Why Some Sellers Are Leaving Ebay
April 18, 2011Despite it’s standing as the biggest online auction site in the world, it seems eBay is continuing to suffer the consequences of failing to deal with professional and long-standing sellers’ frustrations, with many of them choosing to take their business elsewhere. While eBay adds thousands of new sellers to their their ranks, it seems that changes in fees, rules, and a number of other factors mean they are losing the very people who made the site so successful. But what are the main factors behind the mass-defection of these formerly loyal eBayer’s?
eBay is becoming more about quantity, not quality
eBay has always been the place to grab a bargain, but whether it’s due to the tougher economic climate, or simply because there is a lot more competition on the site, buyers are demanding lower and lower prices. While it’s not impossible to get a sensible price for any high value, quality items, it is becoming increasingly more difficult – and there are much easier, and more profitable alternatives for selling these kinds of products. As a result, low priced, low quality products seem to dominate eBay, with more and more people selling solely on price, and relying on a high turnover of these types of items to make any money.
It’s getting harder to make an honest buck
For all it’s faults, eBay always seemed to be the kind of place where any genuine seller could find a like-minded buyer, and actually make some money. But with more and more auctions attracting bidders who are at best demanding, and at worst unscrupulous and fraudulent, it is increasingly more difficult for honest eBayers to manage their online shop without the risk of being ripped off, or suffering some unfair feedback which could have a significant impact on their business. A lot of professional sellers on eBay are simply realizing that there are easier, and more enjoyable ways to sell their products and make a living.
It can be hard to find good suppliers
With the pressure on prices, from increased competition and demanding buyers, it seems to be getting harder and harder to find a good, reliable supplier that will provide items at a price that will allow sellers to make a profit after all their eBay fees. Many suppliers are quite rightly reluctant to slash their prices in the same way that some eBayers seem happy to, instead preferring to work with businesses that use any of the many alternatives to eBay, and sell on value, rather than price. Professional sellers seem to be more than happy to take advantage of these alternative ways to promote their online shop to markets that appreciate these products and this approach, instead of taking their chances with those suppliers who will provide the kind of items and prices that will still sell on eBay.
As any business grows, it needs to change and evolve, and eBay is no different. However, it could be that many of the changes eBay has made for the benefit of its business, haven’t had the same effect on the millions of the established sellers on the auction site. As a result, these individuals, and anyone else who’s looking to establish a profitable online shop, could find that the best option for them is somewhere other than eBay.
Inspiration
- Challenges of Dropshipping on Amazon: Pitfalls, Alternatives, and Strategies for Success
- Shoppers Trust Amazon.com, Should You Sell At Amazon?
- The Future For Ebay & Online Shops
- An Online Shop Could Be A Better Alternative To Ebay
- 5 Reasons Why It’s Getting Harder To Be Successful On Ebay
- Why It Can Be Hard To Build A Business With Ebay
- Why Some Sellers Are Leaving Ebay
- Alternatives To Ebay That Could Be Better For Your Business
