posted on September 24, 2001 02:20:54 PM new
Iam Freezing All My Spending On New Items And selling Out My Inventory, And when its all Gone I will Sell my digital Camera last,
the wave is over, was nice when it was good,however all things end and time to pack up the tent, some of our local auctions are doing better than ebay auctions.
Good lucl to all.........
posted on September 24, 2001 06:43:59 PM new
Just out of curiosity, are you also one of those people who has decided that they need to sell all of their stock, pull all their money out of the banks, and cash in their RRSP's and mutual funds because they think that due to recent events and the current drop in the economy that the banks are going to fold and have no money left to pay us what we have deposited?
posted on September 24, 2001 07:52:10 PM new
I think I will stimulate the economy a little by going to my local feed store and buy several bags of chicken feed and then donate it to all the chicken littles who post at auction watch.
I hope all those who are pulling out of the market are the sellers who sell all the mass market "stuff" ...and the diet pils and ginzu knives etc. Maybe the listings will be less clogged.
posted on September 24, 2001 08:09:03 PM new
Don't you people think you are being a bit hard on mombo. A lot of us are discouraged right now. Some will give up. [I'm not one of them]
How about a little support or at least some kind words.
posted on September 24, 2001 08:21:07 PM new
Interestingly, what we are observing is capitalism at work, the weak sellers are leaving and the remaining sellers will grow stronger. If the economy burps or the business environment changes, the business owners who cannot adapt to changes will disappear. You can read their posts, they yell and scream, whine and complain, that eBay is out to get them, that eBay is attempting to force them to do what they do not wish to do. The reality is these sellers lack the required basic business skills to evolve their eBay businesses to fit new formats. These sellers are dogmatic and rigid in their business practices, unable to make changes that will enable them to profit from new conditions.
It is not relevant when, how or why eBay corporate officers change the rules or implement new programs. If you want to be a seller within the eBay environment, then your eBay business needs to be flexible enough to adapt to any new situation.
I join the chorus of those sellers who understand what I am saying, the new chant that I am stealing from another poster on another thread and that is ... adapt or die.
walkalot
[ edited by walkalot on Sep 24, 2001 08:24 PM ]
posted on September 24, 2001 09:52:30 PM new
LOOK at the Economy/Stock Market/Unemployment
ETC ETC
Times are tough, but this is not the end of the INTERNET/EBAY...
You can leave, but plenty of others will stay me included.. I got discouraged this summer & didn't list a SINGLE item for nearly 3 months. But I'm back.. & sure this is a "bump" in the road.. but you can't get discouraged..
posted on September 24, 2001 10:20:38 PM new
mombo,
Good luck to you. If you've found you can get better prices elsewhere, you'd be less than smart to continue on ebay.
Folks,
SHAME on you. At some point, most likely ALL of us have evaluated our decision to stay or go.
Those who have decided to go are trying to make the best decision they can for themselves. There's nothing dishonorable in this and we don't know their personal situation which brought them to this decision.
Those who have decided to stay are most likely looking at ways to adapt given the economy and other factors. Who knows down the line which one of us may be the next one to post our farewell after giving it our best shot?
I'm staying but I know, given all that has happened, that sales may be slower for a while, sell through may drop, I might have to take a lower profit margin than previously and that, someday, despite all this, it may be time to pack it in as well.
This could be any one of us in the future. There, but for the Grace of God, go I.
posted on September 24, 2001 11:09:03 PM new
good post eventer. It is highly doubtful that one seller leaving will mean more profit for some of you, less quality items means fewer buyers, each person that leaves takes something with them. It is sickening to celebrate someone elses misfortune, all of us are here to make a living.
posted on September 24, 2001 11:09:32 PM new
I suppose I can understand the backlash in this thread, though it's pretty despicable. Perhaps those sellers getting their licks in are covering up just a tiny bit of insecurity?
I can tell you honestly that I have no desire to adapt to the "new eBay." After four plus years, I'm putting eBay sales on the back burner. I just don't enjoy it any more.
For those who think that a seller or two leaving will mean more business for you, think again. There are maroons waiting in line to be fleeced by eBay.
Sales are down across the board and that's a fact. I kinda wonder if what we're seeing here is full disclosure, or just wishful thinking. (Read, tall-tale telling.) It isn't always a matter of weak sellers vs. strong sellers. Sometimes it comes down to just being fed up with eBay.
I've taken a full-time job. The hours are longer, but the pay is better and I don't take my work home with me. I still eBay too, 'cause I need the money. But the honeymoon ended a long time ago.
posted on September 24, 2001 11:17:55 PM new
Thank you Eventer, for saying exactly what I was feeling, and stating it without using the nasty words that I was considering.
posted on September 25, 2001 12:12:32 AM new
The nature of economics may be harsh, but the fact remains if you can't adapt or change you will be weeded out. Mombo just doesn't have the drive to become a long term successeful seller on ebay.
posted on September 25, 2001 12:17:53 AM new
Lets look at the time line here in order to gain a little perspective.
A wee less than 14 days ago this country was "attacked". Something that has not happened in the lifetime of most of America's citizens. This SHOCKED us. A natural reaction to this type of shock is to cease functioning in a normal manner...to draw within, to group together with one's family, to wonder what all this means. Shopping, especially for non-essentials is seriously curtailed.
This state of shock persisted for several days...and still persists for many.
Then we hear that our government is declaring war and many get SCARED. Others become very patriotic and want revenge. But again, they are not thinking about shopping
Then we hear that the airlines are going to lay off thousands and many begin to become fearful of a recession. Fears of recession frequently cause a "bunkering down" reaction. People start curtailing their discretionary spending.
The stock market increases the fear of recession.
It is obvious that page views, bids and sales would be down in the ebay marketplace. Every business person selling on ebay should have expected it as soon as they heard the news about the WTC and the Pentagon. Every business person worth his salt knows buying behavior is affected by events as unsettling as have happened in the last 14 days.
And every business person should also know that unless these outside forces immediately turn around that the slow down of the market will continue...possibly for quite a while. It will only turn around when people have recoverd from their shock and fear and are no longer fearful.
Now lets look at the many "chicken little" posts we have seen lately.
We have people claiming that a program that is only 7 days old (A4A) has ALREADY seriously affected their sales...while they conveniently ignore the psychology of the buyers. They are ignoring the fact that the recent current events are having a big effect on the consumer's desire to purchase unneccessary merchandise. Instead they are using a program by the "hated" ebay to dump on...blaming it for what is really a normal reaction by the consumer to a major national emergency.
These posters who are saying they are leaving are not being realistic or logical...they instead have hit a bump in the road and instead of picking themselves up and continue on the path they are throwing in the towel and running away (or so they say).
What I see in a lot of the posts about leaving (not all) is a "can't stand the heat" mentality. I see a lot of posts that say the sky is falling when all they have felt is a little drop of water on their heads.
I see a lot of posts that express a "oh god, it is all over" after way to short a period of time.
A lot of posts that show some of our sellers are way to quick to see "the end".
If all those who say they are leaving really are, then what I see is people who are not cut out for the "up and down" realities of the business world.
The sky isn't falling...there are just some storm clouds overhead right now. But if storm clouds scare some, then they should leave...being a merchant is not for them.
posted on September 25, 2001 01:13:55 AM new
Last week I was feeling a bit of doom and gloom about the tragedy and the A4A and none of us can be sure how it will affect our business. This week I feel more positive.
In the categories of antiques and collectibles where I usually buy and sell I see most items still getting good prices this past week. So I think these sellers may do okay. There could be more difficult times ahead for other sellers that rely on new wholesale gift items, etc where there is a lot of competition.
Today a lady walked into our shop and she had already made up her mind that we were going to fail now and she so much as told us so even though we said business was good. She was accompanied by two other women who snickered and ridiculed our prices. Suddenly the store got busy and people started buying things and I could see that it had ruined her whole day.
There will always be people who laugh at other's misfortune, never knowing the true reasons why people choose to do things the way they do. Mombo said their local auctions are doing better than ebay. People make choices. I also wish them the best and I wish everyone the best.
posted on September 25, 2001 04:05:28 AM new
I wish you the best Mombo! Our local auctions too are selling higher than ebay, or were, I haven't checked since the WTC disaster.
However, they also charge a bigger percentage but then you don't have to deal with shipping or non-payers so I guess it all evens out.
We've cut back on ebay by about 90% and are reopening our B&M. Seems that things have come full circle since we closed it in 1997 and started ebay exclusively.
Nothing we can blame ebay for (tho I can't keep up with their rule changes!) It's just the fact that 90% of our merchandise is under $20. Nobody wants to pay $5 postage on a $5 item,but they will pay $7 or $8 in the store.
So it's not ebay, it's also the postal rates which are going to go up again. Change and adapt, change and adapt is the way to go. So we have to spread ourselves around between ebay, other online auctions, real time auctions, store, flea market,etc. It's whatever works for you.
Some of you seem very critical of those who leave and that's a real shame. Finding what works for you is just called good merchandising. And if the good collectibles and antiques leave and the ginsu knives stay then that is definitely a loss for ebay.
posted on September 25, 2001 08:12:35 AM new
Good luck mombo and thanks for your post , Eventer~ I was disgusted by some of the comments said earlier. Times are tough now and a shock has occurred , not just to American but all over the world and if you can find a better avenue ~ Good luck! and all the best, mombo.
posted on September 25, 2001 11:40:09 AM new
For the first time ebay, or should I say online selling, is going through a business cycle and as a result a maturation process. Up to now it has been only up, up, up. What comes out of this will be interesting to see. Will online auctions continue to dominate or will people turn to other means of selling their goods.
I have begun cultivating my old customers from the old days before ebay and selling directly to them, using digital camera, email, etc. Most of my old customers are now online and willing to adapt. I have been in business for myself for over thirty years and see ebay and online selling as just another tool. Thank god it is available. I went through the resessions of the seventies, and late eighties, without the tools that are available now.
Mombo,
Is it time to sell out? Sure, it is always time to sell out, and start over next week with something that you like and can make a buck at. No matter if it is ebay or local auctions, flea markets, direct sales. Good luck.
posted on September 25, 2001 11:53:50 AM new
Excellent post, Amy.
I'm doing great, others are not.
I have had three excellent offers to work eBay stores for different acquaintances of mine.
I Love what I do now.
Their offers are boring.
I will adapt to whatever the future brings.
Some of us are lucky enough to enjoy what we do while finding it profitable as well.
Some need to find something different.
I wish you ALL success in whichever path you take.
BTW, Amy,
>>>Every business person worth his salt knows buying behavior is affected by events as unsettling as have happened in the last 14 days<<<
I interpret this a bit different than most.
Us shopaholics find great comfort in shopping both for eBay and on eBay.
My sales prove it (so does my credit card bill )
posted on September 25, 2001 12:21:31 PM new
Zoomin...oh most definately there are those who turn to shopping when their world is turned upside down...or they are depressed etc.
posted on September 25, 2001 12:40:09 PM new
Whenever I read a post like this, I can feel my stomach start to tighten and I get a scary feeling. I have to tell myself to calm down and be logical. Things are like no other time in our lives. Our own safety doing day to day things is something we can no longer take for granted.
I think ebay's A4A auctions are taking some of my previews and bids, but so is the lack of confidence in the economy. People are plain scared. When was the last time you had to be aware of going into your office building? I have worked for the government for 26 years and this is the first time my purse and briefcase get searched and my ID checked each time I enter the building. Inconvenient? You better believe it, but it is important for our safety this happens.
Whenever I start to get dragged down into agreeing with some of the posts, I have slap myself. This will all pass. Life will go on and hopefully people will again be confident to not only bid on our auctions, but fly the skys, buy stocks and get our economy going again. As the Marines say, don't let the bas#$$ds get you down. You not only have to believe in we, the people, you have to believe in yourself.
posted on September 25, 2001 04:36:30 PM new
The part that amused me was that they would be selling their digital camera. Yeah if you are leaving eBay might as well unload all those big capital investments. What else would you ever use a digital camera for after all?
)
