topic Re: What increases sales? in Selling

What increases sales?

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 05:12:44 GMT

Hey all,

I hope everyone is doing ok and sales are booming in a tough climate.

I was wondering what you guys have found that seems to increase sales. I have heard on these boards over the years many theories about ways to increase sales such as; continuously adding new stock/listings, editing older listings, key words in the title etc. Obviously the major things go without saying which is quality of stock and price and quality of images.

At other times though there have been theories that it doesn't matter what you list as eBay will 'throttle' your account with 'lights out' periods. I certainly have experienced many times where nothing is happening which does suggest that the 'lights out' phenomena does indeed exist.

Does it go hand in hand that the more listings you have, the more share of sales you get? let's say you have 200 listings valued at $2000, and you sell a monthly figure of $300, would you expect to double your monthly figure if you doubled the listings and value?

Wondering what others thoughts are on what they have found has increased sales if anything?

Re: What increases sales?

p9games — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 05:30:30 GMT

The answer to this question depends entirely on the market you work in and your position within it. Growing an Ebay business is like growing any other business and success depends on a huge variety of factors. Product, innovation, customer servicing, pricing etc There is no silver bullet. Know your product, know your market, innovate, provide great service, charge a fair price, optimise your back office, improve process and so on. And be in it for the long haul, not to make a quick buck. It's a general response because any substantial response would need a detailed knowledge of your business and the market you operate in and I have neither..

Regarding 'lights out' periods. This is nonsense. Business ebbs and flows, but to suggest that these variances are because of Ebay throttling your business is crazy. Explain to me why Ebay would be motivated to limit sales when they have a vested interest in maximising sales given their earnings are linked to ours (collectively).

Re: What increases sales?

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 05:44:41 GMT

Some great input and appreciated. I think you have answered more along the lines of 'how to grow a business' rather than, 'how to increase sales on eBay' and whilst they may be the same in many respects, they also have some very unique differences.

The 'lights out' phenomena I respectfully disagree. There have been many posters over many years adding their experiences with many different criteria in arriving at that conclusion. I personally have seen very consistent sales over long periods and after a rush of sales it all goes quiet as quick as the rush came. Not only that but sales are sometimes restricted to certain geographical areas. For instance last week after many days of zero sales I got 3 sales all in the QLD area, within a 200km radius. Now that may be a coincidence but I have seen that many times previously where there are those phenomena. So I will respectfully disagree on the lights out stuff having both experienced it, and heard many other sellers document their own experiences.

Re: What increases sales?

davewil1964 — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 08:21:30 GMT

List more items.

Re: What increases sales?

jellybirddesigns — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 00:08:01 GMT

@oddsandendsoz - your post resonates with me.

After seeing my shop increase in turnover every single year, all of a sudden sales fell off a cliff in late 2020 after we had to add all the item specifics. International sales, which used to make up 30% of my business, evaporated completely.

I never used to experience phases of "lights out" or "throttling", but I can definitely say that this is exactly what my shop is now like and I can see it in my traffic metrics. When sales do come along, there will be one or two small transactions and then up to 15 days with crickets. Before Nov 2020, there would be a few sales a day and my weekends were always busy with an average of a dozen+ sales.

I've added new items, updated photographs, updated listings and nothing has changed.

Revenue here is down by 90%.

Although @p9games says it depends on the market - my shop on another platform sells exactly the same things (at a higher price point) and is up around 300% this year alone. There are no "ebbs and flows" over there to the extent that they are noticeable.

Re: What increases sales?

twyngwyn — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:08:15 GMT

A Trick to Bring Your eBay Sales Back from the Dead (ecommercebytes.com)

Seller Satisfaction Survey: Visibility on eBay - Part 2 - EcommerceBytes

and, from 2014:

Leaked: eBay Hidden Limits Throttle Seller Sales (ecommercebytes.com)

Re: What increases sales?

oddsandendsoz — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:58:07 GMT

Yes jellybird, there is simply no doubt in my mind that the 'lights out' phenomena does indeed exist. You can see it across all areas; no messages, no watchers, low or stagnate views, a run of sales and then nothing again, no offers, no sales, and then there are times when the floodgates open and you can see patterns of location specific sales.

What are the chances that you have no sale for 7-10 days and then you get 3 sales all from QLD or from SA, I would say very low chances in a 'normal' situation. Like you, on my main account we also have a website and those sales rarely show 'patterns' that you see on eBay. Obviously it will be worse depending on the market you are selling in, my main account is very competitive now so the 'share of the pot' is less and the 'lights out' phenomena appears to last longer these days.

My OP was actually more about a newer account which I am trying to grow, which is why I asked the question in an attempt to see if it is possible to circumvent to an extent the throttling.

I wonder if your market has also seen an influx of competitors which means more time in 'lights out'?

Re: What increases sales?

oddsandendsoz — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:10:06 GMT

Thanks twyngwyn, they all confirm what many of have suspected for many years. I loved the eBay satisfaction survey that showed 73% believed visibility was not fairly distributed.

Re: What increases sales?

japatech — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:02:15 GMT

Definitely throttling occurring. Same hear, last 12 months will have a month of no sales then 4 or 5 quick sales then nothing for another month. Pure throttling by ebay to keep sellers interested.

Re: What increases sales?

eol-products — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 23:51:09 GMT

Fast shipping and low handling time is supposed to help. Listing everyday I am still not sold on but will help get traffic.

Re: What increases sales?

imastawka — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 01:13:14 GMT

What increases sales?

In my particular case, the death of a Monarch is helping move a lot of stock that was stagnant.

Re: What increases sales?

japatech — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 03:14:52 GMT

I agree with your comments 100%. We always had consistent sales each month. Now for the last 6 months we are getting throttled by ebay. We have 3 or 4 quick sales then nothing for 3 weeks. Then another 3 or 4 quick sales then nothing for 3 weeks. It seems that ebay gives us a couple of sales at the beginning of the month then nothing for the rest of the month. I think they do this to spread sales around to all buyers to keep you interested in selling on ebay. We also have our own website and sell on Amazon. We get no throttling on these other platforms, just consistent sales. I think the time has come to give up on ebay. Too many hidden algorithms and too many fees.

Re: What increases sales?

davewil1964 — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 08:30:37 GMT

Your choice, no need to advertise. See ya.

I might check your account in a few months. London to a brick, you are still listing on eBay.

Re: What increases sales?

*sons_n_daughters* — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:33:39 GMT

@japatech wrote:
I agree with your comments 100%. We always had consistent sales each month. Now for the last 6 months we are getting throttled by ebay. We have 3 or 4 quick sales then nothing for 3 weeks. Then another 3 or 4 quick sales then nothing for 3 weeks. It seems that ebay gives us a couple of sales at the beginning of the month then nothing for the rest of the month. I think they do this to spread sales around to all buyers to keep you interested in selling on ebay. We also have our own website and sell on Amazon. We get no throttling on these other platforms, just consistent sales. I think the time has come to give up on ebay. Too many hidden algorithms and too many fees.

Ebay won't care if you move to a different platform. If that works for you, move. Seriously, you aren't even a grain of sand on a beach to ebay. You won't be missed. Certainly not by ebay. Especially as you've had a WHOPPING 11 sales in the last 3 months. Oh wait, maybe your 11 sales is what's keeping ebay afloat. Please don't leave!

Good luck with your fees on the other sites. Personal experience, way higher than ebay, but if you're happy with that, go for it.

Re: What increases sales?

woodfirestove — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:01:24 GMT

A belated reply to your post

I have my own theory as to why sales have slowed down.

Prior to Ebay Managed Selling I did reseach other seller in the US that had already moved across to ebay Managed. Many posts had one thing in common 'Their store sales died' when Ebay managed came into play.

I can honestly say that I was rolling along with most of my sales coming from Ebay, once managed payments came in my sales came to a grinding halt and have never picked up.

The other factor is that when I decided not to pay an additional premium to ebay for 'Promoted items' simply because in became mandatory to add no less than 5% for promoted instead on the 1%+ range, my sales declined. So between the two factors mentioned I can say that I can no longer rely on an income from Ebay and have had to put more effort into my website, which has paid off.

Re: What increases sales?

davewil1964 — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:25:29 GMT

Still listing 3 years later, I note

Re: What increases sales?

kh_safal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:42:08 GMT

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your helpful replies and for contributing to the discussion.

This topic has now been locked because the thread has become a bit dated. If you have more to add or would like to continue the conversation, we encourage you to start a new topic.

Thanks!
eBay moderation