SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

[vivagifts]

Hi there I have had a fancy dress shop on ebay for some years, and have done surprisingly well. Until last month... Some people are telling me it is the time of year, but January/February last year were really busy!  I do not understand.  In October I started to sell some craft items too and although they sell considerably well, the profit is almost nothing (about $1 per sale!)  I added them for fun and also to give customers more choice but have since noticed a HUGE drop in sales for costumes.

It may be just a coincidence but I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this or does the fact that I do not specialise only in one niche market put people off?

I really cannot drop my prices any lower, on a lot of items I offer postage (including REGISTERED international post which is about $30!) and some items I am selling at cost - but they still do not sell, yet other costume businesses on ebay seem to be doing well?

If anyone wants to see my store and comment PLEASE do so.  I also have a private website which I have no idea how to market.. without giving google adwords mine and my husband's monthly salary for a few clicks... HELP   I would hate to close shop! 

[ejholden1963]

 G'day Sir Sales,

This is what I read.

The policy impacts purchases made by UK users of PayPal on whatever site the transaction takes place.

There is another bit I read somewhere where Skinner states that the coverage will be for all UK registered users no matter where in the world they purchase from. If I find it again, I'll post it.

There is a meet with a Paypal rep next week & I'll be seeking clarification on the impact of this policy for Au sellers.

In the meantime, if you have any queries you would like to submit,

http://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Bad-news-for-sellers-But-wait-there-s-more/m-p/1169377#M5630...

[chameleon54]

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@ejholden1963 wrote:

Never mind, davewil, sometimes it pays just to read ......

I did post the link in another thread somewhere on the boards, but I'll add them here.

Please note the bold update ....

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y14/m04/i15/s01

Also the follow up article ..... Bottom of Para 2 is confirmation. Also, Para 3 is worth noting ....

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y14/m04/i16/s02

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Thanks for the links, I,m not sure what the ebay execs where smoking when they dreamed this one up  BUT I WANT SOME !!!  Ebays new ideas for sellers just get wackier all the time.

Perhaps all sellers who opose the idea would be wise to sell Worldwide BUT EXCLUDE U.K

[revampz]

Hi all.....

I just want to comment as a buyer as to what I think is happening.  My husband and I are collectors and used to buy off ebay all the time. 

However, the first thing that has turned us off is all the chinese junk on here.  It really cheapens EBAY as a brand, and it is such a pain in the butt to have to wade through all the cheap carp.   We buy retro, vintage and antique stuff....... once upon a time you could search say "art deco" stuff and unique items would turn up that were excellent quality and well priced.   Now we dont do that anymore as there are so many chinese products listed in amongst this, that are most definitely not antique nor good quality.   I actually bought such an item and it has left us very wary, and basically not trusting what we buy on here anymore.

2ndly is the cost of postage!!!!   that is not entirely ebays fault, but taking 10% is certainly not going to help matters.   That is why I personally think they are trying to get everyone to list  with "free postage"  to cover just how expensive postage is in Australia, as I have spoken to alot of people and it is this cost that is turning them off buying online.   It is ok for small items, but with larger items, especially clothes, it is cheaper to buy from a bricks and mortar shop.  People will pay the high postage cost for unique items they can not get in shops.

3rdly.....  have you seen the amount of retail sales in the actual shopping centres these days?????   retail is not doing too well and real shops are selling their items at low costs.....

4th   Facebook!!!  I really do not think EBAy is taking it seriously enough.............it is a huge threat.    This is now where we are buying most of our stuff.    I live in Townsville, population 200 000................we have that many buy/sell/swap pages here it is unbeleivable.......   last night we bought a used drum set for $50.................  there are so many vintage and retro pages within our area alone...............I have also liked pages from outside our area, and can negotiate directly with them regarding postage.

Just my two cents worth.   I think ebay is going in the wrong direction trying to be another "amazon" and having mostly large retailers stuff on here etc and continually upping the fees for the small seller....

It is such a shame.   It is the unique stuff the small sellers have on here that was the reason we shopped on here constantly....and I mean constantly.........we have 5 different usernames in this household alone..............but have taking our buying elsewhere.   My major reason is the chinese cheap **bleep**e on here..............I really cant stand it.

[kustomizer99]

The main killer of eBay sales is high postage, not just here but worldwide (except for UK and China who have ultra-cheap rates).

[chameleon54]

As mentioned in other threads I have reduced my ebay purchases by at least 90 % over the last 12 months due to the high postage costs, but I do think revampz had some very valid points, re. Chinese **Bleep** clagging up the searches and people switching over to Facebook. My son has just listed a dozen computer games on there this morning. ( $15 each ) . As a teenager he views ebay as a dinasour from the past and doesnt use it much. It seems ebay has already lost the next generation.

[moto-stylemx_2]

Guys, China is the biggest threat to us all.  We we're having issues with competition from the Chinese, however if one was to view our lisitngs, we've tackled it head on.  Many of our listings (really all new in 2014) carry the title ** NO CHINESE **Bleep** ** plus text in each listing explaining the clear difference.  It has worked with measurable results. Just have to force the issue... remind people WHEN they are looking at your products, they're ready to purchase, get them while they're hot.

[kustomizer99]

Chinese listings are only a threat if you're selling the same trinkets they are. VIntage collectables have no competition from China.

[phonebite]

Chinese products are only a threat if they produce the same quality standards as the local version but sell for cheaper or for people who don't know how to make good photos or use photoshop to attract potential buyers..

[haolove13]

Not sure when this was updated  but this is what I have read.

The Guardian also said PayPal was extending the amount of time buyers who encounter a problem have to report a dispute, from 45 to 180 days. It appears that the extended time period applies only to the digital and intangible goods policy, however, and not to the sale of physical items. UPDATE: a PayPal UK spokesperson said the 180 days is for all transactions - tangible and intangible.

To me tangible and intangible means digital and real goods. And because the Aus market is so far away will they make it 200 days in Aus just like we get 40 freebies a month and the US get fifty.

Neutrons must be a lot more expensive in Aus !!!!!!!