For some of us there's no sense using eBay any more...

[go-hifreann-leat]

I just sold 3 - 12 volt flourescent lamps for RV, boat etc and the costs for selling on eBay are now so out of touch it's no longer worth the bother.

I managed to get $20.50 for the lamps and then $20 for shipping for a total of $40.50.

eBay then takes $3.55 for both item and shipping and then Paypal takes $1.47. Shipping actually cost me $23.98 when posted not $20.

So in the end I get $11.50. Woopy ding... 

I might as well have thrown them in the recycle bin. 

I know this will seem like small potatoes to you big sellers but for me it's not worth my time any more. Couple this with some things I do buy here that turn out to be complete junk and I wonder why bother with eBay at all??

Yes I know: so go away and quit using it we don't care.... thanks in advance for sharing. This appear to be the attitude everywhere.

[rose-dee]

---

@bb_cool_stuff wrote:

Year was going along just fine & then BAM, hit a wall since the beginning of July.

Just curious, What month did everyone Hit the Wall ?

I put it down to my items, so will keep revising & adjusting my listings.

---

'bb' -- I don't think it's got much to do with items or listings because it happened so suddenly, and happened to a lot of sellers at about the same time. 

I was actually having quite a good year here up until about May, then it got worse -- then it got much worse.  Normally late July/early August is one of my best times, but not this year.  Fortunately I had other irons in the fire that kept me going over the summer, but the slump continues. 

You're right, we will drive ourselves to distraction trying to speculate the "why" of it.  All we can do is hang on long enough in the hope buyers will return.  The fact that other sites are experiencing a similar phenomenon is worrisome though. 

Could it be that consumers have just hit the ceiling everywhere, and have realized they don't have the discretionary income they used to have?  One factor I've noticed in one of the categories in which I sell is that even the most attractive items in excellent condition are just sitting for months, unsold.  That rarely happened even 2 years ago. 

The lucky ones are those who made good money on eBay over the past few years during its heyday and can retire with full pockets.  The rest of us will be hanging on by our fingernails soon.

[brandeentertainment]

Your dead on about most but the cost of doing business on ebay to me is actually very fair .... Nevermind all the extras and tools available .... DO you know how many years and millions of $$ is Marketing it would cost any of us to have our products Marketed to the world and with the traffic ebay brings... I mean I agree with everything you say in this except for the cost of doing business because if you look at everything your provided for say roughly 12% fees it is pretty cheap ... I have had some very serious hate ons for ebay but let's face it at the end of the day Your $3 in fees for ebay is probably less then what you made off the sale so from your point of view it's cost you too much but from ebays point of few they are giving you alot for $3

[go-hifreann-leat]

You obviously didn't READ the listing... 12 volt flourescent lights a foot long. The total package weighed 2 pounds.... yes really huge and really heavy. READ... 

And it was 4 Nintendo games... not one... READ.

@holdmygold2 wrote:

I seriously have no idea what you are talking about when you say that original posters problem is a result of eBay policy.

.

The poster sold 3 heavy fluorescent lights complete with those delicate breakable bulbs that explode into a million pieces when they break.  It's clearly a breakable item and would take a lot of care to ship.

I had about a hundred of these used at one time and those that weren't hauled off by friends went to the dump.  Not a huge market for used lights of that sort. 

The seller managed to get just over $20 for them and in the end cleared $11.50 and somehow you are blaming that fiasco on eBay.

How is it eBay's problem that someone listed an item to sell on line that would be difficult to sell anywhere to anyone at any time?

I'm surprised these could even be shipped for $23.98.  I thought that shipping would be twice that amount and I'm pretty sure the labour for pack etc. would be well over an hour.

How is that fiasco eBay's fault?

The seller also sold a Nintendo for $190.  He's not complaining about that:  A much more suitable item for on line selling.

---

[go-hifreann-leat]

I don't know what the future brings but I don't intend to use eBay much any more although i occasionally buy something on eBay if the price is competetive but mostly that's no longer the case. Inflated pricing to cover eBay fees and inflated shipping to cover Paypal fees is now the norm.

Reality:

Much of what is on eBay now can be purchased from AliExpress or Amazon for less and with free shipping. On Amazon you can pay one annual fee for Prime and get 2 day shipping on your future purchases for the year. That's a bargain.

Another one to be careful of is Kickstarter.... I found a young lad wanting financial support for a motion sensing LED battery powered light. He's asking $15 for support and willing to ship 1 unit for that amount plus shipping of course. The same light can be acquired from AliExpress for $5 with free shipping. Scams abound, on eBay and elsewhere, even Kickstarter.

 Oh it's a wonderful world.!!!