Drop in sales after store subscription - Due to lower selling fees?

[dynamic_cricket_worx_tas]

Hi all, after some experienced advice please. 

I thought I would do the right thing with my sales reaching enough volume to justify a basic eBay store, and subscribed, pay the monthly fee and get a lower sales fee. 

However, ever since I subscribed to a store my sales have declined and it appears my exposure has dropped. Many of my competitors listings appear well above mine despite trying to promote my items at further expense, and ensuring my prices are competitive or lower than others.

Has anyone experienced this after store subscription? I am wondering if eBays algorithms push those who do not subscribe to a store above me as they pay a higher selling fee per item, which may outweigh my lower selling fee + monthly store subscription fees. That is the only conclusion I can come to, and I am considering cancelling my store subscription and just going back to the higher selling fee per item. 

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks, Dave

[sugar249]

Why would the algorithm push you down because you have a store.  Ebay will still be getting your seller fee's,  plus they get your subscription fee which is guaranteed,  they would rather have a guarantee each month, than a dave may or may not sell something.

I know mine jumped when I went to a store.

But just as an aside,  you do realise it's winter, and people are spending less in some areas,  I say some as my sales have gone up,  but there are a lot of people suggesting that sales have dropped.

[brickworksmarket]

I would agree winter for most is a drop in sales compared to last quarter. I managed to increase compared to this time last year but that was due to increase in prices reflected in my average sale price per item not quantity as it was down near 20%. 

[dynamic_cricket_worx_tas]

My consideration was just that my store fee is only $27.45 per month which, like you say eBay are guaranteed. If they push sales to sellers who do not have a store and maybe more listing with the likeliness of a sale, they get the higher seller fees at the same or greater volume. This would quickly outweigh the $27.45 eBay are guaranteed from me each month for my store. 

Unless I pay extortionate promotional costs on top of the already substantial eBay fees I am unsure as to how to how to get my listings seen. 

I have made consideration as to the time of the year and I am willing to sit out the next couple of months to see if things improve. But realistically I am pretty much running my store for the love of cricket and virtually no profit just trying to get sales. EBay is a tough one.

[sugar249]

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@dynamic_cricket_worx_tas wrote:

My consideration was just that my store fee is only $27.45 per month which, like you say eBay are guaranteed. If they push sales to sellers who do not have a store and maybe more listing with the likeliness of a sale, they get the higher seller fees at the same or greater volume. This would quickly outweigh the $27.45 eBay are guaranteed from me each month for my store. 

Unless I pay extortionate promotional costs on top of the already substantial eBay fees I am unsure as to how to how to get my listings seen. 

I have made consideration as to the time of the year and I am willing to sit out the next couple of months to see if things improve. But realistically I am pretty much running my store for the love of cricket and virtually no profit just trying to get sales. EBay is a tough one.

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I do not pay promotional fee's,  waste of space in my opinion.

Your love of cricket, interesting,  in which case you would know cricket is mainly a summer sport,  it is winter.  I look around all the ovals around us,  I see plenty of football,  but no cricket. I wonder what that means as far as sales go.

[domino-710]

Cricket in Australia is played all year round.

But - it as all sports -it has a limited audience - the audience far outnumbering the players and need for equipment.

I would not have proceeded to a store - not sure the benefits outweigh the costs.

[p9games]

Coincidence.  Stop focusing on the algorithm and focus on running your business.

[domino-710]

And - 168 items does not a store make.

[davewil1964 · Accepted solution]

I have a store account and a non-store account. The store account costs me more than the minimal discounts my category attracts. It does, however, allow me to set my own categories and presents a professional look.

I probably sell a bit more in the non-store, percentage-wise, but I attribute that to the way I list. I list on the non-store for 3 or 4 months, then transfer to the store account. So the non-store takes the cream.

My store account has been a store since I joined 16 years ago, so I can't comment on perceived drops in sales.

[dynamic_cricket_worx_tas]

Thanks for your response and I have considered this, however - Cricket is generally a summer sport in Aust, though many states play all year now with off season competitions being very popular. Preseason also starts beginning of July / August with many preparing / repairing bats etc. 

This does not change the circumstances of what appears to see my exposure drop when searching for the products I sell. There seems to be a very fine line as to whether a shop is of any value to a seller of my size. Though summer may result in a small benefit, as well the selling/promotional tools.