Strong Demand for Eclipse Glasses Generates Huge Profits for Online Sellers
Tracking sales of solar eclipse glass from top ecommerce merchants indicate strong demand
outstripping supply, and late surges in prices per unit.
SellerCloud, an integrated ecommerce management provider, reported aggregated sales data for eclipse glasses
sold through its network in anticipation of the solar eclipse which will be visible throughout the continental
United States on August 21.
The data shows how retailers profited handsomely on the surging demand for these glasses, with prices rising
sharply as the date of the eclipse drew closer.
On Monday, August 21, people in North America will be able to see a solar eclipse. Since looking directly at
the sun causes serious eye damage, viewers must use special eclipse glasses made with protective solar filters.
As the eclipse approaches, the spike in demand for the glasses has led the price of a pair of eclipse glasses to
increase nearly twentyfold in a matter of weeks. A 10 pack of these paper glasses, which were selling for
around $8 as recently as the end of July, has now skyrocketed to $159.00.
The frames of eclipse glasses are made of cardboard, and the lenses are made of a special solar film that must comply with the current safety standard, ISO 12312-2. The cost of making a pair of eclipse glasses ranges
between 30 and 70 cents. According to data collected by SellerCloud from actual sales by users of its program,
the average retail price per pair of eclipse glasses sold was $7.15.
SellerCloud’s CEO Jeremy Greenberg noted how the surprisingly strong demand took many of his sellers by
surprise. “Originally, our customers had listed these glasses cheaply, knowing that there would be lots of sellers
competing for these listings. But the demand grew so quickly, that there simply wasn’t enough of these glasses,
and the prices skyrocketed in response to the intense demand.” He noted that most of the sales through his
network occurred either on Amazon or the merchant’s own website.
The selling price of these glasses varied greatly, depending if the user purchased them in single units or in
multi-packs. Those buying just one paid on average $20 per pair, but buying them in 10-packs resulted in a
much lower price of just $3.50 a pair. Most of the pairs were sold as 10-packs. The data also showed that using
the keywords “eclipse” and “glasses” in the product listing helped boost sales, and the inclusion of ISO
certification in the title.
The August 21 eclipse will be the first time a total eclipse of the sun has been visible in the continental United
States since 1979. Not everyone in the contiguous United States will be able to see the event as a total eclipse,
though. A total solar eclipse will be visible in a band that stretches across North America from Oregon
southeast to South Carolina, covering just 16% of the country. People outside this area will be able to see a
partial eclipse, which also requires the use of special glasses to view safely. The next total solar eclipse visible
in North America won’t occur until 2024.
