It is very difficult to make cash on eBay now compared to a few years ago. Agree or disagree?
5 Years ago I was buying and selling stuff and making £500 a week PROFIT. these days You have to accept "small change" profit on the stuff you sell. I am going to sell my current stock and that is me finished with eBay. My question is….Do you think eBay has had its day.
Hey there …
There are so many discussions on the various PowerSeller boards on eBay that discuss this very topic.
There are a number of reasons why I believe its more difficult to make a $ on eBay now as opposed to say, 5 years ago.
Let’s consider –
New sellers who think they’ll jump on the bandwagon because they think that other people are making money in such and such a category so they’ll make heaps too! WRONG! The more sellers, the more competition, the lower the profit, the more newcomers who go broke trying to compete … That is … UNLESS the newbie seller has UNIQUE items – not the same ol’ same ol’.
Yes eBay have raised the seller’s fees and given no benefits to the sellers … that’s a HUGE reason for making less profit.
PAGE VIEWS in seller statistics clearly indicate that there are less buyers searching eBay … why? Possibly because of negative media pointing out the scammers that exist online.
Add to these issues, the influx of FOREIGN sellers ie. Thailand, China, Hong Kong etc. These guys are buying direct from the factory, selling at ridiculous starting prices, pay no import duties, income taxes etc. to the countries in which they list, therefore the sellers they are competing with for the sales, who do run their eBay businesses professionally and legally (and pay their taxes) are massively disadvantaged!
yeah a couple of years ago it was good for finding stuff and selling now it’s not in best shape. same with amazon although amazon is more secure.
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ebay is sh*it.
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I think you are absolutely right …. Ebay has become saturated with so many sellers plus a lot of trade that clog the system up. I sell the odd thing now but there is no doubt it is becoming harder. And the fees are also somewhat prohibitive, so much so that I refrain from listing things as the fees will outstrip any profit. Ebay has become greedy it seems … and that is a big turn off I think for lots of Ebayers.
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a few years ago no one bidded on anything I tried to sell. Now they do.
Ok its not much they bid but its better then wasted listing fees!
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I think their charges are a bit excessive actually and I think people like myself are wising up to it. Ebay is certainly a buyers market but not a sellers market. There are charges for advertising, charges for the sale and also charges for Paypal. Sellers don’t make much of a profit on Ebay.
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yes I agree….the costs and charges these days just to list your item are stupidly high…then people try and rip you off for postage n packing..then paypal charge you for making money.
i just sold a phone on ebay…and thats my last time..i closed my account…its ssssooooo had its day.
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eBay really increased their fees and the shipping cost went through the roof. The profit just isn’t there any more. A lot of the buyers are also doing con jobs on the sellers trying to get the items for less than they bid for them by threatening to give negative feedback. I think eBay’s hay days are over.
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I have been saying this for ages – it has had its day for making money and finding bargains! Car boot sales are pants for getting bargains these days too! The only place I buy and sell these days are live auctions where you can see what s being sold and who your competition is – and you dont have to pay for postal!
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it very much depends upon your ability to create listings and promote them, and more importantly, what type of items you sell.
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I sold my mother on eBay , made a loss but glad to get shot of her.
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Ebay got TOO GREEDY. I think Google will find a way to challenge them and its user base is larger than Ebay. Ebay is going to lose a ton of business over the next 10 years which is one of the reasons by Meg Whitman CEO is retiring.
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Hey there …
There are so many discussions on the various PowerSeller boards on eBay that discuss this very topic.
There are a number of reasons why I believe its more difficult to make a $ on eBay now as opposed to say, 5 years ago.
Let’s consider –
New sellers who think they’ll jump on the bandwagon because they think that other people are making money in such and such a category so they’ll make heaps too! WRONG! The more sellers, the more competition, the lower the profit, the more newcomers who go broke trying to compete … That is … UNLESS the newbie seller has UNIQUE items – not the same ol’ same ol’.
Yes eBay have raised the seller’s fees and given no benefits to the sellers … that’s a HUGE reason for making less profit.
PAGE VIEWS in seller statistics clearly indicate that there are less buyers searching eBay … why? Possibly because of negative media pointing out the scammers that exist online.
Add to these issues, the influx of FOREIGN sellers ie. Thailand, China, Hong Kong etc. These guys are buying direct from the factory, selling at ridiculous starting prices, pay no import duties, income taxes etc. to the countries in which they list, therefore the sellers they are competing with for the sales, who do run their eBay businesses professionally and legally (and pay their taxes) are massively disadvantaged!
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I’ve been at the top of my category for the last 5 years and a PowerSeller for that time. I feel that gives me some experience to participate in this discussion.