Drastic drop in sales
Summary: The discussion addresses a significant drop in sales, shared by participants who have experienced a noticeable decline despite years of steady transactions. One participant, bustertustin69, described being in the business for 18 years and suddenly facing a collapse with no sales, offers, or views. The conversation involves multiple contributors but centers on shared frustrations about declining market activity.
Been on ebay over 20 years selling unwanted items for me and the family, suddenly hardly any sales, no views or watchers or offers, I have changed wording, reduced prices- what is going on? never known it so bad
20 comments
bustertustin69
·1 month ago · EditedExactly the same being ion
o. for 18 years always been steady selling unwanted items now absolutely nothing no sales no watchers no offers hardly any view s it's just totaly collapsed
oceanartsnorthdevon
·4 months agoStill finding it dismal, I use to have a few days of nothing with sales scattered throughout week now for last couple of weeks one or two sales on just one day of the week?
1956glyn
·4 months agoI agree its really hard at the minute. I honestly believe its due to all the uncertainty in the world at the minute. Also so many rumours about fuel rationing and dramatic price increases everywhere are all affecting peoples spending habits. I honestly think that all we can do is sit and wait it all out....if one can.
eastern-lights
·5 months agoNot to dismiss OP's concerns, but I always find February to be the worst month of the year for sales. I sell collectables. My take is, pre Christmas they are being bought for presents, post Christmas they are being bought with money given as a present, or money left over from Christmas. But February everyone just hunkers down and stops spending.
insidethe93
·5 months agoIn february some have to deal with "compulsory" spending on Valentine's Day.
That could well mean paying for a gift and a romantic meal out.
Or possibly paying loads more e.g. a romantic few days away, which'd include travel, accommodation, romantic meals out, gifts, spending money etc. Maybe also buying a ring. Plus the apology gift to make up after the argument - no? is that just me? 🙂
1956glyn
·5 months agoYour post made me laugh 🙂
Our Valentines day was a bit of a disaster........restaurant overbooked ! We ended up at our local chippy lol
Good job we have been together many years and saw the funny side. From expecting sirloin steak to actually having kebab meat isnt quite the same !
insidethe93
·5 months agoSounds like a fine evening, and one that could end up being more memorable than all your Valentines that went to plan 🙂
honeymonster007
·5 months agoForget about the part numbers on the extension lead in the title but its worth mentioning its 110v and 14m. There's a brand new 14m one listed for £23 under the listing as well.
The sash clamp listing is really confusing with the first picture of 2 clamps and the title mentions one clamp and you have 6 for sale? it might be worth mentioning the max jaw opening size as well. They should sell ok at the right price if their steel.
ile136yz
·5 months agoHi
Views may have dropped off on eBay as every time I look at an item; I get an Offer sent to me; I find it off putting so stops me viewing on eBay. Also, I'm not keen on the Buyer's fees (makes me think too much about how I'm being charged).
1956glyn
·5 months agoWhat i do not like is IF a seller accepts an offer then its the Seller who pays the BPF 😞
Maybe it would be fairer if it was just split.
technthread
·6 months agoThere has been a mindset shift with many of eBay’s long term users who have just moved on. If they can address fundamental issues to make the site enjoyable to use rather than just throw gifts at the problem (more buyer coupons and free selling fees for private sellers) it might bring some inactive users back.
I know someone who sold on eBay long before me and they asked me to help them create a few listings and go over their settings (private seller). It is crazy to me, they have a lot more experience here than I do but they have come back and are lost now as they are listing on another site where it is super simple and quick to list. We found that in a private account listing in the app on iOS that photos were a chore to upload. They don’t apply to the listing in the order selected and after each draft the app has to be fully swiped off and re-opened to allow us to re-access the phone’s photo library and add new photos. I found it fairly infuriating, the listing process is horrible compared to a business account, I can’t believe they re-designed it the way they did.
I also don’t think it helps that promoted listing are pushed so heavily, it has raised prices overall so buyers are getting turned off.
suelel1968
·6 months ago@daisychains4u I could look through your items all day. I looked at the blue & white vase because i genuinely liked it. It is disappointing when there is only one photo. Auction houses often use a standard object in a photo for people to get a sense of size, like a coke can, which is a must if you want to only do one photo. I also looked at the polka dot fabric, which, again i love. As a buyer, I would like to see close ups which try to show the texture of the fabric and how it hangs etc.
Have you tried "sell similar"? I try to aim for views on all listings and renew via "sell similar" when views drop below 2 after a month or where they haven't got a view after a few weeks. I think this is even more important for your eclectic mix because I would generally view these types of items as "Vintage" newly listed first. It is perhaps the sort of stuff that you didn't know you wanted until you see it.
gjalp
·6 months agoI too could lose hours looking 🙂 if I had the spare funds I would have bought the J Billam cutlery set simply because I live in Sheffield and its part of the city’s history (although I would use the set).
elrod101
·6 months agoHi I have tried everything I know on here, but regardless- even if lots of photos I am just not getting the hits that I used to, Vinted are not truestworthy so I will sick it out on here on ebay but its a shame as used to be so good.
suelel1968
·5 months ago@elrod101 I sell alot of jewellery and you have a silver tone chunky one and a green one both from the 80s. The green one should fly, maybe a new photo is required and if it is turquoise colour at all put the word in. The silver tone one not so much. I would probably only sell that one for £3.95 including BPF. Your postage is on the high side. Jewellery can go custom postage at £1.55 or £2.90 if oversize.
I noticed you had a plate at over £6 postage and the plate was only about £10. But you had a £30 uranium glass plate for £3 postage. Cds only need to be £1.55 really. It certainly helps to lower delivery costs.
1956glyn
·5 months agoHi surely its not the fact that simple delivery does not apply because its jewellery....its because you are selling at the lower end of the market and under the amount before Simple Delivery becomes compulsory ?
What postage service are you using please if you can post an item for £1.55? 2nd class small letter/package untracked? No offence but are you covering your actual postage costs after buying say a padded envelope too? We also have a cost to get to a Post office.
I send absolutely nothing untracked 😞
suelel1968
·5 months agoHi @1956glyn . You are right, jewellery has to be under £20 for custom delivery, but even so £1.55 (2nd class large letter) has insurance and is sort of tracked on delivery. I only buy parcel tape, nothing else, it is all recycled materials. I go to the PO twice a week, I walk, but even so it really wouldn't be a significant cost to add to each item.
The point really is the OP is charging more than SD would charge and it does put me off.
The green necklace is acrylic. The price is fine, but the close up shows scratches or dust, which probably are not visible to the naked eye. There is another one on sale for £18. It should sell.
1956glyn
·5 months agoTo be honest i have tried listing other quality items but the only thing selling at the minute is jewellery 😞
Time to take a break once my current listings end.
1956glyn
·5 months agoHi.
I think you should maybe consider trying to take better pictures and if you can in daylight 🙂 On Ebay i find that pictures are everything especially in the jewellery categories.
As to your green chunky necklace it may be beneficial to say what its made from......eg is it a glass one ? If yes then i do not think it is over priced.
All we can really do is try our best 🙂
gjalp
·6 months agoRubbish search. Its not been great in recent years but lately it is truly dreadful if you just want to browse, which is what many buyers like to do. Im a reuse, recycle, repair person and I like nothing better than to browse second hand items from clothes, books, small appliances to furniture. Search on ebay seems to currently not favour this method as I found out recently when I wanted to browse chest of drawers. I wasn’t able to. At all. So I went out and had a look in charity shops instead.