topic Re: May Sales slump? in Selling

May Sales slump?

oz_electronics_inc — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:53:20 GMT

Has anyone noticed a significant slump in business on eBay Australia this month?

I've informally surveyed a few sellers I know and each one has noticed a reduction in business.

Cast your opinion by selecting from the poll in this thread.

Cheers!

Re: May Sales slump?

bsal6160 — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:59:55 GMT

This subject has been done to death already

Re: May Sales slump?

*new2vintage — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:39:49 GMT

Sorry mate but this is already old news. Aus Post increasing their charges recently isn't helping.

Re: May Sales slump?

oz_electronics_inc — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:48:55 GMT

Hi - thanks for your note.

I've spoken to a few Chinese sellers (based out of China & HK) and their postage hasn't gone up - but their sales into Australia have dropped too.

Do you reckon people (Australian consumers) are jumping off the hype of online buying due to bad press on increased postage for online purchases in general?

A penny for your thoughts....

Re: May Sales slump?

tonalidesigns — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:52:39 GMT

May is always a quiet time in retail in Australia ... plus it seems most years eBay introduces a whole swag of changes at this time as well which can have an affect.

Re: May Sales slump?

digital*ghost — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:38:43 GMT

I'm not sure it's a postage issue (within Oz). With the last increases, I decided to drop my postage for parcels back to what it was two rises ago. I didn't raise my purchase price at all, and it's had no effect on sales. The items I send at parcel rates (clothing) have been on a noticably steady decline for several months, so I'm kinda surprised when I do sell one these days. :^O I think other sites are a little more enticing for buyers at the moment (as far as fashion is concerned).

There's a lot of talk about eBay switching off servers to save money, and it would explain a lot of the current site issues, including pages of ended items in search results, or ended items still showing in store pages; periods of invisibility and no items showing in store pages, despite many active listings, and other strange goings-on.

Re: May Sales slump?

waddingtonfirstaid — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:22:21 GMT

Whatever eBay did just before May 1 they need to reverse it ASAP.

The dramatic downturn has nothing to do with postage charges or the general economic climate. Given the amount of advertising eBay has done this month, you would expect that would counteract the possible excuses for the downturn offered here, but it has not. There are other bigger and more systemic issues at play here and it is appalling for eBay to train-wreck us all in their secret journey when they always spruik nothing but benefits for us when they implement changes. Why don't they tell us the TRUTH about what is causing this PROBLEM? Many people have documented how they have sought answers in this forum over the last 3 weeks but eBay have remained silent.

Re: May Sales slump?

polocross58 — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:45:01 GMT

There are definitely site issues involved. I'm worried about security, to be honest. I log in, browse, maybe put something on Watch and it demands I log in again. I was logged in when I read this thread. Yet I was required to log in again, BUT when I went to do so, my ID was already showing in what was supposed to be a blank space. The other night I logged out of ebay AND cleared cookies etc. before logging-off and switching off my computer at the wall. Two days LATER I returned to ebay and discovered I was STILL logged in ! That's dodgy. No-one likes that

When I click on an item, up comes a page claiming 'This site is busy', plus lots of other very strange things happening

As to May sales slump, I'm not a seller. Have just completed a long search in certain area of women's fashion and yes, postage has risen, but there are sellers out there and more than a few, who're charging up to $12 postage to send a thin polyester shirt. No bids of course. Not that I'd pay that for postage on one lightweight item. Other sellers, very similar item weight - $6.50 postage. Too much variation and it's cheesing prospective buyers off and all becoming more of a pain than it's worth

I think a lot of previous ebay buyers are heading back to bricks and mortar, seeing what they like and buying on the spot with the option to return for refund or exchange

EBay's changed. Huge amount of Asian stuff on ebay now. Lots of fakes. Much of it pretty vile. 20 years ago you wouldn't have found too many Australian women going around in purple, yellow, green and black combinations in cheap, slimy material. Now, it seems that (and other disgusting combinations) are all that's on offer

Ebay doesn't seem to care about buyers OR sellers - just an impersonal juggernaut which has far more confidence in its continued success than I believe is warranted

Australia Post is the same, and people are tired of both of them, I think

The only thing to save ebay would be if it began subsidising postage. Maybe someone should suggest it at the next shareholders meeting but we won't hold our breath

Added to all the above is the state of the economy. Not sure of the ratio, but the other day read that 52% of Australians are employed, with ten hours paid employment per week being the government's idea of 'employed'. That means close to 50% of Aussies are living on what -- thin air ? Hope ? Welfare ? Makes it a great time for Aust. Post to bring in another postage rise

Go in any supermarket and you'll find the Specials are sold out as are the generic brands. The government drones should investigate supermarkets regularly and see it for themselves. Yes, people will always try to save money, which is what Specials and Sales are all about, but it seems these days, if the Specials are gone, people are doing without, because all around those empty Specials are shelves filled with name-brands. This is a good indication that Aussies are doing it tough. People losing their jobs daily. Others worried sick they'll lose theirs

The next time Gillard or Swan claim this is a 'lucky' or 'rich' nation, someone should clip them around the ear, because it's a blatant lie, but the government and media keep peddling the same old lies whilst ignoring the reality

When the government grabs people's bank-accounts because they haven't been 'active' for three years, and when they rush through legislation permitting themselves to do that over the Christmas holidays --- all so they can get their hands on $109 million of citizens' money -- then you know things are at desperation point. Heaven forbid they should kick out all those retired politicians who're living high on the hog for up to forty years on the public purse though

Well, May's on its last legs, so we'll have to see what June brings. I've a feeling things will not improve

Re: May Sales slump?

catsnknots — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:38:05 GMT

Well I have had the best sales month ever...

BUT my items that have sold best are the free postage ones and cheaper items under $6

I think the extra postage prices have peeved a few people off and I hope that when they adjust the more expensive items with paid postage increase.

Re: May Sales slump?

licualamapu — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:28:15 GMT

I've noticed a change in my sales this calender year.The first couple of months were woeful with only 4-5 sales per week then all of a sudden I would make 15 sales in one day - unbelievable,then nothing for a few days.I've had 3 or 4 cycles like that this year.It's hard to

work out what's going on.Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers Steve

Re: May Sales slump?

catsnknots — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:20:10 GMT

Another thing I have noticed is that just before my bill is due I always get enough sales to cover the expense..

So I am not making huge profit but I am earning enough for it to not cost me to have a store.

Re: May Sales slump?

fourandsixpants — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:20:20 GMT

Well ref licualamapu comment:

work out what's going on.Anyone have any ideas?

......

After having read through many discussion forums recently on both ebay.com and ebay.co.uk I suggest this ebay site may perhaps be suffering from same issues. Sellers are reporting events like' it's like my shop is being turned on and off at different times....' some sellers even state that they witness where their shop is turned 'on' for an hour in the day.

I ask, could this be possible? and if so what can ebay users do about it?

Re: May Sales slump?

ms_biz1 — Thu, 30 May 2024 00:01:59 GMT

Have sold nothing so far this month, except one item (cancelled) to a buyer who did not pay.

Re: May Sales slump?

domino-710 — Thu, 30 May 2024 00:04:20 GMT

The post you are answering has probably had a few in the past 9 years.

Re: May Sales slump?

kh-syedse — Thu, 30 May 2024 01:48:16 GMT

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.