posted on April 19, 2001 03:27:39 PM new
It may be just auction seller fatigue finally catching up. There’s been times when I sign on and thought “I hope there’s no auction email to deal with now”. That’s because lately the sales are few and far between and because I’m listing at Yahoo!, at both the Bid….s, and Yahoo! Canada. All having their fair share of deadbeat bidders or those leaving bad feedback on me when they are the ones not completing the sale or any of the similar problems. I’m in awe of the Sellers with a high (relatively speaking to ones’ own definition of this) feedback number and NO Negatives!!
So tired out be the lack of sales not offsetting these number of growing problems. Such as increasing fees, shipping cost, etc.~ time taken with deadbeats which generally means more emails to bidder, forms to escalate non buyer complaints, canceling the win, relisting, etc.~worrys when for whatever reason you can’t get to your money in one of the online payment systems.
Since it’s more of hobby for me easier to get away for a while or for good. I take my cap off to those trying to make their living doing this and are successful!
I’m sure all this goes with the territory. Just venting!
'ladele' here only
edited for spelling!
[ edited by ladele on Apr 19, 2001 03:29 PM ]
I have to agree. Sellers have so many "silent partners" - Yahoo! implements fees, eBay increases fees, USPS increases postage rates, AuctionWatch implements listing and final value fees, etc. - that it looks like it not worth of effort to continue listing auction items for a great many sellers.
John's chart seems to confirm this - aside from Yahoo!Auction's continuing debacle, eBay's showing significant declines in total listings.
posted on April 19, 2001 05:10:03 PM new
Hey Ladele, do you sell items that appeal to kids? The only time I've ever encountered deadbeats was when I listed Anime items. I'd have to sell the same ones about 5 times before a winner would pay up so I decided to drop that line.
If I could sell all I have tomorrow I'd gladly leave online auctions and never look back. I have many friends who want to start selling now and I strongly advise them against it. It was great a year ago but not worth the trouble these days.
posted on April 19, 2001 08:26:18 PM new
I have sellers fatigue too! I hope it goes away, as I have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of before I quit. This is more of a hobby for me too! I just like to shop and find bargains!
Not to worry, after 5 years, believe me, I go through periods of hoping no one has written me, and dreading another order, but it passes. When "Selling burn out," seems to be coming on I recognize it now, and just pull back and cool it for a week, and by the end of the week, normally I am champing at the bit to get back to posting.
I "laid out" this week because I am doing most auctions on eBay and between Easter/Taxes, and eBay making some major changes last night, it seems like a good week to "cool it."
NOW, there are some folks who really don't enjoy selling on line, and should you happen to be one of those, normally the burn out lasts longer, and some just don't return at all.
Of my friends who sell/sold on line, only one has stayed with it, the rest, although temporarily successful, just found it too confining, too demanding, and returned to their prior endeavors. It isn't a "job" for everyone.
posted on April 20, 2001 12:00:47 PM new
<i>If I could sell all I have tomorrow I'd gladly leave online auctions and never look back.</I>
kasmoon, I agree!! I see it as I’m heading for the “finish line” with auction selling. The last three that I listed with Yahoo! Canada were deadbeats and the only sale on Bidville was. Had one state they had sent payment, but then after waiting and waiting was told that they actually changed their minds. Extremely aggravating. I always thought it was a bit “juvenile” to state in auctions “Serious Bidders Only” but I see the frustration with why some add it. Yet would these deadbeats let that stop them? BTW, I have only a few items that would qualify as appealing to children.
jwpc, Yep taking it as a hobby, the time involved really didn’t much enter into the equation. When I thought about, “hey, how about reselling and making more money than just clearing out unwanted stuff!?!”
I don’t know the net profit for most Sellers but I can’t even mustard minimum wage. So for me, “it’s clear what I couldn’t return and forget it!!”
