Has anything changed?
By ctryhnny
@ctryhnny (3460)
United States
February 12, 2013 9:00am CST
I used to be a top seller on ebay until all the changes came about. It was crazy trying to get at least what the item I was selling was worth. Then they raised all the fees and made it even harder to make any money. I would say in all the years I sold there I lost money on the deal. I enjoyed making my listings look interesting and eye catching but then that got quite expensive so I just stopped selling. On top of the fees even postage got out of hand and made it not worth it. What have your experiences been with ebay? Do you try to make your listings nice to look at? Have any of the fees changed in the last couple of years making it worth putting your listing out there?
3 people like this
7 responses
@vivek19 (218)
• India
13 Feb 13
Whenever it comes to Ebay my first answer us a NO. I once ordered a mixer grinder from Ebay and i found that it was not a new piece but a used one. My friend have also experienced the same thing that they sell used items. From that day i suggest everyone to stay away from Ebay.
1 person likes this
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
13 Feb 13
If it was a used product it should have said it on the listing. If you didn't see it anywhere that it was used you could report them to ebay for false representation of an item. Yes, most of what is on ebay is used and there are very few new items.
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27167)
• Australia
13 Feb 13
Well, many people are using eBay as a "garage sale" where they clean out their closets and get rid of whatever they can find around the house that they do not need then try to sell them. So yes, many items sold there are used items. Unless they specifically state on the listing that the item is new, I'd expect it to be a used one.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
12 Feb 13
I still buy and sell on Ebay. They have specials going all the time so that's when I'll list items if I have any. I normally sell antique, collectible postcards at present from the early 1900s. They are inexpensive to ship and I can walk to the mailbox.
The postcards are also put into the collectibles section where you can upload 12 pictures free...that's why I like it in that section. Certain postcards go for high prices and those are what I look for and normally find, but it takes patience. I have made money on Ebay but not as a Powerseller..they make the most. When I was out of work, it helped pay my bills and get me through.
I've been doing this for over 10 years but not consistently...just on and off, and more for the fun of it. It helps get me through Christmas too. I had an extra $140 this Christmas because of Ebay. I think my fee's were around $18.00 so I guess I can't complain.
I don't spend the extra money to make the listings look nice, but I do describe well and sometimes offer free shipping. I still have a 100% feedback score so I must be doing something right.
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
12 Feb 13
The last time I looked I had 100% feedback and I earned it by offering excellant items, not lieing about the condition and mailing them out as fast as I could. I might check out some things I have to sell and hope I get decent fees and make some money on them. Good for you!
2 people like this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
12 Feb 13
Check out what you want to sell first and see if they're selling. It all depends on what you have to offer. The economy is down so this presents a problem for most people. I stick with collectibles as much as possible and anything that belongs in that category and very lightweight items so shipping is not that expensive.
Halloween items, believe it or not, will sell good usually all year long. Right now we're coming up to Easter and people start looking for those collectibles too. They seem to love items from the 50s and 60s. When you end your items on Sunday evenings, that also seems to be the best time for people to buy as far as I can see.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
12 Feb 13
I used to buy and sell a lot on Ebay, until they changed things like you said, it got stupid and I was actually making pennies, all the work that goes into it and it just wasn't worth the little I made, as well as having to go to the post office, plus the time it took. I can't remember the last time I sold anything, or even bought anything to be honest. They get greedy in the end. I actually donate my stuff to charity now instead of selling it.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
12 Feb 13
I think that everywhere, we are being nickel-and-dimed until things are just not affordable. I haven't tried selling on eBay in over a year, it just started being crazy.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
12 Feb 13
Very few people actually earn money on eBay. About the only ones profiting from eBay are those who head up eBay.
I only used eBay a few times, because I took a hit on everything I sold. Get a few cents profit on an item after taking the time and energy to list and ship it isn't worth it. You could do just as well or better setting up a table outside and having a yard sale.
1 person likes this
@sknvacation (1)
• Taiwan
13 Feb 13
I totally agree. Now it is even more difficult for persons starting from scratch to profit. Everywhere is competitive and those who have the bulk of the product offers them very cheap so the means of really competing is very low.
1 person likes this
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
12 Feb 13
Well, I, frankly, have registered to EBay for many years. But I just have to report a negative approach! I have tryed to sold a TV, I put it to the auction, unfortunately the TV was not sold. The sum I have fixed, in the end I had to pay myself, and to me was withdraw out of my debitcard money! Since then I have decided to no longer want to know about EBay!
1 person likes this
@ladyeaglefeather (228)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Sadly to say, have stopped selling on Ebay for the same reasons. It just wasn't worth it anymore.
