How to View Competitors' Monthly Sales 2025

Competitor analysis is a critical component of successful e-commerce operations on eBay. Understanding competitors' monthly sales helps sellers identify market trends, optimize pricing strategies, and improve product listings. This article provides a structured approach to viewing competitors' monthly sales, covering the underlying logic, practical solutions, and common pitfalls based on real-world experiences.

Problem Scenario

Sellers often struggle to access accurate competitor sales data on eBay, which limits their ability to make informed decisions. Without this data, it's difficult to gauge market demand, adjust pricing, or refine marketing efforts.

• A Chinese seller selling smartwatches on eBay noticed that their sales were consistently lower than a top competitor, but they couldn’t determine why.
• The seller tried using third-party tools but found the data unreliable or incomplete.

Underlying Logic

Ebay does not provide direct access to competitor sales data in Seller Central. However, there are indirect methods to estimate competitor performance by analyzing listing activity, price changes, and traffic sources. These insights can help sellers understand market dynamics and position their products more effectively.

• Competitors with higher visibility and consistent pricing may have better search rankings.
• Changes in competitor listings can indicate shifts in demand or inventory levels.

Solution: Indirect Methods to View Competitor Sales Data

While direct competitor sales data isn't available, sellers can use the following methods to estimate performance:

• Search Bar Analysis: Use the eBay search bar to look up competitors’ listings and observe how often they appear in search results. A higher appearance rate suggests better visibility and potentially higher sales.
• Price Trends: Monitor competitors’ pricing changes over time. Frequent price drops may indicate a need for inventory clearance, while stable prices suggest strong demand.
• Listing Activity: Track how often competitors update their listings, add new variations, or respond to buyer inquiries. High activity often correlates with active sales.
• Third-Party Tools: Use tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, or eRank to analyze competitor performance indirectly. These tools aggregate data from various sources to provide insights into rankings, traffic, and potential sales volume.

Real-World Example: Using Third-Party Tools for Competitor Insights

A Chinese seller selling wireless earbuds used eRank to analyze a top competitor’s performance. They discovered that the competitor had a high rating and was frequently appearing in search results. By adjusting their own pricing and optimizing their product title and images, the seller increased their sales by 40% within two months.

Table: Estimated Monthly Sales Based on Ranking Position (Example)

Ranking Position	Estimated Monthly Sales	Monthly Revenue (Est.)
1st	500+	$2,500+
5th	300+	$1,500+
10th	200+	$1,000+
20th	100+	$500+

Pitfalls to Avoid

There are several common mistakes that sellers make when trying to view competitor sales data. Being aware of these can help avoid costly errors:

• Overreliance on Third-Party Tools: Some tools provide estimates rather than actual sales data. Always cross-check with internal metrics and eBay reports.
• Misinterpreting Visibility as Sales: A listing appearing high in search results doesn’t necessarily mean it has high sales. It could be due to optimized keywords or paid promotions.
• Ignoring Product Quality and Service: Even if a competitor has higher sales, it might be due to superior product quality or customer service, not just pricing or visibility.

Conclusion

While eBay does not provide direct access