Is Ebay Worth the Effort These Days?

pennypincher3562

I am sure there have been many similar threads like these, but it would be good to get a 2016 update.

I used to be a successful seller in 2006/2007. You listed your item (with shipping charges,) and within hours potential buyers were appearing, and regular sales were made.

These days, you don't even charge for shipping, packaging or even time taken to dispatch. I am offering free same day dispatch and it's like 'watching paint dry.' My listings aren't even being seen in many cases.

Is it worth the effort these days?

soolin

I think the market has moved and what sold 8 years ago does not necessarily sell now. Sales generally seem depressed, just look at the. Umber of high street shops that we have lost .

pennypincher3562

soolin wrote: »

I think the market has moved and what sold 8 years ago does not necessarily sell now. Sales generally seem depressed, just look at the. Umber of high street shops that we have lost .

Yes, I appreciate markets change. I am trying to sell items that are proven to sell in 2016. However, getting the visibility is the issue. The Ebay ranking algorithm seems to favour very established sellers, and getting your 'foot on the ladder,' seems terribly difficult these days.

I also agree with the High Street shop issue. My city had major independent traders that had survived for almost a century, now almost none are left. With every passing year more disappear.

theonlywayisup

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I am sure there have been many similar threads like these, but it would be good to get a 2016 update.

I used to be a successful seller in 2006/2007. You listed your item (with shipping charges,) and within hours potential buyers were appearing, and regular sales were made.

These days, you don't even charge for shipping, packaging or even time taken to dispatch. I am offering free same day dispatch and it's like 'watching paint dry.' My listings aren't even being seen in many cases.

Is it worth the effort these days?

2006/2007 I was also a seller. I had 2 businesses on eBay.

10 years on, I have the same 2 businesses on eBay. 1 is wholesale 1 is retail. I still pay my Vat and corporation tax. I still run at a profit. Is it harder? Yes, it's more difficult, more rules, more hoops but the margins are less. I adapted and still change. Do I sell now what I sold then? No. I moved with the markets.

pennypincher3562

theonlywayisup wrote: »

2006/2007 I was also a seller. I had 2 businesses on eBay.

10 years on, I have the same 2 businesses on eBay.

Maybe a case that the amateur 'part time' sellers have been squeezed out, by those with pro retail knowledge as competition increases?

theonlywayisup

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Maybe a case that the amateur 'part time' sellers have been squeezed out, by those with pro retail knowledge as competition increases?

No, I don't think so. I think you need to identify a market and exploit it. You can't be like everyone else - and I'm not saying you are as I don't know what you sell - but regardless of size, you need to find a niche. Mine stemmed from something (just one item) that we needed. We couldn't find it, so we made it. I sold a few, then some more. Then we expanded. I don't just sell that item anymore, but it was our corner turning point.

RFW

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

These days, you don't even charge for shipping, packaging or even time taken to dispatch. I am offering free same day dispatch and it's like 'watching paint dry.' My listings aren't even being seen in many cases.

The whole visibility problem is what made me pack in Ebay, just over a year ago.
I've just had a competitor on Amazon who has stolen all my product pictures and used them on Ebay. Consequently I've been considering returning to Ebay in a scaled back way. I can manage with just a couple of listings.
I've no idea how visibility will work and I was considering sponsored ads. I'm probably going to hang on until the end of the month and then start a little experiment.

As far as search goes, Ebay needs to make it a little more straightforward. There's too much tinkering and suppressing of listings.
I understand that there is a need to suppress some but they've struggled to get it to how it should be.
They would probably benefit from a complete overhaul/relaunch but I doubt that will happen in the near future.

mrcol1000

I've sold on Ebay for around 8 years as a private seller and last few years as a business and not really seen that much of a difference. I think it is better for buyers now. Maybe they have gone a bit too far in buyers favour but without buyers, none of us would be selling.

The real problem is that prices have been driven down. Some sellers still want to sell things at 2006 prices. I source my stock cheap and can sell cheaper than a lot of sellers but still make a good profit. If you can buy something in Asda for £5, why would you buy it on Ebay for £15?

Selling on Ebay can be very frustrating and unfair. However you just need to either quit or suck it up and do your best. While I think Ebay do sometimes do not make their search the best. I do think that a lot of time bad sellers blame Ebay rather than looking at why people are not buying from them and if there is anything they could do to improve that. Instead they come up with conspiracy about why Ebay is stopping their sales as that is far easier for them to deal with.

pennypincher3562

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I do think that a lot of time bad sellers blame Ebay rather than looking at why people are not buying from them and if there is anything they could do to improve that. Instead they come up with conspiracy about why Ebay is stopping their sales as that is far easier for them to deal with.

Thanks for the comments, but do you really think 'free postage' is fair, when we all know that postage, packing and time is not 'free'?

Even major supermarkets quite rightly charge for delivery.

As far as I know 'fast and free' heavily influences your ranking position.

POPPYOSCAR

I think postage increases have had an impact, especially if you just want to have a clear out, and want to sell small bits and pieces.

theonlywayisup

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Thanks for the comments, but do you really think 'free postage' is fair, when we all know that postage, packing and time is not 'free'?

Even major supermarkets quite rightly charge for delivery.

As far as I know 'fast and free' heavily influences your ranking position.

Fair? Fairness doesn't come into it. You either cost it into your listings on Ebay or not.

Free P&P isn't exclusive to eBay. I pay for Prime on Amazon, and therefore my purchases don't attract any postage charges. I buy from John Lewis, but I spend over £30 therefore I don't pay any charges for collection.

John Lewis aren't giving anything away, it's built into their profit.

Whether you feel it is fair or not is irrelevant. You either make it part of your selling plan or not.