Too easy to do=Too many listings

More online buying alternatives=dilutes buyers

Constant changing platform=confuses casual buyers,  they go elsewhere

Changes put sellers offside, this rubs off on buyers as Ebay gets bad rap=less buyers

Economic climate and more competitive B & M sales=less need to go online for a bargain.

You can fiddle your format and search returns to obtain a swap for an upper deck cabin on a sinking ship, but if Ebay goes down everyone eventually goes with it. The big question is will Ebay find a new longer term niche before that happens, or will it move aside and have some other platform step in and take over its traditional market?. Who knows

The reality is small sellers want to sell and buyers are happy to buy off them. Online buying patterns are going through many changes and nothing stays the same forever, and all anyone can do at this stage is make best guesses as to where to jump or where to stay

Staying afloa,t and staying alert to trends is probably the key at the moment.