What's the matter Ebay - didn't you make enough money last year???

[jillan]

And I had heard that they beat expectations in 2009-

Guess it's true - Greed is good.

Ebay giving sellers a royal screwing - and the fun begins the end of March-

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/FeeUpdate2010.html#Chart

I have a store, and it look's like I'll be paying an extra $40+ a month.


:banghead:

[Vinca]

1. I'm selling so little on ebay now it hardly matters.

In my case, since I've been doing mainly fixed price listings, it's only 15 cents more and now I can put more pictures on for free. I'm still steaming about the inability to charge buyers for shipping insurance, though.

[jillan]

4. I didn't know that about the shipping insurance.

What kinds of stuff do you sell?

[democraticinsurgent]

2. I'm pissed

eBay just does whatever it wants to do because of its near-monopoly stature.

They lured us into the store concept--which has worked really well for me--and then they essentially kill it. No way I'm paying 20 cents per listing per month.

I have almost 1000 items in two stores. I have no idea what I'm going to do.

I predict mass chaos once they completely mix the listings. And not nearly enough in increased sales for store owners to afford this increase.

[jillan]

3. I am so pissed - you have no idea.

I don't know what to do. The problem is that there is NO competition. Yes there is Bonzazle - but who shops there?

Have you visited the discussion boards over there? We are not alone. Everyone is pissed. The people that are really getting screwed the most are the occassional seller that sells a collectible item worth around $500. Their fees are increasing 141% (someone on the boards had a chart).

I just got off the phone with my 'ebay buddy' she lives in NY, she has been like a mentor to me....she is freaking out as well.
We were talking about opening a website together with all our stuff - but how do you get people to go to your website????
When people are looking for an item - they go to ebay.

I expect a mass exodus from Ebay.

What is the answer?

What do you sell? I sell mostly clothes and some items for the home. I have a couple of faucets (new) and some other things that I wil list on Amazon. (They charge 99 cents per listing - but you only pay if it sells.)

the thing is, I need this money. I've been making anywhere from 300-750/ month.

[democraticinsurgent]

5. I think eBay wants to get rid of people like us

Everything they've done in tbe past 3-4 years indicates they want to rid themselves of small sellers so they can play with the big boys. It's the only way to read it. Remember it is heavily Republican, with ex-CEO Meg Whitman trying to become the next Governator of California.

I have been on the boards, yes. I've also been on a board of vinyl record collector/dealers. Vinyl records are 95% of what I sell. There are maybe 4 other sites that specialize in music, but none are auctions and none have even 10% of eBay's traffic. So I'm screwn.

Like you, I'm living off what I make on eBay. I was laid off two years ago and have been forced to be a "consultant" which basically means unofficially unemployed. So yeah, I need every dime I get from my records.

I think what I'm going to do is this:

1. Auction off all of my store listings (about 1000) during Feburary and then close the store when the new rates hit.
2. Move to an Auction-only strategy on eBay and see what happens.
3. List all the non Auction worthy records on other sites, including some of the more expensive stuff.
4. Gradually move to a total non-eBay strategy. Not sure if that includes my own e-commerce. Too soon yet.

As far as what you sell, I guess I'd explore Etsy and Ebid. I don't know much about either one but am hearing some good things about both.

The worst part of eBay strategy is that so many people--like us--need the income we're making on eBay. We're not doing it for fun. We're trying to survive.

[jillan]

6. Have you tried selling those LPs on Amazon?

The one thing I love about Amazon - I sell alot of books there - is if someone goes into google search to search for a certain item - Amazon is always one of the first sites that comes up. For example if I typed in Devo's Greatest Hits Vinyl into google search - Amazon would come right up with a link to take me to all the Devo Vinyl Records being sold on amazon.

Check it out -
http://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Records-Albums-LPs-Eps/b/ref=amb_link_7154062_36?ie=UTF8&node=372989011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=browse&pf_rd_r=1A3D7FD9E6DWTKH5MX4W&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=96031102&pf_rd_i=5174
this could be an answer for you.

[democraticinsurgent]

7. thanks

i have a few CD's on Amazon but haven't tried them for vinyl yet. Time to try it out, I guess. I don't know how quickly things sell there.

The auction format is what makes eBay work best for me, in that if I have an in-demand lp and put it up for auction, i'll likely sell it in a week and get paid within 2 weeks. That's what has been keeping my cash flow going.

[ginnyinWI]

8. a related question:

I'm new to this, am selling a lot of books and some dvd's on Amazon. But an LP record--I do have some oldies, but I'm wondering how to package them up for mailing if I were to sell any. Tips? Do they need to be encased in cardboard, or what, to prevent breakage? Thanks.

[Elwood P Dowd]

9. Here is some help.

You're going to have to spend some money to properly pack LPs - album mailers, filler, sleeves, and poly jacket covers.

http://www.vinylrevival.com/packing/

[democraticinsurgent]

10. Good suggestions

Do follow the packing instructions on that site. It's very important to separate the cover from the vinyl, and to sandwich the record between two sheets of cardboard. Bubble wrap isn't generally necessary if you do the aforementioned and use the mailers designed for lp's or 45's.

Here's a link to my source for supplies. I think you'll find them cheaper than Vinyl Revival.

http://www.fingerpop.com/id182.html

Good luck!