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What had happened to EBay?

61 replies

FANTINE2 · 19/07/2021 09:42

Listed some good quality clothing, Cos, Boden etc with Buy it zNow. Reasonably priced, people offering a lot below asking price, not interested when counter offer(also reasonable) sent.
I always used to manage to sell stuff but now it’s becoming increasingly difficult.
Also I don’t want to pay extra to boost/ promote views etc.

OP posts:
FANTINE2 · 19/07/2021 10:00

Is it me or is E bay becoming increasingly difficult to sell on?
I’ve recently listed brands such as Cos, Boden with BIN options. All v reasonably priced. Getting really low offers, and no interest if I make a counter offer.
I used to be able to sell things quite successfully but interest seems to have dried up!

OP posts:
stupidstupider · 19/07/2021 10:02

It's all facebook marketplace now. No fees, no waiting for auctions to end. Simple transactions at a set price.

thedevilinablackdress · 19/07/2021 11:20

Demand and supply - I reckon there's just so much stuff out there that even decent quality second hand doesn't always make the same as it once might have.

Howcanthisbe123 · 19/07/2021 11:21

eBay takes too long for the listing to end.

Facebook/ market place is more buy now

Finallybroody · 19/07/2021 11:21

I have given up on eBay and have sold stuff on Vinted instead. No seller fees and buyer pays postage.

Viviennemary · 19/07/2021 11:24

Can you give an indication as to how much below the new price you are selling at. If I make an offer I never negotiate a counter offer. Because thats the price I'm willing to pay. If I wanted to pay more I would offer more.

ElspethFlashman · 19/07/2021 11:38

You aren't getting any interest outside the UK anymore basically. I'm in Ireland and won't risk being taxed so won't buy from any UK seller.

thedevilinablackdress · 19/07/2021 12:13

eBay takes too long for the listing to end

OP is listing Buy it Now, but this is a good point generally - people are perhaps too impatient to wait unless there's a chance of a good bargain.

ComDummings · 19/07/2021 12:15

Vinted and Depop seem to be the go-to selling apps for clothes now, eBay has definitely gone down

TotorosCatBus · 19/07/2021 12:18

Facebook is much easier.
No chance of things not arriving, if buyer doesn't like it then can hand it back there and then and cash is better than PayPal

Lookdeepintotheparka · 19/07/2021 12:20

I know some people have left eBay because of the new payment system. Also I don't sell anymore because eBay don't deal effectively with non payers and dodgy buyers.

WineGetsMeThroughIt · 19/07/2021 13:35

I've made quite a few purchases off of eBay in the recent months. But one thing I do notice is that sellers are aiming far too high with their asking prices / starting bids.

The resale value of an item on eBay really isn't very high for most clothing. Even if that item is designer and new with tags. I bought a Self Portrait dress on there - brand new with tags for £60 RRP £350 ish. I've since seen the same dress listed used (worn once) for £150. It will never sell. The designer items I buy are at a fraction of the RRP price - and that's why I buy them. I picked up a current season Maje dress for £50 RRP £375.

So with eBay personally I think it's a a case of prices being far too high in comparison to what buyers will actually pay.

As for Facebook Marketplace I sell a lot on there, but mainly children's clothes and home stuff. I've never tried to sell my own clothes on there as I wasn't sure what the best group to sell them was.

Can anyone recommend some good women's clothing selling groups?

As for Vinted, I want to give it a try. But is there much security for sellers / buyers? I always worry that a buyer will receive the they bought from me and claim it never arrived and then do a charge back for it and I'll be out the item and the money.

Can anyone tell me more about it?

Chocolatebuttercream · 19/07/2021 13:39

Could be your price? What are they on for?

Sanguinesuzy · 19/07/2021 14:02

@WineGetsMeThroughIt agree.
I think on whole the issue is that prices are just too high.
I've also noticed the same item for sale, both new or excellent condition, same size and wildly differing prices. So a Seasalt dress I recently bought was £18 or £30. Both excellent condition. Returns possible with both. Obviously you buy the cheaper one. It's a no brainer.
I've also noticed 'best offers'are really popular - I offered almost half the price which was accepted. It was expensive at the original price - a linen per una blazer at least 3 or 4 years old. Certainly not worth £25.

WineGetsMeThroughIt · 19/07/2021 14:16

Definitely @Sanguinesuzy I also see a lot of the same items listed by different sellers so there's a lot of options to choose from.

OP - I would suggest looking at the sold prices for items like yours that have actually sold and basing your prices on that. It may be helpful to see what people are actually willing to pay for it.

TollgateDebs · 19/07/2021 14:23

My recent experiences have put me off eBay, as items are described as new and patently are not and it has not just been one seller. Difficult to complain and the whole eBay experience, including searching through a great deal of 'rubbish' to find a gem, just doesn't make it worthwhile for me, certainly not for clothing. I've also found items that are selling for less new and so the constant sales and clearances on company's own sites mean you often get new for less than on eBay and with more confidence that the item is as described. Agree re. Marketplace for buying and selling, although not for clothes - I recently tried to sell some Boden dresses (which are still current styles) and not a sniff! I think the whole second-hand market place is changing and also what people are willing to spend their money on.

WineGetsMeThroughIt · 19/07/2021 14:54

@TollgateDebs

My recent experiences have put me off eBay, as items are described as new and patently are not and it has not just been one seller. Difficult to complain and the whole eBay experience, including searching through a great deal of 'rubbish' to find a gem, just doesn't make it worthwhile for me, certainly not for clothing. I've also found items that are selling for less new and so the constant sales and clearances on company's own sites mean you often get new for less than on eBay and with more confidence that the item is as described. Agree re. Marketplace for buying and selling, although not for clothes - I recently tried to sell some Boden dresses (which are still current styles) and not a sniff! I think the whole second-hand market place is changing and also what people are willing to spend their money on.

A big yes to this as well! I am currently looking at a dress on eBay. Only because I purchased it from House of Fraser in the sale for £42 (marked down from £150ish) but they only had an 8 and it was a tad too tight. I'd buy the dress in a 10, but it's sold out online. It's going on eBay new for £59. But knowing that I could have bought it from a shop for £17 cheaper is putting me off paying the asking price on eBay.

I see loads of things that people are trying to sell and they're cheaper on the retailers website on clearance. Just because you may have paid £500 new for a dress that's currently selling for £150 on the retailers website doesn't mean you can charge £250 for yours if ya see what I mean. I don't think sellers do their own research on prices and what someone is willing to pay.

ReluctantEarlyRiser · 19/07/2021 17:23

I'm loving vinted at the minute. Only had on bad experience as a buyer when the seller accused me of pretending I hadn't received the item. It was clear from the Hermes tracker that she'd never sent it so I'm not sure what she was hoping to gain! It's really easy to use and much easier to sell than on ebay.

almahart · 19/07/2021 17:59

I like Vinted but the default postage is my Hermes which i find pretty unreliable

SoLongFurlough · 19/07/2021 19:57

I work in a charity shop and the prices that people are asking for on eBay are laughable!
As Wine says no one is going to pay more for second hand than you can buy for new
My rule of thumb would be how much it cost in the sale then maybe 20% less for something BNWT
You have to remember that a lot of Boden is more than 50% marked down in the sale

HomeSliceKnowsBest · 19/07/2021 22:10

I'm selling loads on Ebay, I buy for£1 an item and seel on for £4-£50. I never turn down a reasonable offer.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 19/07/2021 22:11

I was charged £10.99 and my item hadn't even sold!! Not be bothering again.

nordica · 19/07/2021 22:25

I'm finding the default information added to most listing really off-putting. Especially the "condition is used" line - what does that even mean? Worn once or bobbled and faded? A lot of sellers don't seem to bother adding much information at all.

I mostly only buy brand new items from professional sellers on eBay these days.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 19/07/2021 22:30

Yes, I have gone off eBay

I think sellers want too much

Often they want 30-50% off the new price, for a used item. That may be a bit tired/faded/armpitty

For example, a dress from Jigsaw, which would be £120 new, but is a style from 10 yrs ago and “used condition”, seller wants £60 for it. Then I just walk away (I’d offer £15 max)

Emmazebra · 19/07/2021 22:42

Interesting
I’ve tried Facebook but couldn’t sell on there either

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