eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

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Princess Susi
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eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by Princess Susi » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:40 pm

Looks like eBay is having trouble again! They are sticking it to the sellers once more. Sad...I can't wait til Google gets their auction site up and running, I think many sellers will RUN to the new site and leave eBay in a cloud of dust.

Susi


Ebay sellers plan a weeklong strike to protest changes to the site's fee, search and feedback policies.

CHANGES AT EBAY

(FORTUNE Small Business) -- Activists opposed to eBay's (EBAY, Fortune 500) upcoming fee and policy changes are readying for a weeklong site boycott starting on Monday, with buyers and sellers waiting to see if this strike will succeed where past protests have failed.

The boycott, planned to run Feb. 18 - 25, is scheduled to overlap eBay's Feb. 20 rollout of significant changes announced last month.

Sellers say eBay's new policies are likely to cost them more money, but what's really inspired an outpouring of wrath is an adjustment to eBay's feedback system: sellers will no longer be able to leave negative commentary about their buyers. Critics say that will leave sellers vulnerable to negligent bidders and scammers.

"You get bad buyers as often as you get bad sellers," said M. Owens, a Severn, Md.-based seller of high-end dolls that typical go for several hundred dollars each. On such an expensive transaction, having a buyer cause trouble - by, for example, disputing the transaction and requesting a credit-card chargeback after they've already received their merchandise - can be financially devastating, she said.

Owens, who plans to participate in the boycott and avoid buying or selling on eBay next week, is also worried about the impact of a change to eBay's "best match" search algorithm, one of the least-publicized aspects of the upcoming changes. That search method, which will become eBay's default next month, favors sellers with high and detailed customer-satisfaction ratings. Low-volume sellers, like Owens, say this puts them at a disadvantage by burying their listings.

EBay spokesman Usher Lieberman said the company is taking a wait-and-see approach to the boycott talk

"At this point it's still premature for us to speculate," Lieberman said. "We're empathetic with our sellers and understand that they're concerned, and that some of them object to some of the changes we're implementing. On the other hand, we think we have very good reasons for what we're doing."

Rival sites court eBay sellers
EBay has no plans for listing-fee discounts or other special promotions next week to combat a potential boycott-related drop in listings, Lieberman said. This week, eBay ran a one-day discounted listing fee special offer on Wednesday, a move that increased listings on the site that day from around 12 million to 16 million.

That special offer was not prompted by the groundswell of seller discontent about the upcoming changes, according to Lieberman.

"We shouldn't be reading anything into that," he said. "We're always testing the price elasticity of our market."

Whether or not the planned boycott will be successful in affecting eBay's bottom line remains to be seen, but auction veterans say this degree of seller backlash to eBay fee hikes and other changes is unprecedented.

"I've been getting about 400 e-mails an hour," said Valerie Lennert, an Anaheim, Calif., doll-clothing merchant who became an unofficial spokeswoman for the boycott after posting a call-to-arms video on Google (GOOG, Fortune 500)'s YouTube.

Past eBay boycott attempts have fizzled, and this one may too, Lennert acknowledged. With millions of individuals selling on eBay, gaining critical mass for any organized action is extremely challenging. But simply getting eBay's attention is a worthy accomplishment, she said.

"There are a lot of people who are really upset, and if we choose to go somewhere else as a group, there won't be an eBay anymore," she said. "We don't think eBay understands that. They think they're invincible, and they don't seem to listen to what we need. Even if listings don't go down, we're reached the main goal: to let them know how upset we are. I'm pretty sure they know that at this point."


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CBeilby
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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by CBeilby » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:51 pm

With regards to the change in the feedback system, the problem is that while EBay is doing this the wrong way, they're doing it for the right reason. More and more sellers today refuse to leave feedback before the buyer, and instead hover around, waiting to see if they get positive feedback. Many of those that do get negative feedback will then leave retaliatory feedback even if it's unwarranted due to a good buyer paying promptly. I was a victim of this some years back when I bought some gaming miniatures advertised in mint condition. I payed promptly (indeed, as soon as I won the auction, as I tend to do,) but found that the minis were covered in lead rot (a common problem in the older minis produced before the phasing out of lead in the casting process.) I left negative feedback stating that the items were not in the condition advertised. This resulted in the ONLY negative feedback I have received in my nearly seven years as an EBay member. Even currently, I'm dealing with one of these sellers. I got an email a few weeks ago urging me to leave feedback first (something I never do.)



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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by vixen101485 » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:52 pm

I checked on something someone was selling last nite(cant afford it, just a funny auction) and they have the new format up.....EWWWW...big, cluttered and have to keep linking and scrolling. BLEH! The main item page is HUGE!

The no negative feedback thing is stupid, why bother having it at all. I havent tried the search on there yet. I cant find it on the page is why.

I have sold a few things on EBAY (like 4...lol) and bought a some over time but I think with the new fees, I will check out ETSY (I think that is how it is spelled) Word on the net is that it is the best alternative for now.



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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by CBeilby » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:56 pm

vixen101485 wrote: The no negative feedback thing is stupid, why bother having it at all.
In spite of my story above, I do agree. What EBay should have done was instead rewritten their system so that sellers MUST leave feedback first.



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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by vixen101485 » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:56 pm

CBeilby wrote:With regards to the change in the feedback system, the problem is that while EBay is doing this the wrong way, they're doing it for the right reason. More and more sellers today refuse to leave feedback before the buyer, and instead hover around, waiting to see if they get positive feedback. Many of those that do get negative feedback will then leave retaliatory feedback even if it's unwarranted due to a good buyer paying promptly. I was a victim of this some years back when I bought some gaming miniatures advertised in mint condition. I payed promptly (indeed, as soon as I won the auction, as I tend to do,) but found that the minis were covered in lead rot (a common problem in the older minis produced before the phasing out of lead in the casting process.) I left negative feedback stating that the items were not in the condition advertised. This resulted in the ONLY negative feedback I have received in my nearly seven years as an EBay member. Even currently, I'm dealing with one of these sellers. I got an email a few weeks ago urging me to leave feedback first (something I never do.)
Good point about why the feedback thing. People like to play, "he called me a name, so I am gonna call him one back"
I cant stand when you buy something and they want feedback right off. I havent got my freakin' item yet! How can I give you feedback on something I dont have? YEESH



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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by vixen101485 » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:59 pm

CBeilby wrote:In spite of my story above, I do agree. What EBay should have done was instead rewritten their system so that sellers MUST leave feedback first.
But that would be easy and make sense :rolleyes:



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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by Princess Susi » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:12 pm

vixen101485 wrote:I checked on something someone was selling last nite(cant afford it, just a funny auction) and they have the new format up.....EWWWW...big, cluttered and have to keep linking and scrolling. BLEH! The main item page is HUGE!

The no negative feedback thing is stupid, why bother having it at all. I havent tried the search on there yet. I cant find it on the page is why.

I have sold a few things on EBAY (like 4...lol) and bought a some over time but I think with the new fees, I will check out ETSY (I think that is how it is spelled) Word on the net is that it is the best alternative for now.
Lots of sellers are moving their auctions to ETSY and some other sites for now.
CBeilby wrote:In spite of my story above, I do agree. What EBay should have done was instead rewritten their system so that sellers MUST leave feedback first.
I do agree that feedback for a buyer SHOULD be left when the buyer pays promptly and has no issues, it should be positive. If a seller has a problem with a buyer they should neg them. But I do not think a seller should wait for their feedback until the buyer gives them feedback. That part is not fair. But not to allow the seller to give ANY negs EVER???? That is ridiculous. That puts my 100% rating as a buyer on the same level as a cheat, whiner, thief and fraud. If a seller cannot let other sellers know about these people that screw the sellers, and they get good feedback or no feedback, that is unfair. There are many fraudulent buyers that win auction after auction just to set up the seller for big fees and they never intend to buy in the first place or the ones who win an item and then lie to get their money back, that it did not come or was the wrong item and the new 21 day hold is gonna screw the seller out of the item and the money. There WILL be buyers that do this because they will be able to get away with it, now that they know the game they can play with ebay's system. It sucks. I am NOT a seller and only have bought there and I have only certain sellers I buy from, so I know my sellers. They are friends that I have met and we do business in a good way. I have had a few bad deals, but I now make sure that I KNOW more about the seller when I bid on anew seller's item. I have been ripped off once by a seller who was cagey and did it to many people at the same time. I am careful now who I buy from. And usually I build a relationship with my sellers.
I just think some of the things they are doing are wrong and it is gonna hurt a lot of people who depend on ebay for their money. Google better get that auction site up VERY quickly. They have a huge opportunity right now. And many sellers WILL desert ebay for other auction sites as they are doing now. I have recieved emails from some of my sellers who have given me the address of their new auction site. They have moved because they cannot afford to let eBay make more money off of their item than they make. And that does happen! The new CEO has NO respect for the sellers and he is a jerk. :mad:
There are threads and news all over the internet today about this boycott. I heard it on our local news. The news is spreading.
sues


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Ms. Matterhorn
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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by Ms. Matterhorn » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:15 pm

I agree! DH and I got screwed by a non-payer once and then got stuck with tickets we had to give away at the last minute and lost money. Sellers should be able to alert other sellers to deadbeat buyers. That is only fair.


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Princess Susi
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Re: eBay is screwing the sellers again!!!

Post by Princess Susi » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:36 pm

Polar33 wrote:I've done a fair amount of selling on eBay (and completely support the boycott even though I believe it will do no good), and I have to agree that the feedback system needs change. However I've been hosed a few times buy buyers leaving negative feedback for things that could have been easily resolved, and even once a buyer trying to scam me by claiming that everything arrived damaged, but wasn't willing to return the item to prove it. Before the incidents I blindly left feedback after payment, but I have learned since then that the transaction does not end at the payment, it ends after the item is received and I know that the buyer is satisfied. I adjusted my feedback practice to leave feedback after about two weeks after the item was delivered (to give ample time for any complaints to arise), and haven't had problems since.

I wish eBay would adopt a system where you could edit your feedback over the course of the transaction. The transaction can easily change from good to bad, so why not the feedback?

Anyway, the thing that's really got me ticked off is that they are boasting that they are lowering their listing fees while covertly raising their final value fees. Disguising an overall 3-5% fee increase as a decrease just insulting to the intelligence of the people who have made the site as big as it is.
I like your idea of being able to adjust feedback and I hear you about the people claiming one thing, but not wanting to return the *broken* item. I have received several items broken, (by the mail service!), usually Disney figurines or snowglobes (those are fun, the box is all wet!). I have ALWAYS offered to return the items and some have asked me to and I always do. Others just give me the credit and I toss the broken thing. I have never had a problem, because I work with my sellers on issues. That is what every buyer SHOULD do. I have been scared off now from selling because of some of the horror stories my pin seller friends have told me, and now because I only see eBay reaming the sellers even more. And with another postage hike coming up, sellers are gonna get reamed even more for higher shipping costs! It is not their fault!
And you are right, telling everyone they are decreasing fees when in reality you are gonna get hit harder at the end for the final price fee, it is insulting. As I said, they are not only biting the hand that feeds them, they are chewing it off. I see more people have gone to ETSY. One of my sellers emailed again and has already listed over there. It is not auction, but items sold for a set price like Amazon. There are more sites as well that sellers are flocking to. It sucks. The new CEO has zero respect for any of the ebay participants, sellers and buyers. He says they are nothing but "a bunch of noise". What a jag. They pay his salary. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. I hope that this boycott does something. I fear it will not be enough, until a better auction site comes along (GO GOOGLE!!!!!!) and sellers leave in droves, leaving ebay nothing more than a skeleton. It could happen when a new site comes and it will.
I feel for the sellers who are getting reamed with nothing they can do except NOT sell anymore and that is NOT an option for some. They would have to go find a job and in the case of those like the mother with 3 kids who can stay home and watch the kids and make a living selling on ebay, it is gonna hurt them big time. I have been watching the message boards over there today. There is a LOT of support for the boycott, but when I look at the auctions, there are still items coming up every second and new ones being listed.
Sues


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