Anyone notice e bay sales down

[Goldy1]

I have to work three times as hard to get a fraction of what I could a couple years ago. It all happens for a reason I believe and I have never wanted to sell on e bay buying odds and ends, but my auctions just sit, and it used to be so easy.
I am just glad I hit it when it was good. I sold hundreds of my dh's personal VHS collection YEARS ago, and we know that is so impossible now. I also sold soem collectibles etc. from a family member's estate but nothing major. I have also sold other odds and ends but it sure seems the good times there are over Oh well, more time for other hobbies.

I sold a lot of my x mas cd's and some x mas stuff in Dec, but it was seasonal.
Guess no one is spending and e bay fad is kinda dwindling. I might go there soon to get a deal on a designer purse.

[gamecock43]

Ebay sales are down compared to Christmas time - understandably. Ebay sales are waaaayyy down compared to when I was peeking in 2006. Sometimes I was making more money than the original price of the item! I had a 99% sales rate and the purchased prices were about 60% of the original price. Now- even at Christmas items are selling for 15-20% of the original price.

[poundwise]

IMO eBay has made several boneheaded moves over the past several years and, in so doing, have essentially been shooting themselves in the foot. The most recent news on changes there don't inspire confidence that this improving.

I don't have anything against eBay, I just don't think they've been well run after their initial boom and have made some mistakes that have pushed both buyers and sellers away.

[disneysteve]

I've been with ebay almost since the beginning. I've been selling since May 1997 (they went live in September 1995). So I've seen many, many changes.

Early on, sellers consisted mostly of folks like me who were already dealers of one sort or another who just morphed from mail-order and in-person selling to online selling. Actually, I was already selling online through a website and ads in discussion groups.

As home computers, internet access and digital cameras became commonplace, it became simple for everyone to become a dealer, selling everything and anything. This changed the supply and demand curve on ebay which resulted in final prices drifiting down. Nothing is rare anymore. When I first started on ebay, they had about 250,000 active auctions at any given time. Today, that number is well into the millions.

I also agree with poundwise that ebay has made numerous changes that have discouraged both sellers and buyers. The recent feedback changes were totally brainless. I don't know who came up with that idea. The fact that sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for a bad buyer has made the whole feedback system worthless. What good is a grading system when the only grade you can give is an A?

Of course, fees have gradually risen which seems counterintuitive. Economies of scale and every falling prices of computer equipment and memory should mean ebay's costs have come down, not up.

When PayPal started, it was free. Now, ebay owns PayPal (and half.com) and the fees for those services have risen, as well.

Then there are economic forces which we are all well aware of. I think that is a mixed issue, though, depending on what you are selling. If you sell collectible items and other frivolous items, you will be more affected by this. If, however, you sell staples and basic household items, you may actually be doing better as more people come on line looking for bargains. I posted yesterday about my search for shipping labels. The same labels that are $23.99 at Staples are only $13.98 on ebay. When times are tough, people go looking for cheaper places to get what they need.

[SacredFaerie]

I haven't been on eBay in a while. Why the heck CAN'T you leave bad feedback for buyers? They can trash you but not the other way around? That's crazy.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by SacredFaerie

I haven't been on eBay in a while. Why the heck CAN'T you leave bad feedback for buyers? They can trash you but not the other way around? That's crazy.

The problem, apparently, was that some sellers were holding feedback "hostage" so that buyers were afraid to leave negative feedback because the sellers would leave negs in return. That discouraged buyers from leaving honest feedback. Now, buyers can leave honest feedback but sellers can't. The system favors the buyers. I guess ebay is more concerned about sellers scamming people. Apparently, it is okay for buyers to scam people.

[SacredFaerie]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

The problem, apparently, was that some sellers were holding feedback "hostage" so that buyers were afraid to leave negative feedback because the sellers would leave negs in return. That discouraged buyers from leaving honest feedback. Now, buyers can leave honest feedback but sellers can't. The system favors the buyers. I guess ebay is more concerned about sellers scamming people. Apparently, it is okay for buyers to scam people.

Unfortunately that makes sense. I've come across some TRIFLIN' sellers.

[irmanator]

I hate that they MAKE you use paypal, then you have to wait 21 days or until a positve is left to access your money. So if you are selling textbooks from one term to use the money on next terms books and the school only gives you 6 days to get books you are s.o.l.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by irmanator

I hate that they MAKE you use paypal, then you have to wait 21 days or until a positve is left to access your money. So if you are selling textbooks from one term to use the money on next terms books and the school only gives you 6 days to get books you are s.o.l.

When does PayPal make you wait 21 days to withdraw money? When I transfer funds from PayPal to my checking account, it only takes 3-4 days. Does that just apply to new users?

[irmanator]

I think it is a new user thing as I havent used ebay in yrs. and forgot all my old sign in info so i started from new.

[Goldy1]

I always found it baffling how insertion and or final value fees on e bay go up every year or so. ie. from 8 to 12% of final value. Then they just go up yet again.

I understand that prices of mostly everything increase ie. I am lucky to get milk on sale now for $2.50 when it used to be on sale often for 1.99.

But e bay is not selling a good. How can they just keep taking more and more of the percentage? Where does it end? Do they want half of wha tI get for something down the line?
I have never once chatted on an e bay chat board nor will I. I don't waste my time, but I have lurked. I won't even get into feedback issues and pushed paypal. I got to the point where I just throw up my hands and say "yes e bay" but this is the first year I have actually go a week inbetween posting generally.
I do like the fixed price 30 day auctions they offer. The length of time is great to increase odds.