@probi9246 wrote:One of the things that makes eBay unique and why many people purchase items here, is that many times private sellers will list those hard to find or unique items that it is very difficult to get anywhere else.
They also often times are a lot more personable and give a much better service that the faceless businesses people purchase from on here. Once eBay starts losing them in their droves and businesses start marking up their prices because they have no competition, then eBay will have signed it's own death warrant.
As a private seller I gave up and let my last ebay listing end at the end of November. After listing about 50 one-off items last year I sold 4.
Ebay cannot make it any clearer that unless I Sponsor my items I'm more or less invisible and won't be allowed to sell much. Now they've introduced more delays and restrictions.
You mention private sellers list "unique and hard to find items". In May or June one of my 50 was a very hard to find (anywhere on the inter-net except on reference sites) 1930's "Brandenburg" bowl made by a very collectable German maker and in excellent condition. Not sure what price to ask I listed it at a very reasonable £15 on a 7 day auction.
The usual troupe of re-sellers started their usual Watching and Waiting for me to get desperate enough to send them an offer. Very few other views, no bids. In itself that shows how manipulated the search is. If it was visible there are hundreds of Walther collectors who would have viewed it just to see the photos of something they are unlikely to see again for years, if ever.
Then I tried BIN, same price, it sometimes works, some buyers don't like auctions because of the all too common shill bidding, but will buy BIN. Again no interest although the Watchers managed to find it and continued Waiting. After a month or two it sold.
It was then that I thought "What is the point" I'm virtually invisible if I don't sponsor. I'm obviously on the Saved Seller lists of a flock of vultures who circle but never buy at full price but will wait for months in the hope of re-stocking on the cheap.
Business sellers want a level playing field? So do private sellers.
Not one where the site hangs them out to dry and makes sure they get no buyers except at fire sale prices, or pay 20 - 30% in fees (at that time).
I don't get this on ebid. I list, I sell, I get paid, instantly. No vultures, No sponsoring, no haggling. Buyers find my items, pay full price, don't even think about messaging if their item gets to them in less than a week and often leave me me +FB for my efforts.
Give me a good reason for me to start selling on ebay again?
