EBay Selling Woes

[edd_jedi]

It's been a long time since I have sold Star Wars toys on eBay, but I seem to be getting unusually low views and watchers on things I'm looking to move on. Two examples below.

Now I appreciate these are relatively "high end" items and quite expensive, but I haven't even had any silly offers on them, and they've both had less than 10 views in 10 days!

When I used to buy and sell a lot on eBay, I would get hundreds of views and dozens of watchers for items, even expensive ones because people would follow them out of interest even if not serious about buying.

Is the market really this dead, or am I doing something wrong? I haven't paid for extra promotion, is that worth doing? I think I have them in the right category and have the appropriate keywords in the title etc.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[kabuchi7]

I've used ebay for years, mostly buying. I've found the search feature reallly frustrating. Back in the 'good old days' you could search for an item with a general description and the results would give you pages upon pages of items for you to look through which were generally fairly close to what you were looking for.

Now it seems like unless you search for an exact keyword the items don't appear in the results. Then it'll give you results matching fewer words which aren't really that relevant.

I find myself making 4 or 5 searches just to find most the items in the category im looking for.

 

[theforceuk]

EBay have definitely changed the settings if you don't pay for your item to be promoted you get less traffic.

 

[edd_jedi]

I've used ebay for years, mostly buying. I've found the search feature reallly frustrating. Back in the 'good old days' you could search for an item with a general description and the results would give you pages upon pages of items for you to look through which were generally fairly close to what you were looking for.

There used to be an entire category for vintage MOCs, from memory it was called "vintage (original carded)" or something. I would like a stern word with whoever gave that the chop!

 

[lejackal]

The eBay algorithm is getting to be as useless as Amazons by the day.

Search "vintage Star Wars"
Return "vintage cheddar"

That plus a general slowdown and you get 11 views.

 

[Pomse2001]

Today I tried to search on ebayuk and ebaycom for royal guard trilogo and your royal guard does not come up on ebay

I remember years ago ebay made a lot of changes so the search was harder to find vintage star wars toy

I remember in the early 00s there was a thread only for vintage star wars toy from 1977 to 1985, there was more than 100.000 auctions there every day, all that are gone today.

Why not try to sell them on the forum ?

 

[edd_jedi]

I am going to do a list for the forum

 

[Fawns61]

Part of it is because the search facility is so dire these days.

Why is ebay so hard to sell on now

I remember when i first started on my first account back in 2005, it was so easy to sell things, it didn't really matter what it was, you could post it on auction and it would sell within a week or two maximum and you'd get quite a few bidders and a reasonable price, i remember when the fraud...

community.ebay.co.uk

 

[_Lee_]

Ebay is dead. The PayPal direct to bank change turned me right off. 24 years I've used Ebay and its a shame it has turned into what it is - but that is the same with collecting in general.

 

[lejackal]

Direct to bank works well I think, you can have next day, set day or withdraw on demand if the set day isn't suitable. Not instant payout but not bad

 

[Robstyley]

I still buy and sell on eBay all the time, it's fine. I've never understood all the general moaning about it. I've got a Moc on there at the mo with 17 watchers and I've sold several in the last couple of years. I think you have to be a bit patient Edd. Also they are high value and most people are not spending 2.7k on a Moc/card. A lot of people will scroll past, only a small percentage of collectors have those kind of funds. They're fully visible and your listing titles mean they can be found instantly. Remember as well there's tons of selling platforms these days which has obviously reduced eBay foot traffic.

 

[Jez]

I've just searched Vintage Emperors Royal Guard and found your MOC Edd

 

[edd_jedi]

I've just noticed they were all listed in the Science Fiction category will see if changing to Toys > Action Figures helps.

 

[theforceuk]

Let me guess @edd_jedi you were watching England and got bored so thought you'd go on eBay.

 

[Palifan]

I've just noticed they were all listed in the Science Fiction category will see if changing to Toys > Action Figures helps.

I was going to ask what category you had set them in as I know it can make a huge difference. Hopefully now you will get more views on them Ed. I have noticed that my own sales have slowed down over the past couple of months but I'm not so surprised as we are coming into Summer and it always slows down from now until September time.

Best of luck

Ian

 

[DreadMack]

Sadly I think the market is very stale atm, people just don't have the funds. Rarer and high end items are difficult to shift as it's a pretty specific customer you're looking for to need those items.
I'd say just stick with it and good luck.

 

[olisuds]

I wonder whether eBay's new HMRC reporting rules are putting off a lot of UK sellers. Or rather HMRC's new reporting rules for online market places. I wonder how long it will be before they catch up with Facebook.

 

[[email protected]]

It's been a long time since I have sold Star Wars toys on eBay, but I seem to be getting unusually low views and watchers on things I'm looking to move on. Two examples below.

Now I appreciate these are relatively "high end" items and quite expensive, but I haven't even had any silly offers on them, and they've both had less than 10 views in 10 days!

When I used to buy and sell a lot on eBay, I would get hundreds of views and dozens of watchers for items, even expensive ones because people would follow them out of interest even if not serious about buying.

Is the market really this dead, or am I doing something wrong? I haven't paid for extra promotion, is that worth doing? I think I have them in the right category and have the appropriate keywords in the title etc.

Any advice appreciated!


View attachment 189415

View attachment 189416

To be honest, I find the lack of interest in the tri-logo ERG surprising. I'd expect many on ebay to both view and watch such a scarce item.
The Luke Bespin 'Revenge proof' may yet receive offers, as it is highly desirable and an ESB example recently sold at auction at around the £1500 mark.

 

[Judi]

I've just searched for one and it didn't come up so unless you've withdrawn it, that may be why views are low.

 

[lejackal]

The only thing I would add to the title is the abbreviation "ERG"