Is eBay actually dying? Or is it just private sellers that are suffering?

[simplybygone]

Ok I know I only sell a handful of things but I'm getting no views and few watchers. Things were much better a year or so ago. Are auctions falling out of favour?

[lesney_robin]

I completely agree with you,I was a private seller for 18+ years,last year forced to become business seller,now looking to close the shop at the end of the mouth,sales poor.

[pillarboxred]

Dying if not actually dead. It will only properly die if we stop listing here and it loses the listing revenues.  I received £0.99p (before deductions) for a glass scent bottle with a hallmarked sterling silver collar, listed with Promotion and sold 18 days before Christmas. Thankfully, I only paid £5 for it at a stall. 

What do we do with our unsold stuff? Dump or donate it and walk away (choose whichever is the cheapest option). 

[rhps0101]

The only people satisfied with eBay are the owners, who are raking in the revenues whilst treating sellers badly. I, for one, have removed all of my items for sale and am taking my custom elsewhere. Too many buyers are misusing the returns policy and claiming items are not as described just to get their money back and the return paid for. Because eBay always takes their side, doesn’t check the original listing or photos, or ask buyers to submit photos or evidence of what they are saying is wrong, just has their bot automatically process refunds, they are encouraging buyers to use sellers to pay for returns so that they end up out of pocket. If, like me, you honestly describe things and are just trying to make a little bit of extra money from unwanted items, you are penalised. I cannot afford to keep paying for returns that buyers are lying about so I’m not selling anything on there again.

ebay has really gone downhill from the early days and with so many dishonest people and scammers around, honest people don’t stand a chance.

[lucy_farmer]

'What do we do with our unsold stuff? Dump or donate it and walk away (choose whichever is the cheapest option'

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I had to empty my late mother's home this year; not a single item went on ebay.

The vast majority was charity-shopped, stuff that was actually worth something went to a sale room.

It all sold.

Yes, I paid more in fees that I would have done on ebay, even the old-fashioned ebay!

But the lack of worry about INR's,  and INAD's,  and 'promoting' to make sure it's actually visible, and is this silver thingummy insured in the post?,  and the sheer toothgrinding agro of dealing with the modern ebay system..........

What a relief.

[punkwroc77]

This is the first year ever in more than 20 years of having selling account on Ebay that I have not made a single sale in the Month before Christmas. I have more items on sale,more new items and more quality Vintage and not even anything has been put on watch lists.

I used to do OK on Ebay and there was always a consistent 20 odd items being watched and now it's been either 1 or 0 since simple delivery and buyer fee was brought in.

This year I had hoped to sell more than ever to pay for my old age.

Makes me so sad that they have ruined this for so many.

[suelel1968]

Hi @punkwroc77 it might help if you top selling everything as perfume. I don't shop by category, but who knows what the algorithms do.

[moonlight-rhapsody]

"What do we do with our unsold stuff? Dump or donate it and walk away"

I've sold at several [physical] auction houses this year.  I assessed all the ones in my vicinity, worked out what they were good at selling, what they did to get the best price, obviously how much they charged etc.  Some auction houses just charge a "consignment fee" irrespective of how many lots you have.  Some charge a fee per lot.  I've found it definitely worth doing.

[mariacwnn]

ebay is finished

[mariacwnn]

its ebays way of saying we dont need private sellers

[mariacwnn]

ebay is becoming a has been site

[daviwharmb-0]

Biggest mistake,thay got to big for there boots,costs £92 a month + around %12 for each sale,if thay go back to 1000 free listings a month,then take %10 of each sale,I could afford to stay,but like others I am regretting this last 12 months,the decline started in January,my mistake,I would be best at asda part/time.

[pillarboxred]

That £12 will incur postage and maybe tariffs and eBay scoops 10% of the grand total then the promoted charge and the listing fee can easily bring the deductions to around 40%. I don't know how other sites compare as I don't use them. The OPs maths might not be quite right but they might not be quite wrong. EBay is a great place to buy in the fire sale it's created but the worst market for selling in the UK and is cheaper than car boot sales or charity shops.

[pillarboxred]

People, even private sellers, must surely put some value on their time? I'm a business seller and have lost a couplle of thousand on eBay so far this financial year. I need to dispose of items but hiring a skip smashing everything to make best use of the skip's space might be the best option for me: I  would get rid of my storage costs and get  back the use of my "hoarder's hell" home. I could donate more stuff but don't want to be interviewed by the cheeky graspers that the charity shops have become.

[crafty_cat_lover]

I think it's Ebay's way of saying we don't need private business sellers.

2,500 new items, many with multiples of, says you should be registered as a business