Why have my sales nosedived so badly? Is Ebay interfering in the selling process?

[dotchmansilver2016]

Why have my sales nosedived so badly? Is Ebay interfering in the selling process? I have promoted all my listings but made no difference.

[brerrabbit585]

I think bird birds have always been popular. Just look at the prices they ask in secondhand book shops and it'll tell you something.

[offroad7400]

Our sales have dropped since the new GTC option took hold and I wonder if eBay are favouring stores over individual sellers in their search algorithm ?

A second historical fact we have noticed over many years is a drop in sales near any election state or federal. I could understand this in NSW currently, but not other states. The political news story's this year are all focused about change in governments, pseudo election time.

(Yesterday when my mail contractor turned up, I did notice his van was very empty too. I will ask him next time).

[mr_cbr]

I would imagine because buyers are often sellers and I for one after many years will delet my account from today and will tell as many friends and family to avoid it like the plague also. Ebay charging 101.00 on a 930.00 sale was the final straw for me. This is daylight robbery and greed and has been getting dearer and dearer each year. There are far better alternatives out there that are growing by the day thanks to eBay itself.

[kitschkoven]

Yes, there's a Readers Digest book on birds that used to sell for about $50 last time I checked. Maybe not now that postage is so high (it's a thick heavy book)

[kitschkoven]

I've had several SALES!!!!!! the past few days. Very unusual.

[chameleon54]

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@kitschkoven wrote:
Yes, there's a Readers Digest book on birds that used to sell for about $50 last time I checked. Maybe not now that postage is so high (it's a thick heavy book)

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Thanks for the tip. Just checked and its still up there. I see that book quite often for a few dollars, so another one for the shopping list.

[kitschkoven]

YW. I might go and buy some myself and have a war with you! (You'll probably win.)

[chameleon54]

Theres been quite a few sold recently, so looks like plenty of buyers to go around.

[chameleon54]

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@kitschkoven wrote:
YW. I might go and buy some myself and have a war with you! (You'll probably win.)

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While we are sharing tips, I will list my favourite book to watch out for. It has a red & white chequed, card cover and gives production details and specifications for all Holden cars made up until the mid 1980,s. ( when it was printed. ) Around the size of a paper back novel. Rear cover is black & white cheque, like a car race winners flag. 

In very good condition it regularly sells for $500. I have found one slightly worn copy which sold for $400 on ebay. I think there was only a few hundred printed and highly coveted by Holden enthusiests as a must have collectable.

The amazing thing was I found my copy at a car parts swap meet, late in the day, as I was walking to the car to go home. I spotted it from 20 metres away and nearly tripped in the rush to get there.............

There must have been thousands of people walk past it, but it appears no-one knew what it was. 

[Anonymous]

There was a chook book (breed standards?) that used to sell for over $300 every time it was listed. I have a feeling they finally printed a new updated version of it so it probably doesn't sell for that price now.

All the other bird books I've seen in secondhand bookshops have been a lot dearer than most other books in the shop, especially budgie books. I've got an old one that'd be rare but I'm hanging onto it.