topic Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this? in Selling

SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:49:27 GMT

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!

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:50:32 GMT

sorry the third paragraph is meant to say I OFFER FREE POSTAGE

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

carly2579 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:55:17 GMT

i have not noticed slow sales but i sell mostly disney dvds and they do sell i think the economy is still lsow too

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

mystical4573 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:13:32 GMT

Yes i most definately notice it thats why i came to check in here to see if anyone else was going through the same thing.Since the beginning of the year up until about 2-3 weeks ago i had record sales now its almost nothing.I have just put a sale on 2 days ago and still nothing.I have been on ebay for 7 years and selling Baby items for the past 6 years and this has been the worst 2 weeks for months.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

the-kazbar — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:22:32 GMT

I have actually been looking on ebay for fancy dress costumes quite a bit lately as I have 5 people to outfit for 3 different functions and to be honest I have been quite underwhelmed by the variety.

Everything seems a bit tarty and 'same same'. Perhaps get some unusual items or take your own photos so that you are a bit different to everyone else 🙂

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:29:46 GMT

thank you for your comment! most suppliers only sell the "sexy"stuff. I wish I could find a normal supplier of every day costumes. and yes you ARE right, the costumes are same old same old. Problem is that less common ones cost a lot to buy and would have to sell them at a higher price... which means that based on what's out there at the moment (a lot of chinese sellers selling auctions from 1cent) my items would be on page... 344 or something like that 😞

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

sprinklespowerpuff — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:43:09 GMT

Hi, I would have to agree that the vamp/tarty outfits are everywhere and really are unsuited to anyone who's not young, slender etc which I would imagine would limit your customer base somewhat. I was at a fancy dress party years ago where someone came as Cousin It from the Addams Family. The outfit was a scream - the long, right down over the toes fake hair and all. Couldn't even see who was under all of it until they spoke or parted the hair a bit over the face. So that person even had the added "entrance appeal" for want of a better phrase as in "who's that under there?". I'm sure you get what I mean. Something that not every man and his dog is used to seeing. I wish you every success with your business.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:47:10 GMT

I agree.. I am now searching for a normal costume supplier.. I am fairly young and a small size but I would personally never wear the sexy costumes either!

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

sprinklespowerpuff — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:47:43 GMT

In reply to your post Viva. it might be worthwhile to invest in a few dearer costumes if it means increased sales. Word would soon get round that you have great, out of the norm attire and as your sales increase you could then invest in a few more and on it goes. Just could be a turning point.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

the-kazbar — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:49:33 GMT

I am not interested in waiting 5 or 6 weeks for one to come from China and i'm sure most others aren't either so you need to promote your fast shipping to compete against the asian sellers, not price.

Also, if you photograph your items on a real person (not a 19 year old lingerie model) then your items will appear different to everyone elses and we will be abe to get an idea of what it will look like on a real person. I don't think I ever looked like one of those girls, even 20 years ago, so it turns me off the item.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:52:29 GMT

thank you everyone, I could not agree more. this has been some great down to earth advice. I will need to do some hard research and restructure the business a little... so you think adding the craft items did not cause any damage?

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

the-kazbar — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:54:14 GMT

not at all. I sell hundreds of different items and I find that the more variety I have, the more I sell, not less 🙂

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

motherbear2003 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:05:28 GMT

When I first started selling I only made and sold dolls clothes, then I added baby bibs, then I added and the list goes on - as the variety of items offered for sale increased, so did the sales:-) Working on my next project at the moment, as sales are in a bit of slump:-)

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

aussieclassics — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:35:11 GMT

Sales are defintely down, 50% on last weeks. I had a great year last year, January wasn't too bad, but this month is really nowhere near normal.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

vivagifts — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:39:06 GMT

some people say that when ebay is doing maintenance or changes to the site, the search results are all over the place and each time there is "change" i notice a reduced number in sales.. does anyone know if they are in fact making more changes?...... like increasing seller fees?? 😐

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:23:53 GMT

My store sales are definitely down on last year but I am selling on my other free to list ids at higher than expected prices so overall I don't think the total for the six months will be too much below in total.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

purple.cow — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:36:09 GMT

I think there are limits as to how much junk product any marketplace can bear at any one time and it's that fact alone that curtails buying trends.

To overccome the problems with getting the buying public through the store door when dealing in better quality products at higher price ranges most retailers employ what is know as 'Loss leader' tactics.

This is when the retailer offers one or two items at genuine 'At cost or below cost price' in their better quality products to the customer for a given time frame, a sale of sorts, in the hope that once the customer enters the store they will find other goods they simply can't do without buying while they're there.

It ends up with the retailer making a good overall profit while increasing market share.

This kind of tactic will fail if the 'loss leader' price can be found to be cheaper elsewhere.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

stonehaven10mel — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:50:10 GMT

Hi, The economy is disastrously slow in the retail sector in general. I was listing a few items on ebay and not getting any sales. I also have a landscape supplies business and we are scratching for business. People seem to be only spending money on the essentials...mortgage, food, fuel etc. Ask the Reserve Bank though, they will tell you there is nothing wrong. X-(

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

davewil1964 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:24:52 GMT

for any of you interested please also read this post:

http://community.ebay.com.au/topic/Powersellers/Sooooooooo-Quiet/500162052?start=24&ts=1361925433832#msg605039602

Error: you don't have permission to view the requested forum or category.

Understandable, given I (and doubtless many others on this board) am not a powerseller.

Re: SALES DOWN ALMOST NON EXISTENT - anyone else noticing this?

stickonbutterflies — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:22:43 GMT

Hi there

Just looking at this forum this morning as my sales have also plummeted.. I have gone down by more than half the last 2 weeks and it was going SO great! I just looked at the powersellers forum above too and it seems they are blaming it on ebay changing things or the new cassini ? anyway hope it changes soon or Im gonna have to borrow some money to live!