eBay

rosscd57 · ‎11-07-2014

I unusually schedule my listings so that I can end them all about the end of the first week in December and then start them up again about the end of the first week in January.

It is about that time again to start lining that process up - am I making a mistake?

I duno - I just figure it likely saves me a lot of Xmas hassle.

Any other opinions?

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Old enough to know better. Young enough to do it again. Crazy enough to try

lucitabby · ‎11-08-2014

I do the same thing - try to finish everything by the end of November. I started doing this about five years ago to avoid buyers being upset with not having their parcels by Christmas, lost parcels and broken items. For me as a small seller, it's just not worth all the aggravation. Humbug!

rose-dee · ‎11-08-2014

My sales usually drop off from early December until after New Year's, but I generally do keep my store open until about Dec. 15th to 18th. I just make sure that I email each buyer to remind them that mail (even airmail) can be slower due to volume around the Xmas season. Or I pay to upgrade to Xpresspost if the item is valuable. I figure it's a small enough trade-off for any extra significant sale during that time.

However, Canada Post (and probably also USPS) does seem to hire more people and make extra efforts to get things delivered in the lead-up to Xmas.

It's probably the week between Xmas and New Year's that's more problematic. So, I usually put my store "on vacation" about a week before Xmas until the day after New Year's, but leave my items visible. Some years I take a chance and leave the store open, but you're right that with the defect system, it's much more risky than it used to be. Due to the defect system, I may even choose to hide my listed items this year when I put the store on vacation.

rosscd57 · ‎11-08-2014

Ross-dee - I notice that your last post was edited - do you know why?

Did you say something naughty?

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Old enough to know better. Young enough to do it again. Crazy enough to try

rose-dee · ‎11-08-2014

LOL -- no, I edited it myself, I noticed a duplication in one sentence. Under the "Options" button on the top right, you can edit anything you post -- as long as you get to it quickly enough.

It is aggravating sometimes that you want to add or delete or correct something in a post and find you get cut off in what seems like less than 3 minutes. Whatever the timeframe is for editing, it's pretty short.

greenmangoes · ‎11-08-2014

As a recent seller I did not think of this but it's good to know. It's also kinda sad though 'cause we could be losing out on sales just because we are trying to avoid negative feedback on something we have not control over (shipping) 😞

You only fail when you don't try!

rose-dee · ‎11-08-2014

@greenmangoes wrote:
It's also kinda sad though 'cause we could be losing out on sales just because we are trying to avoid negative feedback on something we have not control over (shipping) 😞

Yes, for the last 3 years or so, eBay has shifted the onus of prompt, assured delivery completely onto the seller. It used to be left up to the individual seller to decide how to deal with buyers whose parcels either didn't arrive, or arrived late -- which was great if a buyer was dealing with an honest, helpful seller.

But those were the days when the only real control over sellers was the FB system (which had little impact on a seller's ability to keep selling, other than the bad PR of negative FB). I'm sure many buyers got left out in the cold or, frankly, ripped off, by sellers who couldn't care less what happened to the parcel once the sale was made and the money changed hands.

So, eBay swung the pendulum to the other side. The "new" eBay wants nothing to do with amateur sellers -- they want everybody to act like a professional retailer. This is fine in principle, but many recent policies (IMHO) strongly favour the biggest retailers on this site, or at least sellers with large volumes and fast turnover.

Accordingly, a lot of small sellers feel they have to shut down over the Xmas period to avoid defects associated with shipping issues. However I think most experienced sellers will tell you their sales drop off dramatically in the 2 weeks or so prior to, and the 1 week after Xmas, so it's often less of a disaster than you might think. Personally I use that time to spend with family, take a bit of a break, do some business planning for the coming year and spruce up my eBay store.

The next step in this process will be the implementation of "Money Back Guarantee" on eBay.ca, which will doubtless cause even more small sellers to think twice about staying open in December.

mdf_jersey · ‎11-08-2014

I am in the total opposite. I keep running through December. Why would I shut down in the time where people are at a frenzy of spending money. I do agree that by the end of the first week of December many people dont expect to get their items by Christmas , but there is are many that know the Christmas deadline and continue to shop. If I feel that the package will not arrive in time I will for warn them, and they usually understand the situation.

In addition there are many that are still shopping for themselves.

Between the 26th to new years , I always get a spike in sales because little Johnny received some Christmas money to spend.

mdf_jersey · ‎11-08-2014

I just wanted to also add that, another good reason to stay open is, less competition. As everyone is saying, they stop selling in December. All the better for me.

DONT TELL ANYONE...OK

rose-dee · ‎11-08-2014

@jerseywithstats wrote:
...but there is are many that know the Christmas deadline and continue to shop.

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Although I imagine that for certain categories of items (like clothing, jewellery, collectibles), the lead-up to Xmas and the week after can be a boon to sales, it's those people who know the Xmas deadline, continue to shop, and then complain about not receiving their item(s) in time for Xmas that some of us worry about.

When your volume is relatively low, 1 or 2 defects around Xmastime can be a serious problem. I tried staying open through the holidays last year but it was so dismal it wasn't worth it. If I'd had one last minute shopper who didn't get his/her item in time for Xmas, it really wouldn't have been worth it. And that was before the defect system. Now that may be different for sellers who don't sell primarily to the U.S. I think there is a bit more reliability if you're shipping only within Canada around Xmas.

mr.elmwood · ‎11-08-2014

I stop around the first week of Dec. I just do not need the hassles. "I just gotta get that used ash tray for my Uncle Billy as it is the perfect gift". "NO".

I do not "lose" anything as you cannot lose what you never had. I open up again about the 25th.

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jt-libra · ‎11-08-2014

I keep my listings active all through December but, at the beginning of the month, I add a note to all my listings, in red or some other noticeable colour, that Christmas delivery is not guaranteed and potential buyers should keep that in mind before they purchase. I haven't run into a problem yet. But, then again, I only sell within Canada and to the U.S., so it's a little easier to judge each situation.

And, I find, too, that around Christmas time, there are a lot of people home from work and school who have the time to browse eBay. I usually have a lot of sales around that time. Because my Christmas is usually fairly quiet, that doesn't pose a hardship to me.

reallynicestamps · ‎11-09-2014

Between the 26th to new years , I always get a spike in sales because little Johnny received some Christmas money to spend.

That's a very good point.

We noticed in the B&M stamp store, now closed, that early December was very poor, but there was a definite post-Christmas rush. We figured the hobbyists would spend their stamp allowance on presents, then notice they had money left over on Boxing Day. Or maybe just needed a fix.

"Yessir, a collection of Small Queens and a Blue Mauritius? Coming right up!"

greenmangoes · ‎11-12-2014

Is there a way to close your store but visitors can still add to wish/watch list but the option to purchase is disabled?

Thanks!

You only fail when you don't try!

pierrelebel · ‎11-12-2014

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/sell/placing-store-vacation.html

38e_avenue · ‎11-12-2014

I never close my store for Christmas. Instead, on Dec 10th I put a large banner on all of my listings saying the package will not arrive before Dec 24th. Honestly, I can put the banner on Dec 16th, because last year even the parcels sent to US on Dec 17th arrived on time, but I prefer to add one additional week to avoid (in)famous "where is my item" questions.

greenmangoes · ‎12-03-2014

I just want to make sure before I relax.

I followed the instructions below - is that all I need to do because the listings are still showing and they say "It can take up to several days for your listings to become hidden after you select and save this Store vacation setting." but I just want to be sure as things change around here so often.

Thank you!

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To turn on your Store vacation settings:

Click the Messages tab in My eBay.

Select Change settings.

In the Store vacation settings section, select Turn ON.

If you'd like to hide your fixed price listings from eBay search results and Store pages and block buyers from buying the items in these listings while you're away, select Hide and block purchases from my fixed price listings. (This doesn't affect your auction-style listings.)

If you'd like buyers to see the date you'll be back and ready to ship items, select Display a return date, and enter the date in the box provided.

In the Message to display on your storefront section, edit the default text displayed in the textbox if you'd like to customize it.

Click Apply.

You only fail when you don't try!