2025 Holiday Sales Season

[vettefever17]

I always want to be excited for the yearly rush, but this year, I'm worried.

As many of you know, the dynamics of the market have changed, and platforms have changed from the older seasons. What do I mean by changes? Here are the following:

1. eBay and many other platforms have completely nullified their reputable sellers (top-rated) to ignore the old CASSINI search engine algo. All that matters now is how much you will share your sale to eBay over the standard rates. (Organic and rep sellers are no more.)

2. Tariffs- Good ol' Trump is trying to use antiquated ideas to reform the economy. Half of America has no idea it's a tax we pay much less for the time to create infrastructure for the daily cheap goods they love to purchase. Those 100% China tariffs WILL make it a dead business; hell, the lower tariffs kill most margins on smart players.

3. Shipping! Oh yes, robbing regular mail movement to pay debt. Airlines are keeping high-cost shipments despite fuel being lower-cost than before COVID. Just pure greed.

4. Innovation in the wholesale market has been lacking, in my opinion. These last few seasons have had no hot new products. Much of what is on the market is saturated and dead.

But to close this post with some cheer and hope, I know we can still make enough to keep on keeping on, but it's getting harder. Good luck, everyone!

[Ebayorbust]

Have to agree with you, especially regarding point (1).

I turned off promoted listings on all my ebay listings to see what happened. I didn't make a single sale during the week after.

[agent006140]

It depends on what you sell,buyers want your gold !

[Camaro2SS]

Simple answer , its the economy! Nothing more nothing less.

[SaiJin]

I think partially it's people's perception of the world, but there'll always be people who are in need of something you're selling on the bright side.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

I think partially it's people's perception of the world, but there'll always be people who are in need of something you're selling on the bright side.

And ppl waiting for an opportunity to find loophole for scamming...be careful

[phaz0rz]

It's almost like they're trying to run us off or something

[Automasters]

Yes, this year is going to be rough I think. I have dropped all listings to the minimum 2% for all listings. I experimented with up to 12% on some listings with hardly any difference. This is proof to me that it is not visibility but more like the economy. I am now going to cut prices and target buyers looking for more affordable products...

[agent006140]

It is the economy,from Starbuck to Target to Chipotle.people are eating at home,buy what is non discretionary and watch free movies.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

It is the economy,from Starbuck to Target to Chipotle.people are eating at home,buy what is non discretionary and watch free movies.

Is that your approach? I certainly don't see this as a huge pattern

[agent006140]

Do you follow business news?CHipotle stock tanked yesterday,their core customers -those who are 25-30 years old,those who make under $100,000 are eating at home instead of visiting Chipotle.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by agent006140

Do you follow business news?CHipotle stock tanked yesterday,their core customers -those who are 25-30 years old,those who make under $100,000 are eating at home instead of visiting Chipotle.

*sitting here eating a hotpocket*


People just can't afford it these days, man

[agent006140]

I just heated up some leftover.
(Chipotle burrito costs $12,with 4 ounces of meat )

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

Do you follow business news?CHipotle stock tanked yesterday,their core customers -those who are 25-30 years old,those who make under $100,000 are eating at home instead of visiting Chipotle.

I follow some business news - not all I admit - I did short Chipotle stock ironically so that's been a fun bit of profit going on (regardless of the state of core customers).

Still seems like music events, sports events, and other high ticket events still being sold out though.

[agent006140]

10% of our population accounts for 40% of spending,these are folks who own stocks which have gone up and up ,they buy gold at Cost Co,fly first class to Paris,buy designer handbag,chow down on expensive cut of meat,drink fine wine .
While the rest of the population struggles to pay their bills.
Good for you,CMG went from 38 to 32 the day after earnings,management is not going to lower prices ,they claim their loyal customers are eating at home and not going to their competitors,so CMG will just wait .

[Automasters]

This week I had 5 straight days with zero sales on Etsy. Ebay is even worse - Etsy has been our moneymaker for a few years now. I anticipate it to only get worse this season, aside from a few shoppers looking for deals if I can provide low prices and still make a profit...

[vettefever17]

Etsy is a niche **** hole from what I have tried to make of it. As for eBay its allllll about that promoted. Good luck!

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by Automasters

This week I had 5 straight days with zero sales on Etsy. Ebay is even worse - Etsy has been our moneymaker for a few years now. I anticipate it to only get worse this season, aside from a few shoppers looking for deals if I can provide low prices and still make a profit...

WHat do you sell?
There is no spare change for discretionary stuff,they are going for something they can hoard/resell-gold and silver are top of the list !
Look around your house,Kennedy 5o cents silver coin 1964 and earlier have more silver than its face value,silver trinklets,silver ware marked sterling silver 925 or even 800 will sell by the troy ounce.
Gold is best,even gold filled or rolled gold will sell.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by agent006140

10% of our population accounts for 40% of spending,these are folks who own stocks which have gone up and up ,they buy gold at Cost Co,fly first class to Paris,buy designer handbag,chow down on expensive cut of meat,drink fine wine .
While the rest of the population struggles to pay their bills.
Good for you,CMG went from 38 to 32 the day after earnings,management is not going to lower prices ,they claim their loyal customers are eating at home and not going to their competitors,so CMG will just wait .

Really go out there agent - sadly, life isn't fair.

[StealthHarry]

Just stumbled upon this thread. A lot of great points, I just want to add this website in of itself is not what it was say pre-covid or before, I think a lot of people have given up on ebay. There are ofc big sellers raking it in but us smaller guys are getting less and less

[Automasters]

There are certainly weird trends going on with ebay - traffic is completely shut off conpatlred to whatnot used to be. If not for Etsy, we would be in big trouble. Etsy is now our primary income, ebay is supplemental.

[Camaro2SS]

Originally Posted by StealthHarry

Just stumbled upon this thread. A lot of great points, I just want to add this website in of itself is not what it was say pre-covid or before, I think a lot of people have given up on ebay. There are ofc big sellers raking it in but us smaller guys are getting less and less

I think you are forgetting the fact that ebay lost 50 million buyers since 2018