posted on October 8, 2013 04:42:49 PM new
Don't know if it is just me, but my sales are way down. Not even getting any lookers on items which should sell.
posted on October 9, 2013 08:35:01 AM new
I'm in the middle of doing my 2012 tax return and I can't believe the difference in my income from then to now. My sales are 1/2 or 1/3 of what they were last year.
You can't tell me this is the economy. It has to have more to do with ebay. Of course, I've had some life changes as well but they shouldn't make my sales drop that much.
posted on October 9, 2013 09:59:28 AM new
On Ebay seller central,they blame it on the new search engine called Cassini.
I beg to differ,if it is the search engine,then some will have more sales while others have less or none.
But it looks like most sellers are seeing their sales vloume down,down and down.
My sales is half of what it was last year and I doubt Xmas will make up the difference.
Many dont have jobs,been out of work since 2008,if they do have a job,it pays half of what they used to make,those in fast food industry fare worse,20 hours at Mcdonald and 20 hours at Burger King.
People are eating out less,so Olive Garden,Red Lobster are making less,Elizabeth Arden is more than a cosmetic maker,it is also a wholesale distributor,it said its largest customer has cut back drastically its Xmas order and we all know who it is,it is WALMART.
Then Walmart comes out recently and said its inventory level is too high,Blackberry has one billion dollars worth of phones it cant sell,Dollar General complained people are just buying the basic food and staples,not the $25 blender where there is good margin.
Read the newspaper,instead of buying trinklets,post cards and cutie bear ON eBAY and pay for shipping,why not bulk up on toilet papers,cans of tuna and SPAM,fill up the gas tank,you cant eat cutie bear,Barbie !
But then all these bring up one question-if sales is down,why is Ebay encouraging sellers to list 400,000 items free?We need more buyers not more sellers????????????????????
[ edited by lostmymojo on Oct 9, 2013 10:00 AM ]
posted on October 9, 2013 06:36:11 PM new
Ebay is playing a numbers game. Their money is being made by volume.
I know my fees are much lower now but I'd rather have the sales.
posted on October 9, 2013 06:54:52 PM new
make money on volume/
This reminds me of Fluffy,run thousands of silver trinklets starting at 99 cents and ended at 99 cents,making money on shipping.
posted on October 10, 2013 06:56:02 PM new
I do wonder how Ebay is making money on volume. It we all list millions of items for free, but very few sell, how is that profitable for anyone??
posted on October 10, 2013 06:57:36 PM new
PS, I think a lot of what lost said is true. Some of my friends that are selling EUC children's clothing are doing quite well. It appears necessity wins.
posted on October 13, 2013 11:55:59 AM new
I hope ebay isn't really making more money off volume so that they will get rid of all these free listings. I think this is what is hurting our sales more than the economy. After all, the economy was just as bad last year - if not worse.
posted on October 13, 2013 04:25:23 PM new
They are not making money on volume,the high end stuff is subsidising the zillions of low end stuff.
Think-it costs the same to host a 10K Rolex as a 99 cents keychain~
Those cheap listings hurt the high end sellers,as cheap buyers would not buy a high priced item and the high end buyers dont believe in paying high price for the high end stuff!
[ edited by lostmymojo on Oct 13, 2013 04:27 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2013 07:34:03 AM new
I think prices are unrealistic as well.
If you can list a $500 item for $750 and it cost you nothing to list it - why not give it a shot at $750.
I would rather go back to the good old days when you ask a fair price and get it most of the time.
posted on October 14, 2013 11:12:19 AM new
I think that is why I prefer listing more unusual items. I can set my own price and see what happens. I just repurposed an item and listed it. I am curious to see if I can get over $500 out of it. I paid $10 for it, added an extra $40 in restoration costs. I've seen people sell inferior items similar for over $400 without the extras I put into it.
posted on October 14, 2013 12:06:35 PM new
Another reason why asking price is higher than before is because it is harder to find 'things' to sell,first you mustknow where to find them,then you have to acquire them at a low price in order to turn a profit after fees.
There used to be gold at scrap price or close to scrap price,these gold are gone,gone to be melt down by the refiners,so now you have expensive gold jewelry.
Good luck to you Shag,you are a retailer,you have an eye for what sells and how much to sell it for.
