Is Ebay Making A Comeback??

[TheLittleRoo]

I just listed about 10 auctions for kids' clothes (Gymboree, Hanna, Abercrombie boys) and most ended dismally. Three sold using my BIN price which I priced very fairly (<$5 per peice). I had one lot of Gymbo that ended at $8 for 5 peices of girls' clothing. That was a bummer, and it wasn't the only one belly up.

I'm only going to list my best items and be sure to start them high enough that they don't sell for nothing. I think buying is better on Ebay than selling lately. Too many expenses for sellers, and it seems like there aren't enough "shoppers/ lookers" to get a good bidding war started on things.

 

[miasmom93]

I sell many things on ebay. I had a great Holiday season, but since then I feel I can't even give the items away. All are new with tags and great deals.

The fees are too much and the fact that a seller cannot leave negative feedback really stinks! I had so many buyers that just did not pay this season, then you have to wait to file unpaid disputes, wait until that period is over, then relist and hope it sells to a "good" buyer: mad:

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> Ebay is in real trouble. They may not make it out of the recession. Stock price is at lowest level since 2001 and has dropped like 70% in the last 6 months...

Because they have gotten to be seller unfriendly -- charging back the seller even though the merchandise was properly described and delivered.

Because the fees -- listing, final value, PayPal -- add up to be too high.

So the result is fewer sellers.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[robb01]

ive bought a few things recently and havent had any bad transactions

 

[parrothead24]

I sell items about three or four times a year. I had 11 auctions end last week and made $120. I have about 15 more to list this weekend and hope to make a bit more. I mostly sell kids' clothes and other assorted kids' items. I have some Easter outfits so I hope they will do well.

Carrie

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I love the Little people. I have some from my kids that my grandson has now. But, I did find him a Police Woman fisher price little people so he can show everyone his grandmom. He wears his tshirt to school that says my grandmom is a police officer too.

I was looking at your autograph items. I am trying to locate a woman that was at MGM studies the renamed Disney studios. She was in a Roadster and period outfit. Flirt the dickens with my dh, and posed with dd and dh for a picture like she was playing with his ear.

For the life of me I can't decipher her autograph, and can not place her except maybe Mary Popins Alter Ego
Any ideas, I went through your list but nothing struck me as her name or picture.

Ah ha! I think you met what we call a "Streetmosphere" character at Disney Hollywood Studios - these guys and gals are real performers! Many of them can do really great improv. These characters aren't from Disney movies, they are invented just for Hollywood Studios, and most are themed from the Hollywood era. There are quite a few different ones, and they have unique identities and autographs. They usually perform on the main street (from the entrance to the Big Hat) at Disney Hollywood Studios, or on the steet that heads to the Tower of Terror. I haven't hung out with the Streetmosphere characters in awhile, so I am not sure who she is! Hope she wasn't toooo friendly with your DH!

Oh, I have the Fisher-Price Little People police woman - I think I have 4-5 of them! Yeah, I been accused of going overboard in my collecting! I love Ebay for buying old toys - the market must still be pretty decent if I am not winning much and still being outbid all the time!

 

[Ava]

I had 8 auctions up last week, 4 of the items sold. And of course I had one ridiculous buyer who e-mailed me after the auction had ended saying her boyfriend was using her account without her permission and asking me to "cancel" her winning bid. I wrote back and politely explained that bidding on eBay is a binding contract to purchase and she needed to pay for the item or I would file a non-paying bidder claim against her. Someone writes back saying okay, they will pay. Then she writes back AGAIN saying she WON'T pay and next time I go on to eBay it says she's no longer a registered user. So I second chance the next-highest bidder, since their bid was only $1 lower than the winning bid. I give the second-chance 3 days to respond, then I go away for the weekend. Then like a day later, the winning bidder pays for the item! Thankfully I was away so I couldn't ship it right away, because the next day the second chancer paid too! I felt it was only fair to give the item to the second chancer, so I refunded the original winner's money. Hopefully she learned a lesson about how eBay works out of all this, lol. Now it's finally been 7 days and I've filed a claim for Final Value Fee credit from the original sale.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I've definitely noticed an increase in ending prices. I think it's because of tax refund season. I'm milking it for all it's worth!

I agree with everyone who said Ebay has gotten VERY unfriendly towards it's sellers. I absolutely hate several (most?) of the changes over the past year or so, but I can't give it up right now, because I AM making money.

 

[Disney1976]

You know, it's weird, I can't figure it out. The holidays were good -then it was slow, then up again, now it's so-so. Many of the items that were hot sellers for me in the past (I used to have 2 ebay stores) aren't even getting a look, even though my price is usually equal to, or slightly lower than, my competitors.

And I KNOW people want what I'm selling. I sell Disney theme park exclusive merchandise, all the stuff you can get at the parks and resorts. I will admit the seller fees have hurt me, because it forced me to raise prices a little to keep up. Even so, I'm still competitive. And I know I provide fast, excellent service.

I also don't agree with the other changes -no negatives for buyers, and the "star rating" system for sellers. But..it's still the best exposure out there.

 

[Jennia]

Oh man, I HATE the no negative for buyers! This is why I've mostly switched to selling through other sites or locally. I had one woman buy a doll for about 20 dollars, no contact from her at all. I emailed her probably five times before I got a response. I finally said, "You must pay by tomorrow evening" and received "I PAY TOMOROW" which she didn't (though she did pay the day after that. . . ) THEN she emails me constantly asking when did it mail, how much did it cost me to mail it, and so on. Good grief, that was enough right there to squelch any ebay selling desires I might have still had.

 

[stevensn9317]

I was a power seller and Ebay has been on the decline for years... They have just taken it that last step by gouging the seller and the whole no feedback for the buyer and they did it at a really bad economic time.... Ebay is just like any big corporation and figured they could boost profit by laying it to the sellers. Now that buy.com has a deal with Ebay, it has turned into more of big companys selling than just average people. They lost a lot of sellers including me when they stopped adding store item into the search. If Ebay crumbles in the economic crisis, they have only themselves to blame...

 

[katieam1]

I've bought a few things on ebay recently. And I've been watching a variety of items. It looks like sales may be picking up. Good deals too! I don't know if it's just for the items I was interested in or if it's an overall thing. But it's interesting! I may start listing again.

Maybe the economy is having a positive impact on Ebay? I've read where that is the case with McDonalds. What do you think?

I think so. With the economy the way it is I am sure people are looking for deals! I know I had taken a break from ebay for a while and now I am addicted to it again!

 

[nunzia]

Before we go saying eBay is in "real trouble", that statement could apply to just about any company, today -- things are tough all over.

Wow..Amen to that..Disney is way down too, but I think they'll make it. MGM has lost about 90% hopefully they'll make it too.
I still sell on ebay, and it seems I have good sells and lousy sells..just depends on if I find good stuff or not!

 

[spatenfloot]

I used to be a power seller until Ebay raised fees too many times and created a hostile environment for sellers. Plus many "buyers" are learning to scam their way to free items.

 

[mikehn]

Im not much into ebay at all, but recently saw and purchased 23 used garments off ebay in separate transactions. A couple weeks after that, just for kicks, I returned to browse similar garments and noticed sellers were asking significantly more for similar garments. Is this just a coincidence?

 

[skjj2009]

I've been buying a few things here and there and have noticed a little drop in price on some things but I buy highly desired Gap or gymboree items from last season that I missed or want again and they are still pretty competitive in price by the time I win the auction.

I have been selling again. I made some money last month. I think my auctions ended up making 60 all together and my fees were 8 bucks from ebay and then whatever paypal takes out. I probably made 40 + but still better than nothing at all. I pretty much pick through our best gap, gymboree, old navy items that I KNOW will sell and list them first. Anything else I've decided to sell in garage sales or donate. I will say though that I don't list anything at .99 anymore...so not worth it if it sells for that with the fees from paypal and ebay. I start things at 1.99 and try to price my shipping fairly so people will buy. Surprisingly last go around all of my auctions sold but one so that made me happy. Mostly I'm just trying to make a few bucks and get the stuff out of my house!