New duration record I believe!

[ricarmic]

As many know, I play the long game, awaiting the right person to come along.

Today was the day for 5 items that have been running for 15 years (since 2011).

I knew they were oldies when I went to get them, because the remain in an "early box" of stuff, not sorted in order - I've so far never had the enthusiasm to move to the new filing system (because I'd have to rehouse them they're in wee envelopes). A pretty small batch of stuff remains, someday I'll need to get the gumption to rehouse them, or the procrastinator in me says if I wait/live long enough it will solve itself when the last one sells 😉

Figured a chuckle for the day was in order.

[femmefan1946]

Since we moved here in 2014, I don't have any listings older than that. But I have spotted occasional sales that were earlier.

I still have a couple of early copies of Amazing Stories that I got when my late friend Richard consigned right after his wedding in 2001.  It was a lovely day, all the grooms (it was a triple gay wedding, three couples) were so happy to finally be able to marry. And the wedding band was The Tragically Hip! Memories.

[phc64]

I don't have anything that's been listed for 15 years, but I definitely have items that have been listed for more than 10 years. The market for Pat Boone records is rather limited.

[intimewithmusic]

   Sounds like a hoot having worked with the band on a number of occasions. I'm binge watching "Corner Gas" episodes at the moment. fun fact: I was surprised to find The Tragically Hip in Season 2 Episode 15 (2005). They were acting as a garage band booted out of "Brent's" garage so his high school band "Thunderface" could re-unite. Colin James was also in that episode. 

  You reminded me of a heritage home restoration I did in New West. It was the original home of British Columbia'svery  first postmaster. It's now owned by an amazing male gay couple. First I did the inside and later the exterior.  Beautiful home, wonderful owners and one of my most memorable projects!

[mrdutch1001]

Back in November 2025, (on my other selling site), I sold several pattern books including an afghan knitting & crochet pattern book that I had been listing on eBay since 2013 and a couple of other pattern books that I had been listing on eBay for the past 10-12 years...

[byto253]

You all have more patience than I do!  Congrats.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@byto253 wrote:

You all have more patience than I do!  Congrats.

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It's too bad eBay isn't interested in promoting/boosting/bumping up eyes etc on longtail listings. They should have the capability to do so. With all the freebie and and additional surge of extra store listings it has made finding anything very challenging for most users. Pretty sure most buyers DO NOT have the patience to scroll through pages and pages of listings to find what they are looking for. Even when I use AZ the most pages I check is 1 or 2. If what is shown is not in my budget or meets my needs that's on me.

[ricarmic]

If I was ebay I wouldn't boost them because either they're overpriced or there is very limited interest in them, ie it would be better financially for ebay to make stuff visible that will sell faster getting them $$$ faster.

I suspect the folks finding my long term stuff are discovering them via searches - there would be little to no competition for many of these, sort of like the Pat Boone music example...

[38e_avenue]

I win the competition! I recently discovered an item - I was surprised by a very small photo (600 px) and shocked by the photo's background - my kitchen's floor, which I changed in ... 2006! So it runs since at least 20 years! 😉 

[femmefan1946]

If sellers are really interested in "promoting" longtail/deadstock items, we can close and relist them, making eBay think they are "new" listings. 

Because I put a slip with first listing date, purchase price, and where purchased  inside each book, I am sometimes surprised that the sold title was first offered 15 or 20 years ago. 

[mrdutch1001]

On eBay, I use "sell similar" for ALL my listings each time they are listed> I do NOT use "relist"

[38e_avenue]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

On eBay, I use "sell similar" for ALL my listings each time they are listed> I do NOT use "relist"

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So I do, too. And it usually works very well (but apparently not for this 20-years old item 😀 )

[mrdutch1001]

Have been using "sell similar" for more years than I can remember, but eBay just not work for me the way it did way back then.... Prior to 2015 it was a breeze to sell here on eBay...

[38e_avenue]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

Have been using "sell similar" for more years than I can remember, but eBay just not work for me the way it did way back then.... Prior to 2015 it was a breeze to sell here on eBay...

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Well .... look at this graph (my sales from 2014 to 2020). A steady decline. 

Packages ready to ship after weekend: 2007 vs 2025 😑

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

Have been using "sell similar" for more years than I can remember, but eBay just not work for me the way it did way back then.... Prior to 2015 it was a breeze to sell here on eBay...

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Sell similar appeared to work for years. From my testing over the last several years the results have been miniscule. Not sure if there would be a reason to disable it as a feature/loophole but with eBay who knows.

[38e_avenue]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

Have been using "sell similar" for more years than I can remember, but eBay just not work for me the way it did way back then.... Prior to 2015 it was a breeze to sell here on eBay...

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Sell similar appeared to work for years. From my testing over the last several years the results have been miniscule. Not sure if there would be a reason to disable it as a feature/loophole but with eBay who knows.

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I am doing it differently now - not all of my items are relisted: I only choose the best, most expesive ones (about 1.000 to 1.200) and relist them "as similar" quite often, at least once a week.