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Dealing with competitors
 

Hello everyone, I haven't been here in years so I'm having to get familiar with everything again. My biggest issue right now is a certain competitor. We are the only two people who have this certain item for sale. I had already sold this item at least 10 times, and all of a sudden I goy a copyright violation. I check Ebay and I see that one other person has it for sale. But he is charging double the price for it, so I can safely guarantee that he is reporting me.
I have tried to report his listing as well (multiple times) but his listing still remains. I have blocked him, but I guess that doesn't keep the person from seeing my listing, only keeping him from contacting me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I haven't listed on that account for over 3 months now. I do remember the golden rule here is to have multiple accounts going, and I need to work on that.

Thank you all for your time and I wish all the best for all of you here. Kind regards.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

It's almost definitely all in your head.


If other dude is selling for twice the price and getting sales, you should probably double your price and see if that helps. Sometimes brands have minimum advertised pricing policies. :noidea:

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

it is because of sh*t ppl like you who destroyed any profitable market instantly. You deserve to be banned.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Racing to the bottom.

I charge more than everyone else who sells what I do, and independent websites get to charge more than me because they have a reputation outside of marketplaces.

When I first started doing this for real, 2016-2019, it was all about the lowest price. I still would have good margins, 50%+ but lets say I kept that same thinking. The market now is completely saturated.

People will always pay more for trust, and connivence.

And the ones who want to pay the least ask for the most. The ones who pay the most ask for the least (usually).

Side note: If I wanted I could get all my competition suspended. It's fairly simple. However, does it make sense to spend time on someone else, or focus on myself? Unless its the later you're working backwards. I have learned it doesn't matter what others do. If someone else can outsell me, the problem is me not them.

Plus, 90%+ of sellers with long standing history on eBay are sh1t sellers. Taking a photo of something and writing a standard description then shipping quickly is something anyone can do. They take zero effort in photos, most take all this stuff for granted. It is very easy to out compete people. Just have to try a little.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Is it a branded item you're selling?
Does he mention any brands in it?
Are you dropshipping the item first of all?

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Definitely lot of missing info for better assessment

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

When I use my prime account on AMZN,i see one listing,when I switch to my non prime ID,I see a different listing,why>it has to do with free shipping when you buy with your prime account.
So Ebay may be doing the same,earn more FVF when a higher priced item sells
As for People will always pay more for trust, and connivence-
with Ebay buyer protectiion,free return and chargeback,it is pretty safe to buy from most sellers,what turns me off most iare lousy pictures,poor description

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

But in all this text, you didn't mention about your sales experience...

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

I do not sell junk,my items are either in mint condition as I order from my suppliers,if they are used,they are in very good condition.
These days I do not sell much on EBay unless I just want to get rid of the item.
I also find a way to sell some of my items without paying FVF,credit card fees and no INAD,INR or free return.
A supplier once told me,if you put a nice item next to junks,buyers expect to pay just slightly more than the junk ,the buyer mentality is like if it is really nice,why are you selling in a junkyard?

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

I take it you're the Archie Bunker of the group. Lovely to meet you. It must be exhausting being crabby every minute of the day.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

And regarding the sales, I've sold 12 of them and he's sold 2. Even at my lower price I still make triple the profit. Aren't we in this to make money? Relax, dude. Jesus f**k.....

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

No, it's not branded. No dropshipping either. He and I purchase from the same supplier, but he has his price absurdly hiked up. So the customers have been coming to me, and I just figure he's getting rid of the competition. Quite understandable.
And it could be like the other person said, just all in my head.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

You're absolutely right, and I genuinely appreciate everything you said. That makes perfect sense. Kind regards friend.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Plus, 90%+ of sellers with long standing history on eBay are sh1t sellers.
--------------
Many have either retired or move on to greener pasture !

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

This is an incorrect assumption - what's your source?

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Majority of sellers in my category that have websites all use stock photos still. I do not think this is a leap to say majority of sellers in general do this. If not, the ones who do not have horrible photos. They are not professional even slightly. Yet see abundance of sales. I understand not needing to take time in doing this if it's not impacting sales, I just don't think this way.

Very few sellers on eBay take photography seriously, and format a description that looks professional. Not just text or looking like every other description.

As time passes selling online will continue to be more saturated and those who do not take this craft seriously will realize why sales drop. This is my opinion, but I've sold on eBay for 15+ years.

When I say websites use stock photos, these are multi million dollar companies, reusing the same photos everyone else does. The reason this works now is less saturation. It will only continue to deepen though.

I'm not going to share what I plan to do for my business but it's just so easy to get ahead. So easy.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Correct - depends on the category, makes sense

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

Its called free market capitalism. If you want controlled prices than move to communist China. Otherwise get better at what you're doing.

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

you just continue reporting , also buy from him and leave negative feedbacks

if you feel you got attacked you just hit back , even if the guy is innocent it does not matter as long as it makes you feel good

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

It does not matter anymore because the feature was removed.

However, I remember seeing someone mention this a long time ago, then a mod removed it. You could in theory have been able to add anyones Paypal account to your listing upon creation. Around 2015-2017. If you ran a few bogus sales wouldn't have been that hard to get suspended.

Point is, there are many ways...

Re: Dealing with competitors
 

which feature?