posted on January 13, 2005 10:36:38 PM new
Would the increased fees really matter if the sell through rate remained as it has over the years? My 8th consecutive January and my sell through rate is around the 29% auctionbytes reports. If it was near the 48%-52% I'm use to in January (and sometimes higher), one could still make a go of it but maybe not use gallery feature as much, etc.....
I think on average, people are just not buying like they use to.
Disclaimer* Yes, I know some people are going to sake that their sales are fantabulous and making the most they've ever made....but I bet unless they are a high volume seller, I think it will eventually be a roller coaster ride for them also.
Do collectors have everything they really need for their collections? Is it just too hard to find things due to the vast amount of auctions listed? No rarity anymore? Next gneration is going to collect? Throw away society? Is personal debt just too high?
posted on January 13, 2005 11:44:07 PM new
Ebay is still the big boy on the block. all these other little bitty auction sites haven't come anywhere near. if AMZ and Yahoo got its act together they could make an impact, but they don't want to.
http://lwright.biz/index.html
posted on January 14, 2005 12:22:59 AM newDo collectors have everything they really need for their collections?
Maybe yes, maybe no, of course there are exceptions.
The thing is it is the hunt in collecting that made it fun & exciting. It's too easy with eBay.
For me anyway, the thrill is gone. I don't collect anymore & I think a lot of others have quit too & the ones that still do are willing to wait until they find what they are looking for, for almost nothing.
posted on January 14, 2005 04:42:07 AM new
All I know is that the antiques and collectibles market here has been on a down slide for the past several years. I also know that several people that "invested" in "antiques" and then got nervous after 9/11 flooded the market with entire collections. This drove the prices down due to the lack of buyers and the simple fact that there were hundreds of the same item on ebay all at the same time.
There is also the fact that a lot of the customers that I had 8-10 years ago that bought antiques are now in their 70's and up. They are not buying anymore. In fact several that I know are busy dividing up their collections among the family.
If you combine this with the fact that there are LOTS of people out of work (no matter what the spin doctors say) selling their stuff at any price just to try to stay above water and not buying anything that they don't need this also contributes to the lack of buyers.
All of the stuff that I just said is based on the B&M store that I have. I have only been selling heavily on ebay for the past couple of years, and at that I got away from the antiques all together.
posted on January 14, 2005 08:40:57 AM new
Somewhere I read, recently, that the new trend is Retro and 50's-60's. Boomers going back to their "comfy" past. If this is so, then antiques are out. As the end of the boomers, I can say I really was attracted to Retro stuff this past summer and hope to find more this coming garage sale season. I do feel that "nostalgic feeling" when looking at 60-70s stuff and getting a kick out of sharing it with my kids.
posted on January 14, 2005 09:18:51 AM new
The Clean Sweep-type shows on TV are telling people that if they can't honor their collections by displaying them, they need to weed them out. Collections that are packed away in boxes in the garage aren't being honored. I can speak only for myself; I've collected wallpockets for about 6 years; now I have my favorites on a wall, and I've been slowly selling off the ones I don't care as much about. Maybe other collectors are doing the same. Also, it's true that the thrill of the hunt is gone. That's one take on what's happening in Ebay.
Another thing--I think people are getting the picture that overspending is destructive to their lives. Lots of shows, Suze Orman, Dr. Phil, and others, are showing people how to be more careful with their money.
My daughter, in the business world, had heard from me about Meg W's latest fee increases. She asked what Ebay's profit margin was last year, said we need to know the net income, and also pointed out that every transaction, large or small, on Ebay takes the same amount of computer use on Ebay's part, so that may be why Meg wants to get rid of us little "clutter sellers" (damn her!).
Just a few thoughts.
___________________________________
Is it true that the only difference between a yard sale and a trash pickup is how close to the road the stuff is placed?
posted on January 14, 2005 09:45:38 AM new
Thanks for the responses to my somewhat rehtorical questions. I know that there are some of you that see the same picture I've been preaching and experiencing for years.
Its changing, its sad, some of it's out of our control (all of which I don't handle well). I think I'll still hunt at sales, etc...but more for personal use now. If I come across an item or two for resale, I probably won't pass it up but I'm not going to have the inventory I use to.
I've done flea markets and antique shows and there not for me either. All that work for tire kickers and "be backers" (I'll be back). eBay was great because you didn't have to deal with that.
As a successfull show promoter, I see problems along that circuit only and I know it won't come around even if there is a mass
decline in eBay.
50s or 60s collectibles may be doing okay but there's no real strong fad right now consistent to ride the wave unless it's an Apple Ipod!
posted on January 14, 2005 10:30:54 AM new
The "Clutter Sellers" are the best thing about eBay, otherwise it would be just one big old boreing Super WalMart.
posted on January 14, 2005 11:58:24 AM new
Amen MC - I get so bored when I research. Seeing the same thing, same picture over and over. Brand new in the box with tags. Boring boring boring.
I still love antiques and collectibles and the thrill of the hunt. But I buy for resale so now I am much more picky.
posted on January 14, 2005 12:17:45 PM new
Has anyone made a study of the revenue ebay has collected in FVF in 2004 as against previous years? If it has declined, it would seem logical that ebay would increase other fees to compensate. " for the good of the marketplace" and I assume ebay is the marketplace.
buyhigh
posted on January 14, 2005 12:28:00 PM newHas anyone made a study of the revenue ebay has collected in FVF in 2004 as against previous years?
Even if it has increased, I question some of the purchases and amounts that have made over the years. If their primary goal is to the shareholders, why were the shareholders never up in arms when eBay bought near defunct websites that never amounted to anything. I can\'t remember them all but other than PayPal (and maybe that covered the losses), I don\'t know of any sites that eBay bought that were worth the millions they paid.
