posted on October 11, 2000 03:55:18 PM new
Before I go swimming in our newly completed swimming pool.
I have been thinking for the past few weeks in fact months that ebaY sales are affected by the stock market.
Many of us have been selling for a while on ebaY have seen a steady decline in the bidding of items offered for sale.In that they no longer get the same high bids they did a year or two ago.
Some of this maybe due to competition but I think it is also affected with the stock market.
When bidding was great Tech stocks where going up in leaps and bounds and so I think people felt their net worth was much higher and therefore had extra cash to throw around.
In the last 12 months teck stocks have gone down hill look at Yahoo got hammered today.
The stock market is flat so most folks no longer have the net worth they had 18 months ago.Though nothing at this point has really changed for them on a day to day basis.
Seeing the decline in their net worth they no longer bid as high as they used too as they feel much poorer.
posted on October 11, 2000 04:14:41 PM new
I believe that sales are affected by the markets.
We have been seeing a surge in property sales in the DC metro area. People are actually bidding houses up much higher than the asking price. ( Keep in mind too that the average price of houses that are selling like hotcakes around here is about $350,000). I have talked to a few RE agents who all have the same answer; that people who made money in the market are cashing in to buy real property.
In this economy I wouldn't begin to guess what it means, but traditionally taking profits and putting it into real property reflects uncertainty in the stock markets. I believe there is an underlying current of uncertainty in the economy as a whole and this is affecting online sales, (not a tangible reason, just the perception.) I think we will know more after the election.
posted on October 11, 2000 04:19:44 PM new
Adrian,
I believe that you are right reguarding the stock market. When the market drops, or seems to be in trouble, even people who are not in the "market" stop spending. All they know is that something is wrong. When people get scared, whether for a perceived (sp?) or actual reason they hang onto their money. I have been in retail for over 30 years, and have learned that nervous people pull in and hang onto their money....
posted on October 11, 2000 05:18:16 PM new
I think the stock market has a direct effect on the sale of luxury goods - when the market is up more people will buy luxury goods and when it's down they will hold onto their money. I'm not sure if this relates to necessary consumer goods but it does affect the antique market since items in this category are considered an extravagance along with cars, jewels and furs.
posted on October 12, 2000 09:19:15 PM new
In the last few days the bidding on my items have dropped off incredibly.I think it is directly related to the stock market.
My items would be considered luxury goods though not expensive.One of the items a book page from a late 15th century printing.Normally has bids within hours of it being listed.Plus others around it.I listed it Tuesday and still not one bid or on the others.
The only thing besides ebaY site instability is the stock market.I have spoken to other sellers and they are seeing the same thing.
They also express concerns over the stock market too.I wonder what will happen tomorrow.
posted on October 12, 2000 09:22:54 PM new
re; instability, out local gasoline prices jumped today. But as I said before, the stock market affects all retail. And I do believe it effects things other then "luxury" items. I think that the only thing it DOESN'T effect is basic necessities.
posted on October 12, 2000 10:02:09 PM new
October has been a iffy month in the stock market, and retail sales are effected by
market going down, due to the news media.
Octobers before a Presidential election,
have a bad effect also, combine the current stock market losses, and the fact that
most folks would rather vote for the VP nominees for president. Retail is looking
bad until Nov. 26. JMHO Ed
edhdsn
[ edited by edhdsn on Oct 12, 2000 10:03 PM ]
posted on October 12, 2000 10:08:06 PM new
edhdsn,
Boy I hope you are right and things pick up after Thanksgiving, but my manufacturers, distributors etc, all are saying that the orders that they should already have for the Christmas season, haven't even started to come in yet.
posted on October 13, 2000 06:51:56 AM new
EDHDSN: I think the factor re the presidential elections is an important one, in addition to stock markets. In the past week with the presidential debates going on, I've seen a steep decline in bids--only 10% of listed items have bids and I've never seen it this bad. The major thing I contributed it to is the election season. On a personal note, our own buying has been reduced because of higher gas prices--my hubby even started cycling to work instead of taking the car.
posted on October 13, 2000 07:02:04 AM new
td2
"On a personal note, our own buying has been reduced because of higher gas prices--my hubby even started cycling to work instead of taking the car."
This statement of yours really sums it up, doesn't it? And as the cost of heating a home goes up, so retail spending goes down. I look for a slow but alright Christmas season on Ebay, but I think that the major retailers in this country will not do well, and that just makes consumers more leery.
