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@musicyouneed wrote:When the new Spring changes were announced I was sick to my stomach. I have about 5,000 CD's to list and this was going to ruin me. After I picked myself off the floor I began to do some research as to what other venues to sell on. I am now registered on 3 and selling on 2 other venues besides ebay.
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While I do understand what you're saying and why, I still believe that on eBay, adapting is the key, meaning adapting so that a seller is going with the flow rather than against it (i.e. going against the flow by sticking with previously tried-and-true methods even in the face of lessening success). Those sellers will lose ground and ultimately be left behind (or have to go elsewhere, where they get lower market exposure).
I think we all have to continually evaluate what is working and why, what isn't working and why not, and try to see eBay's "big picture" -- as opaque as they keep it -- so we can keep moving in the same direction. Change is always hard, but it's often the best option here. Of course, one way of adapting is not to keep all your eggs in one basket (certainly a legitimate strategy), but there are other strategies to make eBay work better for you too.
As I said above, it seems to me that eBay is morphing toward a consistent "look" on their site, i.e. primarily storefronts. As eBay encourages more and more sellers to move to storefronts, the non-store owners will eventually find themselves falling behind. I don't like to repeat myself, but in this case it's significant -- my own experience as a buyer tells me that non-store listings are not as attractive, nor as accessible as store listings -- especially if a store seller uses the store categories properly. This factor in itself might account for depressed sales for a non-store owner.
The other key thing to consider about stores, and that so many sellers overlook completely by being focused only on the costs of fees, are all the valuable intangibles that come with having a store. I know I've said this before too, but my view is that if even one of those features creates one extra sale per month, my store is paid for! The fact is that without a store, I think I'd be a dead duck by now.
Just a few examples, for those who are still skeptical. I use:
1) Store subscriber lists (regularly) to promote sales, new products, etc. etc.;
2) Ominiture stats (to determine who is buying what and why, and adapt my items to demand). This is absolutely critical information, if you make proper use of it;
3) Logos and branding on storefront, invoices, parcel inserts, packing slips, etc. (to encourage recognition and repeat business -- I know from my stats that many customers now search by my store name);
4) Promotion boxes (for special announcements, promotional deals, etc.);
5) Store pages (to tell customers a little bit about me and my process;
6) Store categories (very customizable, to direct buyers where you want them to be able to go);
and many more (I'm not giving away all my marketing tips, sorry).
Some sellers have items that are particularly amenable to marketing with "branding" or "recognition" features, and those are the ones that I think would be able to make the best use of having a store.
I just don't see the point in bucking the trend anymore, now that eBay is leaning in the direction of storefronts and giving us a lot of marketing and promotional features to with them. As I said (again), in the "real" corporate world, companies pay enormous sums to purchase non-tangibles like branding, customer lists, logos, advertising rights, etc. etc. There's a good reason that is so -- it works.
"Ominiture stats (to determine who is buying what and why, and adapt my items to demand). This is absolutely critical information, if you make proper use of it; "
Unfortunately, this important feature is being phased out by eBay in June
Please take a look at this thread from last week:
You should have received the same message from eBay last week.
I see the emphasis as:.. Later this year,... (whenever that is)
@rose-dee wrote:
@pierrelebel wrote:
You should have received the same message from eBay last week.
Interestingly (or should I say disturbingly), I did not. And I do have my preferences set to receive updates and promotional emails from eBay.
This isn't the first time eBay's message system has failed in this regard.
Haha, I just finally got the email this evening. LOL. Pierre, you must be on eBay's priority messaging list somehow.
Anyway, better late than never I suppose.
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