15 Years and Holding My Breath...

[rose-dee]

I  realized this evening, à propos of nothing in particular, that today is my 15th year anniversary on eBay.  

I find it hard to believe I've been around here so long, but even harder to believe I've actually lasted as a seller.  It's not much of a celebration, since this has definitely not been a  good year, and I'm wondering if I can even last another 12 months.  So no champagne tonight, I just keep plugging along.  

As for ever getting to 1000 FB (which used to seem a reasonable milestone), well, with about 1 in 20 buyers leaving FB these days, good luck with that one!  

[fashionoutletdeal]

Congrats you will make it girl 🙂

[lucitabby]

Well done Rose.

I hit 13 years this past Sept - not sure how much longer us "niche" type sellers will last.  Not much fun here.

[femmefan1946]

How about a nice prosecco instead?

[ricarmic]

Hang in there!!!!

[triber]

I know how you feel, I am coming up to18 years selling on eBay next month, and the sales keep diminishing. I wish I could say "Hang in there, it will get better", but I am afraid the numbers of sellers is increasing and the buyers have much more choice.

[cumos55]

January 2017 will be 14 years for me.

and I have done very well  ... so far.... sales are good...  but could be better...

Things have slowed down a bit.... 

There is a lot more listings on eBay....  in all categories

I used to make a lot  money with  playing with the exchange rate US and Canadian dollars.

Selling on eBay keeps the brain functional....  always something to do

The books I sell make great doorstops....  they keep the doors to the brain from closing

I keep saying 3 to 5 more years...  but have not figured out when the 3 years will start

[momcqueen]

Congratulations on meeting the milestone. 

[lukey9]

I have been selling for the last 16 1/2 years and the last 2 years it has been a struggle and my sales have been going down and it some times it is hard to make any money for the work that is involved even with the good exchange rate. I had to stop selling out side of North America because I was getting too many defects for shipping and  lost parcels and since I sell only to US & Canada I eliminated that problem and my defects are fine now. I have a very loyal clientele and is what keeps me going on but I can see the end coming soon. I find it harder to stay to keep motivated now on E-Bay and it is becoming a chore instead of some thing I used to enjoy.

[bb_cool_stuff]

Haven't Been Around For Awhile.

Congrats on the Fifteen Rose  

[rose-dee]

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@bb_cool_stuff wrote:

Haven't Been Around For Awhile.

Congrats on the Fifteen Rose  

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Thanks to everyone who responded here, and thank you 'bb' for resurfacing with your good wishes.  I had actually been wondering whatever happened to you, as we haven't seen you here for a long time.  Your optimistic and reasonable voice has been missed.  I hope things are going well for you. 

[pjcdn2005]

Belated Congrats! 😊 😊

[amcdc79]

Way to go rose-dee, my 10th is coming up, and I agree that this year in particular has been brutal. Dealing with all the changes here on ebay, combined with the length of uncertainty regarding Canada Post, has left many of us simply drained from the stress.

May you have many more years of sales, I'm sure the feedback will come. I can personally vouch for you, as a customer of yours I can tell everyone, you are one of, if not the best seller I have ever dealt with.

All the best, and Good Luck in the future.

[Anonymous]

I wish Canada Post would offer cheaper mail service with tracking number for outside North America, so we can sell more than usual but no Canada Post prefers to gouge us!

[gifts_of_elegance]

Congratulations!  15 years is no small feat!

[rose-dee]

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@amcdc79 wrote:

Way to go rose-dee, my 10th is coming up, and I agree that this year in particular has been brutal. Dealing with all the changes here on ebay, combined with the length of uncertainty regarding Canada Post, has left many of us simply drained from the stress.

May you have many more years of sales, I'm sure the feedback will come. I can personally vouch for you, as a customer of yours I can tell everyone, you are one of, if not the best seller I have ever dealt with.

All the best, and Good Luck in the future.

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Thank you so much for your lovely compliment and good wishes!  I've seen your ID on the boards, but I had no idea you had purchased from me (I suppose it must have been under a different ID?).  

I have plans to continue to expand my line of pattern designs, but eBay is always pulling the rug from under my feet.  Every time I think I've complied and caught up with new rules, they change again.  And you are right -- with every rule change it seems to get tougher to carry on as before.  I often feel as if I've succeeded despite eBay, and as a result of my own persistence, flexibility, and resourcefulness, not because of positive efforts on their part to support sellers, especially those of us here in Canada.   

My biggest wish actually is that eBay would just change nothing significant for at least one year and let us all catch up. 

[rosscd57]

Congratulations

[katlover1952]

Congratulations Rose. Definitely a milestone. I have been selling for 11 years plus now & you are correct. It is  definitely getting tougher all the time to sell on eBay. This year has been particularly difficult.  Sales have just not picked  up since my store closure (due to PO situation) & it is definitely hit & miss every week.  I am not getting near as many views as I used to which am sure is a major part of the problem. Still I keep plugging along, trying to make changes where I can, & hoping it will get better. Good luck to you Rose. 

[westernstargifts]

Congratulations Rose!

I will be here 10 years next month.  It sure isn't as easy as it use to be but we keep on plugging.

All the best to you!

[rose-dee]

Thank you all so much, I can't say how much it means to me to have a bit of a verbal pat on the back!  I know I can be opinionated at times, but don't you have fun with my opinions -- one way or the other?  

So now, just when I thought I was on an even keel, with most of my listings moved over to .com, eBay has thrown us another surprise -- the .com cart disconnect has been fixed!  If only they hadn't removed $USD listings from .ca.  I would have stayed here and been ecstatic to finally be able to sell on a level playing field with my U.S. competitors.  

All I can say is that selling these days on eBay requires more continued courage, persistence and resourcefulness than most things I've undertaken.  Sometimes I miss the early days of selling here -- yes, it was a bit chaotic, but it was fun, and eBay itself didn't get in the way.  Oh well, carry on...