posted on February 5, 2001 07:53:02 AM new
I see a downtrend in bidding and have at every major Ebay announcement regarding changes.
I really believe that Ebay Sellers are major bidders as well, and that is why the significant dip in bids.
I always bid more when my sales are going smoothly. And cut back when they do not.
Anyone else?
posted on February 5, 2001 08:49:39 AM new
I am inclined to bid more when I'm doing well;that's just plain common sense. However I bid based on an item's value. I am convinced that many bidders, especially newbies of which there all too many, are inclined to be cheap on their bids. Look at any bidding history where they place several bids instead of one or two.
posted on February 5, 2001 08:58:38 AM new
I agree that eBay's rate increases have adversely affected sales. I don't know if it is because a number of sellers have moved on taking some of their bidders with them, or the unfortunate emails to buyers calling for a boycott, or what, but things are different.
And when things are not up to snuff for me, my own bidding slows way down. This week I had a dozen items on my watch list but decided to bid on only two of them. Normally I would bid on half a dozen. Reason? Sales in one of my categories in the mature area are down considerably, and I have less to spend. So the changes there are particularly noticeable since many of the sellers have moved operations and emailed and snail mailed their regular customers, telling them to boycott eBay since they are hostile to the needs of adult buyers. And sadly, this is true. But I am hanging in though building up other categories.
posted on February 5, 2001 10:30:05 AM new
Yes, zeenza...that is am excellent observation. In all the years I have done Antiques Shows, we all could tell the "pulse" of the economy by how much Dealers bought BEFORE the Show even started. When we had to take a second look before buying, then we knew the show would be a bad one...!
Now, eBaY's greedy attitude is causing the same type of climate, along the the Postal Increases and other factors...
Personally, I have not been listing in weeks, nor have I BOUGHT anything, since I do not feel comfortable at being able to re-sale it...and I absolutely refuse to sell below cost
********
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[ edited by Shoshanah on Feb 5, 2001 10:30 AM ]
posted on February 5, 2001 03:06:58 PM new
Agreed! I buy far more than I sell but have cut down lately..in part due to increased postal fees (some items are just no longer worth it) and in part due to what seems to be general aggravation. Lots of my bidders are ignoring the TOS, lots of sellers seem to be going the "money order only" route (free at my bank for me, but not worth an extra trip), lots of sellers seem to be charging exorbitant "handling" fees (I buy lots of clothes and sorry, $6 for you to put a blouse less than a pound in some kind of container just doesn't cut it), and right now it just isn't striking me as FUN! Hopefully, a resurgance will come.
posted on February 5, 2001 03:29:39 PM newjlwelling Yes, you are right: much too high handling fees is not conducive to bidding...
I recently posted about a $27.00, 6 oz item, I won; after several days of no contact from seller, I figured my own shipping as I sell that type of things very often. One week later, she sends me her EOA (a little late!), and tells me that item weighs 4 pounds....???? and will cost 9.00 to ship...She did not have "the item with her", as she lets a friend do the shipping from another place...(not mentioned in listing).
Things are tough enough as it is...So, I will practice "abstinence...", and not buy (for a while)
posted on February 5, 2001 03:40:39 PM new
Seems the election, new postal rates, raised Ebay fees etc,... all hit at the wrong time. Ebay this past Christmas was not as it had been in years past. Oh, I sold alright, but very little. I can always muster sales offering up unique items, but the climate is VERY much changed.
I think the only way I will be able to make a decent Ebay profit now, is with consigned merchandise.
posted on February 5, 2001 03:42:17 PM new
Boy is this depressing. What I seem to be hearing hear is that we (sellers) are shooting ourselves in the foot.
We whine and moan about every fee increase.
We complain and growl about every service we can't get for free.
So, we try to recoup these fees by gougin prospective buyers in the shipping area.
Sooooo, we lose sales!!! Well, alrighty then, what do we expect?
If we give a good product, present it at its best, describe it accurately and fairly, and give our customers the best deal we can possibly give regarding shipping, maybe, just maybe sales will pick back up.
I do not mean to offend anyone here, just lumping us all together to make a point.
I too buy a lot in a certain category. Lately the shipping costs are outrageous. I prefer to pay with my paypal account for my convenience, but many sellers do not take it.
I try to ship everyday but have been waiting 3 weeks on an item I paid for with paypal.
posted on February 5, 2001 04:12:54 PM new
I'm a buyer and a seller and I think the increased postal rates have really made me look at what I bid on. If it's a light item, I personally don't want to pay the priority rates and won't bid on the item unless they offer first class.
In turn, I've purchased some generic boxes and have begun offering first class on light items and parcel post on heavier items.
posted on February 5, 2001 09:05:00 PM new
You R correct. My buying is directly effected by my selling. I have not raised my shipping rates but will look into 1st class if I return to Ebay. I got a package the other day that would cost $3.60 with priority. IT WAS .67 CENTS 1st class. Free boxes, like anything else, are NOT FREE.
Ebat fees up, buyers down, postal rates up, paypal fees mounting....it all spells a downturn in buying AND selling.
GeedyBAY may yet pay. Squeeze a penny hard enough and eventually it squirts out of your grip.
