Where Have All The Sellers Gone, Covid Times Passing?

Since May 1 I have observed a distinct drop off of sellers on ebay. Not only is the volume of new items down but the quality of true new listings is down. HIPSTAMP seems to be the same often over priced dealer material some of which never sold on ebay. Is there a new player in our digital town or is it just springtime with most folks becoming Covid free at last?

I have noticed the same. I think you are correct that COVID19 lockdowns are easing and people are shifting back to "normal" activities.

Yes, activities such as a real job and not having to sell off their stamps to feed themselves. Also, dealers, meaning seller by choice, not necessity, are likely preparing stock for shows now that dates are being set for the return of shows...[well as long as the variants don't cause future lock-downs].

Selling off their stamps to feed themselves foie gras and Sauternes, judging by auction results. Too early to say here. I suspect that many will be circumspect for some time to come, especially with the proliferation of new variants, and the risks around spending money on holidays that may not take place. I'm looking forward to winning the odd auction lot if the acquisitive frenzy of the last year subsides.

I'm not seeing that on Hibid based Auctions. Gulf Coast Stamps out of Texas just had their first on-line auction a few days ago. It was a huge success with some pretty high prices. I have nothing to do with them but I couldn't compete for any US material. Too many bidders and no bargains slipping through. I got a few lots but they were Commonwealth and not so popular.

Are you wanting us to sing the song too? And a 1, where have all the Sellers gone...

Some of the logic above doesn't quite add up. If getting 'back to normal' then you'd think buyers would dry up, not sellers. I'm seeing the same lack of things to buy that are worth of my attention. Prices are high for what is being sold, even ridiculous and unexplainable in some cases (except explained by lack of available material I guess)!!!

I had a bit up a 'pop' in sales a couple of weeks ago, but that was short-lived, now back to normal (almost non-existent sales).

I think both Sellers and Buyers are drying up with the return to normalcy. This coupled with the Northern hemisphere heading into Summer seems to really have slowed sales as far as I am experiencing.

Think we're seeing both the usual "weather is nice" & the "Covid is getting under control" in much of the Western world slowdown effect on both the availables for sale, as well as buyer activity. That is what I'm seeing with my stores, starting a few weeks ago.

I sell quite extensively on ebay. I have had to slow down my listings and activity for many of the reasons above. My regular business took off again in April with 2 large projects that have me working 6 & 7 days a week. Can't do both full steam so I had to slow down on the stamps to a point where I could handle both. Even then its a job and a half. So yes business is picking up in Maryland and restrictions are going down.

Rich

Judging by Rasdale's latest auction dealers are still hotly competing for material to turn and burn.

I will note that Russian material is cooling off now both on ebay and at auction.

Rupp no longer talks about a "great time to sell" in recent price lists and emails.

It was bound to come off of the high. The question is how many collectors that started up again will stick around. I expect a net positive compared to pre-lockdown levels.

I had a really good auction on ebay last October, but since then I've been just too busy with family/kids, home repairs/maintenance, indulging in another hobby (astronomy - just as expensive as stamps), but also organizing existing and new material for sale. It seems to be better, but I was worried about shipping issues with the USPS with some actual justification as holiday packages I had sent were screwed up royally. Some international shipments were missent and took months to resolve. I also was just roped into ebay's managed payment system (still do not like it) earlier this year and weary about listing high volume auctions again. Hopefully, I'll get back on track soon and start selling again. I'm not allowed to buy more stock by my wife until I sell off what I've been hoarding for the last few years.

Ebay's new managed payment system may also be partly to blame. My wife and I sell a few things here and there on ebay but have balked at allowing ebay access to our checking account. We've paused selling while we decide whether to continue by opening a separate checking account just for them.

Yesterday's Siegel collections auction had some extremely exuberant bidders. At one point I bid 5X high estimate and all I got was a "thankyou underbidder". I got 1 item at the very end and thought it a bargain at only 3 1/2 high estimate. It was a very impressive auction!!

Here in the UK there is quite a drop off of decent collections and albums being offered for sale, which has resulted in more competition between buyers. Outside of Svenny_foto there are few good albums being offered on ebay.