I rarely post auctions
Yeah, before I quit using them about 8-10 years ago, I stopped using them too. To many non paying bidders tying the merchandise up for half a week before you could relist, as well as the item never fetching anything close to its value.
I'm still to small to list very many things (small as in I don't have money to pay out of pocket to ship many things at once if/when they toss me into managed payments) as well as getting a handle on their (ebays) actual fees. Hoping to get enough sales to have a little shipping fund (especially since it looks like offering free shipping with it built into the cost of the item is the way to go). Going to look into Mercari this weekend as well, as like Poshmark, they charge the seller for the shipping and give you the label to use.
Ebay says that because of the age of my account (plus I did sell on there somewhat before the scammers exasperated me due to my business model) I can do up to 100 listings. Guessing by the time I actually have 100 listings, accounting for their managed payments system they are forcing sellers into, that will be raised.
Might try splitting my lot up if it doesn't sell in the next week (maybe try half of them on Mercari). Thanks for taking the time to explain. I looked your store over and it helped me understand your posts better, as well as why my old model left me at the mercy of scammers.
One step forward at a time. Clean slate mindset. Offense is sometimes the best defense against potential issues, at least to where they'll be minimized by the larger proportion of positives underway. 100 listings should be just fine for now. eBay boosts that figure up over time and will likely do so to an unattainable ceiling. For example, here's the absurd amount that I can list:
Out of 325,000 Out of $19,500,000.00
I have no involvement with managed payments yet and hope it's not something I'm forced to use. Either way, I'm trying pretty hard to sell more off of eBay than on. I've let my listing volume drop down and am more motivated to sell on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for cash and much less carbon footprint.
I figured that some savvy people will be able to find my store. You didn't give me any advanced warning to spruce it up a bit!
Please keep that confidential here if you don't mind.
I haven't tried Mercari, but I think it's a viable option. Patience may be needed since the traffic is likely much smaller. I've only bought one thing there to flip on eBay, but it was a nice and simple process. Let me know if you like it down the line.
Ebay has said by the end of this year all transactions will be through their managed payments system. I think they are realizing they have squeezed most of what there is to squeeze from sellers directly which is why their competition is taking market from them.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ebay-stock-falls-after-wells-fargo-turns-bearish-2020-01-17
It sucks I can't know if they have thrown me into it yet, as I have lots of stuff I can list, but without knowing if I'm eating the shipping up front have to dip in slowly with them. But better to proceed as though I do, lol.
No worries about loose lips here. I understand completely.
Will definitely let you know on Mercari. Will be setting up with them on Sunday and mass listing as I know the customer pays shipping there.
I took your advice and figured out how to turn off best offer (it comes preloaded in the listing and one has to search to turn it off). I will give it one more week and then try splitting the lot up as you suggested.
Thanks again. I feel optimistic, enough that I pushed to downgrade my hours at my very physical job to jump into this faster.