posted on December 11, 2003 10:44:24 AM new
Sales seem very slow this year. Is anyone else having a good year or slow year??
[ edited by dcpent on Dec 12, 2003 07:27 AM ]
posted on December 11, 2003 10:47:56 AM new
did you check how much competition you have on ebay and on other sites??
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on December 11, 2003 10:53:38 AM new
If things are THAT bad, sounds like you need to find something different. One thing about working online is that the business model and conditions will change, often and rapidly! I started an online business in 1995, and I have the same business today, but have had to change the business model at least 4 times. If I stuck to my original business plan, I would have been out of business years ago...
The same thing goes for ebay. I don't understand why people keep trying to do the same thing that is obviously not working...try something different. Different product, different supplier, different model, etc.
posted on December 11, 2003 11:08:11 AM new
What hot today will be cold tomorrow. At least that is true on Ebay. I started out selling TV guides and you wouldn't believe what I got for those back in 1998.
Then, I moved on to magazines. NOw they are only good for the ads in them and who knows how long even that will be true.
Then, I moved on to lps but the competition on them got so stiff if you didn't have brand new items you couldn't get much so they now sit over in my storage unit waiting for bulk listings as I have time.
So, you have to be ever changing in what the market is looking for. If you do that and keep on your toes, it can can be almost as good now as it was then. The only difference is, back then I could list anything I saw and within hours have bids that would continue to go up every day for the duration.
Now, I just list items for what I want to get, and do a happy dance when I get multiple bids and get even more!
posted on December 11, 2003 11:19:56 AM new
My sales are definitely slower this year, and the number of hits is 'way down.
___________________________________
"In order to avoid poverty, just do three things: finish high school, marry before having a child, and don't have that child until you're at least 20 years old. Only 8% of people who do all three of these things wind up poor, but a staggering 79% of those who fail to do them wind up in poverty." ~William Galston
posted on December 11, 2003 11:44:07 AM new
I dunno. Some days (on eBay) sales and bids are quite brisk. Others? Well, you can almost hear a hollow echo as you peruse your seller list.
It defies categorization.
--
Coming soon to an Internet near you: fluffythewondercat.com
posted on December 11, 2003 11:48:58 AM new
i remember days when there were only 25,000 items on ebay and we thought WOW,so many items .
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on December 11, 2003 11:50:17 AM new
It isn't just eBay. I've gone out shopping and have been amazed at the lack of lines. The stores are not nearly as crazed as in year's past. My sales dropped off markedly the last two weeks. I was going along just great and then the bottom fell out. We're very, very slow at work, too and we do alternative therapies. We've seen three clients so far this week.
The big boys definately aren't helping us as far as eBay goes. I do get angry because these are the guys who can afford big fancy stand alone stores, but they have to nudge (no, push) their way into a venue that small sellers can afford. There's not much you can do about it. I don't shop at Sears anyway. Not online and not at the mall. Their customer service stinks.
posted on December 11, 2003 12:41:46 PM new
I know I have posted the same message when others have started these "business is slow topics", but here goes again. Where I am here in New England, the stores are just about giving away the stuff. I stopped at the local TJ Maxx to look for a shirt, and while I was there browsed the gift wares. Prices were lower than just the shipping would be if bought on line. And even the mall department stores are starting to look like the discounters. I think they are in a death-match price war. I really feel for those trying to sell new merchandise on eBay.
posted on December 11, 2003 12:46:19 PM new
There are too many dishonest sellers misrepresenting thier items and/or misleading people into thinking they are something better. I try to be honest.
[ edited by dcpent on Dec 12, 2003 07:27 AM ]
posted on December 11, 2003 01:53:28 PM new
Just as in the antiques biz, where the money to be made is in owning an antique mall, not selling antiques...
...possibly the money to be made these days is selling to folks who think they'll get rich as eBay sellers.
Just a thought.
Been reading about supply channels in my marketing books. Think I want to be a little higher up in the food chain.
--
Coming soon to an Internet near you: fluffythewondercat.com
posted on December 11, 2003 02:36:40 PM new
>>>Just as in the antiques biz, where the money to be made is in owning an antique mall, not selling antiques>>>
Or make your money in the modern era by selling auction management services, sniping services, payment handling, etc.
In the gold rush days, the ones who went home with money made it selling the picks and shovels.
posted on December 11, 2003 03:32:31 PM new
This is my first Christmas holiday "cycle" as an eBay seller. So, I really have no personal means of comparison.
But, my sales, bids, and views began to "go south" about the middle of Novemeber. I was selling more, at greater prices, in April, when I had almost no feedbacks.
It must have, at least, something to do with the economy. I have a close friend who has worked Wal-Mart management for over 20 years. She said this is the first year, that she can recall, that Wal-Mart significantly discounted their clothing, before Thanksgiving or Christmas. She added that Wal-Mart's after Thanksgiving numbers, although showing about a 6% increase over last year, are not as positive as it may seem. They are having an exceptionally high percentage of buyers who are paying via credit cards. And, credit card costs up Wal-Mart's unabsorbed overhead.
Who knows. I was at a Ralph Lauren POLO outlet store 2 days ago, and the discounts were unbelievable.
We shall see. I have a lingering hope that eBay buyers will renew their vigor after Christmas.
posted on December 11, 2003 04:06:16 PM new
I waltzed into the snobby Talbots store in the nearby city today.
Not one clerk spoke to me.
There were about 3 customers in there.
One sale: Buy one sweater at regular price, get the second one at 25% off. (only turtlenecks...I wouldn't have one!)
Wow.
I was so impressed, I ran out!
posted on December 11, 2003 05:15:13 PM new
they are slow-I don't think it is the economy or Christmas-I think it is a buyers market- There is more "stuff" of all kinds out there for the public to choose from-so they are very selective-and buying is so easy now Home shopping networks, the Internet etc-Watch the HSN or the others when they say they sold 5000 of this item in the last hour- The message is BUY IT NOW or YOU WILL NEVER GET IT-Sometimes even stuff I don't really need looks so good I have to tell my husband to hide my credit card-I just posted a few 3 day auctions- I haven't had the guts to do a one day yet but I think that day is coming-
posted on December 11, 2003 05:20:30 PM new
more people are now pointing at walmart for importing deflation into this country from china.
if walmart is crying over cc costs and lower margin,it gets no sympathy from me.
clothes ralph loren or no name can afford to be marked down,as they cost little to be made in china.
they said when the economy picks up,we dont need 99 cents stores anymore.i see plenty of shoppers at our newly open 99 cents only stores-99 cents for 8 gallon mustard.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on December 11, 2003 06:37:09 PM new
My Ebay sales are a little slower, but my Vendio store seems to be picking up. Sales have been higher than last year. I have been getting hits on my auctions but not as many bidders as I normally get.
posted on December 11, 2003 06:38:31 PM new
Must be your mdse, I have had a 90% sell through this last month!! Best month in a long while!! I really believe that you must be Holiday oriented this year. Wally
World is kicking the shix out of Toys R Us with loss leaders on toys. If you are selling anything tha competes with W/W, then you are going to lose big time. I am selling strictly collectible Xmas items, & am doing fantastic.
[ edited by sanmar on Dec 11, 2003 06:46 PM ]
posted on December 11, 2003 08:33:30 PM new
I went shopping today,went to several Dollar Stores and one Walmart. I notice their amount of inventory they had to chose from was way down from last year and the selection sucked,I guess that explains why my Flea Market sales were up this year. My E-Bay sales are good considering the competition I'm up against. I will keep doing what I'm doing until it quits working,then I'll change my game plan again. I hope Fluffy does extremely well with her new business adventures,she deserves the best as she has sure worked hard to get it.
posted on December 12, 2003 05:17:56 AM new
Sales are down on my end too. I really do not know why but I am going with the flow. My experience as been if I complain about sales being slow, they pick up after I post this!
posted on December 12, 2003 11:58:34 PM new
Did any of you see that report they did on walmart on tv? They showed their tracking via graph chart of their customers buying habits. They've always shown luxury items go high at 1st and 15th of the month (payperiods), but they now claim regular personal effects, ie. soap, food, etc. are taking the very same peaks and valleys, so they concluded that people are really living paycheck to paycheck.
I've been out there and the stores are virtually empty for this time of year. Maybe online sales has had an impact? or there will be the traditioal last minute rush; but I kind of think the general public is not really buying that much this year. JMO
posted on December 13, 2003 08:40:12 AM new
Despite all the "good" economic news, there are still a lot of layoffs occuring and no one is hiring. Efficiency is way up- so those that are still employed SHOULD be asking for some big raises.
A "jobless recovery" is no recovery at all. Consumer sentiment also went down, which surprised many "experts", but with no hiring going on, what did they expect consumer sentiment to do ???
posted on December 13, 2003 08:57:20 AM new
We had to go to Boston the other day, so stopped for the first time at the "luxury" mall. The store going gangbusters was Renovator Supply (a "lifestyle" store). But that was because they had a lot of good gift items, many under 25.00.
We actually spent money there. For example, set of six china dessert plates, in a nice round decorated box (you just need to stick a bow on it) - 19.00. And I'll bet there are a lot of others out there as cheap, er, thrifty as I am. Doesn't bode well for a rebound in retail.
posted on December 13, 2003 08:57:36 AM new
you just watch,soon every thing will be 99 cents item.
if you buy a table ,you buy 4 legs for 99 cents each,and the table will be assembled from 24 pieces,each 99 cents .
if you buy a car,you will have a lot of 99 cents items on the list-motor,dashboard,battery,wiper,etc.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on December 13, 2003 04:16:45 PM new
I plan on "thanking" the man who stole the presidency back in 2000. I live in Florida. Maybe this time my vote will get counted.
Just say Thank You Mr Bush