eBay’s Winter Seller Update 2023: Fees Up!

by | Feb 18, 2023 | eBay

eBay’s Winter Seller Update of 2023, as with anything involving change, is greeted with great trepidation.

Relax, dear seller! eBay’s  Winter Seller Update 2023 is live, and eBay’s sky is not falling.

Winter 2023 Seller Update, a Mixed Bag!

Like most updates, the Q1 release is a mixed bag of good and not so good news. So, the bad news is that as of February 15, Final Value Fees (FVFs) are going up in numerous categories. Fortunately, the good news far outweighs the relatively minor fee increases. Let’s look at the facts.

Got No Store or a Starter Store?

For non-store subscribes and Starter Store subscribers, FVFs in most categories will increase from 12.9% to 13.25%. This is an increase of .35%. 

In some categories — namely Books & Magazines, Movies & TV, and Music (except Vinyl Records) — FVFs will jump from 14.6% to 14.95%. Again, this an increase of .35%). To see the complete list of fee changes by category, go to https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/seller-updates/2023-winter/financials.

Don’t be caught off guard by these fee increases! If you decide to raise your prices by a dollar amount or percentage so the higher fees don’t cut into your profit margin, you can do so using Bulk Edit.

Fees are Up!

Store subscribers from Basic through Anchor also face an average FVF (Final value fee) increase of .35%. Fees in Books & Magazines, Movies & TV , and Music (except Vinyl Records) will likewise go up from 14.6% to 14.95%. Categories with no changes include Heavy Equipment, Cameras & Photography, Cell Phones, and Computers, Tablets & Networking.

Again, take a close look at the entire list of fee changes by category at https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/seller-updates/2023-winter/financials.

In addition, keep a sharp eye on your cost of goods and shipping expenses. An FVF increase of .35% may sound small, but it adds up fast.

eBay Seller Fees are up!

eBay’s Winter Seller Update: Good News!

As it is now, eBay only gives you back the 30¢ transaction fee when a buyer asks to cancel an order before the item is shipped. However, eBay is now going to also credit sellers for that 30¢ fee if an item is returned and you voluntarily refund the buyer’s payment. That applies to returns for the following reasons:

  • Ordered by mistake
  • Don’t like it
  • Changed my mind
  • Doesn’t fit
  • Found a better price

n other words, you’ll get the 30¢ back as long as the return is not due to seller error (INAD). You must refund the buyer through eBay in order to receive this fee credit. Like the FVF increases, this new policy kicks in on February 15.

Like higher FVFs, those 30¢ transaction fees add up faster than you might think, so this is excellent news for sellers.

No More Best Offer UPIs!

Ever accepted a Best Offer only to have the buyer then fail to pay for their purchase? eBay feels your pain. Both eBay sellers and eBay lose money on unpaid items (UPI.)

The eBay powers that be have also heard sellers’ frustration with this ongoing issue, and in this update, they announced the rollout of a long-awaited solution: Buyers will have to supply payment information prior to making a Best Offer. Read up on all the details at https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/seller-updates/2023-winter/business.

More Changes for the Better: Listing Upgrades and Scheduling!

eBay Seller Good News in the eBay Winter Seller Update 2023!

The Winter 2023 Seller Update also impacts listing upgrades and scheduling for sellers’ benefit. Two especially positive changes expand perks that non-store subscribers have enjoyed for years:

eBay Store subscribers can list auctions and offer a Buy It Now option for no additional fee.

 Store subscribers also can schedule the start date of both auction and fixed price listings for free.

This is terrific, especially if you list in batches. You can create a bunch of listings at one time, then strategically spread out their start dates and time.

EIS eBay International Shipping!

eBay continues to roll out its new eBay International Shipping program, demonstrating their commitment to facilitating cross-border trade.

List More, Sell More!

In this post-pandemic world, ecommerce sites are losing buyers to brick-and-mortar stores. eBay’s answer to this problem is to increase inventory on the platform. That’s why they’re working to improve the listing flow, especially via the eBay Mobile app.

Furthermore, eBay also has invested in marketplace research tool Terapeak, making it even more useful.

What Does It All Mean?

The Winter 2023 Seller Update reflects eBay’s emphasis on increasing conversion (sell-through) rates. In other words, it’s geared toward helping sellers sell more and better, thereby making more money for themselves and eBay. So what’s in it for you?

That remains to be seen. Add up your last few invoices. How much did you pay in FVFs last month? Last year? Do you want or need to make any changes at this point in order to absorb the soon-to-be-additional costs? Or would you rather wait to see what future invoices look like?

eBay invests heavily in Google ads that bring us buyers. We also have robust seller protections. It’s a profitable platform on which to sell. So do the math as it applies to your business, then decide how to respond to the changes announced in the Winter 2023 Seller Update, and keep on selling!

 

eBay Seller Best Holiday Moneymaking Tips!

by | Nov 20, 2022 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

It’s that time of year again, eBay seller: Shoppers are searching for the perfect gift to put under the holiday tree for their special someone.

Now it’s up to you to make it more likely that YOUR item is the one they find — and choose to buy. But how? The answer are these eBay seller best Holiday moneymaking tips!

For starters on the topic of eBay seller best Holiday moneymaking tips, remember: It can’t sell if it isn’t listed.

Look through your unlisted inventory. Is there anything holiday themed? Or in holiday colors (i.e., red and green, blue and silver or white, etc.)? If so, then list it NOW!

Furthermore, consider adding that newly listed item to a Promoted Listings Standard campaign.

According to eBay, a listing in Promoted Listing Standard Campaign is twice as likely to sell. You can set your PL standard fee as low as 2%, and you only pay if the item sells. You can even boost the price a bit to cover the PL standard fee.

The option to promote a listing in a Promoted Listing Standard Campaign — and specify your desired percentage — is in the final section of the SYI (Sell Your Item) form. Also you can create a Promoted Listing Standard campaign and add items in bulk from the Promotions tab of your Seller Hub Overview page.

Speaking of price, it’s a good idea to include enough wiggle room that you can add Best Offer to your listing.

Best Offer is another good way to increase the likelihood that your item will sell, and sell quickly! You can still make a profit and also get the benefit of quick turnover.

Next, scan the titles of your active listings. eBay gives you 80 characters altogether. You should be using 75-80 of them. If any of your titles fall short, revise them to add more keywords. Not sure what keywords to add? Do a search on eBay for similar items, then filter by Sold to see what keywords have worked for other sellers.

Another eBay seller best Holiday tip is to check Terapeak.

It’s under the Research tab on the Overview page in Seller Hub. Put a couple of keywords describing your item into the text field, then search to find comparable sold items.

Be sure to follow other best practices for eBay titles as well: Front-load the most important keywords, because eBay’s mobile app truncates titles, and don’t forget “the noun” (what the item is). Think “Keyword Keyword Keyword”, in title case — never ALL CAPS.

There’s no need for punctuation; titles don’t have to read like a sentence.

And for goodness’ sake, don’t waste characters on nonsense like L@@K, Wow, special characters, or emojis!

Pro tip: If you include the word Christmas in your title, be aware that Cassini (eBay’s search engine) considers Christmas and Xmas to be the same keyword. Using Xmas frees up five characters, and your listing will still pop up when shoppers search for Christmas.

 

eBay Seller Best Holiday Moneymaking Tips!

 

An eBay seller best Holiday tip is find fresh inventory!

Be sure to shop holiday clearance events both locally and online. Don’t overlook pop-up stores, church bazaars, and flea markets. Then list your newly acquired inventory ASAP. Again, consider promoting those new listings and/or adding Best Offer.

In addition, if you have multiple quantities of an item, consider adding a Volume Discount to encourage multi-quantity purchases: Save x% on 2, y% on 3, z% on 4 or more. (You set the percentage of the discount.)

Both Volume Discount and Promoted Listings can be added to your listing from the very last module of the SYI (Sell Your Item) form on your desktop or mobile device.

These proven, actionable strategies will literally pay off for you right now in your business on eBay.

 


Your free 12 Days of Christmas eBay Money Making Tips!

Want even more ways to optimize your Q4 sales — and maximize your Q4 profits? Download your complimentary copy of The eBay Seller’s 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Moneymaking Tips!

Be sure to include things in your plans tat make the Holiday season meaningful to you. Is that  a Christmas service, neighborhood caroling or volunteering at a local no kill shelter or food bank?

Here’s to you having a fruitful and meaningful Holidays!

How To Recession-Proof eBay Selling!

by | Jun 29, 2022 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

With the current economic times, two concerns are front and center for eBay seller, inflation and recession. How can you “recession–proof” your eBay sales?

Let’s look at  inflation, recession, and how to recession–proof eBay selling!

Both inflation and recession are prominent in the headlines and on everyone’s mind right now. It’s the reason that prices have gone up for shoppers in the U.S. According to usInflationCalculator.com, as of the end of May, the current rate of inflation is 8.6%.

Inflation impacts what eBay shoppers buy.

Furthermore, we’re heading into summer — a time of year when many retailers, both online and off-, see a dip in sales. So how do smart eBay sellers recession proof eBay sales? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4.

First and foremost, think like a buyer to recession-proof eBay selling!

What ARE people buying, despite inflation and the season? Well, for starters, a recent NPR article says that while people may cut back on purchases for themselves, they will continue to shop for and generally spoil their pets.

Can YOU source items for this market? To get inspired, search pet-related categories on eBay. Terapeak is a big help for spotting trends and hot items and/or niches; it’s under the Market Research tab in Seller Hub. 

A more advanced product research tool available to eBay sellers is Zik Analytics.

Using Zik Analytics sellers can quickly spot current sales trends in a wide variety of categories on eBay. Zik Analytics not only helps eBay sellers find what’s selling, it also shows them the sell–through rate — i.e., how quickly each item is selling. It’s great to discover eBay sales trends, but it’s equally important (if not more so) to know how fast an item sells!

Once you discover popular categories and products,  watch local thrift shops, yard sales, clearance sections at both online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Be sure to include your discount and wholesale suppliers. With Zik Analytic’s powerful eBay research tools, you can quickly see if the type of item you want to source is available on Ali Express and or Alibaba. Remember: It’s always wise to source from a variety of vendors.

Second, remember that people are traveling again!

Also noted in the aforementioned NPR article is the fact that after being homebound for the past couple of years, Americans as well as people around the globe are back on the move.

So while you’re wearing your think-like-a-buyer hat, think about this: What do travelers need? One exceptionally useful item that’s also easy to source is fanny packs. Yes, what the British call “bum bags” are still in style for traveling. Better yet, there are lots of ways to source them.

When I checked sold items on eBay via Advanced Search, I found out that nearly 11,000 fanny packs have sold during the past 2 weeks alone. That’s a lot of fanny packs. And Zik Analytics offers sellers a deeper dive on the the hot topic of fanny packs.


Third, note that consumers are looking to stretch their dollars — so go grocery shopping to recession-proof your eBay!

Groceries are a major household expense, so they’re where people pinch their pennies. Albeit eBay is not typically a go-to ecommerce site for groceries, they DO sell. Especially limited edition flavors and/or other regional variants of a product, because what’s available in one part of the country may be scarce or downright unavailable elsewhere.

One particularly huge and hot grocery category is TEA. Check sold tea items on eBay — and hold on to your hat, because there are more than 30,000 of them. Yes, really: THIRTY thousand-plus!! Can you source brands and/or tea sets that will sell?

In addition to local suppliers, keep the handy and informative tools of Zik Analytics in mind. You can research tea and discover if products you want are available quickly from AliExpress or Alibaba. It’s something to keep in mind.

Fourth, guess what else people like to buy online, where they can get the best deals? Health & Beauty items!

That fascinating NPR article calls it “the lipstick effect”. In the article, Priya Raghubir, professor of marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business, defines the lipstick effect as “when consumers spend on small luxuries like perfume or high-end beauty purchases even in a downturn.”

Here in New York City, I can find new, unused, sealed makeup at thrift stores. Keep an eye out at estate and yard sales as well. Someone may have bought some new makeup and then changed their mind. Or they received it as a gift and never used it.

Furthermore Zik Analytics powerful research tools can help you find in demand health and Beauty items on AliExpress and Alibaba.

Pro tip: When I’m in stores such as Sephora, I chat with the salespeople. Are there colors and/or styles being discontinued? MANY discontinued lipstick, eyeshadow, and nail polish colors sell extremely well on eBay, because consumers LOVE their favorite shades and will pay big bucks for them!

Here’s the bottom line:

Despite inflation, recession, and the onset of summer, something sells on eBay every second of every day. It’s up to you to see to it that YOU are among those selling that something.

Think like a buyer. Buyers are shopping. To stay successful t’s a matter of coursing and selling what IS in demand. Searching eBay and using Terapeak will help. When you’re ready to step up your game, look at the professional research tools Zik Analytics offers to eBay sellers.

To that end, as you’re listing, remember: You want to create OPTIMIZED listings that will rank well in eBay search results. So grab your complimentary copy of my free guide, Dominate eBay Search & Win More Sales!, at https://ilovetobeselling.com/webinars-and-workshops/dominate-ebay-search-tips/. It’s packed with powerful, proven tips for creating listings that sell fast for top dollar.

Sell on, eBay seller! There’s no need to let inflation, recession, and/or the summer slowdown bring you down — or bring down your sales.

4 top tips to recession-proof your eBay selling!

 

 

eBay Open Online 2021 Ultimate Guide!

by | Jul 12, 2021 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

So you’ve RSVP’d and marked your calendar for eBay Open Online 2021.

eBay Open Online 2021 is from August 4–6. And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Sign up today! Now it’s time to figure out how to reap the full benefits of this virtual seller conference. With the event just a scant month away, you need to start planning ASAP.

First of all, you don’t have to be an eBay store owner to go to eBay Open Online (although you may want to subscribe to one after you hear eBay Stores VP Tom Pinckney’s presentation on August 5). Sellers of all levels and experience are encouraged to attend.

Next, be aware of the time frame for eBay Open Online 2021.

Once you sign up, the agenda will display each day’s schedule according to your time zone. The first day, August 4, is only 2 hours long: 12pm-2pm Pacific Time (PT). Days 2 and 3 (August 5-6) take up 3 hours and 45 minutes, from 9am-12:45pm PT.

Block off these times on your calendar, either on paper or via a virtual calendar app such as Google, Yahoo, Outlook, or iCal.

Then decide how much of eBay Open Online 2021 you plan to attend. Each day includes an executive keynote along with assorted training or learning sessions and seller panels, interspersed with networking breaks.

At past eBay events, the main presentations have been recorded and later been made available for viewing online. Bear that in mind when you scope out the agenda for eBay Open Online. Furthermore, even though it’s only for a few hours each day, eBay Open Online is a three-day event that runs from Wednesday through Friday.

So pace yourself. Think through how much time you’ll need — and when you’ll need it — to take care of listing, packing and shipping, customer service, and social media for your business on eBay. Then schedule yourself accordingly.

The Agenda page has three tabs: one for each day.

In addition, when you’re signed in, you’ll see a fourth tab labeled My Agenda. As you look through each day’s various offerings, prioritize which sessions are must-sees and which ones are on your B-list.

To add a session to your personal Agenda, click on the little plus-sign-in-a-circle icon (     ) next to the title of the session. The icon will only appear after you have signed in to RSVP. After you add that session to your Agenda, the plus sign will change to an X in a circle. Click on that if you want to remove something from your Agenda.

You can also click the “Add to calendar” hypertext link next to the calendar page icon in the lower right-hand corner of each session’s agenda block. Then just select your type of calendar in the drop-down menu and click to send the time and topic straight to your virtual calendar.

Here’s how the overall event is structured.

Day 1 (Wednesday, August 4) opens with welcoming remarks from Andrea Stairs, eBay’s Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Seller Community for the North America Marketplace. Then the event moves right to the keynote address by eBay CEO Jamie Iannone. Next come training sessions, including one with a VP/Principal Analyst from Forrester, the leading experts on all things retail.

The rest of Day 1 is category breakout sessions led by senior managers and executives from eBay’s various verticals — i.e., Electronics; Fashion; Collectibles, Art, & Toys; Home & Garden; etc. Check out the description of each vertical’s session. What will it cover? Do you have questions related to that? If so, jot them down in case there’s time for Q&A.

Day 2 (Thursday, August 5) features presentations on eBay stores, branding and marketing, seller tools, the buyer experience, and more. Included is a  learning session devoted to shipping best practices.

There will also be networking breaks.

Sellers  are promised that they can connect with each other based on your location, the category in which you sell, and/or other criteria. Keep an ear to the ground for more information about this as we get closer to the event.

On Day 3, seller presenters are front and center, including myself. I’ll be addressing the topic of using social media in your business on eBay. I’ll tell you how to find your customers and what makes them tick, plus I’ll share actionable social media strategies for busy sellers (and aren’t we all?). I’ll also explain how to use social media to save on eBay fees.

Day 3 also features a session with Andrea Zwibelman, General Manager of eBay Deals. Personally, I’m interested to see if it’s made public what sellers qualify for this program and how to apply.

In addition, there will be virtual eBay Booths offered every day of eBay Open Online.

Each booth will showcase key selling topics such as packing and shipping, Government Relations/eBay Main Street, Promoted Listings, and more. If you’ve got questions, eBay Booths are where you can go for answers.

eBay is pulling out all the stops for eBay Open Online.

So take advantage of the opportunities it offers. Treat this virtual conference as you would a live event, minus the need to pack a suitcase and the cost of a hotel room and airfare. Dress comfortably, and keep your beverage(s) of choice (coffee, water, etc.) handy. Have a notebook and pen or note-taking app ready, so that you can take notes during the various sessions.

Grab my freebie tips sheet to help you maximize your eBay Open Online attendance and results!

Download your free eBay Open Seller Success Checklist!

 

Pick my brain! I’ve attended and presented at many top eBay and eCommerce events over the years. In attending such conferences I always brain storm with successful sellers. How do they prepare to attend online and in person events? What works to extract great takeaways that they can immediately put to use?

 

I put the best tips I know that rev-up attendance at online conferences into my “Seller Success Checklist for eBay Open Online 2021!”

 

This awesome check list is my gift to you. Be sure to get yours HERE.

These three short days will be here before you know it, then fly by. And it just won’t be eBay Open Online without you! Start planning now, so you’ll be ready to make the most of it.

 

Creating Consistent eBay Sales Power!

by | Mar 6, 2021 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

eBay sellers are on the lookout to create consistent eBay sales power.

Creating consistent eBay sales power!

To begin, strong sales on eBay are always a goal for sellers. Generating consistent eBay sales is essential to running a healthy online business. So, right now a key to steady sales for eBay sellers, is understanding structured data. “But Kathy,” you say, “I’ve heard a lot of buzz about structured data, but what exactly is it, and why should I care?”

Let’s answer those questions in reverse order.

I will start with why you care about structured data. In words of one syllable: more sales! Now keep that in mind while I explain eBay structured data.

Simply put, structured data is what search engines utilize to understand the contents of a web page, such as one of your listings on eBay. It’s a standardized format. It provides information about what’s on a web page, or in this case, in your listing. The item specifics for that listing represent one example of structured data.

Here’s how it works:

Search engines are powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The searches themselves are driven by the engine. The search engine is governed by search algorithms and carried out by search bots known as web crawlers, a.k.a. spiders.

Search algorithms tell these web-crawling bots what to search for. Furthermore structured data provides a trail of breadcrumbs for them to follow. If you don’t fill out your listing’s item specifics, you starve those poor spiders .They will search elsewhere for listings with more nourishing content.

So I have three words of advice for you:

Feed the spiders! But instead of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, think title, item specifics, and description. All three areas of an eBay listing feed Cassini (eBay’s search engine). Your eBay listings requires essential data for its spiders to gobble up. Ditto for Google Search’s spiders.

Let’s start with item specifics. Fill them in, please! What are the default options provided by eBay? What are your choices?

Furthermore, the more item specifics you can fill in, the better.

The terms you use to do so comprise a type of standardized information called attributes: for example, brand, size, color, pattern, etc. They help describe your item not only to potential buyers, but also to the search engines that will surface your listing for that item in search results so that buyers can find it.

Other forms of structured data in your eBay listings include condition, price, item location, and features as well as payment and shipping information.

What makes structured data so crucial to eBay right now is at the heart and root of what eBay CEO Jamie Iannone calls “a tech-led reimagination of eBay” — and that’s not just a catchphrase, it’s a mission statement.

Basically, eBay is trying to find better ways to catalog thousands upon millions of items into four or so best options for sellers.

For buyers, current and future technologies such as voice shopping, augmented reality (AR), and virtual shopping will lean heavily on structured data. Cassini already depends upon it when calculating which listings should be included in search results and how they should be ranked.

So if you want to continue (or start!) succeeding on eBay, get acquainted with structured data.

 

Freebie Guide -eBay Listings That Sell!.

It’s your new best friend. Feed Cassini’s search spiders well for your listings to be ranked higher in search. Rank better in search and be found by more shoppers. More buyers translates into more sales, which in turn will bring you higher profits.

In closing, to learn more about using structured data in your listings on eBay, check out my YouTube video Big Money on eBay for This! Then download your complimentary copy of my free guide eBay Listings That Sell! It features more than 7 pages chock-full of pro tips. Furthermore, the free guide is loaded with proven strategies that will pay off for your business on eBay.

eBay Listings That Sell Free Guide!

 With the pro tips in eBay listings that sell, you’re optimized for more eBay sales!

PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com
Exit mobile version