posted on September 22, 2001 02:02:48 PM
From at least a few comments in other threads, it seems like there is a feeling that business is down on ebay. I did review the listings charts that showed listings drop. But I've also been looking, buying, and selling lately and I see no obvious change. When I look to buy, either the prices are already too high, the minimums are too high, or, in many cases, I get out-bid. I scan listings and see a lot of items with bids. And my own books are doing fine.
The comment was made that it would be bad if there was a FLD and sellers got discouraged by no-sales. I think this is a GREAT time for a FLD! The holidays are fast approaching and people will still want to buy presents, maybe even more small items rather than big, expensive things. They may want a bargain and be looking on ebay.
BTW, I was out in town today and the stores, malls, and yard sales were all swarmed with people. This is notable because in our region [suburban county near DC] there are real repercussions right now from the Pentagon bombing, Reagan National Airport being closed down, and related disruptions.
posted on September 22, 2001 03:17:11 PM
My last batch of auctions were the worst I've ever had since I've been selling on Ebay (October 1999). I had quite a few things that ended with no bids, which is very unusual. Usually someone comes along at the last minute and bids on most of my magazines. I'm going to take off a few weeks and then come back and see how it goes, plus I'm going to try to get some more vintage magazines to sell as my stock is getting low. It is hard to tell if it is just what I'm selling right now, or that the auctions are low. I'm hoping that October will be better.
posted on September 22, 2001 03:49:26 PM
Everything depends on what you are selling. Flags are going great since the chains all ran out and everyone wants one.
But of my three selling id's only one is doing good, one is slow and one has just died completely.
So I am revising my focus, I think we are in for a tough haul until things get back to "normal" and nobody knows when that will be.
It is the biggest challenge I have faced since I started with ebay three years ago.
posted on September 22, 2001 08:09:55 PM
In the last week I am deader than a door nail.
These are on items that have sold well over and over again on a weekly basis for 3 years.
But in the last week nothing,only things doing well are the three items listed for Auctions for America.
posted on September 23, 2001 07:13:28 AM
I've been watching carefully for the past week in the categories I'm already to launch in.
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY DEAD!
Their practically giving the stuff away in comparison to what it was bringing just 2 short weeks ago.
I can't afford to hang on to my stuff, yet...I certainly can't afford to sell it at a hugh loss.
I too, have been thinking of changing my game plan after being very successful with my $1NR auctions, somehow the $1NR thingy I don't see being very practical at this stage in the game.
I don't know....maybe I'll wait another week and see what happens.
posted on September 23, 2001 07:18:36 AM
Anyone saying they see no difference in eBay sales is in the vast minority. I can easily see a mass exodous of sellers leaving eBay due to the fact that it is almost impossible to make any sales/profits there. Meg better get used to the taste of crow pie.
posted on September 23, 2001 07:29:43 AM
In the category that I look to buy~ no high bids at all and also no items that I would buy ie the collector items that I am interested in weren't listed but the bids were very low for that one category ~
I am still going to list items but am very nervous~ have come to depend upon the auctions/marketplace for an income to help us get by and it is starting to hurt!
Marketplace is down as well in sales ( mind you ~ amazon is full of glitches) I used to sell 10 -20 items a week ~ now if I sell 4 I am lucky and I keep listing there!'
Auctions for america though a great idea if done properly is probably going to drive away sellers till this is over. I too am going to hold off on my items I wanted to list in Oct/nov/dec and see if the economy will recover or how bids will go.
posted on September 23, 2001 08:24:07 AM
People need to expect some falloff as a result of what happened. I was in a mall yesterday that has many local armed forces customers. It was packed. People are buying. I decided to prune my inventory, but most everything I offer seems to sell.
eBay will suffer a shakedown and the most frivolous stuff will get hit first.
posted on September 23, 2001 08:48:25 AM
Every time I check "myebay" page, I'm hoping to see green instead of red and it just ain't happenin'. This is one of my worst couple of weeks ever. My listings are the same things I've been selling successfully for 2 years.
I was going to do some listing today, but I think I'll hold off awhile.
Rhonda
[b]---To err is human, but it feels divine. Mae West
posted on September 23, 2001 11:33:30 AM
Last week wasn't too bad, even with everything that happened [prior to the AFA fiasco]. Since then the bids, except for a few items, have been practicly non-existant.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Sep 23, 2001 11:34 AM ]
posted on September 23, 2001 12:05:40 PM
Sales were off a bit just before Labor Day. I totally expected sales to climb once the holidays were over. I figured the slump was due to people spending their money on back-to-school items for the kids and possibly taking one last vacation or a few days off with the family before the kids had to go back to school.
Then the tragedy of September 11th hit and frankly sales have been extremely slow. I’d even go as far as saying that my sales are at the critical point whereas if they don’t start to pickup sometime in the next few months my family’s income may be at jeopardy.
I am sure some people are continuing to have success selling but that totally depends on what you’re selling. Some categories are still doing well. If you happen to one of those that have good sales right now, God bless you. But I’m not. I sell books and book sales are way down.
The only positive thing I can make of all this is I have been doing very well up until the 11th and actually was able to earn a living through Internet selling. I have to be grateful for that. What the future will bring I don’t know. It has me worried like many others here.
Bottom line is I’m hanging in there to see what happens. Sales have increased a little over the past few days but not enough to count on or even try and predict what the next two weeks will be like.
posted on September 23, 2001 12:14:04 PM
Billions of dollars have been donated to help the victims as of this point [by government, individuals and businesses]. Now let's put some money back into the economy!
posted on September 23, 2001 12:18:51 PM
Kolonel - are you seeing that at half.com, too? I remember you sell a lot there. My half.com sales continue to be neglible, and apparently Amazon has become very unreliable, down for whole days. Scary stuff for booksellers. Ebay continues to be fine, but, I am hoping for a FLD to give everything a boost going into the holiday buying season.
posted on September 23, 2001 12:24:20 PM
i have noticed a trend that rare one of a kind collectibles/antiques and new high quality items have been missing and it is becoming more conspicious.
i suspect the bulk loading of cheap imitation items week after week have first wiped out those dealers selling the authentic ones ,then they bulk load themselves out of business.
when such seller unleashes her bulk loading program to list 500 item per week,5000 items per month,the listing fee is at least 1500 dollars.
as more and more people have bot these repros,new listings dont get bids,those which get one bid at 8.95 is not enough to pay ebay bill of few thousand items .
good example is the french limoge versus the chinese repros.
most french limoge dealers have been forced to quit by the mass loading of the chinese repros.
now both categories of limoge and limoge fakes have been falling.
just one example,ebay is becoming a true flea market.more and more items at a few dollars.
posted on September 23, 2001 12:24:21 PM
i have noticed a trend that rare one of a kind collectibles/antiques and new high quality items have been missing and it is becoming more conspicious.
i suspect the bulk loading of cheap imitation items week after week have first wiped out those dealers selling the authentic ones ,then they bulk load themselves out of business.
when such seller unleashes her bulk loading program to list 500 item per week,5000 items per month,the listing fee is at least 1500 dollars.
as more and more people have bot these repros,new listings dont get bids,those which get one bid at 8.95 is not enough to pay ebay bill of few thousand items .
good example is the french limoge versus the chinese repros.
most french limoge dealers have been forced to quit by the mass loading of the chinese repros.
now both categories of limoge and limoge fakes have been falling.
just one example,ebay is becoming a true flea market.more and more items at a few dollars.
Mae West