eBay... Did you know?

[jbaakko]

So, I've missed a few things...

Starting Feb 20th, eBay is changing policies. Allot more then I realized...

Feedback:
-Multiple ratings count towards your total now :D
-Sellers can no longer leave Neg or Neutral :mad:
-Buyers cannot leave Neg until after 3 days :confused:

Fees:
-Insertion fee, -$.05 now only $.15 :D
-Gallery free, :D
-Final Value fee, going up to 8.75% for the first $25, 3.25% of the $25-100 range... :mad: :mad:

-eBay stores FVF up to 12%! :eek:

Some people are planning to boycott starting the 20th. We'll see what happens. I'm reviewing my options.

[Steve B]

if you can't leave neg or neutral some sellers will use this to there advantage and mess people around, it's a good deterant as it is, i don't buy from anyone with neg feedback full stop, should be interesting....

[CanuckMark]

Steve, only sellers cannot leave negatives. Buyers still can. It is a bit more involved than that - sellers still do have tools available to them to deal with bad buyers.

As a buyer, I can see what they're trying to stop. I've had more than a few auctions where the seller has held the feedback as ransom and it isn't right. I ALWAYS pay immediately after the close of the auction and otherwise do my part as a buyer, so there's no reason the seller shouldn't leave a positive immediately unless they think there is a reason the sale will not go well. In every case where I've had problems, that has been the case.

IMO, it is a good change, but I can certainly see why sellers would not think so.

Mark

[jbaakko]

I agree with Mark, I hate when sellers hold feedback as a ransom. I even say so in my auction terms. When I sell something, I leave feedback as soon as I ship.

The big issue in my mind here, is, as a seller, we can no longer quickly identify a problem buyer. I think that eBay might be better off doing something to the effect of having a transactions log to go with feedback. Plus keep the current feedback system, just add a blocker, to keep the opposite party from seeing any feedback left in the transaction until after they've left theirs, thus eliminating retaliatory feedback. I also feel that removing the neg-neutral from buyer's feedback, caters to bad buyers, making it easier for them to screw other people.

I contacted eBay customer support and recommended they re-look this thing, possibly implementing my though of the hide until both complete idea, and adding the possibility of removing Neg from the sellers options, UNLESS they complete a NPB. Thus making it, so that if we (as a seller) have a problem, we still can leave a neutral, which has not positive of negative impact on your feedback, yet still allowing use to properly represent the transaction.

I personally have a few neutrals and Negs as a buyer, for slow payments, and they're well warranted, and I hate to see them go, as they're a truthful representation of the transaction, which is what eBay is trying to accomplish.

[AGGRO]

Who's brillant idea was it to alter the feedback system? It seems they are going backwards instead of progressing. This plain sucks!!! :mad:

[Steve B]

As a seller i have been sorley tempted to leave neg feedback after being messed around for upto a month without payment for an item, i normally leave neutral, and another issue is when they change there mind about buying stuff after winning it, i go through the non paying bidder crap and after waiting for an eternity to get the free credit for re listing the item i then leave neg feedback, and make sure they get a non paying bidder strike aginst them

[JeffShultz]

My only problem with the feedback system is that it should have required the seller to enter their feedback first.

Too many sellers waited to give me feedback on my payment (usually immediate) until after I'd left them feedback on the delivery.

I felt a bit like a hostage in that situation.

[wheeler1963]

I have the other problem. As a seller, I leave feedback as soon as I'm paid. Then I wait and wait and wait for a return feedback. I've got over 30 auctions that I still haven't gotten feedback from. And I know they have their items because I always use Delivery Conformation and can track the items.

[jbaakko]

http://www.sellersfeedbackrights.org

[CanuckMark]

It's great to hear the thoughts here from sellers. In all honesty it is easy for me as a buyer to say this is a good change, but I can sympatize with a seller's point of view.

It's funny about payment. I am a HUGE procrastinator (heck, I work for the government :) ) but even so when I win an auction I pay immediately (unless I am away from the comp when the auction closes). I guess I kinda want to get my new toy ASAP. :) As a seller though, it would really bug me if someone won my auction then waited forever to pay.

Mark

[CBCNSfan]

I quit when everyone else was making more off my stuff than I was, especially Canada Post.
Have a lot of junk now but I'm happier about it. When I have enough I'll rent a table at a train show. :D

Cheers Willis

[CanuckMark]

I quit when everyone else was making more off my stuff than I was, especially Canada Post.
Have a lot of junk now but I'm happier about it. When I have enough I'll rent a table at a train show. :D

Cheers Willis

I agree totally with both your points! EBay and us suckers keep USPS and CP in business. And, after just returning from a train show this aft, some of these guys at the tables must be on crack with the prices they want. Waaaay better deals on EBay (for the stuff I'm after anyway).

Mark

[CBCNSfan]

some of these guys at the tables must be on crack with the prices they want.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/LadyNibbs.gif yep came across one of those an old Tyco 630 (not too bad but well played with)
$45, I just laughed and walked away.
Yep some are but then again there were buys I got that no way would be beat on ebay plus the postage. When I needed Tycos for my C630s ebay was the place to get them, I have more than enough now.

Cheers Willis

[jbaakko]

My main reason for sticking with eBay is the deals I get. If I could find Undec Blue Box Gullwing Dash 9's anywhere else for $35 ($45 with shipping if I buy one, I usually get 2 or 3) and under, I'd got there.

I just wish eBay would realize there screw up with this whole feedback thing.

[OldGettysk]

Just my falling two cents , I find ebay just like anywhere else . You can window shop or just walk on . As a buyer no one is holding a gun to your head to bid on something . It's the wave of today's shopper. Convenience . Just like the malls killed downtown USA and elsewhere . Ebay in a way has killed off malls and some of the smaller retailers. Where is the old Montgomery & Ward Catalog ? Some day ebay will be replaced by something better and more convenient . As far as selling , It's the same deal . If you want to sell something , it's a way to reach alot of people with your product. Do you thing people are going to come to your garage sale to see all your items for sale ? I always figure my ebay and paypal fees in the cost of selling . If it doesn't sell for what I want it comes off and don't go back on . How many of you people will boycott ebay and use UBid ? just thuoght I would ask !

[CBCNSfan]

How many of you people will boycott ebay and use UBid ? just thuoght I would ask !
Hi Paul, in truth I don't boycott any of them, it's just that having to use Canada Post the shipping usually costs as much or more that the item,, heck I couldn't even sell to a Canadian let alone someone in the US ie. Winning bid = $15 shipping $25 if your lucky, that's the sort of thing so why bother. If I won an auction in the US and if it was over $20 I'd have to pay a tax of 14% plus $5 more to the Post Office for collecting the tax (service charge for pee poor service). Less frustrating to just abstain from it all.

Cheers Willis

[CBCNSfan]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/smbusiness/ebay_strike_update.fsb/index.htm?section=money_topstories

EBay seller boycott set to start Monday
Ebay sellers plan a weeklong strike to protest changes to the site's fee, search and feedback policies.

There yuh! Go :D and me being neutral :rolleyes: I wonder how many will join in or pull their auctions.

Willis

[CanuckMark]

...If I won an auction in the US and if it was over $20 I'd have to pay a tax of 14% plus $5 more to the Post Office for collecting the tax (service charge for pee poor service)...

Yeah, and that's the cheapest possible way to do it for us in Canada. Try UPS - they use their own broker and charge an obscene amount in "broker fees". Had a 23 dollar item get charged nearly 50 bucks in duties/taxes on top of the actual shipping charges!

But back to Josh's original post...I understood from the EBay bulletin on this subject that sellers had some new tools at their disposal regarding bad buyers - something like history they can look up during the auction. Anyone know anything about that?

Mark

[jbaakko]

The "tools" remain the same, file an unpaid item if not paid, though I think they'll make it public how many unpaid items the buyer has had now...

[OldGettysk]

Like I said . Does anyone use the rival sites like Ubid ? If they are going to gear it up to power sellers the power sellers can have the site . Doesn't make much sense for an occasional seller to try and sell on there .I agree with you fellas from Canada . Seems like our two Goverments are sure trying to make us unfriendly neighbors with all the new regulations that are being imposed .

[CBCNSfan]

Seems like our two Goverments are sure trying to make us unfriendly neighbors with all the new regulations that are being imposed

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/304521
And there was another about the US re x-raying luggage on flights from Canada and passengers missing their connection flights.
What Tee's me off, is they will let in those gangsters from Europe, Asia, Thugs from the mid east and Africa and give them all the rights we don't have or need unless you're a criminal. If a tourist from the USA had a DUI when he/she was a teen ager they turn them back, Sheesh what a country.
Willis

[OldGettysk]

Your right I have had friends turned away at the border for past DUIS . Along our river which runs between our two countries we have cameras set up watching the river to make sure no one tries to cross that way. Next thing you know we will be building a long wall like Bush wants to build between us and Mexico . Suprised we don't have more coast guard patrols nowadays .