Decline in Sales?

Alex, so true! The downhill started when NZ ownership transferred to overseas equity funds. This happens to so many kiwi businesses. It always gobsmack me why do these companies always fail in the end while having so many pundits with MBA degrees in their portfolio?? So many great kiwi startups sold to overseas funds have done so bad and have vanished into thin air - such as Navman. This trend ruins businesses, shatter the lives of workers and then those who were responsible board their private jets and fly away - lose, lose for everyone. And the cycle keeps going on n' on...!!

NZ Post postal rates which have increased regularly and quite heftily at each step does nothing to encourage sales. Approx $23 to send A4 size box to other island. Postage prices should be set to encourage business within NZ.

Belle, you need to shop around, like our customers do. Pass the parcel for example are $5 cheaper. and thats just as a casual customer. Once you become an account customer, then their rates will become more competitive. Companies like go sweet spot, can provide even better pricing once quantities reach higher levels. 

How is everyone going at the moment? I am wondering if back to school is impacting disposable income?

Getting worst I believe Fawn! I just had the worst December in 9 years of my 'In Trade' account. Could be because of the worst year of the economy in recent memory. But people not visiting Trademe as they used to, for whatever the reason, is definitely a major factor too.

Same as Thilak said, mine the worst ever, I have been in trade since 2012, was a top seller for a large amount of that time, now trying to figure some way to clear stock and close, even at below cost it's barely moving. Agree people are just not buying on Trade Me. Some is economy, huge impact is Temu who freights for free most of the time and sells products so cheap it's impossible to compete. Facebook Market Place has taken a huge amount of buyers too. Courier and post prices in NZ are  putting people off buying on Trade Me too. 

Same as above here, trying to clear and close.  Stuck with good stock that doesn't move regardless of the pricing.  To good o just dump it, but don't want it haunting me either. 

Shay and Shane, I am with you on all aspects you mentioned of this diminishing website. You don't have to be a genius to understand where Trademe will end up considering the way and speed it is going down at. Like you said I am also trying to clear the stocks and finish off after reducing prices as much as 50% but with not much luck. I have completely stopped buying new stocks for the last 14 months and doing nothing else but killing time until reach the end of my business which I don't think that far away..... :(

As a professional seller also, I understand times are hard & there is competition out there. But I did some research on another competitor, I have over 100 listings they had similar we both used all the best google search words, they also promoted some products as I did. So they dominated the first 3 pages of searches for one of there main products. I had 1 product come up in page 5 ?  Do your homework, TM have changed the algorithm for reason unknown 

Reasons well known Paul. Pay the extra and put them in Gallery or Feature - you will hit the page 1 :)))

Trademe sales are down because of such extreme fees, to sell my spa pool they want $499 in fees, what a rip off, no wonder

people are selling elsewhere and trying to bypass TM, there doing it to them self.