eBay

pierrelebel · ‎09-22-2013

By David A. Utter
EcommerceBytes.com
September 16, 2013

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y13/m09/i16/s02

"It may be that the next big idea on the internet will be the next generation of an online marketplace, likely one with multiple payment options, fully usable on smartphones and tablets as well as desktop PCs, sufficient buyer and seller protections, and the ability to offer or accommodate seller tools. Until then, eBay looks like it will always merit consideration for sellers."

bb_cool_stuff · ‎09-23-2013

I see so much change coming it is mind boggling.

Ya think.

Were we just too ignorant to the facts that seemed to creep in since the New Year or did we choose to ignore them ?

I think i am guilty of both. My fault as i was becoming maybe a bit too complacent.

Boom, it hit the pre-owned vintage concert/sports shirt category really hard, really fast. We never saw that coming.

The Pre-owned Category was 57% of my business last year, yes i keep those stats, this year 4%.

Ouchie, that is quite a drop.

mr.elmwood · ‎09-23-2013

Were we just too ignorant to the facts that seemed to creep in since the New Year or did we choose to ignore them ?

Pretty much what I tried to ask on the weekly hour, last week, and got shunted aside. That is where Poco stepped in and did a FANTASTIC job of explaining with examples exactly what I wanted to know.

My sales have slipped away from high dollar widgets to lower ones. Not real sure why. I am thinking folks are looking at aged inventory and saying "Why is this still for sale? Must be something wrong with it." New listed widgets have sold better for about a year or so. I noticed that.

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i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

dipmicro posted: """ How much of the world retail commerce is going through Ebay ? 0.01%, 0.001% ? Somewhere there. """"

I have no idea if those numbers have any meaning and so I took him at his word, but in my mind I changed it from eBay to include all on line venues and not only eBay.

How many people do you actually know who buy on line?

I can't think of anyone in my day to day world. In fact, the most common response when I mention eBay is: "I tried it once and this, that, or the other went wrong"......... (and so I never tried again).

I see incredible change as well........... even the past few weeks have been notable..............

but the changes are about shifting from one venue to another.

I've posted many times about what I'm seeing in regard to collectibles and antiques.

Alternative sites are taking off, and eBay offerings are sparse now.

However, I don't really believe eBay cares very much because they have their hands full with dollar store items and seem to be happy making their money that way a few pennies at a time.

............ and yes, mr.E........... people may upgrade their phones etc., but that does not mean they'll suddenly start buying more on line. Those same people have owned desk tops for years and a new smart phone won't suddenly increase online purchasing.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

@bb_cool_stuff wrote:

The Pre-owned Category was 57% of my business last year, yes i keep those stats, this year 4%.

Ouchie, that is quite a drop.

I know nothing about Sports stuff, and a little about collectors of rock paraphernalia.

For a long time it was trendy and cool to wear an old t-shirt with a 60s or 70s band on it.

Maybe the trend has passed and it's time to tap a new one?

Just a thought.

pierrelebel · ‎09-23-2013

Yes, online commerce is growing. Hundreds of charts explain the phenomenal growth. Take your pick:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=online+commerce+growth&client=firefox-a&hs=9VU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:...

Ecommerce Sales Topped $1 Trillion for First Time in 2012

http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Ecommerce-Sales-Topped-1-Trillion-First-Time-2012/1009649

It is estimated that by 2017, internet sales will acount for 10% of all US retail sales:

http://visual.ly/growth-ecommerce

While numbers do vary substantially from survey to survey, facts are clear: ecommerce is growing much faster than retail sales and there is nothing to stop that growth in the foreseable future.

Even Canada Post acknowledges they have seen an increase in parcels handling (not that all ecommerce is shipped by mail).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/canada-post-looks-to-red-s...

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

If online commerce is growing, and I'm sure you're right.......... (have no idea where dipmicro got his numbers but I took him at his word ..........)

Then the question becomes "What is the Breakdown?"

In other words, what are people buying that is leading to the increase?

Cell phones?

Cell phone covers?

Electronics?

Stamps?

For these number to have and personal punch we need a breakdown of what's causing the growth.

pierrelebel · ‎09-23-2013

""What is the Breakdown?" "

Great question.

Do your own research and you will find your answers for the products of interest to you. Google is a great site to start but many other tools are available - depending on the industry.

For example, if you are a professional philatelist and member of the APS, you can ask them what is their estimate of online sale (they do both online and offline sales), etc...

bb_cool_stuff · ‎09-23-2013

Maybe the trend has passed & it's time to tap a new one?

Hasn't passed yet, probably never will, but just like all the other categories, one must find the unique items.

Pre-Owned Maintream Shirts, Jerseys, dead, dead, dead.

There are just too many around. I think people are clearing out their closets & drawyers.

Friendly competitor in the Chicago area is now listing pre-owned shirts on auction between 1.99 & 3.99 with 4.00 shipping in the states just to get rid of his mainstream product.

Luckily pre owned shirts/jerseys are only 10% of my inventory.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

No Thank You!.......

I'm not into these reports the way you are.. Nothing wrong with taking an interest in those stats at all.

I thank you for posting these charts etc. because there is some information to be found there.

However, these numbers and charts have limited meaning for the individual unless there is a breakdown.

That information isn't to be found on google or anywhere else.

You can google some of the things some of the time, but you can't google all of the things all of the time................. (and find answers).

bb_cool_stuff · ‎09-23-2013

I*m, check out Item # 350637634825 & the rest of his completed listings.

Still a market for the Unique Shirts.

Usually in touch with him monthly.

Great Guy, sent me some business from a buyer in Minneapolis.

Nice to have that connection.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

Wow............ so I guess we shouldn't have worn those when we stained the deck then?

rose-dee · ‎09-23-2013

@mr.elmwood wrote:
New listed widgets have sold better for about a year or so. I noticed that.

I think you've hit a nail on the head without realizing it. After some targeted experimentation (granted, in a very small way), I've confirmed, at least for my category(ies), what I suspected since the beginning of this year -- that eBay's new search parameters (Cassini no doubt) loves new listings, and the more the merrier.

Why? Likely because eBay has retooled its search and sorting algorithms to favour those sellers it's been trying to court -- massive retailers who are able to keep punching out large groups of new listings on a regular basis.

B&M retailers are in trouble everywhere. If you've ever run a shop in an upscale mall, you'll know how dizzingly expensive it can be, and costs keep going up each year. Selling online looks very, very attractive in comparison.

When even a company like Sears is struggling (as I've recently read) it means there's been a big shift in the industry. Although Sears and other big retailers sell online, people here and in the U.S. in particular have become accustomed to seeing incredibly low prices for household gadgets and clothing for example, and become used to being able to look over the goods personally before buying. Those goods are often made in places with conditions and at wages no North American would accept - even disgusting sweatshops, as was recently revealed in Bangladesh.

What happens when those workers begin to demand more decent wages and conditions, and the cost of transporting all that stuff back and forth across the globe begins to skyrocket (as it has done in the past year or two)? Either prices have to rise or profits have to fall, and in either case the house of cards will begin to tumble for traditional retailers.

Which is why I believe big retail stores with everything under the sun on display and available to buy, and small armies of clerks and cashiers to handle all that merchandise may not survive another decade -- it's a 19th century idea that I think has almost run its course. Pretty soon just about everything will be purchased online, sight unseen, and people will get used to that. There will be fewer stores to heat, light up, staff with clerks and keep clean, and just the cost of warehousing, packing and shipping (some of which will be absorbed in other ways). In that sense, IKEA was an example of being ahead of its time.

The only retailers who seem to be doing really well are the the likes of WalMart who sell sweatshop goods by the container-load at cheap prices, or the ones in the secondhand market - the likes of Value Village -- with almost no upfront costs of acquisition and inexpensive, warehouse-style stores.

No, I think eBay will survive and quite probably thrive because it's already begun to attract big retailers who are looking to trim costs. We here, this little bunch on the boards, are mere gnats on the back of an elephant in comparison. The fact that quantity will win out over quality in many categories is, at least at the moment, irrelevant. EBay is apparently making money hand over fist. EBay will continue to reform policy in order to appeal to the "big boys", which is why the gnats will have to fall in line and learn to conform to the rules if they want to survive at all here.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

Rose......... Mr. E.............. do you list good till cancelled or re-start all your listings every 30 days?

I never do good till cancelled because that's the kiss of death.

I list every 30 days and items sell right after I list or just before they end.................. and I keep adding new ones to keep it fresh.

That way they show in the search just fine.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

@rose-dee wrote:
Pretty soon just about everything will be purchased online, sight unseen, and people will get used to that. There will be fewer stores to heat, light up, staff with clerks and keep clean, and just the cost of warehousing, packing and shipping (some of which will be absorbed in other ways). In that sense, IKEA was an example of being ahead of its time.

That's interesting.............. but I asked above and I'll ask again.

How many people do you know who shop on line?

Maybe I'm the exception, but none of my friends at this time buy on line and my family never has. In the past I've known a few, but very few.

When I mention that I do eBay the response is "I tried that once but it didn't work out so I never tried again."

I very infrequently buy anything other than OOAK items.

Am I alone in that?

pierrelebel · ‎09-23-2013

"How many people do you know who shop on line?"

My kids shop online. While I subscribe to the printed copies of the newspapers (Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and Belleville Intelligencer) and several magazines, they subscribe to the online version of their neswpapers and magazines. My brothers and sister shop online. My sisters-in-law and brother-in-law shop online. Many of our friends shop online. Looking around, it seems that most adults I know shop online for some stuff - some more than others.

Shopping online does not necessarily mean eBay. eBay is only a fraction of online commerce.

Based on Gross Volume of about $100B a year in the USA and total ecommerce estimated at $1 trillion, that's only 10% of the total.

ricarmic · ‎09-23-2013

My parents/in law do not have a computer and or shop online (70s age range).

We shop online, as do other friends my age (40s-50s range).

My kids think nothing of buying online and do it all the time eBay and elsewhere (teens/early 20s).

My belief is that online is going to continue to grow as the slower to adapt people my age continue to come to the online world as do more kids growing up.

The young generation appears to already be there.

Sadly for me in my category, there are few teenagers/20s yearold stamp collectors.... in North America at least....so I need the slow to adapt people in my age range to continue to arrive! (Actually in my case there are a number of buyers for "grandpa" - daughters/sons buying stamps for gramps who has no computer, nor any interest in getting one)

One interesting thing in my category (stamps) is folks buying stamps who are not collectors. I have over the years sold a number of Canadian old mint stamp packets to youngsters getting married who want to have "antique" stamps on their invitations, and the "cost" of these stamps is "cheap" compared to other wedding components! This never happened in the old "print advertising" days so it does open up some new niches for old time hobbies too....

ricarmic · ‎09-23-2013

Actually I see now my comment needs clarification in my age group. I think the problem is less coming into the online world and more TRUSTING the online world. Few people my age seem to trust the internet to buy stuff from....so far

rose-dee · ‎09-23-2013

I agree with Pierre. I think young consumers (that is, really young, 20-somethings) will be quite different from previous generations -- they grew up from the beginning using electronic gadgts and are so used to doing everything else online, why not most purchasing?

When online retailers offer free shipping and easy returns/money back, the two big drawbacks of online buying are dealt with, and for a generation already comfortable with the idea of purchasing remotely, I think it will be easy to get the younger generation accustomed to buying most things online. For the rest of us, it will be a matter of changing mindset through marketing.

It's good to remember that not all online shopping is through eBay, as Pierre notes. I too have found that few people I run into of my generation actually use eBay to any extent, but almost all of them know of it. I'm sure most of them shop online from time to time. Sooner or later they may try eBay, especially if eBay turns into the more mainstream-looking commercial site it apparently wants to be, rather than the garage-sale type of site it began as.

What this means for smaller sellers or sellers of OOAK items IMO is that they will have to be more professional, work harder to keep up with changes on eBay, and build up a customer base through top quality service. I call these sellers (including myself) "boutique" sellers, and I think we'll have a following on eBay for some time yet.

i*m-still-here · ‎09-23-2013

Since I sell on line, I'm happy to hear to know that my little circle of friends and acquaintances does not represent the whole.

They are all very computer savvy and own all of the latest gadgets........... most of them to the extreme.

They just don't shop on line, and so I thought that others didn't either.

Glad to be wrong about that.

pierrelebel · ‎09-23-2013

"When online retailers offer free shipping and easy returns/money back...."

The older generations (40+) have been receiving incentives in the last ten years to do "stuff" online: banking, receiving utility bills, credit card statements, etc... In the process the mystery and "fear" of online transactions is no longer what it was.

Once folks use computers or "smart phones' to do "online stuff", the next step comes easy: shop online.

Go to Chapters to buy a book; cannot find it: go online! A week later you have the book and it most likely cost less than you would have paid at Chapters. Next book you want: you start online instead of going to Chapters. And a new online shopper is born!

It will not stop that new online shopper from going to the mall regularly, to visit Value Village or WalMart or whatever store or the flea market or the antique store from time to time for bargains, etc... but some purchases will be made online for convenience.

The internet economy accounted for 4.7% of the US gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 - and there is no question in my mind that this percentage will keep on climbing year after year.

http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/direct/internet-economy-found-contributing-to-almost-5-of-us-gdp-i...