Curious...How have ebay sales been?
 

Super dead for me. Not even getting bad offers. Anyone else notice a downturn?

Same here, I am small time and don't list much but it has been almost nothing selling lately.

sales decline on eBay
 

According to the data provided by eBay (if the information is accurate), in the category of Baseball cards, overall market sales in this category are down 10% in the last 30 days compared to the same period last year. Sales compared to the previous 30 days are down about 2% I believe that that drop in percentage of sales has been pretty consistent since eBay has been collecting State Sales Tax earlier this year. I assume that decline in sales in all categories is increasing.

Personally, my sales are up, but I have about 50% more listings for sale than I had last year.

Best regards,

Joe

Bad enough that I am planning on a Short-position earnings play for January Earnings

I rarely sell on EBay, but over the last month sold a handful of nicer cards. They all seemed to sell pretty well, but I know I have bought less cards on EBay because of the State Sales Tax. I personally have been buying a lot more cards privately and through AH’s, and I look for this trend to continue for me anyway.

May not last long... many/most auction houses are now implementing the state sales taxes. Just saw the disclaimer from Hunt, that they're doing it, effective with their current auction. I'm pretty sure all others will be following suit before too long.

EBay said it expects adjusted earnings of 73 cents to 76 cents a share on sales of $2.77 billion to $2.82 billion. EBay stock has gained this year, is on par or above the S&P 500 index rising 20%. P/E is right at 16 and bata 1.1. But it not a buy for me. I haven't held a position in EBay in a long time.

I have been selling for 15 years and this happens to be one of my best years yet.
It is also a record breaking year for buyers who refuse to pay for their items.

Yes!! the past few weeks for me have been super quiet. With over 900 listings and new material weekly, this is just crazy!

As a buyer, I can tell you the new imposition of the 'ebay tax' really stopped me in my tracks. I have to imagine that a huge number of regular buyers also curbed their spending habits somewhat. Although it's 'only' around 10%, it takes a card that I would feel good about buying (in other words, at a low enough price to make me think I'm getting a steal) and pushes it into the ole 'that's a little too much for me' category. Plus, it seems that many, many sellers have suddenly raised their shipping charges, too. Could be coincidental with the cards I was looking at, but it really bummed me out. It's like grabbing a hamburger off a fast food dollar menu, and then returning a couple of days later to find it's now on the $5 menu...if you like nonsensical analogies.

eBay
 

October was the worst month for sales that I have had in the past 2 years.

As a buyer, the 5.5% sales tax doesn't stop me from buying something if the price is decent if it is for my collection. If it is for resale, then the tax is a consideration.

There is one unexpected development. I received a message from eBay that I could send offers to specific customers. I thought "what the hell", so I sent out 27 offers with hefty discounts. Within a few hours, I sold 6 items because of the offers.

I know that some people may not like the offers, but if I am watching something and the seller sends me an offer, I may accept it. If not, at least I have a starting point for a counter offer.

I've got a fairly varied watch list and almost nothing has been moving off it that I haven't gotten myself

Almost unrelated, I’ve had two of my worst months for selling on COMC since I started about 6.5 years ago. I’m very small time, but July and October were negligible for sales.


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On a side note, ebay also hasn't had one of their 15% off promotions in God knows how long. I'm sure those are a nice short-term boon for many sellers.

it'll pop up once you buy everything you want!!!!

Personally the sales tax stopped me. Since I have plenty of other places to buy, Philly, White Plains, Long Island shows, plus the BST and a few auctions have been where I have been. I kind of like it, since it makes it more like a hobby for me saving up and heading to a show instead of setting snipes and waiting for the 10% eBay bucks days.

Sales have not been very good this fall, I had much better results last spring and early summer. Still a good amount of interest and the sales tax thing will take time to adjust. I think we are just going through a phase with so much going on in the hobby, always seems to be up and down. It's not just eBay, I noticed the same thing with local shows. In the long run the eBay issues will only help the shows and I may see an increase in show transactions. Due to the slow sales, I have not purchased as much either. I do expect the next few months to be a little better with the holidays coming around.

Jimmy

As a buyer with a pretty varied watch list, I haven’t seen a new fairly priced nice item showing up in 5 or 6 months. Frustrating. Same ridiculously priced items just being relisted month after month after month.

Agree with steve ,,,stupid prices and now you pay taxes ,,,ill keep it here

Sadly, living in WA with 10.1% tax and seemingly never ending shipping increases, even a 15% discount doesn’t compel me anymore. I’m honestly not sure 20% would either. I can count on one hand the number of things I’ve bought on EBay in 2019.

Why any member of this board would list something on eBay without at least trying to sell in on the BST first makes zero sense to me.

I am making more sales and buys on the BST than ever. Every time I factor in the +/- 10% tax plus shipping the deals on cards don't seem that good. I don't mind paying tax on stuff I use every day but for my collection it is just a cost I hate. And it has definitely lead to less buys on the bay (although I still do buy there regularly) than before the tax issue.

Someone above wrote about the tax stopping him dead in his tracks... for me, 1000% agree

slow...
 

I'm not a big time seller, but my Ebay sales have been dead for over a month. I'm waiting, hoping, and expecting that the holiday season and eBay's 15% off coupons will help out. I don't think there's been a good coupon since last winter?

Living in Canada, the shipping rates from ebay sellers are ridiculous. Thats why I buy off the BST here where members charge me actual shipping rates to canada not this inflated one that ebay sellers have.
I mean it does not cost 24 bucks to ship a 56 topps common to Toronto

I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseam already...but is sales tax really being applied correctly here? A baseball card could change hands 20 times in its lifetime. Should the gov't be getting a cut every time? Are they taxing the item or the transaction? Seems like the transaction.

I don't hold positions in any company that promotes forgery and fraud and resides in the Philippines..... THAT MEANS NO FU BAY, not even in any of my mutual funds. They are crooks PERIOD.

can't wait for those 15% coupons,:D:D:D:D when my sales tax rate is 10%...No need for their coupon, they can keep it and stick it. :eek:

Jeez. . . .Do you think the decision to impose sales tax was eBay's idea?

Chuck has anyone ever told you that your positive nature lights up the room like a T206 Honus Wagner.

Ebay sales have been crappy. Like....record lows for VCP tracked cards.

I thought I was the only one who noticed that.

I used to buy/sell collections for fun. Considering time + shipping + hassle + rising ebay/paypal + fees+ taxes....just not enough (or any) money in it for me.

Not seeing a lot of interest in ebay, but anything I post in various facebook groups gets grabbed, often within minutes.

The only large trend I've noticed with ebay over the past couple years, has been the shift to more bins and fewer auctions.

And because of that, the ability to get "deals" is not as good as it used to be. It is more of a retail outlet now, in a world where online retail is not driven by Ebay.

I've had success doing this as well recently.

I don't sell a ton, but usually have 5-10 cards listed with a BIN / offer combo at any given time. I have noticed traffic is down. I used to get lowball / bad offers every day, now I only get them maybe twice a week. :D

I've noticed the opposite...it seems there's been a shift back to auction style...at least on the memorabilia side. I'd prefer to just make an offer and haggle...way too impatient to wait 7 or 10 days for an ebay auction to end.

taxes
 

Nothing new here. When you buy a car at a dealership, you pay sales taxes. When you sell it 3 years down the road the buyer pays sales taxes. Everytime it sells, sales taxes are paid. Why should baseball cards be any different?

Don't blame eBay. Blame your Congress person. Has anyone done anything besides bitching on Net54? Call your Congress person and bitch to them.

So I never used the BST here; does paypal charge/collect sales tax? or are these tax free so to speak, for the buyer? As a seller, I am technically not responible for any type of "use" tax right and I probably paid tax when I made the purchase?

I haven't slowed up much if any. No sales tax on eBay for me. :rolleyes:

I missed them putting Congress in charge of sales tax. Guess they have the expertise, though.

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Sales tax
 

It is actually the states that are in charge, and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the South Dakota in one case, but there have been several bills that were making their way through Congress, most of which would have had the same outcome as the Supreme Court ruling. It looks like the States, the Courts, and Congress are all supporting online sales tax collection.

Yeah...I've made the car analogy myself. Seems odd though that a baseball card would be handled like a car. Cars are regulated and tracked by the government. It's known when they change hands. What other daily use items were re-taxed every time they changed hands prior to this law?

And in that case...Shouldn't dealers be charging sales tax at shows?

All depends on the deal you make with the seller. The BST is just a connector between both parties. It is actually a wonderful service that Leon provides.

The honest ones do in states that require it.:)

Rob, there are many stores (both for-profit and for-charity) that sell used furniture, used clothing, etc., and these store collect sales tax from their customers. And, of course, sales tax was collected on these same items when they were originally sold new.

Mabe taxes will take down all the Fraudsters in the Card Industry......It got Capone

Absolutely Crappy!

And just like that...Everyone that sells on ebay became a store. Even if you sell 5 cards worth $50 per year.

Again...by nature memorabilia and cards are more likely to change hands more often than furniture or clothes. Do you own a shirt that 19 other people owned first?

This country is predicated on the concept if capitalism. If one sells stuff online...like a retailer...or rents part of their home to strangers(air bnb) like a hotel...why should they be immune from paying taxes? Everyone wants their cake and to eat it too!

I have been mostly not buying graded cards until this past weekend...i picked up a few on ebay and am very happy with the prices...even with the taxes.

Well for 250 years people in this country have eaten cake...and there's a difference between being a "retailer" and a guy who sells off his doubles when he gets an upgrade.

So safe to assume, you've been charging sales tax at your garage sales all along?

I can only speak of the state I live in. Here you have to declare the sales as income when you do your income taxes. State and local(city) taxes depend on the exact location you are having the garage sale.

As a general rule I have noticed the people who don't pay their taxes are the first to complain when they don't receive the services they pay for.:)

EDIT: don't pay should be replaced by "complain about and try to not pay".

Just to be clear...You have to declare garage sale taxes in the state of South Dakota?

I find that hard to believe. I don't know what the garage sales are like in SD, but typically things sell for less than you paid for them. How is that taxable.

How do you know so many people who don't pay taxes?

To be honest I have no idea of the exact details. All I know is what my WAY too honest accountant tells me what I have to do tax wise and that is what I do. I do know that over the last 30 years I have been audited by EVERYONE possible and never once had a problem.

When I was doing the side hustle of selling cards I paid sales tax on them. I have a life long friend that has a never ending rumage(garage) sale and he also pays taxes. We both based out "business" just outside city limits so we only pay(ed) state taxes and not city taxes.

actually in person it DOES!!!!! Thanks

I'm always positive, happy and full of compliments and jokes, my handsome friend.

When it comes to the card hobby, it is 90% FRAUD from where I'm sitting and I despise the losers it who have ruined it for honest guys as myself. The level of thievery and disgusting fatty mc fat fat slob losers makes me puke, honestly.

you two utes can't understand normal thinking, that's why.:)

With all due respect, why are you still here and/or in the hobby then? Go be happy doing something that doesn't make your blood boil every time you think about it. No real hobbyists like what has gone on but we are enduring because we still love it...damn the trimmers and scammers.

I cut back eBay buying drastically with the taxes implemented. They get the seller and and buyer now with fees and or taxes. Now I look more in groups like this one, social media groups or my local shows. It’s always nice to have the card in hand as well. I buy now when ebucks are a available on some bigger vintage pieces. Investing in modern or cheaper cards the shipping and taxes out weigh the price often. It’s a shame to, I’ve personally spent thousands prior to the taxes in my Mantle collection.

Chuck I don’t blame you for being vocal. I’m sure you are a good guy.
Keep on fighting the fight.

Just my 2 cents as an international (living in Japan) based buyer.

I used to buy a lot of cards off of Ebay because there used to be a lot of sellers who would ship overseas at a reasonable rate. There were quite a few who would be willing to sell me 3-4 singles and just put them in an envelope for a couple of bucks, which is about what USPS charges (accounting for fees, etc).

I haven't bought a card off of Ebay in the past 3 years though and its entirely because nobody does that anymore. When an international buyer scrolls through Ebay listings for any given card the few who offer to ship overseas now only do it through eBay's program so it costs like 20-25$ per card. If like me you are mainly buying cards that themselves are under 100$, it just makes no sense to buy on ebay anymore.

So I just gave up.

This wouldn't explain any current slowdown this month since it happened a few years back, but basically ebay has cut sellers off from the entire international market for cards (which, while not huge, is not marginal either - loads of people in Japan and other countries where baseball is popular are interested in collecting American cards).

I am assuming that Ebay and the States have worked out a procedure whereby tax captured in a transaction is redirected to the appropriate State treasury in my case Florida. I would hate to think Ebay is late settling or even skims a bit on the way.

That is not Ebay's fault nor the sellers fault. International shipping is EXPENSIVE. And if you want to protect yourself and ship the way Ebay REQUIRES you to do to get that protection (some sort on traceable tracking), then the costs are up there.

If all international buyers were trustworthy and honest it would be fine. It’s a total risk if you ship without tracking and the seller has no protection or recourse if the buyer says that they didn’t get it.

International
 

First-Class Package International Service
Retail Packages
Weight Not Over
(oz.) Price Groups1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1–8 $10.50 $12.25 $14.25 $14.25 $14.25 $14.50 $13.75 $13.50 $14.50

For a while, I was shipping a lot of cheap cards to Canada and other countries using a small photo mailer and paying the non-machinable letter rate or by using a PWE. However, the International mailing rules changed, and now merchandise is not allowed to be sent by first class letter mail, even if you pay the non-machinable rate. So, I stopped offering International service because I didn't want a customer to get hit with a large postage due bill and then I would get hit with a neg on eBay. You also cannot ship merchandise at the flats rate, only documents.

I don't use the Global Shipping Program, so the only option now is First-Class Package International Service. Up to 8 ounces to Canada costs me $10.50, Mexico is $12.25, and other countries range from $13.50 to $14.50. This does include tracking, so it is much safer than a PWE. I have slowly started adding this service option to some of my listings, and I have started getting a few additional sales. For items over 8 ounces, the prices jump up drastically. I can't ship much in an 8 ounce package, especially if the box weighs 3 ounces or a large photo mailer weighs 2 1/2 ounces.

Here is a link to Domestic and International shipping prices.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/notice123.htm#_c341

There is a small discount by printing the shipping labels through eBay/PayPal, and the best thing is that the shipping label also serves as the customs form by entering a little info during the process.

Thanks, I was wondering what changed that made sellers stop offering to send cards via letter mail overseas!

eBay has become useless to me. There are no longer any viable auctions - I won’t bid with pwcc and Probstein rarely lists a card I want - and every BIN seller lists cards for way more than they are worth. I used to spend a lot of money on eBay. However, this year, I have spent a fraction vs prior years, and I see no end to that trend.

BST, private deals, and auction houses for me.

I still use eBay for my post war sets that I'm working on. They are all low grade anyway and I can still find good deals on the lower grade stars on eBay. Also my player collections can be added to on eBay. But for higher end stuff, like what you're mostly looking for Ryan, I can see eBay being basically useless these days. The BINs are way too high and I won't buy from PWCC either so the options are really limited. Occasionally there is a card I want with a fair auction still though.

I'm getting eBay Bucks offers every week. Just got another 10% today. Seems like they're aggressively trying to stimulate sales.

Regarding slow sales...The conspiracy theorist in me thinks they are burying listings to frustrate sellers into buying their promoted listings service...but that's too devious to be true. :cool:

Sales tax is a factor to me ..I was fortunate to make a big deal off Ebay due to him having his email on his store page..but other than that only been buying 10 to 20 buck t220s

I don't sell much. However, as a buyer, I look to buy here on the BST. The sales tax is not Ebay's fault, but it makes already high prices just too much for me.

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Same here... the 10% tax is a killer. I just did something similar on a big purchase. But had to get very creative in sharing emails with the seller. The eBay police make it tough to circumvent their system.

I will attempt to ask this again...

Isn't ebay over collecting the taxes? If I sell to someone in South Dakota, ebay will collect the sales tax automatically. But if I don't make 200 sales or sell over $100K to South Dakota, does ebay reimburse that/those buyers (since I didn't meet the South Dakota sales tax collection requirements)? I highly doubt it. Or is ebay itself considered the 'retailer' in this case? Inquiring minds want to know.

It's been brutal...even with ebay bucks that's just covering the 8.25 here in texas lol needless to say ebay isn't a option unless its cheap

Yes.... eBay has run its course.

Unless it's a raging deal, or a rarity on your want-list, or something you can't live without. So I guess I'll still search it, but not nearly as often as before.

On a separate note (with regards to memorabilia) where has all the good stuff gone? Used to be able to find tons of exciting stuff, but now it's just the same stuff, re-listed over and over again. B O R I N G!

This is my understanding of it. Ebay is considered a "marketplace facilitator". As of last check about 30 states had passed legislation to say that if an item is sold out of state through a marketplace facilitator (like eBay), then tax is required, regardless of the thresholds that small business hits sales wise into said state. The marketplace facilitator will be way over those thresholds anyways. As a small business owner, if you purchase from me directly (website, facebook, BST, etc) and not through a marketplace facilitator, I am only required to collect sales tax if I am going to cross whatever said threshold of sales that your state has set. So, if you lived in South Dakota and you purchased something directly from my website, I would not charge you tax because I will not have 100K sales or 200 transactions to South Dakota this year (or previous year, if that's how they keep track of it). If I am wrong anyone please feel free to correct me but when I researched it that's how I interpreted the legislation.

Couldn't agree more...I'm not finding nearly as much as I used to. It's become a wasteland...and a waste of time...and money.

You hit the nail on the head. Price listed for cards on ebay are absolutely nuts. I can see why people who list this stuff have no sales. The golden goose is broken. people are only stupid for so long. Sell at sensible prices and the stuff will sell.

I only list about 25-30 items per month. I try to research the prices sold and list my items about 10% below those averages. If I have OBO on, I'll get even lower offers. If I don't, things usually sit despite my prices being lower than the average sale price. But I'll only let it sit for about a week, then I'll end it and relist it. But yes overall sounds are down.

I've tried to sell on here and BO, but I have had very little luck selling on those 2 platforms as well. Not sure what's going on, but overall selling has been very down for the past few months. Can't really buy here or there either for whatever reason. I'll start a thread, but I won't get any responses.

Oh well, I'll keep trying here, on BO and on ebay. I don't know any other avenues to sell other than those 3 and maybe COMC, although I've never sent a card in to COMC.

eBay, Net54, BO, COMC... there are people with inflated prices everywhere and also there are good deals to be found everywhere. Sometimes it just takes a little more effort than other times.