eBay

dobo5250 · ‎04-21-2025

Every year at this time it seems to a be a slump time I have gone 6 days without a sale first time in 4 months that has happened - last year it went 4 days, at this time, year before that 2 days which is pretty common for me -- I just can't seem to break this cycle and I can't reduce my prices any more and still offer free expedited shipping. the month end is coming and bills are piling up -- thought I had my big ticket sold to local person they even came and inspected the unit said it was a great deal which it is about half what it should sell for used 17000 dollar machine for 2000 dollars, good machine -- would get back to me --then crickets -- that was two weeks ago -- that sale would have made my month and a little profit finally for me or buffer when the times get really tough --- I really shouldn't complain - usually when spring comes in full I get sales -- so I just have to wait and list some more items I have around the house -- cause it seems that new listings of different product encourage sales for some reason of old product

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-21-2025

Successful selling is about the product; its uniqueness, quality, supply & demand, target market,etc...Buyers are those persons who actaully want/need a product. Buyers also are very aware of costs these days and many are forgoing "wants" over "needs". Plumbing supplies can be had at any local hardware/home improvement store so there may not be so much demand to order online, pay shipping/wait for delivery,etc. This is pot-Covid times so many many folks have returned to their in-person shopping habits. Online sales have been dwindling on eBay as well as many other online selling sites...

on and on it goes...there are countless reasons/factors for a down turn in sales

and if a person needs the income, selling on eBay has never been any guarantee of that, so putting all the eggs in one basket is never good business practice, so one always needs to be thinking/working beyond eBay so that they do not find them selves suffering from " the month end is coming and bills are piling up" syndrome ....

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-21-2025

"Post-Covid times"

edit time ran out before I realized the typo for " is pot-Covid times" which should have read "is post-Covid times"

flipistics · ‎04-21-2025

It's been very, very slow for me this long weekend too. Take the normal slump this time of year and add in tariffs and elections and it's not surprising.

john_koenig99 · ‎04-22-2025

For me, the first two months of 2025 were actually quite busy. Then, March and April have been dead quiet.

That's the nature of the biz...

dobo5250 · ‎04-23-2025

oh by the way my items are priced way below retail, in most case close or below wholesale also and with free expedited shipping that's usually 20 to 30 dollars also off my profit - so its not the completion but getting eyes on my products, another two days of no sales -- and I just entered the bad boy area again, going to 2.17 defect rate, all this over two items that were relisted by eBay's mistake again but sold two years ago- pushing me over the 2.0 limit for good status -- when it rains it pours here at ebay for me anyways - no sales, low hits, and now losing my prime status again well I just listed some more items maybe that will help -- the month end is coming up fast and I really could use some sales - I have uped my promo rate but now that I am in the dog house with ebay I don't know if that will work -- and another 10 % loss in sales due to this will further reduce my sales -- yeps -- 7 more days till month end -- hope the lottery comes in soon.

38e_avenue · ‎04-23-2025

Basically, the same here... 🙄

I relisted all items as "similar" (always worked until now) and increased PL to 9% - nothing helps this time.

For comparison:

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎04-23-2025

@38e_avenue wrote:
Basically, the same here... 🙄
I relisted all items as "similar" (always worked until now) and increased PL to 9% - nothing helps this time.

For comparison:

@38e_avenue

@dobo5250

For cross border a big part of it right now has to do with any added potential tariff costs and the flipflops with constant changes to policy. (Even with free shipping.) For Canada it would be the economic times we are living in and what it costs to ship cross country, especially if is heavy or bulky even with discounted shipping turned on. Key factors for a buyers decision when it comes to making a discretionary purchase.

Personally 20 sales for the previous 7 weeks of this year

27 sales for the similar 7 weeks last year

Biggest difference being order value substantially higher last year. Sadly lower order values have become the "my" new normal.

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-23-2025

As a casual/infrequent seller, my sales are few and far between at the best of times but I have found my 2025 eBay sales (March 1st-April23) to be down by 80% from a year ago. Meanwhile, my sales on my other selling site are up 80% from a year ago (for that same time frame).

dobo5250 · ‎04-25-2025

Your graphics were great and very helpful as I thought maybe something was wrong with my site, but looking at my own stats, I come to very similar conclusions, its I have not a single hit or question asked in over 8 days now and that is very very usual as I always get a question about this breaker or that faucet or that cartridge usually about every third day or so and I always get about every 3rd/4 fourth day, some guy trying to weasle me down to were I would lose money on selling the item to him - so far this period nothing, and all my stats are in the red -- completely--- that's a first in over a year. i don't sell to Americans so I am not affected by the tariff things at least I thought so before - now, not so sure -- maybe its over for this ebay thing -- many have predicted that ebay is going by the way side --- maybe this is it. or at least the start of the end

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-25-2025

"many have predicted that ebay is going by the way side --- maybe this is it. or at least the start of the end"

eBay Sellers have been predicting/saying that for over 15 years now and yet eBay is still here and still very much alive and rolling right along...

john_koenig99 · ‎04-25-2025

@mrdutch1001 wrote:
"...and yet eBay is still here and still very much alive and rolling right along..."

I would say rolling like tumbleweed, or seaweed under the waves. Many are seeing a drought in sales, in the site.

For me, it's been an eye opener in terms of how much eBay charges in fees - fees based in total sale price, including shipping and taxes paid by the buyer... Ridiculous.

I'm in the process of phasing out whatever listings I have, and moving them to friendlier platforms.

mrdutch1001 · ‎04-25-2025

other platforms are also experiencing a downturn in sales but I suspect a lot of that is also due to on ,off paused,on,off,paused tariffs that are affecting the global market. There are also disgruntled sellers elsewhere due to selling sites increasing fees, and the horrific decrease in any kind of customer support for either seller or buyer on these sites.