View Full Version : eBay Shop Sales Dropped?
cycloneuk
12th July 2009, 15:06
There are loads of people with shops on the eBay Powerseller board who are reporting a huge drop in sales during the last week, after having steady sales for months many are saying they have lost over half of the daily sales. It seems eBay have tinkered with something and the results are now flooded with 99p listings.
Anyone on here seen a drop in sales? we are pretty new on eBay and have noticed a drop, very quiet weekend on eBay.
The down turn has been a lot longer than just a week for most.
Last major problems with ebay, making private listings free, meaning many foreign competitors have flooded many catagories, some claiming to be UK based.
That said it's that awkward time of the month where everyone has already run out of money, or is that yet another excuse? Ebay is doing many things badly at the moment, it's definetely on the wane.
Beachcomber
12th July 2009, 16:41
This time last year I was turning over £4500 - £5000 per month on eBay.
I closed my last eBay shop in March after sales started dropping through the floor since last August / sept.
Over the past year the constant messing about with settings / searches and ridiculous policy changes have destroyed the site.
Only advice I would give is to only ever use eBay as an extra string to your bow - NEVER rely on it as a sole or principal outlet for your business. If you do you will get stung.
Trust me - I know!
Place of design
12th July 2009, 17:45
I have 2 customers saying sales are up, and 1 saying sales are down. Salesin the regular online stores seem steady.. seems to be an e-bay thing
Ebay sales seem considerably down compared to other sales avenues such as your own online store, amazon etc.
cycloneuk
12th July 2009, 20:53
It's because they keep trying to tweak things, i'm not really a fan of the new ebay shops experience view. People don't like change and eBay keeps changing things when the majority of sellers/customers are against them.
wholesale_uk
12th July 2009, 22:43
the new ebay search which is forced upon people is putting many off, and the constant changing of things, fees, listings rules etc.. they had a very successfull working business model about 4 years ago....but since then seem hell bent on changing it until it fails, but no other auction site seems to be able to compete for traffic so we all seem to be stuck with eBay, even though sales are down
leonskysea
13th July 2009, 02:04
Do you know the sit taobao.com from China like eBay .i think it is better than eBay.
Do you know the sit taobao.com from China like eBay .i think it is better than eBay.
I know of it, but people under estimate ebays standing with customers.
There is no other site close to it in Europe or USA as an auction site... oooppps, I mean "meeting place". Few UK customers would buy direct from China just yet, and for those that are prepared to do so there are hundreds of Chinese suppliers on ebay already.
KidsBeeHappy
13th July 2009, 09:01
Looking at it from a non-ebay perspective, I would say that the answer is quite straightforward, and maybe nothing to be too personally paranoid about.
Last four weeks - sun is shining.
Ebay is one of those things that people sit and flick through, even if they don't really need anything, just for something to do. When the sun is shining, there are a lot of other alternatives.
Web activity in some markets drops quite a lot when the sun shines.
On the other side of things, we find that the web activity we get is more focused. So despite traffic numbers taking a bit of a dip, conversions and activity levels are up.
love2hire
13th July 2009, 09:55
The problem with Ebay like many big companies is that they are becoming too greedy, ebay used to be about getting a good deal and the average person making a bit of cash from their stuff.
Now take away the listing fees, the commission, paypal fees etc and you are left with nothing....it will kill ebay if they keep on like this and keep on changing structures that people like:mad:
Never mind!
James.Dunford
13th July 2009, 10:01
Yeah i had a bad week, but i did this time last month to be fair. eBay just need to leave it alone for a whilst, so many changes they need it to all settle down...!
cycloneuk
13th July 2009, 10:21
Having just checked the last weeks turnover on eBay it isn't as bad as i thought, sales are down slightly on the previous week but turnover is around the same since the week started off well.
cyclenoodle
13th July 2009, 10:40
Yes this is very true, I have been trading on ebay for a year and this is the lowest couple of weeks I have had ever!
Whatever they have done I hope they put it back!
Nickdavis87
13th July 2009, 12:13
We have seen a drop in order value since ebay have been testing the new lising template, it means that the side menu for our shop does not show in the listing anymore.
dynamic08
14th July 2009, 21:56
last week for us has been brilliant. If every week was as good I would be very happy!
websnail
15th July 2009, 00:17
Last four weeks - sun is shining.
Ebay is one of those things that people sit and flick through, even if they don't really need anything, just for something to do. When the sun is shining, there are a lot of other alternatives.
Web activity in some markets drops quite a lot when the sun shines.
On the other side of things, we find that the web activity we get is more focused. So despite traffic numbers taking a bit of a dip, conversions and activity levels are up.
Don't forget pay days... I always get a burst of sales around that time.. But all of the above is definitely what I've noticed of late...
Sunny day... computer? what computer? :)
Mister B
15th July 2009, 09:12
ebays been pretty carp for me this week too.
It was interesting on the news this morning though, the way that retail high street sales rose by 17% in June because of the weather, whereas online sales were down.
Mister B
James.Dunford
15th July 2009, 09:33
Ebay is totally dead for me at the moment, and this is high season for me :|
KidsBeeHappy
15th July 2009, 09:36
This thread would be a lot more useful if people said what they sold. Because, without stating the obvious, a lot of products are seasonal.
(And if you're selling skis etc then sales are going to down, regardless of whatever medium you're selling on.).
los_design
15th July 2009, 09:57
One of my clients sells used books and the sales have been steady.
Don't forget it is the holiday season. Pump up your stock ready for the mad season. On last years stats it appeared to start mid-late August.
If the sales aren't there in this period then we would be in trouble.
James.Dunford
15th July 2009, 10:03
Kites, Frisbees, Boomerangs, Outdoor toys, Rockets, Remote cotnrol aeroplanes etc...:D
crowstone68
15th July 2009, 17:03
Have only recently been selling through ebay as an extra outlet for our goods - anyone know of any way to reduce the (very high?) fees - like selling multiple quantities, etc. We sell coffee mainly, so any advice on how to get the most for waht we spend with them is much appreciated.
Thanks!
cycloneuk
15th July 2009, 23:03
Once you reach Bronze Powerseller status you will get 20% off your monthly invoice, also i think once you take over £1500 via PayPal a month, there fees reduce to 2.9%. Dosn't sound like much, but it really does all add up.
anyone know of any way to reduce the (very high?) fees - like selling multiple quantities, etc. We sell coffee mainly, so any advice on how to get the most for waht we spend with them is much appreciated.
Price on ebay for client aquasition, then attempt to get them to buy direct through your own website, which will save you approx 10% on future orders. If for instance you have several types and flavours available, offer the complete range through your own site, but only a select amount on ebay.
Ebay fees will only go up again, not down.
highstreetsale
16th July 2009, 14:49
Hi,
We have recently launched in direct competition to ebayShops
Highstreetsale.com only is targeted at UK small business retailers and so private sellers are banned.
Its simple to understand and easy to operate.
Benefits:
- no set-up fees
- no monthly fees
- no listing fees
- 0% selling fees during July/Aug (3.5% standard)
You may think we're crazy, but imo ebay is flooded with cheap foreign goods and private individuals who have made it a free for all.
What we offer is a refreshing change and more professional platform for customers and retailers.
hg_info
16th July 2009, 17:48
Price on ebay for client aquasition, then attempt to get them to buy direct through your own website, which will save you approx 10% on future orders. If for instance you have several types and flavours available, offer the complete range through your own site, but only a select amount on ebay.
Ebay fees will only go up again, not down.
Brilliant advice from MH1 - eBay customers are usually very keen on bargains, so if you promote a good website deal with their eBay purchase, they're likely to come back to your site for their next purchase. The wide (National & International) reach that eBay provide justifies their fees, but I see no reason why you should continue to pay said fees for customers you've already reached ;)
highstreetsale
16th July 2009, 21:16
hi,
See my article on highstreetsale.com:)
cycloneuk
17th July 2009, 10:13
Just noticed that some of my majour competitors have been suspended from eBay, i am guessing that they are having the same problem i had with Coty since they were using images of just the perfume bottle too. Crazy that eBay remove them just like that, one of the competitors has high street perfume shops and 11k plus feedback.
crowstone68
17th July 2009, 14:56
Does anyone know what kind of feedback / turnover eBay require to make you a bronze powerseller? The small reduction in fees mentioned in this thread sound worthwhile if it's fairly achievable.
A1 Coffee Ltd
http://www.a1coffee.co.uk
hg_info
17th July 2009, 15:09
Does anyone know what kind of feedback / turnover eBay require to make you a bronze powerseller? The small reduction in fees mentioned in this thread sound worthwhile if it's fairly achievable.
A1 Coffee Ltd
http://www.a1coffee.co.uk
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/services/buyandsell/powerseller/criteria.html
Bronze - £750 or 100 units.
philludg
17th July 2009, 15:33
Just been on your site Highstreetsale, seems like a good idea, but you are a long way off, ebay at the moment, how are you going to get the exposure you need, to get the site to grow.
I for one hate e-bay, most people on there sell counterfeit goods and think that is OK, and the one's trying to make a living(not a bit of tax free pocket money) struggle to be competitive:(
love2hire
17th July 2009, 16:25
bit of a swings and roundabout problem, you need people on your site to bulk it out but people won't go if its empty.
Once its bulked out you'll probably start to do well.:D
We need an alternative to ebay they have become too greedy:mad:
highstreetsale
17th July 2009, 18:53
Hi,
I agree that i am currently way behind in sophisticatation compared to ebay.
Your reason why you don't like ebay is exactly why i have chosen to go down this route and launched HighStreetSale.com
In terms of getting exposure i hope to firstly sign sufficient numbers of shops (20-25) then go direct to the national papers for some editorials. This should hopefully bring the site to the forefront.
For online, i have employed the services of an SEO expert who will ensure that the site is fully optimised for google especially and achieve high rankings for certain terms. Should see good results in approx 3-5 weeks.
Once this is hasd been acheived its time to look at the platform and make some improvements/enhancements.
We welcome all your comments and will gladly look at any suggestions you have to improve the site and get your business if you are a retailer.
James.Dunford
17th July 2009, 20:07
There are loads of other onlien auctions sites much better than yours i am afraid :sad: Tazbar and eBid are good alternatives, if you pay £50 (which i foolishly did...!) you get free listings for life!
highstreetsale
17th July 2009, 21:04
Hi james,
thanks for your comment, but my site is not an auction site?
Allan123
17th July 2009, 23:13
Ebay recently has been like a tap. Tap on, all good, tap off, twiddling thumbs time.
Basically from Monday just gone everyone shop wise is now opted in the new system and we're all on a level playing field again for Best Match etc. Before this week though i noticed when i opted into the new shop my sales went down, when i opted back out, about 24hours later sales went back up, so something was definately going wrong, but like i said now everyone is opted in, we all should see things getting back to normal.
Another thing that's been happening i feel is listing just literally haven't been showing up 1 search, then do on another, again it's the tweeking that's been going on.
I don't know the exact figure of sales this week i haven't checked (i hate keep looking, you spedn all your life number chasing instead of working), but i'm pretty sure we are up on last week by about 30%, the volume and value of orders seems alot more this week.
philludg
18th July 2009, 09:40
There are loads of other onlien auctions sites much better than yours i am afraid :sad: Tazbar and eBid are good alternatives, if you pay £50 (which i foolishly did...!) you get free listings for life!
It does not look like there is a lot of bidding going on, on ebid, I think ebay is just too strong, it's a bit like Microsoft Windows, a lot off people hate it, and there is 1 or 2 other operating systems, but 99.9% of people still use MW, I think the same will always happen with auction sites:mad:
crowstone68
18th July 2009, 10:45
Totally agree, frustrating, but people will always go with the name that has the stranglehold on the market - ask 100 people in the street to name an auction website, they will all say eBay. If only someone out there knew of a way to take some of their market share away and provide some competition, we'd all benefit from less outrageous fees.
A1 Coffee Ltd
http://www.a1coffee.co.uk
websnail
18th July 2009, 14:22
Isn't that what was said about the golden child Google in relation to Yahoo... Then it got so big that it's now the big evil and people wish someone else could challenge them.
Let's face it, something gets that big they forget their roots, they become top heavy with accountants and managers and people for whom money is everything and sod the little guy. They lose touch... It's a cycle that repeats ad nauseum.
Money Saving Auctions
18th July 2009, 16:00
new site coming in two weeks...the new way to save money buying new products..
crowstone68
19th July 2009, 07:22
Couldn't agree more, it's the nature of business. In eBay's case, they seem so dominant that I can't imagine anyone starting an alternative will have much market left to play in. Wish them all the best obviously.
A1 Coffee Ltd
http://www.a1coffee.co.uk
Coffee. Tea. Sugar. Biscuits. Syrups. Disposables.
paretowasright
19th July 2009, 09:43
Ebay recently has been like a tap. Tap on, all good, tap off, twiddling thumbs time.
Basically from Monday just gone everyone shop wise is now opted in the new system and we're all on a level playing field again for Best Match etc. Before this week though i noticed when i opted into the new shop my sales went down, when i opted back out, about 24hours later sales went back up, so something was definately going wrong, but like i said now everyone is opted in, we all should see things getting back to normal.
Another thing that's been happening i feel is listing just literally haven't been showing up 1 search, then do on another, again it's the tweeking that's been going on.
I don't know the exact figure of sales this week i haven't checked (i hate keep looking, you spedn all your life number chasing instead of working), but i'm pretty sure we are up on last week by about 30%, the volume and value of orders seems alot more this week.
From what I understand the search system is based on sales performance of individual products.....ie the volume and frequency pushes a product up the results pages.
From what I understand the search system is based on sales performance of individual products.....ie the volume and frequency pushes a product up the results pages.
That's the way it is supposed to work, as the dominant seller in my catagory on ebay I can assure you it is not the case.
You need to experiment with listings to find out what works, I know a few tricks but it is best you work them out yourself, since you will need to do this on a constant basis in the future.
phoog
21st July 2009, 17:31
This time last year I was turning over £4500 - £5000 per month on eBay.
I closed my last eBay shop in March after sales started dropping through the floor since last August / sept.
Over the past year the constant messing about with settings / searches and ridiculous policy changes have destroyed the site.
Only advice I would give is to only ever use eBay as an extra string to your bow - NEVER rely on it as a sole or principal outlet for your business. If you do you will get stung.
Trust me - I know!
WoW . . . I was in exactly the same boat (both turnover,drop and being in Ilfracombe !!!)
highstreetsale
22nd July 2009, 07:54
As professional sellers maybe you should start looking for a New Bright Site (http://www.highstreetsale.com) that supports small businesses and is very cost effective (http://www.highstreetsale.com)??
cycloneuk
22nd July 2009, 10:12
As professional sellers maybe you should start looking for a New Bright Site (http://www.highstreetsale.com) that supports small businesses and is very cost effective (http://www.highstreetsale.com)??
Then we would use eBid or Amazon, no point wasting time with sites that have no sellers or buyers. Your site is just like many of the other hundreads of wannabe auction sites i'm sorry to say.
Nickdavis87
22nd July 2009, 10:45
I have to agree with Cyclone. You will struggle to get anywhere with your site as it looks so similar to others and has no unique selling point.
James.Dunford
22nd July 2009, 12:04
Yeah as i said the other day, im afraid agree, and having "cheap mobile phones" as your first header tags surely isnt very confidence inspiring...!! Plus the site looks about 2 years old, im afraid that this venture is a bit too optomistic!
highstreetsale
22nd July 2009, 18:55
Hi,
Thanks for your comments. I suppose only time will tell if the site is successful or not. I on the other hanbd am pretty optimistic for its future so watch this space.
James: the clue is in the title "High Street SALE" Get it!
lesliedocherty
22nd July 2009, 19:46
i agree, the site looks terrible and feels even worse, think it may be a dud.
James.Dunford
22nd July 2009, 20:22
Hi,
Thanks for your comments. I suppose only time will tell if the site is successful or not. I on the other hanbd am pretty optimistic for its future so watch this space.
James: the clue is in the title "High Street SALE" Get it!
Yes funnily enough i DO get it! But seeing as eBay do BIN's, as do Tazbar and eBid, and they do end of line goods aswell, you are no different!!
downsouth
22nd July 2009, 20:27
Is that not the same old generic template we see so many times from budding 'ebay defeaters'
Discussed at length many times, too many times actually. Time to move on nothing to see on that site.