Ebay items just not selling any more - not even getting views, what has changed?

troglodyte

I first started selling a few odds and ends on Ebay about 20 years ago, and then when my parents died it was a good way to find new homes for obscure unwanted items that I couldn't really donate to charity (think vintage toilet paper or Shredded Wheat memorabilia). Generally the strange odds and ends I offered would get plenty of views but only a few bids, but that was all I needed and only to be expected for items that almost nobody would want!

For a while I was too busy to do any more but then a year or so ago I thought I would try to shift a few more things. But this time round I am not finding any buyers - and not only that but no viewers either! The same items get relisted month after month after month and each time I can see they have had 0 views, 0 views... yet I know there must be potential buyers out there because similar items seem to be selling.

What has changed?

I haven't chosen to promote my listing, because for something selling for a couple of pounds it's just not worth the cost - but is that the snag?

Has anyone else had this problem?

And can anyone recommend any other selling platform for odd things?

km1500

are you putting them in the right category?

as a buyer, if you search eBay it defaults to a certain category not the whole site. If yours isn't in that category noone will see your listing

do a search yourself and see what categories other items like yours are listed in

GadgetGuru

Yeh I find the same - relisting things over and over with very little interest now. 
I just put it down to the stuff Im selling being more 'specialised' - or just unwanted! lol

soolin

I find some things I used to sell very well have stopped selling entirely so I have started dropping a lot of lines from my business account already, have been winding it down for several months now. I think it’s probably a combination of several things, less money about and people just not wanting random stuff any more. I also have the much moaned about problem of ‘private’ sellers selling in the same categories at discounted prices. My private accounts though are doing very well, but of course that’s entirely different things.

the business seller boards are full of businesses moaning this is their worst year ever and most blame it on the huge number of ‘private’ sellers selling as businesses. 

There are a fair few business sellers though reporting record takings but admitting they’ve had to entirely change their stock as what would sell easily as recently as last year, now won’t sell at all. 

I suspect it is a mix of some businesses getting stuck in a rut and not noticing that markets and peoples buying habits change. There’s also a lot of private sellers still selling absolute tat who cannot have done any research of selling prices,, Ty beanie babies are a good example, lots of sellers asking £10+ each when a quick search of sold items show identical ones not selling at 99p. 

troglodyte

Thanks all. I think I have got things listed in the right categories. Normally I look for another item the same or similar and then use that as a template. I also look up what these items sold for and then choose a price that seems appropriate. I can see that other similar items are selling and I can understand why mine might not find a buyer if there is a cheaper one (or perhaps closer) available, but it's the fact that I'm not getting any views at all that has me stumped!

Grumpelstiltskin

Soolin you always get items where some people are asking ridiculous prices.

I have an item on at £2 and it isn't selling , someone else has the identical item on at £18.

soolin

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Soolin you always get items where some people are asking ridiculous prices.

I have an item on at £2 and it isn't selling , someone else has the identical item on at £18.

Then perhaps it is the crazy search logarithm that chooses to ignore you for some reason. I posted recently about search not showing all the items, and just a select few - and how I eventually bought the exact item  I wanted from a seller that had had it listed for quite a while, but which didn't show up the first few times I searched. I could see nothing at all wrong with the seller, feedback and stars looked good so I have no idea why ebay chose not to show me that item, and instead show me items that weren't what I wanted.  

Grumpelstiltskin

Soolin Every time I list it I get 1 watcher, I suspect that is the other person who has it for sale, mind you I'm not bothered it's something I got in a job lot years ago if I lose patience with it it will go to the charity shop.

Vitor

Maybe a combination of Temu/Shein/AliExpress undercutting UK based sellers, buyers have less ££ to spend, plus the 24 hour delivery/no quibble return on Amazon Prime means waiting a week for RM 2nd class from an Ebayer isn't so attractive.

And if you're selling anything tech, CeX give you cash in hand without the concern over fake SNAD/INR claims to try and scam a freebie. 

Chloe_G

This happened to me the last time I sold something- just no views. I always used to get views and sales on similar items a couple of years ago.

RFW

One bit of advice I had from someone at Ebay was that an item needs at least 10 pictures to improve visibility. Most of my core items don't need more than 2 or 3 so I've had to be inventive. I also used to sell on Ebay when it cost extra to have more than one image.