How many sellers are closing their shops or running down their account in 2024?

[ovleisure]

We have been a seller on here over a couple of our accounts for many years now.   Over this time we have seen a reduction in sales from a max of £13k pcm to £60 pcm.    We have been through mass seller culls, more and more control over the seller/buyer relationship, the forcing of managed payments, increases in fees and requirements to use promoted/advanced promoted and now bid for clicks, to the point where ebay is taking an unsustainable percentage of profit.  

This in turn has lead to such search manipulation as to be virtually impossible for any of our listings to be shown unless we implemented all of the additional promotions, and even then since everyone is in the same boat, it makes little difference.   Search has been broken as a result of all this, and whereas in the past, if your product met the search terms, you could get your item to show, this is now not much short of a miracle!

Maybe you could argue some of it is the economy, but when your listings barely get any visibility unless you pay through the nose for it, it becomes a weak argument at best.

We have closed our shop and have halved our listings, and will be running down all of the stock we do have via other marketplaces.  

I'm just curious what other peoples plans are in 2024, are you bearing with ebay in the hopes of better times, or moving on?

[tr3asurep0rium]

There's lots of eBay ads around now. One huge one is covering my nearest bus stop as we speak. So that can't simply be true. 

[exponential_developments]

One swallow does not a summer make, neither does one fine day.

[the_book_seekers]

I commented on ebay's lack of main stream ads back in March. The ads then were in niche areas like motor spares and a lot has changed in ebay's world since then. It's only since the advent of free selling that ebay has advertised to a much wider audience to try and drag people back to the site.  

[all-things-stuff]

Already closed My PureRetroUK account in Febuary 24 after 15 years. Leaving the EU was the start and killed all my sales to europe, which accounted for over 40% of sales. Covid didn't help and I got no help from goverment as I was still selling little bits throughout covid. Thereafter, things just got worse, Ebay changing to much, too quickly to adjust, and their returns policy needs re-worked and re-balanced. I did see year on year drop in sales since Brixit, to the point it's not worth it. Ebay seem to be incouraging more seller, to sell new items in volume makes sense to promote it, whereas, 2nd hand, where it all started and usually 1 item, doesn't get a look in. Equally Ebay is now full of fake stuff - it's all a shame. Ebay need to go back and simplify, make fair for everyone to use.

[chrbac.uye5b7]

Unfortunately, you are preaching to the converted, but we have to start somewhere.

[theshoecupboard]

After over 15 years on ebay have finally run my business shop down - no items now listed to sell, shop subscription cancelled (would like to change the account back from business to private but cannot find anywhere to do this so I can still purchase to odd item!)

The bosses at ebay have no idea how to use ebay as a seller , they are managing by reports being given to them by underlings who also do not know how to use ebay.

The recent move to allow private sellers free everything is a kick in the teeth to business sellers (who just keep being pressured into promoting more so they can fleece the business sellers more)

Promoted listing unbalanced the system and rather than admit this they are trying anything to correct it, the platform is no longer a level playing field for all.

The recent changes to the feedback system was the final nail for me - when you get a neutral that just says 'Good' and ebay does nothing about this as it does not breach their policies then what about whether it is 'appropriate' (unfortunately AI would not understand that concept!).

So goodbye everyone and to all those still trying to sell goodluck.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

(would like to change the account back from business to private but cannot find anywhere to do this so I can still purchase to odd item!)

You can't.  As simple as that.  If you want a private account, you just need to open a new one with a different email.

[theelench]

Yes, it is a kick in the teethe for business sellers that ebay recently made it "Free to Sell" for private sellers, but history shows us that ebay has done exactly the same before to several other groups of business and private sellers in the past.  As a business ebay has no loyalty to, or sympathy for, anyone except its shareholders.

But please don't get the idea that only business sellers are being continuously pressured into promoting more so ebay can squeeze more fees from them.

I'm a very low volume private seller selling collectables in a niche area of vintage glass.  Today I listed a fruit bowl, rare enough to say that I can't remember the last time I saw one for sale on ebay.  On a level playing field it would sell without any need for bribery to get it a little visibility and probably sell for 1 bid and the opening price.  Yet ebay "recommend" that I should sponser it at 10.8%.

Last year I managed to sell 13 items on ebay, the same as in 2022 and just enough carrot to keep me listing.  This year, I've sold 4 items.  Ebay is tightening the screw on me as well, making it crystal clear that unless I start paying PL fees, I won't sell much at all on ebay.

Promoted listing hasn't unbalanced the system, it has upended it.  It no longer matters whether you're a good seller or a rougue, whether you're selling real rarities or Chinese tat, or whether you're cheapest/ nearest/send express delivery or Evri.  The only thing that counts is how much you pay ebay to give you the visibility that allows you to sell anything.

I think ebay has finally realised that although businesses make it rich, it's private sellers who constantly recycle their earnings through ebay by buying that allow it to exist at all and how close to the edge ebay is after years of neglect and changes to the site that have pushed so many of them away.

I wonder how succesful ebay will be in its attempt to lure them back.  With a site now formatted towards PL, they will still struggle to sell much unless they pay ebay fees, unless they're willing to sell stuff so cheaply that it intests re-sellers.  The site still isn't hospitable to private sellers so I don't see it generating enthusiasm or loyalty.  A handful of unsold listings, an occasional sale (and payment put on hold) and I can't see many turning into long-term sellers, or buyers.

[the_book_seekers]

ebay has become that pushy sales assistant, at almost every turn its there saying how about this or that, even at the point of purchase. As a buyer I am quite capable of finding what I want (unless ebay hides it). As a seller. As a seller I don't want ebay distracting potential buyers at every turn. 

[gate3motorcycles]

I totally agree. I've been selling as a business on eBay since January 2008, and longer as a private seller. 

I've seen many many changes in that time, not many of them for the better. At one point I did about £500K a year turnover through eBay, but it's been drastically decreasing for the past couple of years. I've tried paid promotions, but the fees just aren't worth it and it rewards lazy sellers who put very little effort into their listings but are happy to give all of their profit away for promotion. I am currently in a one to one course with an eBay agent to organically maximise listings and free marketing. I have over 900 followers and a massive amount of repeat business, but I rarely tap into that. I'm using the info from the one to one sessions and putting a massive amount of work into it, but if that doesn't start to pay off, I'll simply sell the stock off and do something else. This isn't what I want to do as this has been my life for so long, but sometimes our decisions are forced.

[art2own]

I’ve been a seller on eBay for almost 20 years, working across multiple accounts to resell artwork bought at auction. In August, I had 250 listings up across two accounts and went 18 days without a single sale, offer, or message from any potential buyer. At that point, it was obvious that eBay is no longer a viable platform for what I do—that situation would not be viable for any business. The writing was on the wall, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger: "EBAY IS NOT VIABLE ANYMORE."

The time and effort that goes into managing listings, combined with low turnover and high fees on the few items that do sell, make it unworkable. So yes, I’ve made my decision—I know it’s not going to get any better here, and the decline will only continue. I’m done buying from auctions to resell here. I’ll keep my current stock and try to clear the backlog I bought to resell on eBay, but I’m no longer interested in sourcing new items for eBay resale.

Instead, I’ll be using my knowledge to move artwork between auction houses, where the market conditions are more favourable for this type of business.

[theelench]

"The time and effort that goes into managing listings, combined with low turnover....."

That's why, among other things, that make me wonder how successful ebays drive to attract private sellers will be.  How often have I read how easy listing is on other sites and how quick is the response from interested buyers.

Until last year I never had to think about "managing" my listings, it was enough to regularly "rest" items that didn't sell and replace them with others, easy to do with about 20 listings at any one time and that produced some sales.

Last year, with sales declining further, I tried letting listing numbers grow and started on the delete and re-list as Sell Similar tread-mill, re-arranging the title to try to fool the algorythm that it was a new listing.  It didn't make any difference, so wasted a lot of time.

How many of these new private sellers will know not to list as BIN and leave their stuff to auto re-new and gradually become invisible?

They're going to be disappointed enough when they discover that for their first few sales, ebay will Hold their money.  I've no doubt that many will see a flurry of sales to start with as re-sellers cherry-pick and grab some bargains. 

But what then?  Weeks and months with few sales and money on Hold?  I don't think it will take long for most to get bored and frustrated and go back to face-book.

Over the past few years (since Managed Payments?) ebay has seemingly made itself less and less "private seller friendly".  It's made itself so complicated with so many rules, regs, do's and don'ts that unless a seller is effectively working full-time and keeping-up with ebays ever changing platform, they won't sell much and will soon loose interest.

I've clung on in the hope that things will go back to what they were like 5 years or so ago, but gave up when trying understand Promoted Listing Fees.  The latest version(s) are incomprehensible to me but it seems are required to stand any chance of making regular sales.  Without PR my sales have gone from 13 in '22, 13 in '23 to 4 this year and this will be my final year.  I just can't see the point any more when the site is designed around the needs of businesses.  I don't think it will take too long for most of the new private sellers to see that either. 

P.S   Is it only me or is the spell-check still "Out of Order" for everyone?

[Anonymous]

All, or at least most, decent sellers and buyers left and moved on. I won't be using ebay again.   

[kit-kaboodle]

Increase your percentage, lower profit margin, not enough meet on the bone to cover the cost of your items cost price

[british-ceramics-and-paintings]

At the rates ebay expect sellers to pay there is little point.

Example:

Business buys stock for £50, mark up is 100% giving a retail price of £100 with a gross profit of £50.

With final value fees, shop fees, promoted listing fees, transaction fees, fees on postage etc etc Ebay could take £30 - £40.

The seller is left with £10 - £20 before other expenses are paid, i.e. storage, staffing and other general operating costs.

Unless sellers are picking items up for very very low figures many genuine business sellers will be loss making.

Even if you are generating healthy sales of say 80k a year as a one person operation you may only be making a net profit of 10k, a full time job at minimum wage is soon to be approaching 25k.

It's madness, how did it get to this point ? 

Ebay are so out of touch it is staggering.

[chrbac.uye5b7]

Wow. I think I can see your problem – a 100% markup? That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Thanks for the heads-up though – I’ll now be asking for a 60% discount instead!

[cobwebcottage]

Go to one of the large supermarkets and try your discount thoery there first.

You will get the same answer from most business sellers here who are trying to earn an honest living.

[exponential_developments]

That's why there is a Block feature on here.

[british-ceramics-and-paintings]

Just to clarify the example I gave was not related to my business, my margins vary from item to item.

Some businesses on here will have mark ups of 50%, others will have mark ups of 300% etc etc.

If you were operating a legitimate business with the costs associated with that, on your own working full time hours and generating sales of £80,000 a year what mark up would you be aiming for ?

Also the example I provided could make a net profit / wage of £10,000 a year, do you think that is too much ?

[chrbac.uye5b7]

Thanks for the clarification on your example. I completely understand the challenges eBay is causing for business sellers and agree it’s really unacceptable. I’m also familiar with how percentage mark-ups work since I run a network of independent convenience stores. I don’t want to veer this topic off course, but I do think a 100% mark-up is a bit high. As for the £10,000 a year, if the mark-up were reduced to 40-50%, sales could potentially triple. Let's not delve into business practice and keep this topic on track. Thanks again.