posted on December 19, 2000 01:09:07 PM
eBay total listings are dropping rapidly, as many sellers take a much needed break for the holidays. Same thing happened last year- but I'm wondering if things aren't different this year. I wonder if many of the sellers (and listings) won't be back, as profits shrink and folks realize that it's hard work to make money at online auctions.
Last year, listings reached a high of 3.7M the first week of December, and were followed by a 35% drop to 2.4M by the third week of December. They rebounded to 4.0M, 18% above the December high by the end of January.
This year, eBay listings reached an all-time high of 6.3M in the first week of December. They've dropped 41% to 3.7M in the past 2 weeks- a pretty amazing 2.6 MILLION decrease in listings.
So- how much lower will listings go? Have sellers had enough?
posted on December 19, 2000 01:20:34 PM
I hope they go even lower!
Each day this week, I have seen the listings in my category drop, which means less competition, which means higher ending prices for moi...
I don't think this has anything to do with seller dissatisfaction; it is just a cycle, same as we saw last year, and the year before, etc. People who stay in the game, through Christmas and New Years are bound to clean up while everyone else is taking a break.
posted on December 19, 2000 01:46:12 PM
Also, as with anything else, there will always be a percentage of users who will bail out the moment things get a little rough, while another percentage is in for the long haul, like...the stock market...We can opt to take out our profit right now, or let it ride. There is a good chance now, based on the slipping economy, that many will drop out, because they might not have an alternative plan, and may find themselves in a position where they may have to go back to a regular job. And yes, that will broaden the chances for success for those who stay.
posted on December 19, 2000 02:44:24 PM
In The last two weeks my sell through rate has doubled.
I couldn,t be happy selling right now My incressed sell rate and the drop in listings says a lot about where the ebay buyers went they were always there just to many dam Items out there to choose from.
In the last two weeks my yahoo sell through rate has incressed as well after a year selling on Ebay my Items are finilly getting the noticed for the money im paying.
Sellers may be leaveing many may not come back but I think the thin out of sellers is a win win situation makeing hundered of dollars on the $1 garage sale item days are over these seller use to this are tired of spending out dollars relisting. the new sellers with little low exspectations who been listing 2 or 3 times to get that one sale are now selling many item frist time not for million but makeing money on there slim margin items at least for me since November has been the case.
The less seller out there the higher my profits been going up on my low margin Items im not make enough to make it full time but finilly getting enough to know im going to be able to restock inventory from profits not out of pocket. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on December 19, 2000 02:51:47 PM
Part of that may be the fact that a lot of us are part-timers or "hobby sellers" and when we get busy with stuff like wrapping Christmas presents, decorating the tree, writing cards and making cookies we don't have time to list (or list as much) on eBay. I think I've listed a grand total of three items during the past six weeks, but when January rolls around I'll probably jump back into it.
posted on December 19, 2000 03:54:34 PM
supply and demand. its that simple. less sellers and more buyers= better sales. more sellers and less buyers=bad sales. competition is good but can also be bad.
there are no bears in africa...why???..competition...there was at one time but...lions ate them.
there are only so many slices in the pie so if less people list those that remain will do great.
posted on December 19, 2000 04:03:49 PM
also to much stuff makes it look common and worthless. it is no longer a great find. it becomes just more of the same. people buy things because its unusual or special and exciting to find on ebay. take that away from them and they dont enjoy it anymore. so yes too much is bad and boring for the buyer.
posted on December 19, 2000 04:09:22 PM
no the pie stays the same but your slice is bigger....and ebays cut is bigger. ebay is here to stay. but many sellers are not. the ones that remain understand that its work, hard work with many hours. its not easy money and once they find that out they bolt. and if there are less sellers getting better prices ebay does greator if there are more sellers getting less ebay does great. so....ebay is here to stay. and i am glad.
posted on December 19, 2000 05:18:43 PM
As for me, my listings on Ebay are minimal right now. My books are all listed on amazon.com's marketplace and on Yahoo because I think the half.com banner ads really stink. The majority of my toys are listed on Yahoo because they sell like wildfire there. That leaves only one smaller category of items that I still list & sell on Ebay with any regularity.
posted on December 19, 2000 05:52:27 PM
I am in the situation RainyBear mentions - I would love to have some auctions going right now, but I just have too much to do with getting ready for the Holidays. I am looking forward to jumping back in - next week, I hope!
