One more reason why ebay is dying.

[colnerov]

Hi, Bakersdozen is a member on The Classic Rover Forum, I can't remember his forum name at the moment.

If it's a company on ebay their contact details are at the bottom of the page for the item, should you want to contact them direct.

Colin

 

[Keith 66]

I have given up on looking on ebay as the categories get stuffed up with other unrelated crap. Example i put in Harrison lathe, but the sellers put Harrison, Colchester, Myford after Harrison to maximise views. So the adds you want to see get buried under pages of garbage. Cant be arsed with it.

 

[gerrymoore]

I have to say, most of what I sell is sold via EBAY. I wrote and published my website over a year ago and, although I know it's not the slickest around, I have had virtually no response from it....total sales of less than £30 in a year..... Costs me 3 times that just to run it!

When I send out a parcel I enclose my card with the website details but still repeat customers still buy via EBAY....although EBAY is expensive I couldn't keep my 'business' going without it.

One thing I do find odd is people who ask me if I can do such and such an item for them and I reply very quickly with, usually, a positive and reasonably priced answer, and then never hear from them again...not a 'thanks but no thanks'...and definitely not a thanks......I'm probably old school but politeness costs nothing....just the way of the world nowadays...just off now to slash my wrists...

 

[NickyEng]

I have to say, most of what I sell is sold via EBAY. I wrote and published my website over a year ago and, although I know it's not the slickest around, I have had virtually no response from it....total sales of less than £30 in a year..... Costs me 3 times that just to run it!

When I send out a parcel I enclose my card with the website details but still repeat customers still buy via EBAY....although EBAY is expensive I couldn't keep my 'business' going without it.

One thing I do find odd is people who ask me if I can do such and such an item for them and I reply very quickly with, usually, a positive and reasonably priced answer, and then never hear from them again...not a 'thanks but no thanks'...and definitely not a thanks......I'm probably old school but politeness costs nothing....just the way of the world nowadays...just off now to slash my wrists...

Yes times have changed in regards to politeness, you want to try and deal with boat owners, the majority are ignorant beyond belief

 

[Kent]

Ebay????

I think I read that their income was 18 Billion dollars and profit was 4 billion last year or 2014

Well if you think back to other mega companies including investment banks?
The only thing we can say for sure is many businesses that are on it will sell substantialy cheaper direct and a lot of firms and individuals are finding other social media and thier own pages more cost effective
Makes me wonder if you were making big money yet loosing existing customers surely that doesn't bode well?
Perhaps there might be a change in ownership planned? That's the only reason I can see why you might not act and a very good one to show high profits
What do any of us really know? not much when it comes to mega international firms and history shows us this time and again, safe money often is anything but safe

 

[Kent]

I have to say, most of what I sell is sold via EBAY. I wrote and published my website over a year ago and, although I know it's not the slickest around, I have had virtually no response from it....total sales of less than £30 in a year..... Costs me 3 times that just to run it!

When I send out a parcel I enclose my card with the website details but still repeat customers still buy via EBAY....although EBAY is expensive I couldn't keep my 'business' going without it.

One thing I do find odd is people who ask me if I can do such and such an item for them and I reply very quickly with, usually, a positive and reasonably priced answer, and then never hear from them again...not a 'thanks but no thanks'...and definitely not a thanks......I'm probably old school but politeness costs nothing....just the way of the world nowadays...just off now to slash my wrists...

Yes I get this on other media. Sometimes preceeded by lots of daft requests
The best enquiry is often the one you thought wasn't so I try and not judge ( I have one at present and it's like the guy is high on something)
Manners cost nothing though

 

[steveo3002]

its all very well having your own sales website but folk just cant find it easily

i can punch in whatever i want into the ebay search and have dozens to choose from all around the world , i might then look on google at the first page of results too , but average joe's site will be lost and no one see's it

then added to that , when i have found an independant site and emailed some questions they dont repsond , if you have a email then please use it

 

[rtbcomp]

Another problem with Ebay is the amount of scammers it attracts, I would never buy or sell property, cars (£50 Metro excluded), cameras or electronic goods &c through Ebay.

 

[Kent]

its all very well having your own sales website but folk just cant find it easily

i can punch in whatever i want into the ebay search and have dozens to choose from all around the world , i might then look on google at the first page of results too , but average joe's site will be lost and no one see's it

then added to that , when i have found an independant site and emailed some questions they dont repsond , if you have a email then please use it

Pay per click. With so many webpage now you won't appear till many pages of similar
The other way is to market your page, sounds daft but look at advertising trends it's happening in magazines TV radio and other social media - in fact every sort of marketing you can think of
E Bay is cheapest to the top? Don't this mean the best is at the bottom of the pile? I try and not use it now so I might be out of touch with facts as they are today

 

[cumbriasteve]

I always try to buy local if I can and the price is not too much above the internet price's, the future is going be no shops and just acres of distribution centres with automation handling the orders so I think it's important to support the small retailers as much as possible.

It is easier said than done though and price often results with the internet winning on the day.

Ebay has a big positive for the buyer in the case of non delivery, 99% of the time you have no problems getting refunded, of course the lowlifes also realise this, hence the increased scamming of sellers.

Guarantees of 1 and 2 year on ebay items are very often worth nothing, the reason like some others I only buy items not requiring that sort of after sales input.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Another problem with Ebay is the amount of scammers it attracts, I would never buy or sell property, cars (£50 Metro excluded), cameras or electronic goods &c through Ebay.

I have had success with selling unwanted stuff on eBay but there are certain categories I would avoid selling in.
Most of the stuff I have sold is bought by like minded enthusiasts who seem fair and honest.

 

[Kent]

Now here is a side point that's very interesting and relivent.
Lots of people in banks are stopping using Internet banking
This is because as fraud is so hard to stop. Talk is things will crash down
I wouldn't want to be solely tied to such a thing as eBay for all my buisness- having seen firms loose the lot overnight by a silly little change one turning over 38 million pa was ruined when the disability discrimination act made the stores it had concessions with change thier till space ( no longer was thier room for thier stands)

 

[Gareth J]

EBay's OK so long as you take it for what it is. I sell quite a lot of chronometric Speedos i restore through there. Fees seem expensive but they aren't really when you think of the massive audience it shows it to and the cost/hassle of running your own website.

Probably half of the speedos I sell go overseas. Many to Japan, I'd have to work so incredibly hard to tap into that market on my own it wouldn't be worth it.

I'm lucky, most of my customers are old shed rat restorers and scamming isn't something they're into generally. Although I have had issues, nothing much. Screw selling any kind of tech product there.

I also buy a fair bit there, I've yet to find a site that has as well a thought out setup with as useful search terms and enough stuff to make it worth looking. Although their new app is pants - I rolled back to a previous version.

They are gigantic for a reason. And I don't think they're going away anytime soon!

 

[rtbcomp]

I always try to buy local if I can and the price is not too much above the internet price's, the future is going be no shops and just acres of distribution centres with automation handling the orders so I think it's important to support the small retailers as much as possible.

...........

Me too. I emailed a local firm for the price of a piece of glass for my blast cabinet. I didn't get a reply.

 

[eSCHEn]

Ditto. Always try and put my business to local companies but when they don't get back to you it's a PITA. Why have email addresses if they aren't checked and replied to?

It's the same with a lot of them really. Emailed Technical Arc a week ago and not a peep from them.

 

[hunter27]

The thing that puts me off buying directly from suppliers is that although the item's price is usually comparable with Ebay when you check out, the postage cost is often 3 or 4 times more! or they have a minimum postage charge and I don't live in the Highlands or Islands either.
Pete

 

[paceman1]

the only winners on ebay are ebay themselves all the messing about etc and the fees and then paypal con on top

 

[ukracer]

its all very well having your own sales website but folk just cant find it easily

i can punch in whatever i want into the ebay search and have dozens to choose from all around the world , i might then look on google at the first page of results too , but average joe's site will be lost and no one see's it

then added to that , when i have found an independant site and emailed some questions they dont repsond , if you have a email then please use it

That ws why I posted the link that started the thread....I thought some on here might have missed him on ebay....but still not be able to locate him

 

[MattF]

Ebay has its downsides, like anything else. It's handy on occasion though, and especially where older or unusual stuff is being sought. I know my workshop would be less full if I'd tried getting hold of some stuff by other means. With regard to some suppliers being cheaper through their own sites, I've tended to find a good few who are more slightly more expensive on their own sites then when they list on Ebay. Never figured out why mind.

Like Steve though, I will try to use privately run local shops where possible.

 

[Kent]

Ditto. Always try and put my business to local companies but when they don't get back to you it's a PITA. Why have email addresses if they aren't checked and replied to?

It's the same with a lot of them really. Emailed Technical Arc a week ago and not a peep from them.

I got the same from that company
I don't know were they make thier money but if a fair proportion is selling thier units to fabrication firms that's a big downer
I respond to all contacts even if I decline to quote I will give them another firms details etc