eBay is planning on making some significant changes to its format on several levels beginning on September 25th. As eBay sellers there is really nothing we can do to prevent these changes. However, if we stay alert and adapt there's no reason why we can't benefit from the new structure!
Here's a quick rundown of the significant changes:
1.eBay Shop Fees are Going Up.
Fee increases, like taxes, are seldom popular. However in this case, the fee increase comes with added benefits. Namely, if you have a high level eBay shop such as a Featured Shop or and Anchor Shop your insertion fees will now be heavily discounted!
2.Insertion Fees are Going Down.
eBay wouldn't just increase our fees and leave us hanging. In order to compensate for the increased shop fees, insertion fees will now be lower than ever. And the higher the level of your shop plan the lower your insertion fees will be. For Anchor shops, insertion fees will now be only 1p per listing! Basically, this means that the more you sell the more you can save on listing fees.
3.No More Gallery Picture Fee!
This is a small change, but one that you should definitely take advantage of. Now that gallery images are free you really have no excuse not to use them. They never fail to increase your traffic levels and thereby your sales margin as well.
4.The New Search Results Schema.
This may be the single most important change facing eBay sellers in 2008 and beyond. You are unlikely to survive on eBay after September 25th if you don't understand this change. For the longest time search results on eBay have been organized solely by virtue of their ending time, that is, the listings ending soonest have been shown first.
Not any more! Starting on the 25th eBay is going to implement a newer, smarter system that is more results oriented. This means that listings will be sorted in search results mainly by factors of RELEVANCE. The new system is called the “Best Match” algorithm and is based on factors as diverse as listing title, shipping cost, conversion rates (that is, the percentage of people visiting your listing that actually buy your products), and more.
How to Deal with the Changes
The general trend of these changes is a move towards making eBay more friendly for both buyers and sellers who have large volume and professional looking listings. Now that the “Best Match” algorithm is being put into place you will need to have professional looking listings and superior customer service in order to stay competitive. This means that you will need to pay more attention than ever to the way you conduct your self as an eBay seller.
But heres the good news: many sellers are still unaware of the overall impact of these changes and will not be prepared for the implications of the new system. Hence, if you prepare yourself in advance you will have a significant advantage over the competition and will have no problem surviving on eBay after September 25th.
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