Christmas Sales Wrost in Years - December 2025

[kh-567867]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone elese noticed Christmas sales decline. Other platforms have picked up but Ebay is still slow 1-2 Sales a day

What exactly has gone wrong with Ebay run up to Christmas. We are advertising all items over 10% but still no luck.

Any suggestions please. 

[*maetrix*]

Sales are virtually non-existent.

It's December,it's Christmas,it's usually my busiest month.

What ebay have done this year has back-fired massively on them & us.

When are they going to grow a pair & admit they've completely messed up?

[kh-567867]

I thought it was only me but reading your comment suggests its a wider issue. We bought 1000s of ££ stuff to sell on ebay but nothing sold and we are now into last week before Christmas deliveries. 

I have come to conclusion that it was  right decision to move to other platforms which are flooded with sales. 

[krafty-kreations]

For me it is the opposite,  surprisingly done much better this year on here as opposed to another site i sell on.

Last year the other site outdone here massively. 

[millcottage]

Because buyers have the perception they pay a buyers fee for anything they buy on eBay.

Yes we know that’s only true for private  sellers - but buyers don’t remember that.

[vintagechinashop]

Lots of sellers reporting delivery dates showing as 27th December which obviously isn’t going to be helpful for pre Christmas sales. Apparently eBay say nothing wrong 

[crn303]

Agreed, eBay have made some shocking and also ridiculous decisions during 2025.  What was once an enjoyable selling and buying experience is far from it now.  

Vinted for example, has taken advantage of eBays errors by opening other categories on their site.

Their TV advertising is getting their message across and will be a contribution to increasing market share.

eBay will not back track on what they have done in messing up.

[vinylscot]

However, they are beginning to notice when they are paying buyers' fees which they shouldn't be paying. It's appearing more regularly on FB, and on other threads On FB, it's been suggested that the algorithm may have been tweaked so that bogus private sellers' items will appear much further down in search results. If so then it's much too little, but at least it's a start.

[crn303]

Buyers are looking at and paying one amount (price + buying fee + post & package). This total cost makes their decision viable or not in buying said item / items.

[millcottage]

It’s perception aka why would I want to buy something on eBay and pay a buyers fee when I don’t have to on Amazon?

[millcottage]

I’m opening a vinted account Sunday and give it a spin for selling. EBay seems to be on a decline now.

[coyotetower]

Nope. Worst xmas in years and too expensive to even list. If i put my prices at any kind of competitive level i make a loss now. If i promote it and raise the price, nothing sells. Ebay has destroyed itself in the UK completely.

[coyotetower]

As a buyer I have been using amazon more this year as the prices are actually better for once and items arrive faster. Everyone having to increase their prices on ebay means there is little benefit to using it.

[thrift_project_99]

yep slowed by about 30% yet I have double the listings and I promote heavier too. Ebay is awful and the excuses from management are dry

[eastern-lights]

I've not seen any official figures yet, but my perception is that bricks and mortar shops are having a slow Christmas. No crowds. If so, this may also be reflected on line. Everyone is cautious, feeling the pinch.

[vinylscot]

I was in Glasgow city centre yesterday, and it really was no busier than it usually is. I suppose most gift shopping now is either online or at out-or-town shopping centres, but I was still pleased to be able to meet my daughter, and get a seat for coffee in our usual place, without any difficulty. Boots, Waterstones, TK Maxx, TG Jones - all pretty quiet, with no queues at around 1:00 pm.

I'd probably feel a little different if I was a store owner. 

[eastern-lights]

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@vinylscot wrote:

I'd probably feel a little different if I was a store owner. 

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I'd put money on a few major closures in the new year. 

[gjalp]

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@coyotetower wrote:

As a buyer I have been using amazon more this year as the prices are actually better for once and items arrive faster. Everyone having to increase their prices on ebay means there is little benefit to using it.

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Me too. The last ‘general’ item I bought on ebay, private seller, was 29th Nov, a Christmas gift, wasn’t even dispatched. Ive had to open a case and can’t get ebay to step in until 16th Dec. Im out of pocket until that money is refunded as Ive had to buy elsewhere in order for it to arrive in time. I’ll not be doing that again. Its a shame really as I used to buy a lot of gifts on ebay as I liked the diversity but there is less choice and less chance of it arriving and postage seems high. 

[insidethe93]

I wonder if it's due to EDDs of 27th Dec.? these have been appearing since a few days ago on many listings with 2nd class post as the default or only option. That was a 16-day delivery window, today a 12-day one.

That EDD is probably accurate (some may say "for a change!") as I've been receiving 2nd class post items 1 to 4 days late, routinely. Royal Mail is particularly dreadful this year! A recent item I bought was sent RM48, EDD 2nd-8th Dec, ordered Fri.28th Nov, on its way Mon.1st Dec, but in depots until delivery Sat.13th Dec. I wanted the item not a refund, so I waited but I worried it had been lost not just delayed. I'm waiting for another item, 2nd class untracked, bought 30th Nov, EDD 3rd-8th Dec. (Even RM24 items have been arriving up to 3 days late.)

Actually I prefer a realistic-looking EDD, or one that's plausible given my own recent experience, to eBay's commonly over-optimistic EDDs.

As of now I won't be buying on eBay until the New Year. It's not just the likely delay but a concern that items are more likely to end up being lost at this time of year.

[insidethe93]

millcottage wrote: "Because buyers have the perception they pay a buyers fee for anything they buy on eBay.

Yes we know that’s only true for private  sellers - but buyers don’t remember that."

Good point!

I'm an experienced buyer but sometimes even I forget, as BPF has so many details. I don't want to remember the details as I hate BPF so I try not to think about it. (BPF has already driven me to explore other online shops. eBay used to be my one-stop shop.)

Also, when I buy from a business seller at check-out it says "includes Buyer protection" so I'm constantly reminded about BPF.