Declining sales % every year

[jjohnson777]

Only time I go to ebay if Amazon does not have it or cost way to much.

I used to buy things daily on ebay in early 2000s. Now I might buy something every 3 months. I buy from Amazon almost daily. I stopped buying when they started forcing you to use PayPal. Loved ebay when users had real merchant accounts or could mail a check.

[rsot]

Those check/money order days were golden - trust was big issue

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by applebaum

I find that my sales are always slow leading up to Black Friday. And last year it was slower than expected leading up to Xmas. Which is fine by me as I find the consumer is a LOT more demanding with shipping and expectations ect.

When you say leading up as in a month before or 1 week before?

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by james13v

But my main gripe, is as a BUYER

I'm with you and SaiJin on that. I do most of my purchases on Amazon nowadays, just because the search is so much more user friendly.

[jjohnson777]

Ebay sellers can not trust I have them lie about what selling all time. Half.com is worse since ebay took over. I only joined ebay due they buying half.com. Ebay ruins sites.

Amazon is much easier to use and whole lot safer. They do not force you use PayPal they let you pay with check or credit cards. I get 5% cash back on all my Amazon purchases. Only BestBuy has program like that or better last month I get 10% cash back at Best Buy only reason I put up with there 3rd rate decade behind site. They beat Amazon on price and due my status due how much spend there I get very fast shipping and 45 day returns. I complain weekly to Best Buy they refuse to fix anything.

If only more sites be like Amazon.

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by jjohnson777

Only time I go to ebay if Amazon does not have it or cost way to much.

I used to buy things daily on ebay in early 2000s. Now I might buy something every 3 months. I buy from Amazon almost daily. I stopped buying when they started forcing you to use PayPal. Loved ebay when users had real merchant accounts or could mail a check.

Agreed for many sellers who have been on eBay for 7 to 10 years I would say you can see Amazon definitely eating into certain categories especially for the US. I have also noticed at-least for the products I sell, since eBay and PayPal split up eBay has allowed the Chinese sellers to spam their products in my category and rather than proactively taking them down it only happens after multiple buyers complaints.

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by vogeltron

Agreed for many sellers who have been on eBay for 7 to 10 years I would say you can see Amazon definitely eating into certain categories especially for the US. I have also noticed at-least for the products I sell, since eBay and PayPal split up eBay has allowed the Chinese sellers to spam their products in my category and rather than proactively taking them down it only happens after multiple buyers complaints.

eBay is going to go downhill for customer service, especially for buyers. PayPal is going to start tightening the noose around sellers.

You heard it here first.

[SaiJin]

So this is funny... I have 8 very old and established selling accounts and 3 brand new ones with less than 5 feedbacks.

10 out of 11 of these accounts got very little views on my items.

But 1 of the 3 new accounts for 10x more views and more purchases.

(mind boggle)

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

So this is funny... I have 8 very old and established selling accounts and 3 brand new ones with less than 5 feedbacks.

10 out of 11 of these accounts got very little views on my items.

But 1 of the 3 new accounts for 10x more views and more purchases.

(mind boggle)

Different items?

[james13v]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

So this is funny... I have 8 very old and established selling accounts and 3 brand new ones with less than 5 feedbacks.

10 out of 11 of these accounts got very little views on my items.

But 1 of the 3 new accounts for 10x more views and more purchases.

(mind boggle)

I'm not sure about the 2 of the 3 accounts, but everything I've read suggests that new accounts will always get more views.

Are they all the same products?

[newjerseymax]

I used to buy everything on ebay... But now I buy it on Amazon... The shipping is faster (Prime), Returns are simple (rarely return), the quality is better and Amazon does not tolerate knockoffs (Yes it has them)....

If I as a daily seller wont buy on ebay then what does that say about the general public?

Even my packing supplies I used to buy on ebay, but now source directly because of the better customer service and quality.

If I want something generic, cheap, china made, one time use... Then I buy from ebay.

[newjerseymax]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

eBay is going to go downhill for customer service, especially for buyers. PayPal is going to start tightening the noose around sellers.

You heard it here first.

I agree 100%!!! pp is gonna get very strict very soon.

They might let it go through Holidays as customer service is swamped. but when time frees up, watch out!

[james13v]

Originally Posted by newjerseymax

I used to buy everything on ebay... But now I buy it on Amazon... The shipping is faster (Prime), Returns are simple (rarely return), the quality is better and Amazon does not tolerate knockoffs (Yes it has them)....

If I as a daily seller wont buy on ebay then what does that say about the general public?

Even my packing supplies I used to buy on ebay, but now source directly because of the better customer service and quality.

If I want something generic, cheap, china made, one time use... Then I buy from ebay.

And that's my point. Cheap generic china made stuff all over ebay, and normal buyers don't even both going on ebay unless it's their last resort.

[dealagreeproceed]

so why are you guys saying pp is gona get very strict here in the near future?

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by dealagreeproceed

so why are you guys saying pp is gona get very strict here in the near future?

Because things have a way of balancing out....eBay is becoming a lot more lenient, because they don't have a crutch anymore. Since PayPal is moving into more financial/banking style, instead of just eBays buddy, they are going to get more strict and close accounts for far lesser reasons.

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

Because things have a way of balancing out....eBay is becoming a lot more lenient, because they don't have a crutch anymore. Since PayPal is moving into more financial/banking style, instead of just eBays buddy, they are going to get more strict and close accounts for far lesser reasons.

GULP........... we ll see

[GhostOfAmazon]

Originally Posted by dealagreeproceed

GULP........... we ll see

It's been my experience that older, more established PayPal accounts can take more flak. My best advice is to open a LOT more PayPal accounts now, while you can, (more than you have eBay accounts). Just get some history on them, age them, etc. Later, when they crack down, you'll lose some, but you'll have enough backups to survive once they start requiring socials and such.

Just my doomsday predictions. Take it with a grain of salt.

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAmazon

It's been my experience that older, more established PayPal accounts can take more flak. My best advice is to open a LOT more PayPal accounts now, while you can, (more than you have eBay accounts). Just get some history on them, age them, etc. Later, when they crack down, you'll lose some, but you'll have enough backups to survive once they start requiring socials and such.

Just my doomsday predictions. Take it with a grain of salt.

well im always hoping for the best but planning for the worst as they say...
but im wondering what has led you to say such a thing!?!

[Hercules]

Paypal is still owned by Ebay. Paypal grows around 15 to 18 percent each year. Ebay has GROWN on average 10% each year for the last 5 years.
Whiners have GROWN exponentially because they want to blame everyone/thing else for their short comings.

[jjohnson777]

PayPal numbers bad first quarter as separate company. So I do not think they can do it. Plus there too much potential replacements looking for them to give them an opening. But it also good to prepare for worse-case.

[dealagreeproceed]

Originally Posted by jjohnson777

PayPal numbers bad first quarter as separate company. So I do not think they can do it. Plus there too much potential replacements looking for them to give them an opening. But it also good to prepare for worse-case.

you don't think they can do what?

[SaiJin]

yes, same 3 products