Ebay - things not selling
Discussion
I have used Ebay for twenty something years to sell unwanted household stuff. I usually pitch my pricing below the cheapest similar listing and everything, or almost everything, has always sold.
I have had a bit of a clear-out in the past few weeks and listed it all. As usual, the branded stuff has sold - not for great money. But the rest has had barely any interest.
Is anyone else finding this? Is it the case that Ebay shoppers are those most affected by the CoLC?
I mostly buy on ebay and recently i have noticed that my usual searches are turning up nothing at all, then i get page after page of suggestions which are hardly relevant.
If I then do a google search for the item, the suggestions from Google include ebay listings that i can click and view that were not there when I looked on actual ebay. Something changed and its broken ebay for me.
Its glory days are over.
If I then do a google search for the item, the suggestions from Google include ebay listings that i can click and view that were not there when I looked on actual ebay. Something changed and its broken ebay for me.
Its glory days are over.
Getragdogleg said:
Its glory days are over.
Your view is somewhat supported by the way they do business now. Trying to persuade sellers to promote items ahead of sale to bank a guaranteed £4.99 or whatever.They did a similar thing with Gumtree. It started well and then they increased and increased prices until it was not worth using and, as far as I know, is moribund in respect of the sections we used to post in.
I can answer this.
It is down the eBay's search algorithm called Cassini.
In the old day, it would be all down to key words, however, it now goes far beyond that and looks across multiple factors that will determine the visibility of your listing, or whether it is visible at all, when people search.
The most important factor is, has the item sold in the recent past? Usually based from the EAN number. It will also look at the price. If it is less than the "average" sold price, it will be pushed to the top of search rankings.
If you have multiples of a single listing, the key to selling multiples is by people purchasing from that listing regularly.
If an item does not sell regularly. It goes dead and basically disappears from the search rankings. This can be very annoying as you can sometimes have a listing of a very good product at a great price, that might not be what the masses want, but would still appeal to some, but they never see it.
eBay is now geared up to sell the cheapest products, that are commonly purchased by the masses.
It is down the eBay's search algorithm called Cassini.
In the old day, it would be all down to key words, however, it now goes far beyond that and looks across multiple factors that will determine the visibility of your listing, or whether it is visible at all, when people search.
The most important factor is, has the item sold in the recent past? Usually based from the EAN number. It will also look at the price. If it is less than the "average" sold price, it will be pushed to the top of search rankings.
If you have multiples of a single listing, the key to selling multiples is by people purchasing from that listing regularly.
If an item does not sell regularly. It goes dead and basically disappears from the search rankings. This can be very annoying as you can sometimes have a listing of a very good product at a great price, that might not be what the masses want, but would still appeal to some, but they never see it.
eBay is now geared up to sell the cheapest products, that are commonly purchased by the masses.
MattsCar said:
I can answer this.
It is down the eBay's search algorithm called Cassini.
In the old day, it would be all down to key words, however, it now goes far beyond that and looks across multiple factors that will determine the visibility of your listing, or whether it is visible at all, when people search.
The most important factor is, has the item sold in the recent past? Usually based from the EAN number. It will also look at the price. If it is less than the "average" sold price, it will be pushed to the top of search rankings.
If you have multiples of a single listing, the key to selling multiples is by people purchasing from that listing regularly.
If an item does not sell regularly. It goes dead and basically disappears from the search rankings. This can be very annoying as you can sometimes have a listing of a very good product at a great price, that might not be what the masses want, but would still appeal to some, but they never see it.
eBay is now geared up to sell the cheapest products, that are commonly purchased by the masses.
This is depressing news for me as most of my eBay activity, as a buyer and a seller, revolves around relatively rare or unpopular items! But your explanation explains why sometimes a normal search on eBay has failed to find a live listing containing the exact words that I searched for, a listing that I later found through Google or on a link someone sent me.It is down the eBay's search algorithm called Cassini.
In the old day, it would be all down to key words, however, it now goes far beyond that and looks across multiple factors that will determine the visibility of your listing, or whether it is visible at all, when people search.
The most important factor is, has the item sold in the recent past? Usually based from the EAN number. It will also look at the price. If it is less than the "average" sold price, it will be pushed to the top of search rankings.
If you have multiples of a single listing, the key to selling multiples is by people purchasing from that listing regularly.
If an item does not sell regularly. It goes dead and basically disappears from the search rankings. This can be very annoying as you can sometimes have a listing of a very good product at a great price, that might not be what the masses want, but would still appeal to some, but they never see it.
eBay is now geared up to sell the cheapest products, that are commonly purchased by the masses.
Zio Di Roma said:
I have used Ebay for twenty something years to sell unwanted household stuff. I usually pitch my pricing below the cheapest similar listing and everything, or almost everything, has always sold.
I have had a bit of a clear-out in the past few weeks and listed it all. As usual, the branded stuff has sold - not for great money. But the rest has had barely any interest.
Is anyone else finding this? Is it the case that Ebay shoppers are those most affected by the CoLC?
Use Facebook Marketplace if you want to get rid of household stuff.I have had a bit of a clear-out in the past few weeks and listed it all. As usual, the branded stuff has sold - not for great money. But the rest has had barely any interest.
Is anyone else finding this? Is it the case that Ebay shoppers are those most affected by the CoLC?
Like you, I have used ebay for a long time, probably 18 years, and since FB Marketplace has become popular, anything used and household has dropped off a cliff as FBM is just quicker, easier, and cheaper for sellers.
I still use eBay for selling anything of value that can be posted, such as watches, cameras, etc, and stuff always sells as I write a good advert, have good photos, and have good feedback.
But everything else (Household, kids toys, DIY stuff, Garden/patio, and so on) just gets put on FBM and sells without issue, almost always to someone local who comes round and picks it up.
I tend to look on FBM as my first port of call now as well. You would be amazed the stuff that gets listed, but I suppose why not? If you are selling a £1000 camera, you certainly don't want eBay taking a big bite out of the price in commission if you can help it.
Edited by Mont Blanc on Monday 8th April 14:17
Richard-390a0 said:
I had an email from them this morning - Sell your unwanted clothes free of any seller fee's... so they're obviously feeling the pinch as people have left for Vinted, FB Marketplace etc where you can sell for free.
They are clearly feeling the pressure - I've been sellling stuff totally fees-free for the past few weeks, and I usually have a 70% or 80% reduction offer on the go outsode of that.Still hard to beat them for sheer reach, and the sort of stuff I sell is mostly not on the scummers' radar.
Would I sell, say, a mobile phone on there? Hell no.
Random old car parts from the 70s? Get snapped up for decent money.
normalbloke said:
Is this still available ….
Apparently - there was an interesting piece on Radio 4’s 12pm programme todayIn terms of prices, I’ve been doing a post-retirement clear-out and sold a few grands worth of stuff on the Bay - computing, audio, photography and aviation - over the last 6 months, and would say there are buyers out there for pretty much everything if the listing is done well
I’ve been surprised that a coupe of items didn’t go for much beyond the £0.99 start price, and others have sold for well above the new price of 10 to 20 years ago. What I would say is, take lots of decent detailed photos (mobile phone pics are fine) and you’ll find items selling when similar ones with rubbish photos don’t, or sell much more cheaply. And write a coherent description, never rely on their AI-generated gobbledygook
It is unusual - for me, one thing I have noticed over the recent years is that I have had about 4 instances of "flurry's"
I can have 15 items listed on there for months on end without interest, then within the space of a couple of days, 5 items will sell (to different buyers), then it all goes quiet again.
I can have 15 items listed on there for months on end without interest, then within the space of a couple of days, 5 items will sell (to different buyers), then it all goes quiet again.
I sell all of my old tat that is end of life / not needed, it’s amazing
Most stuff like kids toys / bikes / roof bars etc go on Facebook via my wife
Odd things like the charger for my broken strimmer, a spare wheel kits for a 1988 Renault 5 etc go on eBay. List them up, put them in a bag and put them in my loft. Some stuff will take 2 years to sell, but it’s a lovely feeling getting £15 for some custom charger and helping someone else keep stuff running.
Facebook really is a bottom feeding thing though, beware
Most stuff like kids toys / bikes / roof bars etc go on Facebook via my wife
Odd things like the charger for my broken strimmer, a spare wheel kits for a 1988 Renault 5 etc go on eBay. List them up, put them in a bag and put them in my loft. Some stuff will take 2 years to sell, but it’s a lovely feeling getting £15 for some custom charger and helping someone else keep stuff running.
Facebook really is a bottom feeding thing though, beware
AlexGSi2000 said:
It is unusual - for me, one thing I have noticed over the recent years is that I have had about 4 instances of "flurry's"
I can have 15 items listed on there for months on end without interest, then within the space of a couple of days, 5 items will sell (to different buyers), then it all goes quiet again.
Would possibly tie in with other posters mention of the algorithm I can have 15 items listed on there for months on end without interest, then within the space of a couple of days, 5 items will sell (to different buyers), then it all goes quiet again.
Or is it just a time of year thing? Ie spring vs autumn
I buy and sell a few 1990s motorbike parts on there, it's fairly stable, but it's a fairly specialised market.
My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
PurpleTurtle said:
I buy and sell a few 1990s motorbike parts on there, it's fairly stable, but it's a fairly specialised market.
My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
You have to treat the FB lot like the immature kids that they are. They will keep pushing the boundaries unless you are firm with them. For them, negotiating the price down to peanuts and demands to deliver etc start via the messenger. You tell them NO to delivery, you have to come collect, then allow some reduction in the the price to get it gone. All good, but then any arrangements for them collect between a certain time window are completely ignored and they turn up at 9pm instead, just because they can as none of them have jobs and are all on bennies so have no idea about the concept of time-keeping, then once they arrive they completely ignore the agreements on price earlier in the day and start trying to chip you down even further. You have to be prepared to be firm with your NOs like you would with a petulent child. Once you've shown them who's in control, they will shy away back to their beta position in the hierachy and will pay you what you originally agreed on.My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
r3g said:
PurpleTurtle said:
I buy and sell a few 1990s motorbike parts on there, it's fairly stable, but it's a fairly specialised market.
My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
You have to treat the FB lot like the immature kids that they are. They will keep pushing the boundaries unless you are firm with them. For them, negotiating the price down to peanuts and demands to deliver etc start via the messenger. You tell them NO to delivery, you have to come collect, then allow some reduction in the the price to get it gone. All good, but then any arrangements for them collect between a certain time window are completely ignored and they turn up at 9pm instead, just because they can as none of them have jobs and are all on bennies so have no idea about the concept of time-keeping, then once they arrive they completely ignore the agreements on price earlier in the day and start trying to chip you down even further. You have to be prepared to be firm with your NOs like you would with a petulent child. Once you've shown them who's in control, they will shy away back to their beta position in the hierachy and will pay you what you originally agreed on.My wife sells a load of stuff via FB Marketplace, I am quite a private person, I absolutely loathe Joe Public coming to the house and refuse to have any dealings with them after one woman turned up late, interrupted an important work call and then tried to negotiate me down from a fiver to three quid on some poxy item she'd agreed to pay a fiver for!
We’ve done this loads with all sorts of nuckle draggers, not a single theft yet.
Saves on waiting in, and breathing their air
We use their profile to gauge the value we are willing to risk
I've sold a number of things over the last 2 months - regained over £2K so far. Linn HiFi separates, rack mount boxes, Sonos Boost, 2x Sonos Connects, Sony camera, Fuji lens, Osprey rucksack, Atem Mini video switcher...
Like you, I've pitched mine under the price of others I've seen on eBay and they have gone within 2 days. It was all stuff I had "hanging around" no longer used, so pricing them low seemed like a good idea.
I have a few other things to list in the next week or so. Feels really good to get rid of unwanted stuff and relieves the guilt when I buy new toys.
Like you, I've pitched mine under the price of others I've seen on eBay and they have gone within 2 days. It was all stuff I had "hanging around" no longer used, so pricing them low seemed like a good idea.
I have a few other things to list in the next week or so. Feels really good to get rid of unwanted stuff and relieves the guilt when I buy new toys.
I’ve a couple of things for sale currently, one at £150.
So some people messaging to say, will I take £130 (I’ve set it to no offers, if goes for less than £150, I’ll just keep them),.
Then yesterday, someone said will I take £150 but can only collect today. Auction ends tomorrow…… Odd.
Anyone know where better to sell cycling stuff? I’m not on Facebook (and don’t plan to be…).
So some people messaging to say, will I take £130 (I’ve set it to no offers, if goes for less than £150, I’ll just keep them),.
Then yesterday, someone said will I take £150 but can only collect today. Auction ends tomorrow…… Odd.
Anyone know where better to sell cycling stuff? I’m not on Facebook (and don’t plan to be…).
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