING

Lovely china cups and saucers at list of 10.99 - 14.00 or 15.00 and could never even sell them at all -

They are $1-2 at my local thrifts. One of the tea shops here (I'm in Victoria BC) buys them constantly at thrifts and doesn't care if they get broken in their commercial dishwasher because they are cheaper than "restaurant ware".

"I'm a senior..." plaints?
Meh.

So is this guy.

[yuzuha]

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

2. Demand changes - right now it's VERY difficult to sell china, cups and saucers, etc. to any extent (has been for a while, I think) - there's a huge surplus of things like that, no matter how nice they are. That may change down the road, but right now it's better to source other things.

---

Yeah, my local thrift is always full of that stuff and it doesn't really sell. It just sits on the shelves.

[klhmdg]

dont "take" eBays suggestions on what to sell for...

Auctions are hard. I would price your items at what you want AND make them BIN not auctions.

A lot of people dont want to wait on auctions. If you do GTC listings you may have more luck selling.