how to wind down on ebay

[keziak]

We have planty of people come here to say they quit ebay or are about to. Are any of you still operating here but winding down business? I am having trouble formulating a plan to cut back on Ebay to give me more time for Amazon (I sell books and media) as well as live a life. I worry that if I quit entirely I will regret the loss of the $X I make here a week. I don't know if I can increase my sales on Amazon to offset that loss. 

The pluses of quitting ebay are pretty major: more time for other things, much less of an "ebay house", possible opportunity to finally get caught up working with the inventory cluttering up the place. Probably the answer is starring me in the face: is all that worth more than the $X I can put in the bank from operating here?

If you are also winding down, how do you puzzle this out? 

[ednkarens]

Whenever we need a little time to ourselves we let all our auctions end and any that are not sold, we will re-list or sell similar and schedule them to start again 3 weeks in the future on the same day and date, preferably a Sunday.  We also end a lot of Buy It Nows and relist them for the same day and date as the auctions.  This way we'll have 3 weeks of peace to review everything we have and what adjustments to price or details we should make. 

This way with the above scenario you are not entirely leaving eBay and during the 3 weeks you have off with no active auctions or listings you can concentrate on taking care of yourself or other business.  AND,  towards the end of the 3 weeks if you need more time off you can always reschedule your scheduled starting date and times to a couple weeks further in the future.

[iart]

We're trying to remove our lower priced items. With new cost and shipping costs, we need a minimum of $18 just to be worth it. Moving up to $20 soon.

Removing old stuff. Anything older than 18 months now. Repricing, rewriting, recycling or putting in lots with similar.

Trying to lower prices where we have the room. Changing some from free shipping to location pays.

Dumping larger items that are a pain, and expensive, to ship (and to store).

This will probably be our last Christmas season as a larger seller. Unfortunate because once sellers get those 1099s for this year, there will be a LOT less competition next year. Oh well...

[ms.rodriguez*]

This does not make sense at all. I must be tired.  You sell, you make a profit, you pay taxes.  This is no different than getting a part time job and taxes get taken out.   I don't see people leaving ebay because they had to pay taxes.  You pay them and you continue selling.  

It's actually better than a part time job.  If you are selling stuff around the house and after all of your deductions, you do not have a profit, you do NOT pay taxes.

To the poster, gradually start ending listings and you will have less items and more free time.  Decide what to end.  Goodluck.

[lawnmowerpartsstore2]

If you are selling stuff around the house and after all of your deductions, you do not have a profit, you do NOT pay taxes.

As the IRS agent sends you a notice to come into their office to go through your deductions with a fine tooth comb....

But, but Ebay said

IRS agent says: no problem. We just need to see your receipts.

Seller: But i don't have any receipts any longer as it was just items sold from around the house.

IRS Agent: Well in that case, did you bring your checkbook because here is now what you owe plus penalty's and interest.

Have a Nice Day and we will now keep a close eye on your future tax returns.

Keywords: Keep all receipts

[chapeau-noir]

Increase your listing on Amazon and just maintain eBay and let it wind down.

[dhbookds]

to wind down.......I'd relist the unsold  auctions as fixed price and then stop listing.....let what will sell, sell.........

[greatmidwestcoin]

Good luck on Amazon.  My application was turned down as they stated they were not accepting any new vendors at the time.  Possibly that has changed.

[greatmidwestcoin]

It's not rocket science on how to keep receipts or anything else you may need for proof.  I use WAVE and it tracks every transaction from eBay and my business checking account. I can add additional costs and purchases for my inventory to sell. I can also add income from sales outside of eBay. And WAVE is free!

[keziak]

I've done a fair amount of that. In the doldrums here.....another question of diminishing returns yet Amazon booms. I don't even know why I struggle with this issue anymore. Maybe because I've been here so very long. Maybe I'll miss ebay? 

OTOH, I had just quit selling on commission which I"ve done for 23  years because the money is stupid. I've carved out a ton of time for exercise and now I am taking Saturdays off (mostly) after y ears of working 7 days a week, 365 days a year (you read that right, Christmas and birthday too). 

The funny part? All this change has  made me happier and healthier mentally and physically. 

Ebay  may  just be the next domino to fall. 

[chapeau-noir]

---

@keziak wrote:

I've done a fair amount of that. In the doldrums here.....another question of diminishing returns yet Amazon booms. I don't even know why I struggle with this issue anymore. Maybe because I've been here so very long. Maybe I'll miss ebay? 

OTOH, I had just quit selling on commission which I"ve done for 23  years because the money is stupid. I've carved out a ton of time for exercise and now I am taking Saturdays off (mostly) after y ears of working 7 days a week, 365 days a year (you read that right, Christmas and birthday too). 

The funny part? All this change has  made me happier and healthier mentally and physically. 

Ebay  may  just be the next domino to fall. 

---

Welcome to my life for the last 25 years of my career.  I couldn't even take vacations - it didn't matter what part of the world I was in, I worked through them while the DH went out to play.

The 'funny part' isn't funny at all - it's natural, you're doing the right thing!

IAC, I always sell where I get the sales and don't waste my time at places where I don't.

ETA:  I understand feeling strange leaving eBay after all this time, but everything can be done in an organised, step-wise fashion.   You can always keep your hand in at eBay, or return - nothing is written in stone.

[dhbookds]

Glad to hear things are going better for you...........   @keziak 

[keziak]

kind of you to say that, thank you. I am sure there are some people here who remember me and my long time of spilling aspects of my mental illness all over the board. That, and my crippled knees, are in the rear view mirror (for the most part) now.

[keziak]

Same here about vacations. Until I had a laptop to bring with me, any time we went somewhere I hunted down places like libraries to get online while away. Even when putting my accounts "on vacation". Didn't matter, there are always emails to sort and answer. We went to a wedding this Summer and you know I used any spare time in the Air BnB on the laptop. 

As I mentioned to my hubby, will my future self look back and consider that such behavior was unnecessary and obsessive? What should I do now to make future self feel I justified my life? At least now I can say I exercise. I've turned into an athlete of all things. When I tell people I swim laps for an hour 6 days a week I get murmurs of amazement. Still need to incorporate pumping iron though. 

[nowandthenfabrics]

You could just put yourself on vacation for a few weeks on eBay. Try the other venues, clean up inventory, and take a break. Then, sit down in a month and see where your at on the sales of other venues and compare.