greatlakes
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:27:43 AM
I first started as a buyer on ebay and enjoyed it so much I began selling. Well I don't enjoy it anymore and I'm seriously thinking of quitting once I sell down my stock.
I took a break from selling in August and during that time I stopped shopping on ebay, too. Since I wasn't selling there was no need to log on to the internet.
So for those of you who say, good stop selling that's all the more for me--think again. A large number of sellers are also your buyers. If they don't sell, they don't buy.
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loosecannon
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:33:40 AM
I see your point greatlakes, but there are always new sellers coming down the pike who want to give this internet thing a whirl. If you quit, someone will step into your place, so to speak.
Good luck to you in future endeavors.
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petertdavis
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:37:23 AM
It's not just ebay. Look at all of the people getting laid off now, they're not buying either. Stock market is down, people have less money to spend, they're not buying either. Interest rates are down, less money for retirees who depend on interest payments for their income, they're not buying. It's really cumulative.
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mballai
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:44:56 AM
People don't stop buying unless they die. There are zillion places to buy on the Web and another zillion B&M or mailorder sources.
Being on the web or in the mall doesn't make me want to buy. Need or desire does.
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loosecannon
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posted on October 11, 2001 10:45:58 AM
I wish the gloom & doom talk would ease off a bit. Bids are up, things are going OK, considering what has happened in the last month. Sure, it may take some time for things to normalize all around, but it will.
You have to believe in something. I guess it's either believe things are going to be fine or throw in the towel.
Had a stray "the" in there. How'd that happen?
[ edited by loosecannon on Oct 11, 2001 11:32 AM ]
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srfnfshn
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:01:18 AM
Ahhh, the voice of reason. I think you're right, Loosecannon
Things are picking up just a bit for me too and I'm not prepared to throw in the towl yet.
I may need one of those ozone thingeys to straighten things out completely, though... 
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kiara
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:21:07 AM
If they don't sell, they don't buy.
Not true for me. I don't sell much during the summer months as our B&M store is too busy for me to concentrate on doing a good job with my internet sales.
But during that time I concentrate on buying and I buy lots. Even if I didn't buy or sell I would still log on each day to keep in touch with the latest happenings and also to learn.
There will be doom and gloom if we all stop buying and selling. If we continue doing what we were doing before the disaster it will help the economy for the future.
I agree with loosecannon on this one. We all have to believe in something and let's hope it is all good.
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loosecannon
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:36:48 AM
Two people agreeing with me on the same thread? That might be a first. I'll send you both your $10 ASAP. 
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wowwow85
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posted on October 11, 2001 11:49:27 AM
itis true there are less sellers and buyers now,take a look at the view counters.
some sellers have found jobs elsewhere,the money is not there for the relentless hours and bs we have to put up with.
as for the new sellers,if they are newbies who believe there is easy money,they will be very disappointed.
as for the pros,many think it is better to tend to their b& m stores where the rewards is higher.
call it dealer cleansing or consolidation,after xmas it would be interesting to see how many sellers left?
i know one eaby buyer(seller ) hwo just obtained a second mortgage on his house to reduce interest on his cc charges he has made buying on and off ebay for resale and personal collection.
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quickdraw29
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posted on October 11, 2001 12:25:22 PM
The way I look at it is a seller who also is a buyer cancels each other out. The supply and demand equation is uneffected.
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chum
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posted on October 11, 2001 01:54:10 PM
October is my last month of selling on eBay after 4 long years. I have been looking for a job and I finally found one I like. For me it is not fun anymore. Now with the half.com business now was the right time to quit. I will not unregister my account because I still enjoy buying, but selling just isnt worth it anymore.
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BJGrolle
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posted on October 11, 2001 02:01:41 PM
loosecannon, count me in as number 3!
Although, I have to say that if the originator really isn't having fun anymore, it doesn't make sense to keep on with it.
However, I don't think that the buying and selling bit necessarily go hand in hand. When you know that you can find some items cheaper on eBay than elsewhere, or find things that you can't find elsewhere, does it really make sense to quit browsing and (maybe) buying just because you don't enjoy the selling part anymore?
[ edited by BJGrolle on Oct 11, 2001 02:02 PM ]
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Microbes
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:00:36 PM
Two people agreeing with me on the same thread? That might be a first. I'll send you both your $10 ASAP.
Can I get in this line?
I agree with you, even with out the 10 bucks....
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bunnicula
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:19:29 PM
I don't buy the same things I sell. I sell books. I buy DVDs, computer stuff, and other things I nedd/want. So I certainly don't cancel myself out. Probably many sellers who also buy are the same.
And, personally, I actually buy *more* when I'm not selling. Because I am not keeping myself busy, taking images, creating auctions, uploading & tracking said auctions, and packaging items to mail out, I have more leisure time available to browse on eBay for the things i want. I haven't been selling this past month or so and in that time I have purchased several DVDs, a blanket, and am keeping an eye on seveal more auctions. 
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sun818
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posted on October 11, 2001 03:37:09 PM
I buy more off eBay (or mail order) if I'm busy dealing, listing, and packing. I find online shopping to be extremely convenient and provides me the opportunity to focus on selling. I don't mind paying a little more for "things" if I can make more money by selling "other things".
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srfnfshn
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posted on October 11, 2001 04:33:39 PM
Dang, I'd really like to have the 10 bucks, but I don't take paypal.
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quickdraw29
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posted on October 11, 2001 04:59:51 PM
"I don't buy the same things I sell... So I certainly don't cancel myself out. Probably many sellers who also buy are the same."
But then again, you're just one drop in the bucket. I was referring to an accumalative of users who would buy and sell across multiple categories. The net result is the same. Your drop in selling would certainly cancel out another user dropping buying in the same category! 
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wowwow85
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posted on October 11, 2001 06:16:45 PM
i have noticed a sad trend,there is less and less unique and good quality middle priced range items ,you keep seeing the same items repeated like traffic sign for borzoi.
the high end items are less too as the listing fee is high.
if this means less sellers are selling,then that will lead to less buyers as buyers dont see too much worth buying.
i am talking about something one buys in 20-40 dollars range.
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MAH645
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posted on October 11, 2001 06:24:25 PM
I can't see where one has to do with the other.As far as I know 90% of the people who buy from me are not sellers on E-bay. I would think there is more buyers than sellers.
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fluffy2966
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posted on October 11, 2001 06:49:00 PM
Just my opinion, but I sell used items, mostly kids/infants and plus size clothing. And if people have less money to spend due to lay offs, downsizing or whatever their reason is they will be more able to afford my nice used items that are much cheaper than brand new items. I for one will not give up, I am helping people by recycling this used clothing we can no longer wear, then I am helping those who have less to spend but still have clothing needs. Just my little old opinion.
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gina50
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posted on October 11, 2001 06:57:37 PM
Fluffy ~ well said
I agree with you 100%
I sell gently used & vintage clothing on ebay, sales are doing very, very well!
Woman do like other clothing that they can no longer find at the mall and most times unless they run the bids way up.. get a great deal !!
not ~ gina50 ebay
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raglady1
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posted on October 11, 2001 09:34:21 PM
There will always be buyers and sellers, the marketplace existed in biblical times I don't think its going to stop unless the world ends. The best times historically to sell are in leaner times, when people have a little less money to spend they are more apt to buy used or antique because they feel they are getting a bargain and gaining something useful/decorative for their homes. Right now people are going to be sticking to their homes and families, I don't think anybody who sells airline tickets or vacation packages is going to do well right now. Antiques and collectibles will always do well.
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wowwow85
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posted on October 12, 2001 06:46:14 AM
antiiques and collectibles in hard times?
how can they sell well when people lose their job or think they could lose their job?
these days you can still bag grocery for 25 bucks,what do all these collectibles and antiques on ebay do for dinner?
besides most antiques on ebay is a joke!!
i know many ebay bidders are sorry for what they pay for so called antiques on ebay/
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loosecannon
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posted on October 12, 2001 07:03:08 AM
I think ebay is more of a collectibles market than an antique market. Fine with me.
I think the "antique" word is too over-used.
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eis98
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posted on October 12, 2001 07:09:45 AM
I must agree with loosecannon as well. For us thing are up. In October we have been having 90% sell thru...
It is a welcome change of the past 12 months. But the market has switched on Ebay - the finer antiques are going to the malls, shows, etc as they are not bring the price on Ebay. The Yard sale stuff .. is selling. People may not be going out to the mall, but they are spending time on the net and they look at ebay because they are bored and buying.
I think the formula for this Christmas season will be -- protect your good stuff with higher starting prices or reserves and let the small things run with low opening bids.
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raglady1
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posted on October 12, 2001 08:04:11 PM
wowwow85 the people who buy antiques and collectibles fall into two categories, the true collector of higher end antiques and collectibles is not usually too worried about the economy, they tend to have money so the good things will still bring the high prices. I just recently attended a live auction in my area and the prices were unbelievable, it was the highest total auction that this particular auction house ever had and they have been in business for over 25 years, but it was good stuff. I sell real antiques and have no problem getting my prices on ebay. The second category of buyers are the ones who need furniture and decorative items for their homes and its a lot cheaper to buy used than to go to Ethan Allen in leaner times. I have been selling antiques full time for a very long time and have always found this to be true
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flynlizards
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posted on October 13, 2001 03:55:11 PM
Ebay, Half & Paypal have taken all the thrill out of it for me, as far as selling. I spend time browsing now for things to buy.
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