posted on November 22, 2003 06:15:59 AM new
Presently, there is a glut in the number of listings, too many for the available number of buyers.
In the recent months and weeks the number of listing has continued to increase, while the number of buyers has stayed the same or decreased. Until the last three days, when number of listing plummeted to a low of 8.5 Million.
It seems that eBay, has pull the plug on Medved, one of the original brokers of eBay, in the early days. In and effort to suppress the bad news.
We have also observed that the Sale Thru Rate and the number of bids per item of well established sellers has decreased substantially. We have contacted many of those sellers and they all tell the same story. The amount of eBay fees has increased substantially, because of re-listing of unsold merchandise while their sales have drop substantially. Most sellers said that they have decreased their total number of listing and a few have stopped listing altogether until the situation returns to normal.
Sellers report Sales of just 33 percent on the total amount of listed merchandise and eBay fees of 1/3 of their total sales, caused by the high number of re-lists of unsold items. Their sales for the past month is just about 1/4 of past months. Not a great incentive to continue listing.
It seems that eBay does not want their sellers to know what is happening at least until after the holidays, but the news even if suppressed for a while always gets out.
I suspect that eBay with their smart management will be coming up with a promotion very shortly, expect some type of promotion around Thanksgivings and if the situation continues you will see several promotions before Christmas.
eBay, will follow the example of Sears and the other retailers -- 50% Sales, by doing many promotions until the end of the year. They know that sellers have curtailed their number of listings and many have stop listing altogether.
Get your listing ready for the inevitable eBay promotions to come!
posted on November 22, 2003 08:16:26 AM new
what good is listing more when the number of bidders do not expand??
it is like bringing out more dishes at an allyou can eat buffet when the customers are all full.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on November 22, 2003 08:58:42 AM new
I think the 14 million number is probably accurate. Ebay may not have intentionally foiled the Medved tracking system but that system is no longer working. I think most people took the free tracking service for granted and it will be missed. We now have to take ebay's word for how many listings it has on site.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
