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Auctionbytes-Update, Number 103 - September 21, 2003 - ISSN 1528-6703
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Letters from Readers
September 21, 2003
PayPal Buyer Protection Program
In last week's Newsflash newsletter, we reported on PayPal's forthcoming Buyer Protection program to give "insurance" to eBay buyers who use PayPal to pay for their purchases. See article at: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y03/m09/i12/s03 . Cindy wrote in to say, "Did you ever think that if Paypal offered a (for ex) $25 fee per year for insurance, just like car insurance, they'd do better in the long run?
Another reader wrote:
This buyer protection deal with PayPal is really going to help the "dishonest" buyer who gets your goods and claim they are damaged. Like I just had with a gal who claimed the bracelet was "bent." I finally told her to mail it back and I would give her money back. People like this are going to make out "big time" with this PayPal deal! Just watch!
Pat
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NPBs and Retaliatory Feedback
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m09/abu0102/s08
Dear AuctionBytes:
Your articles are interesting, but Susan's comment: "Any seller can get the mailing address and phone number of a registered eBay user who has won a bid on their auction,..." needs to be corrected. Requesting contact information to get a telephone number of a NPB (non paying bidder) is great advice. Usually just pulling their contact information is enough to get someone to contact you if they are receiving your emails. However, when you pull contact information, you are supplied with your transaction partner's email address, [phone number], city and state. You are NOT provided with their mailing address.
Thanks for being a great information source,
Mona
Hello,
On the NPB and email issue, we use a service that allows us to actually track the email and tell if the email was received, when it was read, how many times, how long, forwarded etc. We get the report back via email. Take a look http://www.readnotify.com .
Now imagine your NPB telling you "I didn't get your email..." and the look on their face when you respond "You read it at xxxx for 10 minutes..."
Regards,
Dave
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Too Much eBay News
Hi David,
I assume every news update I get starts with eBay because of their size, but maybe I can get an email one day of news of other online auctions. There has got to be some other young companies doing something out there that is fresh and exciting? Thanks, Dan
Hi Dan,
We had stories about Checkfree and Bid4Assets in today's Newsflash. Those would be two eBay/PayPal alternatives. It's difficult to get the smaller sites to send us news on a regular basis, even though we encourage them strongly to do so. eBay has more announcements about promotions, features and policy changes than any other company in this industry.
Thanks for your comments, I'll copy Ina on this.
Regards,
David Steiner
********
eBay Stores
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m08/abu0101/s02
Hi,
I used to have an Ebay store and personally to me it is a waste of money. I have had up to 30 or 40 items at a time on Ebay with several just fixed price items. I can only account for 2 sales attributed to someone shopping the store in 8 months time. The main problem is people finding the store. It is much too limited in your ability to merchandise it and shape it to your needs. Your are always stuck with Ebay's philosophy on what the store should look like and what should be in or on it. I have reduced my auctions to minimal since the last fee increase,...
I would think that Ebay would be looking to make it easier for the participants as well as help increase your profits,... The people that made it successful are now made to pay more for Ebay's success and Ebay has become another in a long list of companies that puts the stockholders first and everyone else second,...
You can list an item as "no international sales." Ebay does not stop an international bid even though you state you don't accept them. The guy then refuses to pay the high cost of shipping and fires you a negative Feedback. How does that work? Please explain. It happens frequently, to myself once. Ebay refuses to address the problem. Or how about a guy with 6 Negative Feedbacks, (that's right 6), knocksoff your auction last minute, refuses to pay and fires you a negative feedback. Ebay does nothing but says they'll investigate. You never get a result of the investigation. All these issues face the users with apparently no relief from Ebay. The Store issue is just another piece of the pie. You really wonder what Ebay thinks sometimes. One thing is for sure. If Ebay wishes to continue the growth level they appreciate, they will have to address these issues. In my way of thinking, they are leaving a huge opportunity for someone to come up with the proverbial better mousetrap,...
Bob
******************
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