Why eBay (and My Career) Will Survive the Recession

The Great Recession, as today’s financial crisis has come to be known as, is putting just about every family in America in a bind in one way or another.  Whether you’ve lost your home, or simply have had to cut back on expenses, the recession is hitting everyone regardless of their financial status.

And businesses are no different, either.  Some of the biggest businesses to take a hit from the recession are retail stores, since individuals and families alike are cutting back on extra expenses—and this pattern will hold steady even through the shopping frenzy that typically surrounds the holidays.  In fact, many experts predicted last week that holiday sales will decrease by at least a third.

But eBay has an advantage with its consumers that these other retail stores do not, and that is the fact that you can buy just about anything on eBay at a proven 20 to 60% discount of the price it would normally sell for anywhere else.  Because of this, eBay is one of the few businesses whose presence might actually increase in its market this year.

And, of course, eBay is the perfect spot to find rare and unique items for all of those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members.  So for the shopper on a budget, you have the opportunity to save money without sacrificing the quality of your gift on eBay—and these factors hold true in any shopping scenario, not just around the holidays.

So while other retail stores and their workers may be looking at losses and layoffs this year, eBay and its sellers and listing agents, like myself, will still be turning a profit and, therefore, we’ll still be thriving even before the recession lifts and the economy gets back on its feet.