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?

[morpurgo-bookshop]

Check it for yourself via link that I've included below. Aside from that, I have removed all my items from the eBay sales since they have introduced the delayed payments. 
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ebay-statistics/

PS. I am with eBay since 1999, and I've never posted a single post on any of the forums prior to this one. I have lost my previous account due to moving to the different country, so I've opened the new account in 2003. 

[3942rick2005]

Have a look through this - it may help   https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance    

and   https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

[cabletie555]

A little over a year ago I had 1000 free listings plus usually a couple of 100 extra list for reduced fee offers per month, so I could run most of my typically 300 - 400 listings as 10 day auctions, as many as I wanted to do, some old ones that had been relisted multiple times got retired to BIN. With only 300 I had to switch most of the auctions to BIN. It used to be fun bidding on items and seeing if you won, so it tended to generate more sales in that format.

[theelench]

If one figure stands out to me it's that "40% of items manage to sell on ebay.  With used items selling at a higher rate than new."

Yet ebay keeps pushing "New" and trying to get rid of "Used".

Pity they don't learn and try limiting "New" and encouraging "Used"  which, after all the headwinds over the last few years STILL manages to provide such a statistic.

[gjalp]

I had a few years (had a critical illness and emergency surgery so not able to work as much) whereby I didn’t earn enough to pay NI. In this instance I paid it voluntarily so had no gaps. These days I have to work at a slower pace and haven’t earned enough to pay tax after completing my self assessment. 

[kath3735_wxmjn]

not to forget that for some catergories (especially clothing and jigsaws which are my main items) it is prime car boot time!  Last sunday ours was packed with sellers and buyers, once over you never got that many people selling clothes, now nearly everyone has some and the prices are rock bottom.   The only advantage the online sites have is that you do not have to actually make a physical effort to look but with postage it makes things a lot more expensive.  

[1956glyn]

Another think that frustrates me about Ebay......i usually list on auction format with the offers option disabled.

Ebay are still allowing members to send me offers. 😞    IF i wanted offers i would have ticked the box enabling them.

It now feels as if Ebay are taking total control of listings 😞

[jckl1957]

Year on year, I am definitely selling less.

A very quick look shows that 2 years ago I sold 300 items.

Last year it was 198.

This year, 73 so far so I am unlikely to make 150 sales this year.

I know everyone likes to blame BPF and more recent changes but lots of factors have led to fewer sales.

I used to sell a fair bit to Italy (Brexit and VAT put paid to those sales) and to Russia.

Most of us posting in here can remember the days when auction items attracted several bidders.

Honestly, I don't think eBay is to blame.  It has simply gone out of fashion.

[jonatjonatjonat]

Honestly, I don't think eBay is to blame. It has simply gone out of fashion. - Growth of Shein/Temu for example - why buy one second hand outfit when you can get 3 new ones. They might only last a week of course...

[ruby*ryan]

The thing is with private sellers selling off a collection, though, is that you have what you have. Maybe you sold your more desirable items a few years back, it's not like a business seller who can try and get more of particularly good sellers. 

[jckl1957]

That is true - and, without new things to list every week, my items just don't get the views.

I do try and have a 'shuffle' every now and then.  So, I may start wearing something I have had on Ebay for ages and list something else that I still love but don't wear.

Really, I have become a lazy re-lister and need to have a proper sort out!

[ruby*ryan]

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@jckl1957 wrote:

Really, I have become a lazy re-lister and need to have a proper sort out!

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Me too! 

[morpurgo-bookshop]

Today, I have received the mailing from eBay with the title:
''Get paid faster and a lower fee for buyers''
The message in full:

We’ve made some improvements to Buyer Protection to better support your sales. Starting today, we’re reducing the buyer fee to make your lower-priced items more appealing to buyers. From 6 Aug, you’ll also receive your funds within 24 hours of the buyer paying.
Get your funds faster

You’ve told us that it’s important to know you’ll be paid shortly after a buyer places an order, and we’ve listened. Starting from 6 Aug, you’ll receive your funds in your eBay balance within 24 hours of the buyer paying. This will automatically apply for orders completed after 6 Aug, so there’s nothing you need to do.

Learn more about getting paid
How Buyer Protection works

Buyer Protection helps maintain a safe marketplace with risk monitoring, fraud detection, 24/7 customer support, and secure transactions for all purchases.

We’ve now reduced the fixed portion of the Buyer Protection fee from £0.75 to £0.10. Buyers still pay the fee and it’s included in the item price, so there are no surprises at checkout. Here’s how it’s calculated:

•

A flat fee of £0.10 per item

•

7% of the item price up to £20

•

4% of any portion of the item price from £20 to £300

•

2% of any portion of the item price from £300 to £4,000

•

No fee for the portion of the item price over £4,000

When your buyer purchases multiple identical items in the same order, they only pay the flat fee once.

A live calculator is coming soon, where you’ll be able to enter a price and see the Buyer Protection fee in real-time, so you’ll know exactly what your buyers will pay. When making or reviewing offers, you’ll also see the fee split out from the total item price.

From today, you’ll be able to see the updated rates on your listings, and will notice the greatest impact on items priced £10 or less. If you have any active auctions and offers, they’ll continue to include the existing rates.

Learn more about the fee
A reminder about Simple Delivery

You may have heard that we recently introduced Simple Delivery, an easier and more secure delivery solution. As a reminder, from 6 Aug, any eligible live listings that aren’t yet using Simple Delivery will switch to this delivery option. In some cases, you may see a change to the courier you selected when listing your item. If you have a preference between Royal Mail and Evri, you can set your preferred courier in your Postage Preferences. There may also be cases where the cost of postage varies from what was initially shown. You can find out more about the rates on our Simple Delivery page.

If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch—we’re here to help.

Thanks for being part of the eBay community.

There may be some cases in which funds are held for compliance reasons. Learn more on our Help page.
See the Terms and Conditions for Simple Delivery.
eBay

[morpurgo-bookshop]

I've never, ever used a simple delivery. I personally pack all my items since 1999 and send them all packed good and tracked by default. 
Honestly, I don't even understand what to do with a simple delivery?
While I am happy that they have changed payment now to be back as it once was, I am unsure about the ''protection fee'' and ''simple delivery'' in general.

[crg_music]

They'd make plenty on business sellers still and whats more its generally less risky and more sustainable than higher end. 

Im sure they more than have the infrastructure in place and its surely better for a pound to come their way than to another marketplace.

Its almost like nobody told them you can sell those cheap items free in numerous other places and these other places seem to be flying.

There is also definitely an issue with demographic. I cant help but wonder how many buyers under 25 are regular users here?.  

[1956glyn]

I have had this conversation with my son who is 34.    He would never buy off here as "its all outdated nowadays".    He works with quite a few who are early 20s and their view is....."outdated and for older people".  The younger ones really like and use Vinted.

[tressygirl]

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@morpurgo-bookshop wrote:

I've never, ever used a simple delivery. I personally pack all my items since 1999 and send them all packed good and tracked by default. 
Honestly, I don't even understand what to do with a simple delivery?
While I am happy that they have changed payment now to be back as it once was, I am unsure about the ''protection fee'' and ''simple delivery'' in general.

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If you would like some reading matter!

This explains Simple Delivery:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/postage/simple-delivery?mkevt=1&mkpid=2&emsid=0&mkcid=8&bu=43952...

This explains Buyer Protection Fee:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/buyer-protection-fee?id=5594

Also worth a read,  as there are going to be changes to some of the above,  is yesterday's eBay Announcement.  Go to eBay News >>  Announcement tab , top left of this forum page, read the first announcement on the left!  🤗

@morpurgo-bookshop 

[wyntersemporium]

Same here this time last year was making a lot more. But cannot compete with the so called business sellers acting as private sellers. Saw one “private seller” has 4000 listings. 

[wyntersemporium]

Thought that was me. But I nose around Los Angeles homes instead. Born in the wrong country. 

[wyntersemporium]

Very quick to list and to sell. Always advertising on tv