Low Sales

[norah2806]

I have had very few sales since mid October.  I would expect to be much busier at this time of year.  I've been averaging 2 or 3 sales a week!  This week just 1!  What is going on?  I've never known it to be this quiet, is anyone else finding this?

[bojangled]

@norah2806 

There are a few threads with business sellers expressing the same frustrations. I think there’s various factors one being other platforms now becoming more viable, short term you have the gloom and doom of the budget, then payday weekend/Black Friday, bit of cocktail that next week. 

I am struggling on this platform, have been for the last year since the free to sell for private sellers kicked in. 
But got to adapt and change..

[cobwebcottage]

You are also competing with private sellers such as the one who I have reported several times who is selling over 1300 items of brand new jewellery ( 11, 000 sold) with no fees to pay.

Until Ebay start sorting these traders out, business sellers will always suffer.

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

Good chance

ebays squeezed peeled and juiced lemon  ,will be up for sale 

one day soon

[typo_lee]

Dead and have been all October. Our Amazon shop is now booming however. I really do believe people have just deserted eBay. There is the chance the impending budget is screwing things up however. People are hearing things like their council tax is going to rocket due to revaluation of properties, pay per mile electric vehicle charging policy, taxing your main home when you sell etc etc. these are bound to weigh heavy on peoples minds until it’s actually out in the open. 

[typo_lee]

When you factor in if you were doing 3 sales a week and now 1 your doing a thirds of what you used to do. Thats a hell of a drop. Can you sell elsewhere or do you already?

[paul*tribesandvibes*]

@typo_lee  it's funny isn't it, but when I'm looking for something as a buyer, I google it first, and inevitably the Big River comes up with pictures and everything - who can resist - so I click around for a while. When I find something I like, I copy and paste the title into the ebay search and usually find a very similar item, if not the same thing, usually at a cheaper price. So my purchases are about 80% ebay and 20% Big River, because I like to support the businesses on here. I feel like they are my kindred! I don't know if others do the same.

@norah2806  I think it is everything that @bojangled said. It feels like the heart and fire has gone out of ebay over the last 8 years or so. They seem to have the same fiscal & business understanding as a certain chancellor who shall remain nameless! Businesses can see how ebay are making massive errors of judgement over private sellers and a lot more, but in the end, it suits ebay's pocket. They are not here for our convenience.

[blackcatbooksuk]

It has been poor for me since end off August. Prior to that things were flying. Since then just dead. But the drop coincided with a lot of big IT issues on my account and on Ebay in general. Ebay used to be my top selling platform. Now it is Amazon.

But.....the last week were slight signs of an improvement. Too early to get excited yet but......here's hoping.

[bricklanebargains]

Our sales have plummeted since late October even though Christmas is around the corner. While Trump`s tariffs had a massive negative impact on our sales to the US, it`s not just that. The general mood of the country is bleak with the cost of living crisis, stagnant wages, politics, etc. Another problem is young people don`t buy from Ebay. I was going through last weekend`s orders today and realized that our buyers mostly live in small towns or villages. Of course I do appreciate their business but Ebay needs to do something to reach students and especially young professionals in large cities. For many of them, Ebay is an old people thing. Anyway I could be wrong but this is how I see it.          

[crn303]

Hi “bricklanebargains” ….
Agree with your statement that young people don’t buy from eBay.

When looking for something as a buyer, their initial port of call will be to google first. 
With several of youngsters now being students, Amazon will be preferred supplier for new items and probably Vinted for clothing.

Sellers and buyers are now struggling with eBay especially with their changes during the past 12 months.  
There are so many posters on this Community Forum who express their frustrations with this platform.

Whilst some folk may be waiting and hoping for an advantageous rethink from eBay, there are a few of expecting the odd pence / percentage increase to continue.

[5216elisabeth]

I too like to buy from other businesses on here.  I kind of see it as a digital version of 'shop local' being as I sell on here lol

[5216elisabeth]

There are still young people buying on eBay, I know a few who do.  It's possible not as many do as used to though, they have so many choices these days.  I found myself explaining to a young sales girl one day how to use the tracking links on eBay to follow her orders in transit as she hadn't quite worked it out. Usually I'm asking young people to show me tech stuff so it made a nice change 🙂

[typo_lee]

Its interesting as we sell very niche items which people wouldnt necessarily find on google however the drop in sales is astonishing but so is our amazon store so I really do think at the moment people just arent spending. The cost of living is horrendous. The budget is going to be a disaster and so forth. Maybe after black friday things will improve but I think its going to be a very tight end to the year.

[typo_lee]

Just checked our listing page views and impression and they are down 50% on the same period last year.

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

It seems Pretty obvious ebay are reaching their  profit targets

were just the lemmings clinging to the cliff edge

[typo_lee]

Do you no longer sell on here?

[blackcatbooksuk]

My impressions are up by 62% but my actual sales are down by 63% compared to 31 days back, and that period was already bad.

[neil-simulant]

Yes I have noticed its about 30% down on last year for this time of year, I think what others have said seems to be the culprits on the recent downturn.

The impending Budget Doom, Lack of disposable money and not many fresh users coming to the site (young people) I do get a bit of ridicule from my nieces and nephews when I say I sell on ebay. 

Uncertainty is never going to encourage lots of spending.

I'm hoping post budget with the black friday time soon after there will be an increase in sales.

[norah2806]

Hi

Yes I still have my shop and I've just signed up for the deal on advertising.  I know I have to pay for this which obviously means a lower margin but I thought I'd give that a go.  I also have a sale starting soon to coincide with Black Friday - so fingers crossed!

I really hope it picks up for everyone.  I noticed that someone has said it maybe uncertainty due to the looming budget.  Someone else also gave some tips about listing items small amounts at a time but regularly rather than one big hit and then not listing for a while so I'm going to do a revamp on some of my listings and re-list to see if that helps.

Good Luck - hope all goes well with you.

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

Ex yes we sell here this is an  id

We keep in case the negative bandits 

get to much