eBay

rocketscollectibles · ‎10-01-2023

If anyone wonder if it's worth increasing percentage. I sacrificed myself to experiment.

Here's the different between a month at 2% and a month at 5% on a same listing. Nothing.

There's really questionning about how promoted listing is a scam to seller.

ricarmic · ‎10-01-2023

There are a lot of things that can affect this.

The experiment of difference between 2% and 5% would not have any or at least minimal impact if the "average" % in that category is 7% for example, because you've still not crested above others who've got a higher % than you.

I'm not 100% on how keywords work for this, but the keywords might not be the "primary" ones used in that category, so if thats the case it would be the same as above, in terms of minimal impact.

I did an experiment where I put a over 10% rate on a group of mine and it did cause a burst of sales, however that was a while ago and I see recommended rates now of 15% and 17%ish in that category (recommended rate was 7%ish at the time of the experiment), so now it would likely take an even bigger % to have that impact. I'll maybe experiment again sometime, although putting 20% into the promoted rate is quite a chunk.....

rocketscollectibles · ‎10-01-2023

The experiment of difference between 2% and 5% would not have any or at least minimal impact if the "average" % in that category is 7% for example, because you've still not crested above others who've got a higher % than you.

Well exactly. It's pointing how promoted listing can be scammy there. There's situations where increasing the rate do not have any impact, but ebay still pocket this increased rate. You blindly raise up against yourself at the end. Over time and tests i really start having the idea that the whole percentage system is a scam to sellers. It drives sellers to give more to ebay while receiving nothing in return, in a lot of situations.

ricarmic · ‎10-01-2023

I know that in one of my main categories my stuff is in a way similar but is also different from others who, based on the prices I see them charging, should have huge margins on what they're selling, and it appears they're able to afford huge promoted listing %s to stay on top.

Based on my cost model, I choose not to compete against that, it's unfortunate because we use the "same" keywords so to speak, but sell "different" stuff.

My sales are very very slow, I've done a number of "search" experiments, and my promoted listings (at reasonable rates) are showing prominently so I don't think it is the % that is getting me. I don't see my "watchees" (competitors) fairing any better than me in general, which leads me to my current thinking that my market is in general very slow right now. I'm hearing 2nd hand reports that confirms this both in and outside ebay.

So I remain in "batten down the hatches" mode.... with experiments from time to time too of course!

reallynicestamps · ‎10-01-2023

It's my opinion that Promoted Listings are useful to draw eyeballs to our listings, but not to make sales.

That being said, PL Standard is still better than Best Offer discounts to Viewers.

The thing I like about PLStandard is that it does the job of pulling Views, which can mean the customer will browse in my Store, but unless the item sells, I don't pay for it.

This warms my thrifty Aberdonian heart.

rocketscollectibles · ‎10-01-2023

It's my opinion that Promoted Listings are useful to draw eyeballs to our listings, but not to make sales.

On average and long term, 50% of my sales comes from promoted listings personally.

which can mean the customer will browse in my Store, but unless the item sells, I don't pay for it.

Don't they updated that when someone click on a promoted listing, that fee will be charged for 30 days on anything he buy from you, whatever if it's a promoted or not? I remember they announced to do that but never really checked. This update was not added?

rocketscollectibles · ‎10-01-2023

I checked quickly and my last 88 sales, i have 31 from promoted listings, 14 best offer, 7 initiated offer. This leave only 36 sales where i did not pay extra fees or gave a discount. I really wonder how this would impact my sales if i would just let people pay asking price and not promote. Looks like you barely can sell on ebay if you don't push yourself down.

ricarmic · ‎10-01-2023

Under the new rules, if someone finds you via a promoted item, anything else they buy from you (for 30 days) that is also promoted you pay the fees for those ones as well.

So for example they find you via an item that is promoted and buy two more items, one that is promoted (even if a different promoted rate etc) and one that is not promoted, you will pay the promoted fee for the two promoted items but NOT for the one that is not promoted.

It is for this exact reason that I do NOT promote anything recently listed, it would simply be wasted $$ as newly listed tend to have more natural viewers and also more likely to be purchased as well by someone who found me via a promoted item (I have a lot of repeat customers, if everything I had was promoted, I'd end up paying a lot more in fees because the "30 day" window would never run out....)

rocketscollectibles · ‎10-02-2023

Yeah that's what i thought. Actually thinking about it, it's maybe why i have 50%-60% of my sales by promoted listing now. I started looking at that recently so dont know what it was before that update. 50% is insane.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-02-2023

Do you have a system that tells you easily when something was listed?

When we had a shop, most items had an inventory number that had the date it was put into stock, heavily disguised. That was the only use for the inventory number actually.