posted on July 19, 2006 05:25:00 PM new
The way I see it they are running the little guy out making room for the big retail people to corner the market or what ever you want to call it. I was going to open a store again glad I didn't do it now for sure.
That just sucks. I wish it would go back to days of old. If they want stores then open another site just for stores.?? course that would probably backfire for us small time sellers. OH well. Just wish I could totally stop but it does help out the pocketbook a bit.
**************
If we are what we eat,
then I'm easy, fast,
and cheap!
posted on July 19, 2006 05:26:16 PM new
Hey! If you REALY want to tell Meg and Bill you mean Business,,,,,,,,CANCEL your credit card with them......e bay has over 14 Billion million zillion sellers BUT howmany have an ACTIVE credit card account. Mine expired last month and Guess what,,,,,,,I ain't botherin' ta renew it...
A friend just axed me to help him list something,,,,,first thing up ,,,,you need to enter your credit card number, I said you are'nt registered? he said YES, but his card EXPIRED,,,,,then it hit me....Those credit card numbers indicate TRUE, ACTIVE membership numbers......
The problem is Bill keeps changing the rules. If the store items were moving like they were when stores were included in the Search, then the higher final value fees would more than make up for the holding costs (ie., operating costs to place one of my store pages in the Giant ebay folder). My sales were almost 4X, yes 4 times higher when we were included in the Search.
Of course the store listings don't generate the same as auctions, gee whiz, they are priced at a fraction. And even with the monthly charges to operate the store (they went up not that long ago, remember)included, it is not going to generate the same cash. Well, duh, Bill. Read your first paragraph again, Bill. This was supposed to be a low risk, low cost way to get more product on ebay. And guess what, it worked. And now you don't like it.
Now, Bill I have a site hosted through GoDaddy that I pay less for than my ebay store. I know your costs are higher but that is because you have idiots working for you, instead of Fluffy. She could replace about a dozen of the boneheads you hired and run the place much better.
Neguls: My VD sales tanked after Christmas. I do not know if that was due to Search Engine changes, changes in VD's way of sending info to Search Engines OR (MOST LIKELY) because I started sending everything to the ebay store rather than put new stuff in my VD store.
So, time to (1) market, market, market; (2) consider going back to the VD checkout redirect (only problem is VD can be so darn confusing for some folks); (3) keep working on my other site (vintagepostcard person, come work for me a month, please).
This should be interesting to watch.
Beth
www.vintageads4u.com
posted on July 19, 2006 05:53:49 PM new
"I have never used the Vendio checkout - is it seamless or do buyers grumble about it?"
I've heard (read) some grumbles but I would probably take them with a large grain of salt because I know some people are suspicious of third party checkouts in general and some people just like to grumble.
posted on July 19, 2006 05:55:51 PM new
(Deep Sigh)
I agree with the post that stated if they put the stores back into the search as they had than this increase wouldn't be as hard to swallow. I also saw a threefold increase in my business when included in the search. Not only are they raising the fees, they are pushing store inventory listings far back in search on both Ebay and Ebay Express.
It also bites that I put in an order this morning for store inventory and had already paid for it before I received this wonderful letter from Bill.
I had a Vendio store last year, but did little business with it. I think that I'll give it another go and direct all buyers from here on in to the Vendio Store. May even send out a mailing to all my repeat customers stating that I'm opening up a new store off Ebay because of this rate increase and attach the letter so that they can read it for themselves.
Most buyers have no clue just how many nickel and dime fees are involved between Ebay and Paypal. Add-in Vendio fees and it's downright depressing.
It's unfortunate, but many satellite businesses such as Vendio will also be impacted by store closures on Ebay and reduction of listings as their customers will be using less services and downsizing their monthly plans.
Greedbay is burying the very people who helped to build them.
I sell small items such as sewing patterns, fabric samples and such. 95% of my items are under $10.00. Raising my prices to cover the increases (again) will definitely reduce sell-through.
posted on July 19, 2006 06:08:20 PM new
E bay is BIG,,,,,I once worked for a BIG Company before I got smart, 1971. They treated their customers somewhat like e bay, a new sucker will replace those that go away. A Revolving door effect if you will. One day the STATE of cali for nia stepped in and that was the END of serving California since 1922. Poof! they were gone. 100's stores..
posted on July 19, 2006 06:10:22 PM new
Ebay store is not just 2 cents per item,there is a fixed store fee of 14.95 or more per month.
But Bill has a point,if the item takes 14-40 times as long to sell in store versus auction,Ebay is losing money carrying all that dead weight!!
posted on July 19, 2006 06:16:39 PM new
Jeeze Louise....Like this is going to help...
20 ˘ Core Insertion Fee Sale – Two Days Only!
Hello…I'm Jamie Iannone, senior director of product marketing, and I'm excited to tell you about a two-day promotion that starts at midnight tonight.
By now, you've probably seen Bill Cobb's message about resetting the balance of the eBay marketplace and bringing eBay.com's auction-style and other core listing formats back to center stage. Auction-style listings deliver the signature eBay buying experience, in addition to being the fastest way to sell online. These listings are eBay's foundation – and going forward, we're going to be doing more to encourage a higher proportion of auction-style listings on eBay.
As a start, I'm excited to tell you about our “Back to Basics” promotion. Starting at midnight tonight, we're holding a two-day sale on core listing formats (Auction-style or Fixed Price) for eBay.com and eBay Motors Parts & Accessories. Please click here for full details on this promotion.
We hope you take full advantage of this great promotion!
Sincerely,
Jamie Iannone
Sr. Director, Product Marketing
eBay North America
posted on July 19, 2006 06:27:47 PM new
Thanks for the heads-up, Amy. You saved me some dollars and got me a night off. I have a lot of FP things I was going to get started on tonight.
C'mon, folks, what would it hurt to try some Fixed Price listings with Best Offer? See how it goes.
posted on July 19, 2006 06:30:12 PM new
well look at this sale as an INCREASE of your PROFITS by 238%!! ... I think I figured that percentage right...was using an eBay calculator signed by BILL COBB.
Does anyone here use the WEBSITE HOSTING through Vendio, and if so...how easy to set up a "store" for 2000 items?
posted on July 19, 2006 06:47:21 PM new
I have to cut down my cost somehow. I run about 6-10 regular auctions, with approx 650 in my eBay store. In the last week, I sold 1 item!!
I am thinking that one thing I have to do is cancel my Vendio gallery. I really like it, but I don't think it is going to be economical to run it anymore. What do other members here think? There are not many ways to cut down on fees, but that's one I can see.
posted on July 19, 2006 08:18:06 PM new
Amber - as to the Vendio Gallery, I believe the Vendio Gallery is a waste. As usual, it is plastered with Vendio advertising. The font for Vendio advertising is too large, and the gallery is confusing, in that it directs your shopper from the item originally chosen.
Look, I list a store item with an inventory of 10. Where can I list 10 sales on ebay for 2 cents, or now 5 cents. The key to ebay stores is having an inventory to back up each of your store listings. If you are going to have 500 - 600 items and they are only one of each, you need many turns to make a profit. However, when you have 500 - 600 listings and you have 10 of each item listed, your profit is much larger, and hopefully your inventory turn is increased.
A store benefits from the ability to list multiples of an item for 5 cents. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are stores that have only 2 items in them. Many more are full of items that should be at auction, not presented as store listings. This should be beneficial to those store owners who remain.
fluff, I have taken your advice, in that I have 2 fixed price auctions running with best offer. I think it is a good idea.
[ edited by kozersky on Jul 19, 2006 08:23 PM ]
[ edited by kozersky on Jul 19, 2006 08:25 PM ]
posted on July 19, 2006 08:24:43 PM new
To be honest,
I have thought that Ebay should have gotten rid of the stores from the very beginning. The implementation of Ebay stores immediately began siphoning away the very thing that made Ebay unique---the auction mentality, where no prices are fixed, and the bidding wars can be fierce. When Ebay implemented these stores, they became just another retail website, where big companies can just flood the market with identical items, where they virtually never have to relist, or revise, just keep flooding, baby.
I can trace the rapid reduction in my sales back to right around the exact same time that Ebay Stores were introduced. I've been a Powerseller on Ebay for over 7 years, and I would love to see Ebay go back to an auction-only format, and get the excitement back. Where buyers can't just log on anytime they want to, and see dozens upon dozens of Fixed Price listings to choose from. If plans like this help to bring that about, I'm all for it. Bring back the thrill!
posted on July 19, 2006 09:15:19 PM new
I have to agree with kshoops. The introduction of stores to the Ebay site was the biggest blunder they ever pulled. Stores and auctions are like apples and oranges. They have absolutely no relation to each other and belong at opposite ends of the produce section. When they set up stores, it should have been on its own seperate site with it's own promotions and its own operating conditions. They have Half.com as a working example of a model that could have been modified and adapted to work for the new stores site. Ebay's search engine has malfunctioned and overloaded since the day it was first set up in Pierre's garage and inundated with Pez dispensers. It cannot take on any excess baggage, such as store listings. Whether Ebay charges a 10% listing fee and a 25% FVF for stores, or makes them free, the fact remains that stores and auctions will never peacefully co-exist on the same search engine. And the line that seperates store operators and auction listers will continue to become more defined as each chooses his favorite venue and the rivalry and alienation between the two groups will escalate if they try to keep the two services integrated.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
[ edited by sparkz on Jul 19, 2006 09:19 PM ]
Your analysis is pretty good, and I agree with it. However, ebay has always tried to expand beyond the auction model. I don't think it was a blunder, but they should have gone with a different site instead of trying to combine everything. I think the marketplace has changed a lot since the late 90's when ebay was primarily an auction site. When I tell people I know what I do, I get a lot of feedback on ebay. It seems to me there are a lot of people who prefer to use buy it now and know they got the item instead of play games and get outbid in the last second. I think auctions are appropriate for a lot of items, but many don't want to take part in it.
I don't think this is a good move for ebay. Yeah, I will pay more, and that sucks - But I know for myself that although I am going to reduce the amount of stuff I sell via ebay store, that stuff isn't going on ebay auction. Over the past 15 months, I've gone from being 95% dependent on ebay for sales down to about 40%. After all the recent changes, I sort of felt it was a matter of time before ebay became unaffordable. I hope in a year to be maybe 15-20% dependent on ebay - In other words, I want to be in a position where I can live without them if I have to. I think the 10% FVF bodes poorly for auction sellers, because I can easily see ebay doubling the FVF for auctions to match the stores. In the real world of auctions, 10% is considered a good rate. It's only a matter of time.
And not to depress store owners too much, but in 2007, there will be a massive USPS rate increase. Basically, media mail is going up 50 cents a pound, and a first class package that weighs 5 ounces (like a cd) will increase from $1.35 to about $2.00. Don't be fooled by the media saying it is only 3 cents more, because that is all they will be reporting. For shippers, this is going to be a huge increase.
posted on July 19, 2006 10:24:38 PM new
I am truly disgusted. Earlier in the year when sales were good and stores were in the search, I purchased a ton of merchandise. After they removed the stores from search, my sales tumbled. I was trying to stick it out because I have so much merchandise, but this is just too much. With close to 1000 items in my store, my fees are going to rise alot. Not to mention Vendio and Paypal fees.
I figured out that right now, after all the fees, I'm only making $2 when I sell a $10 book. Now it will be even less. Its hardly worth it. I don't stick it to eBay like some sellers do and put listings at .01 and charge $10 shipping. I charge the exact amount of shipping and have to compete with the swindlers who are doing it the other way and keeping their prices slightly lower because they aren't paying hardly any fees. I'll take my stuff out to the flea market and sell it for what I paid for it or take a loss. I'm glad I signed up for classes at college this fall. Its a tough thing when you depend on eBay to make a living.
posted on July 19, 2006 10:26:21 PM new
Hi Vet...I should clarify. I never meant to imply that the introduction of stores was a blunder. It was actually a stroke of genius. It's where they tried to put it that was a blunder. I thought they had learned better with Half.com. They bought the site, ran it as a stand alone for a few years, and when they thought there was enough time between aquisition and integration so as not to bring up anti-trust issues, they decided to import all the sellers and merchandise into the Ebay main site and eliminate Half.com. You recall the outcry and rebellion in the ranks that this caused, and Ebay backed off and decided to keep Half seperate from the main site. Many of the objections raised at the time about combining the sites are the exact same problems that are plaguing Stores and Ebay today. At that time, the people objecting were experienced sellers in their own areas, Half and Ebay. There were very few objections to stores coming into the auction site. Although the store owners for the most part were experienced Ebay sellers, as store owners, they were rookies when the first store opened and had no idea where it would lead.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on July 19, 2006 11:44:25 PM new
I sympathize...but geeze, these figures are astounding:
------------------------
Selected Key eBay Q2 Financial and Operating Metrics
Consolidated net revenues totaled $1.411 billion in Q2-06, a growth rate of 30% over the $1.086 billion reported in Q2-05.
Marketplaces net revenues totaled $1.028 billion in Q2-06, representing 22% year-over-year growth. Payments net revenues totaled $339 million in Q2-06, representing 39% year-over-year growth. And communications net revenues totaled $44 million in Q2-06, representing a 26% increase from the $35 million reported in Q1-06.
eBay cumulative confirmed registered users at the end of Q2-06 totaled 203 million, and active users increased to 78 million.
eBay new listings totaled 596 million in Q2-06, 35% higher than the 440 million new listings reported in Q2-05.
eBay GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume), the total value of all successfully closed items on eBay's trading platforms, was $13 billion in Q2-06, representing an 18% year-over-year increase from the $11 billion reported in Q2-05.
eBay's fixed price trading contributed approximately $4 billion or 35% of total GMV during Q2-06, primarily from eBay's "Buy It Now" feature. At the end of Q2-06, eBay hosted approximately 541,000 stores worldwide, with approximately 255,000 stores hosted on the US site.
PayPal had 114 million total payments accounts at the end of Q2-06, a 44% increase from the 79 million reported at the end of Q2-05. Total Payment Volume (TPV), the dollar volume of payments initiated through the PayPal system, excluding the payment gateway business, was $9 billion in Q2-06, a 37% increase from the $6 billion reported in Q2-05.
Communications had a cumulative total of 113 million registered users at the end of Q2-06, representing a 20% increase from the 95 million in Q1-06. Communications registered users represent the number of unique user accounts created on Skype.
posted on July 20, 2006 04:35:37 AM new
kozersky:Thanks for your comments. I have cancelled my Vendio Gallery. I really like it, but with eBay increases and low sales, I just don't think it's an option.
Most of my 600+ store items are in 6 main categories with sub categories, and just a few in "other".
In the email we got it states that for current listings, the new final value fee will apply only after these listings are renewed. So doesn't this mean if the item sells before the end of the 30days you will pay the old FVF?
You already paid to put them in the store so why shut down before the end of the listing time.
So why is everyone closing down there store right now, why not wait till the listings end and don't realist them.
I was in the Ebay Community last nite and everyone that came into the forum said "I closed my store" Is there something I'm missing?
Why not let the store items finish out the time and then don't realist when they end. Then if you want to close you store do it then.
Also, in the forum they mentioned a site that runs auctions and store listings maybe its something to check out wagglepop.com
toni
[ edited by tonimar1 on Jul 20, 2006 04:57 AM ]
posted on July 20, 2006 05:20:34 AM new
I doubt that eBay is done with changes to their business model. There is more to come. Expect higher fees etc. This is obviously a ploy to continue to drive away the smaller sellers. I was never a fan of stores and arrived 6 months late in opening mine in the fall of 2004. With SIS the store did fine. Much of the later decline in sell thru for me was due to stale inventory. I reduced inventory from 6000 to 2000 while maintaining my original pricing over the last two years to maintain decent sell thru. When SIS was eliminated I eliminated single item listings in Stores and left only 300 unlimited quantity listings there and stopped auction/fixed price listings. Sell thru improved and profit/item improved. Since Vendio stores were introduced several years ago I have kept all my unsold ebay inventory there. Sell thru rate is poor but considering the weak inventory and low fees It continues to make sense to maintain the free store. I have had repeat customers buy hundreds of postcards though the Vendio Store. I use vendio checkout and have had the vendio link and pointer to my store in all my ebay listings since day one.I have always only mentioned Vendio Store in my post sale correspondence-never never eBay. I plan on continuing this model for the near future til eBay makes their next move. Chuck
You're right, there's no reason to close until August 22nd. And at that point, I'm gone. My day today will be spent looking at web-hosting sites to pick the new home of my store.
No listing fees, No final value fees, No "accepted payment" policies, no shipping policies, no report this item button, no feedback to worry about... It will be nice to be my own boss again!
posted on July 20, 2006 05:34:48 AM new
eauctionmgnt, what you plan on doing sounds good.
I also decided today to take most of the items in my store and send them to auction for the 20cent listing fee, but not put them into the gallery. This way they get exposure on the auction and since I will not be putting them back into the store Now I feel is a good time to do this. I hope I'm right, because I have 2 stores.
I also am checking out other areas for listing and for a store.
If we are what we eat,