eBay Sellers Thrive During COVID Pandemic!

At times like this eBay sellers look to thrive not just survive.

eBay sellers look to thrive economically during this COVID -19 pandemic. Here are my top tips to keep your online sales business strong during these tough times.

COVID-19 is a harsh reality for all of us right now.

It’s not just here in the USA; it’s global. COVID-19 impacts all eCommerce sellers worldwide. Sellers from Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to Poshmark, Shopify, and Walmart all feel CO-VID-19.

To begin, there is good news. Financial aid is available to help you get through this crisis. eBay has launched several initiatives. More potential resources are included in the recently passed Federal stimulus package. I don’t want you to miss out on anything, so let’s take it from the top.

eBay store subscribers received  50,000 free listings in March. And eBay Store sellers get another 50,000 this month (April). Don’t forget to activate this generous offer via the link in the Promotional Offers section of your Seller Hub Overview page.

Non-store subscribers get 200 additional free fixed price or auction listings for April; get details and activate the offer here.

Furthermore, eBay is supporting eBay sellers in other ways, including special seller protections.

Starting with your March 20th evaluation and running through your June 20th evaluation, your Seller Performance Standards will not be negatively impacted for 90 days. For details, check eBay’s  announcement, “Protecting Your Seller Performance Through COVID-19”.

Additionally, eBay is in close communication with major shipping carriers. This includes USPS, UPS and FedEx. Sellers were updated April 3rd via an eBay announcement titled “Advising You About Shipping During COVID-19”.

eBay created a dedicated COVID-19 Community Hub. eBay Main Street launched a special page of COVID-19 Small Business Government Support Resources. For more details, read “Helping Each Other Through COVID-19 in the Ways That Matter the Most” on the eBay Announcements page. Keep an eye out for future announcements.

If your eBay sales are down right now, do your best to pivot quickly. Source, list, and sell items that are in demand right now, download my free tips eBay and COVID-19 A Seller’s Guide!

Now let’s look to see what’s available for eBay sellers!

There are State and Federal programs to assist all small business owners. This includes all online sellers on sites such as eBay, Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, etc. Check eBay Main Street’s COVID-19 page. eBay’s Government Relations Team provides up to date links to Federal, State, and international programs.

Moving on to the recently approved COVID-19 Federal stimulus package. This legislation features unprecedented coverage for unemployment. There are benefits for unemployed workers.
Also there is coverage for contract workers who lost their jobs or had their hours cut due to COVID-19.

As an eBay seller, did  you suffer work loss because of the corona virus? Explore whether or not you qualify for benefits. They are administered by individual states. So check out the links for your state on eBay Main Street’s COVID-19 Small Business Government Support Resources page.

Congress passed extensive loan and grant programs for small businesses suffering losses due to COVID-19.

These funds will available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) in conjunction with local banks. Check SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources for details.

These SBA loans and grants are welcome programs. But it can take awhile to actually receive your funds. If you’re in the same boat as many sellers, you may need money now. Payability is one company that offers highly effective financial options for qualifying online sellers. This could be especially useful if you’re in eBay’s Managed Payments program. Payability is also very useful for Amazon & Shopify sellers.

There are several ways Payability can help you can increase cash flow and liquidity.

Instant Access provides next-day marketplace payouts. Instant Advance lets you get 75%-100% of your monthly marketplace revenue in one lump sum (up to $250,000).

Yes, this is indeed a challenging time in many ways.

So take a good hard look at your own situation. What helps you and your business right now? 

Unemployment qualifications changed. Benefits have expanded. Could this help you and/or your workers? Are any SBA offerings a good fit for your business? If you need funds quickly right now to cover bills or pay for inventory, consider the speed, ease, and convenience of Payability.

A healthy cash flow is critical to the success of your online selling business. Payability offers a lifeline  at this critical sales time whether you sell on eBay, Amazon or on your website.

So analyze your choices, and then act.

In closing, move forward even during these difficult days. Don’t let COVID-19 break your business’ stride!