The Vertical Strategy of fostering high value buyers in Focus Categories like luxury handbags, over-priced trainers etc. was a few quarters back. The CEO announced like it was some sort of triumph that 'low value buyers' had declined while his Strategy was doing fine. Then a couple more quarters where it was said to be continuing to grow, but no figures(?).
Since then I don't think it's been mentioned. Which take to mean it isn't growing any more. I don't think it was ever a serious strategy, like you there are not that many people who would several thousand on a handbag several times a year. Especially on ebay, even with their 'authentication' service.
I think the whole thing was just a cover to fool investors into thinking ebay had some plan as seller numbers and sales continued to fall. All this was somewhere about the time that IS was introduced and the old Collectables categories swept away.
My sales took a step down and never recovered as, I'm sure, did those of many others into collectables.
Even if I hadn't stopped selling here last November, I think SD would have stopped me, as again, it will be the line in the sand for many others, leading to yet another decline in private sellers and even harder hard times for many of the businesses that rely on them.
