Is eBay a place TO SELL OR NOT any LONGER? Is it dead / dying?

[fixfix]

Does anyone else feel the same? Is eBay no longer a platform for sellers? During my years of selling on eBay, I've noticed declining traffic. The traffic and sales were so much better previously Is it the algorithm that is messing up people's businesses? Always been an "eBay Top-rated Seller." Used promoted listings, shop, keywords, specs, and delivery options including express, "free" postage, and "not-free", promotions. Nothing seems to work. Still getting sales if you can call it this way (0-3 a day), but nothing like it used to be. 

Never actually stopped promoting (not at the full suggested rate but reasonable)

The traffic went dramatically down in the last 2-3 years. Just not picking up. Any recommendations, feelings, experiences, etc.

Thinking of leaving eBay for good... It's draining my energy trying to figure it out, but nothing works.

[*maetrix*]

My sales are pretty much on life support...2 in 5 weeks...there are items i'd like to buy but as a matter of principle I will not spend money on here if i'm not making any (pocket) money...i'll go hmv,amazon or zavvi first now...dreadful what they've done to this site.

[bojangled]

I’ve been watching a business seller that I have some cross over category competition with slowly move all their inventory over to V**ted, over 12,000 listings in the last three months.

Saving themselves over £450 a month, along with no FVF’s, no limits, no subscriptions and no unobtainable EDD.

I can see the sense in it!

Got to do what’s right for you.

[pulseofthedead]

I guess they are not the only ones. In the last few months I have seen a real decline in long time sellers in the category I mostly sell in. 
IRL I know a lot of people in my hobby world. They say they are no longer selling due to what is going on. Also they are not really looking anymore because the people that brought the good stuff to the table are no longer selling.

Im a buyer as well as seller. My buys are getting less and less. Its a real shame…

[therenewalworkshopltd]

To be fair, it's not quite as straightforward as your making it out.

Generally speaking, you will get a fair bit less over there and you will need to wait for your money, for up to about 3 weeks.

Personally, I don't see the point of just moving all your eggs into another basket.  The basket can still be dropped.  So is possibly a little short-sighted.

It makes far more sense to be in both places, even if one is more expensive.

I know that on average, after costs I end up with about the same on both marketplaces.

[pulseofthedead]

I think there are many reasons why people are quitting here. You only just have to read on the forums the amount of problems people are having or what they are not happy about and I guess they want a change and more control…

They may come back…no one knows if the grass is greener until they try it…

[therenewalworkshopltd]

But that's the thing.  It seems to be a constant on the forums that people are leaving etc, but a forum is a tiny sample of reality.

Generally those that post are the ones who have reason to.  And you don't generally hear from those that are doing well.  

Yes, things have been changing on Ebay, but they have to, even if they get it wrong sometimes.  Competition is fierce these days because of the various new competitors that didn't exist when this all started.

I can see people wanting change, but more control on VXXted?  I think not.  Have you actually used the site as a business?  Virtually zero control is what you have over there.  You can't even make a refund without them stepping in and orchestrating it.

[stormatic2015]

Due to a lot of private sellers in my category exiting eBay, I assume as its no longer worth it for pittence or HMRC thing. I have been able to increase my prices and getting a bit more profit due to the reduction in compertition and it is no longer a race to the bottom.  My selling volume for the last few months has increased by 80% "According to eBay". 

I havent just sat there tho, I have taken steps to introduce new and old lines and reduce dead weight. Even combining some listings. I still have a lot of new ideas, however personal life has got busy for me. I also sell on etsy, havent done much with that but have seen a reduction in sales. I need new lines and fresh ideas there.

Its not all doom and gloom..

[bojangled]

@therenewalworkshopltd 

I used to be all eggs on this shelf. Been very appreciative of eBay over the years, however as things changed, and fees here have increased, along with push to promote I’ve made some choices about my presence on here. 

Yes they do have a similar process to the new private seller issues people are unhappy about here, and in the  V**ted T&C it does state they push private sellers over Pro registered users. 

However as they say time is money, the listing process there takes seconds compared to the tedious item specifics and other hoop jumping that are part of eBay life.

Jo

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I get what you mean about the listing process, but as with anything, it can be simplified.

I literally list in one place and my listings get copied to 2 other sites, with minor intervention.

Which of course saves a lot of time.

Fees on Ebay do need to change.  They are getting very close to making it extremely difficult to sell.

There is literally a fee for everything, which in this day and age is farsical.

They need to make the shops either extremely cheap, or stop listing fees entirely.

Though I can't see them dropping listing fees for quite some time yet as I would imagine that it's a fair chunk of their income.  But virtually nowhere else do you have to pay to list an item.

I do wonder if they will ever get that one?

[pulseofthedead]

I dont want to go to Vinted or anywhere else. I have stayed here because in my eyes, there is nowhere else like it for the things I buy and sell.

Im a hobby seller. The pressures on me are different for those businesses who are reliant on it for their whole income. If I don’t sell I’m not going to lose my house or starve…

As I said people want a change. The grass may not be greener but that is for them to decide…

[charliethethird]

There is definitely a downward trend, due to the cost of living crisis.

[padanpcparts]

I would have a lot more items for sale as well if you weren't paying crazy prices just to list them in the first place. I do agree that sometimes E-bay gets in the way of selling on E-bay. I'd love to grow, but it feels like they dont want me to. 

[charliethethird]

Cost of living crisis.  My sales nose-dived at the start of that.

[charliethethird]

It's the cost of living crisis.  My sales nose-dived when that started (and have barely picked up since).  Really really noticeable crash.  A lot of people are struggling to pay their electricity, and the million other bills that have gone up by extortionate amounts.

[pulseofthedead]

Unfortunately due to media hysteria there are many crises. Yes a certain amount of the public are struggling but then there are people who do have money. Some a lot more than others…

Could it be that people would rather spend their money on a holiday or memories  than stuff…

Could it be that too many people are selling or trying to sell across too many marketplaces. So every market place is swamped…

Who knows….

[pulseofthedead]

Yes it’s crazy that we are so limited. I too could list 100s of items but paying a fortune to have a bigger shop is not an option…

I would love that a basic shop could be a bit cheaper or at least raise listings for a month to a 1000. Wouldn’t be too difficult would it….just think of how much more money in fees they would get….just imagine it….

[padanpcparts]

The main problem I have is that I want to sell different products. To do this I want them to be on a different shop so that it is specialist. Not a problem I hear you say?

The issue is that the allowances for new shops just starting with no history is pitiful and makes it completely pointless, I don't really have the time or patience to do a slow build up as I did with this one initially. I'm just in a different place, much more professional and knowledgeable. Weird that they dont take the million or so quid of stuff I've sold on this account over the last 14 years in to account. 

Anyway back to the original post. It's not dead or dying, you do have to work a bit harder than before, there are a lot more legislation and custom laws to deal with and costs have crept up but if you do the hard work there is still money to be made. There is also a huge resource online that I never had when starting up to help. 

[typo_lee]

True. I live on the coast and there is plenty of people still buying 300k holiday lodges. Rocking up in their range rovers and Lamborghinis at posh restaurants. There is money about but like you say they are spending it on different things not eBay. And then people who are struggling have they even got the spare cash to be buying second hand clothing? I’m not so sure. Things are very tough for many out there right now. 

[therenewalworkshopltd]

The issue is that the allowances for new shops just starting with no history is pitiful and makes it completely pointless, I don't really have the time or patience to do a slow build up as I did with this one initially.

I've just restarted an old account that has not been used for the last couple of years or so.

Initially, I only had 10 listings and £700 allowance.  But after a longggggg phone call, managed to get it bounced up to a couple of thousand.  So it may well be worth your while to do this.

As once you start to get things moving, your limits increase quite swiftly.