04-13-2022 09:20 AM
I sold on eBay in the beginning and it was spectacular. Big business took over and it has gone down hill from there. I quit selling because I just could not make money any longer. I had to buy items at, at least 90% below retail and it was just a hit or miss if they sold.
They tried to follow Amazon’s plan, …….and it just deleted eBay’s auction type platform where items sold as they were without reserves.
PayPal came on board and then we had returns for any reason for used items. Everything changed for the worse. Not as described took over the platform and sellers started losing money right and left and then the feedback changed where sellers had no say.
I hope things will change…….but am in high doubt
04-13-2022 09:26 AM
I feel you are a couple updates behind in your timeline.
04-13-2022 09:27 AM
That's because nobody was doing online sales. Now everyone is. Nobody knew how to find 'bulk' items. Now, everyone knows.
The growth of internet sales in general has created changes. Change is inevitable in most any business format.
Blockbuster?
Toy City?
Buggy whips?
VHS?
DVD on it's way out
Computers don't even come with CD Drives anymore- everything is on line.
Full Service Gas Stations
TV Antennas
Sewing Machine/Vacuum repair shops
Shoe repair
Jack in the Box is now a 'restaurant? They got rid of the giant clown head at the drive-thru
Those that acknowledge that change is always coming and can figure out a way to make changes to work with the newest system/thing will be successful.
04-13-2022 10:13 AM - edited 04-13-2022 10:15 AM
@jacsonplace wrote:
They tried to follow Amazon’s plan, …….and it just deleted eBay’s auction type platform where items sold as they were without reserves.
Amazon discontinued its auction-style listings in 2001.
@jacsonplace wrote:PayPal came on board and then we had returns for any reason for used items.
eBay established their relationship with PayPal in 2002. eBay does not have "returns for any reason." Specific sellers may choose that option, but it is not an across-the-board eBay policy.
eBay has been around about 25 years now, give or take. You can't possibly expect a business like this to have remained the same for 25 years.
It appears the account you've used to post with has had no activity for over a year. If you're using this account to post with, fine, but if you're not actively buying and selling on eBay, what prompted you to post these comments today?
04-13-2022 10:32 AM
Blockbuster? Still have one in Bend Oregon
Buggy whips? Depends on where you live
VHS? Love mine
Computers don't even come with CD Drives anymore- everything is on line. Not everything is on line
TV Antennas They sure sell a lot of them on TV and I am in the growing trend to cut the TV cable
Sewing Machine/Vacuum repair shops There are at least 3 Sewing Machine repair and one of the larger vacuum sales/repairs shop located in the Greater Portland Or area
Shoe repair one less then 2 miles from me
🙂
Yes everything changes, sometime change may not be for the best of the people using it.
04-13-2022 10:49 AM
@jacsonplace wrote:I hope things will change…….but am in high doubt
Most of what you are complaining about happened 10 to 20 years ago.
04-13-2022 11:08 AM
What hasn't changed in commerce since the mid-1990s when eBay got its start? I live in the Rust Belt and, believe me, the changes in American business are profound. The changes have enriched some and beggared others, and those who have adapted live different lives than they did.
To discuss changes for any reason other than nostalgia or entertainment is to discuss how society and individuals can guide it and successfully adapt to it.
You say you "hope things will change." What changes do you want to see? Why? How could they come about?
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04-14-2022 02:41 PM
don't forget this change....
here in my regional area
the "door-to-door- MILKMAN delivery is back........
04-14-2022 02:51 PM
Online auctions were all the rage twenty years ago because it was new and fun and you could do it in your sweatpants and flipflops.
It was a novelty. Now it's last generation. But yes, it WAS pretty cool...
04-14-2022 03:12 PM
DVD on it's way out - I sell hundreds of dollars worth of them.
Computers don't even come with CD Drives anymore- I just purchased two computers with disc drives
Sewing Machine/Vacuum repair shops - we have many in my area and they're all busy.
Shoe repair - ditto.
Jack in the Box is now a 'restaurant? They got rid of the giant clown head at the drive-thru - yeah, I miss that dopey clown head!
Auctions and eBay excitement - yep, kind of yesterday.
04-14-2022 04:02 PM
In 27 years, name something that has not changed...............
04-14-2022 04:27 PM
As others stated all things change sometimes for the good, sometimes for the worse. There is no getting around the fact that the buyer is the one that drives eBay's marketing efforts. For a number of things eBay changed to adapt to the buyers wishes, demands and needs just like any other business does.
Some of the impacts to the sellers have been self inflicted by eBay. Too many technical "glitches" category changes, a list of prohibited items that grows almost every day, ad-hoc restriction of seller accounts............. The cost increases are partially attributable to eBay but not in total. They have a sizable workforce and infrastructure that has to be paid for and taken care of. Those costs are rising just like they are for everyone else. However things like shipping costs, the collection and remission of sales tax are beyond eBay's control. There is no question ecommerce competition has increased and things are nearing parity between ecommerce pricing and B&M stores. What the future holds is anybody's guess.
04-14-2022 05:11 PM
Just to back up my unresearched hunch of items as I stated diminishing
Shoe Repair Shops (nationwide)
100,000 in 1930
15000 in 1997
5000 in 2022
Digital Entertainment vs. DVD/BR
2017 DE outdid DVD/BR 4 to 1
2022 DE outdid DVD/BR 10 to 1
04-14-2022 05:22 PM
"I hope things will change…….but am in high doubt"
Your entire post is about changes on eBay. Yet you are in doubt that they will continue to change? Or did you mean to say "I hope things will change back to the way they were." ?
Things have changed on eBay because change is inevitable, and not all changes were bad for the platform. I agree that they made a mistake moving away from auctions, but sellers have always had that listing option if they want it. I do not agree that sellers have no say. Feedback now allows much more space to elaborate and explain one's views. Sellers never lost their voices simply because they couldn't neg their buyers. That was something that was becoming less useful, and was also being abused by unscrupulous sellers.
04-14-2022 05:25 PM - edited 04-14-2022 05:26 PM
Ecommerce sites worldwide.
1 in 1982
12-24 million in 2021