Is eBay Becoming a Buyer’s Market?

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I’ve been selling on eBay since 1998. I recently (2006), made eBay my full time job and love. I started out by selling what I love most, books. I found a pallet of books I bought for $70.00 and quickly turned that investment into over $2000.00!

I knew I did something right! I am now into the collectible and glassware categories and enjoy what I do very much. I shop estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, anywhere I can find these type items at the right price for resell.

Up until 2009, I found it almost impossible to find items on eBay for a good price to resell. Most items were priced right. At least in the collectibles and vintage glassware categories. I very rarely found any items worth my while after paying shipping, etc. I could make money to resell.

All of that has changed! Since the change in policies, fees, etc. on eBay and more eBay sellers leaving to other sites…eBay has become a Buyer’s Market! Items on eBay right now have become so low on items it is almost impossible to browse eBay without finding at least one or two items that are priced so low, you just can’t NOT buy them!

The reason is simple. The older more experienced sellers who have learned selling basics, how to price their items to the market price, how to use auction strategy to sell their items, have left eBay. There are newer more inexperienced sellers arriving everyday. It is a shame for them. There is help for them on every ’street’ corner of the Internet, if they are willing to listen. Lots of experienced sellers are offering tips and tricks to help them along. Not that many are willing to admit they don’t know, or don’t know what they’re missing.

Now, I’m not suggesting that there should be a run on unsuspecting new sellers. But the items are there to be bought. If I find an item that is grossly under marked, I do my best to give the seller the info needed. Sometimes they do get angry, but most do appreciate the help.

For those of you antique buyers, just an example. I watched a bronze tray, signed by the artist (French). The auction started at 500.00, this price was actually very low for a very highly collectible artist who also did sculptures in bronze. No sale, next listing, down to 450.00, no sale…375.00, no sale. I continued to watch as this seller lowered the price all the way down to a starting bid of 199.00.
I don’t believe this is a sign of the times, I just sold a cabinet plate for $500.00…It is the absence of buyers in a buyer’s market!

This same tray would’ve sold on Amazon for much more than 500.00 in the first listing. With that said, I will label Amazon a seller’s market.

So now we know, to sell an item…go to Amazon, try your hand…but to find really good prices to buy, right now…go to eBay!

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