Posted By: Diana

I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and I just want to put it out there—is anyone really making a living on eBay anymore? I’ve been browsing through the site a lot lately, and honestly, it just feels dead. There’s stuff listed everywhere, thousands of items, but it doesn’t look like much of it is actually moving. You can scroll for hours and see the same listings sitting there week after week, sometimes even months. It’s like everyone’s listing but nobody’s buying.

I remember when eBay used to be the place for everything. You could sell an old phone, a pair of shoes, or a random collectible and make good money. There was excitement back then. Now, when I look at it, it just feels like a ghost of what it used to be. People say eBay still has millions of users, but something about it feels outdated. The layout hasn’t really changed much, the listings look the same, and it just doesn’t have the energy it once had.

Now, I’m not saying nobody sells on eBay anymore. I know there are still folks doing well—people who resell vintage items, collectibles, or electronics. But even they’ve been saying it’s getting harder to make steady sales. You can have great photos, detailed descriptions, fast shipping, and still end up watching your listings sit there like nobody cares. The competition is crazy, and the fees don’t help either. Between the seller fees, shipping costs, and dealing with returns, sometimes it feels like the work isn’t even worth the payout.

What really got me thinking was when I started comparing eBay to other platforms. Take Mercari, for example. It’s not perfect either, but it feels more current. It’s easier to list, easier to scroll, and the setup just feels more “now.” When I use eBay, it feels like I’ve stepped back into the early 2000s. Mercari feels like social media shopping—simple, modern, and more personal. eBay just feels like an old shopping mall that hasn’t been renovated in years.

Still, I’ll admit one thing: eBay does have an edge when it comes to rare or collectible items. You can find things there that you won’t see anywhere else. If you’re selling something unique—like a vintage record, an old toy, or a hard-to-find gadget—eBay might still be your best bet. But for regular stuff? I’m not so sure. It feels like the casual buyers have moved on to other places, and eBay’s stuck catering to people who already know what they want.

It’s also worth mentioning that some sellers say eBay’s algorithm plays a big part now. If you’re not listing every day, updating prices, and constantly being active, your items barely get seen. Back then, you could post something once and it would sell fast. Now, it’s like the site wants you to babysit your listings 24/7 just to stay visible.

I know people who used to make full-time income on eBay back in the day. They’d hit yard sales, thrift stores, and liquidation shops and turn everything into profit. Some of them have already quit. They say the traffic’s gone down, the buyers are pickier, and the profits just aren’t the same. It’s not impossible to make money on eBay, but it’s definitely harder than it used to be.

I think the real question is whether eBay is keeping up with the times. Everything’s changing so fast. People shop on TikTok now. They buy straight from Instagram ads. New apps keep coming out every year. And here’s eBay, kind of just… there. Not gone, but not really alive either. It’s still running, still functioning, but it feels like it’s on autopilot.

So, I’m curious—is eBay still worth it? Are people still making a living there in 2025, or is this platform slowly dying off? I’d love to hear from anyone who’s still selling. Are you seeing steady sales, or has traffic just dropped off completely?

Because from where I’m sitting, eBay feels like it’s stuck between the past and the future—trying to hold onto what it used to be, but not quite sure how to move forward.