Go to Current Issue

Auctionbytes-Update, Number 107 - November 16, 2003 - ISSN 1528-6703     Previous Story | Contents
	Letters from Readers By Ina Steiner AuctionBytes.com November 16, 2003 Reading AuctionBytes: Letters from Readers
Ebay modified something on their site on August 13 that affects some HTML characters. A disgruntled ebayer created this web page to help out other ebayers since ebay would not help at all: http://www.iris-inc.com/special.htm It's a VERY well written web page. Thanks Laura Beth ******** Regarding eBay's recent changes to Checkout reported in Newsflash http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y03/m11/i11/s01 Ina, I have complained to ebay about the "Pay Now" button on the invoice. I have many customers who do not understand the button. They feel like they shouldn't use the Paynow button if they are going to pay by check or money order. Therefore they send me an email and ask for my address. An extra step for them and for me. Why can't some other term be used? Regards, Steve ******** Hi, I am a subscriber to your online newsletter and also an ebay auction seller, but I think that having an eBay Store is the next logical step. Do you know where I can find info about the finer points of starting and running an ebay store? Ebay itself really doesn't explain it very well. Before I started my auction business I read several books on the subject and then I felt more confident about the whole thing. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks, Elaine Hi Elaine, I hope you enjoyed Nancy Hix' article about eBay Stores in today's issue, next issue she'll write about marketing your eBay Store. I've scouted around and found some additional information for you. First, here's the nuts & bolts of setting up an eBay store: http://dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-1966.html Second, here's an article about some things to watch out for: http://myezsale.com/cab/abu/y203/m07/mes0004/s05 More information about eBay Stores: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m08/abu0101/s02 And eBay's tips on driving traffic to eBay Stores: http://pages.ebay.com/community/chatter/2002Dec/Sub2.html And eBay is not the only storefront service, here's a chart of storefront services: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/pages/stores Good luck, Ina ******** Regarding last week's story about drop-off consignment stores http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m11/abu0106/s02 Ina- Well the first article about the upcoming franchise auction stores stopped me dead in my tracks this morning! My head is whirling with the thoughts funneling to a bottom line scenario and this is what I see: Picture a newly franchised "drop off" store in a local community. Picture it well managed and well run. Now here's the natural outcomes: Probably a decrease in household, private yard and garage sales. "Gee I can get big bucks if I sell it on ebay" scenario. Probably a decrease in potential sales to local shop merchants. "Gee I can get bigger bucks if I sell it on ebay" scenario. Probably a reduction in stronger collectibles going into local auction houses. "Gee I can get big bucks if I sell it on ebay" scenario. Reduced sales tax for local county. "Gee - it sold out of state" Probably a long term decline in overall business trading on the local level. And then people will sit around and say things like - "Gee is ebay slow this month".......... I already own a brick/mortar store and sell online. What I see as critical to the antiques & collectible business as a whole is keeping each of its parts healthy, viable and active. Without actual TRADING of merchandise, there will be no antiques & collectible trade. I think this is the danger that this proposed new business poses. In a way, I can equate it with the "Walmart-izing" of the American economy. One conglomerate, dominating the economics of an area is NOT good for the overall well being and vitality of the business community. The ripple effect can be subtle - and damaging! I'm from the old school I guess - and I shudder at the thought of seeing franchise operations in this particular field of business. I truly feel it's the uniqueness and insight of individual merchants that keeps the whole thing going in the first place. As always - Great newsletter! Barbara ******** Hello Ms. Steiner: I just read an article you wrote that appeared in AuctionBytes.com in February 2000. I've run into a problem involving E-Bay and BidPay. I'd like to get your feedback on possible recourse I might have. My wife ordered a PlayStation 2 about six weeks ago through E-Bay. It was ordered from an individual who identifies himself as Tony of TP Electronics. The cost of the PS2 was $140 and we paid for it through BidPay. Our understanding was that BidPay would hold the money until shipment was confirmed. We haven't received the PS2 and the money was paid out by BidPay to Tony. We've e-mailed Tony and he's giving us the run around. I suspect I'm out of luck because this is smelling a lot like a scam. However, E-bay did give the seller, Tony, a high rating and BidPay.com was supposed to "confirm" the shipment before disbursing the money. Do you have any suggestions? I'd appreciate any help you can give, even if it is only which authorities to contact to report this. Thanks, Best Regards, Brian Hi Brian, I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. BidPay is not an escrow service. It's the same as going to the bank and purchasing a money order, except you are buying it online. Also, this seller (whom eBay has suspended) had only 4 feedback points. eBay does not rate members, trading partners rate each other. Unfortunately, things can go wrong. When they do, it's important to follow up and report fraud to eBay and the authorities. See the AuctionBytes Fraud Resource Center for more information. http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/pages/fraud You should be covered under eBay's fraud protection plan. There are many honest hard-working people trading online, the bad apples make it harder for the rest of us. Prevention is best, so we should all stay alert when trading online! Ina ******** Regarding recent articles about sniping: Good morning: I only buy on ebay. I am not a seller. Sellers have rules for themselves and I have rules for myself as a buyer. I pay only after I have had direct email contact with the seller. I pay nothing through ebay directly. I almost always insist upon insurance that I am willing to pay for and I pay for nothing except by a money order. If a seller insists upon Paypal I never bid. If a seller does not email me directly (have never not been emailed directly), then I am afraid I would never pay. I treat ebay just the same as if I were standing in an auction house and bidding or if I were standing in the barnyard bidding. That is why I hate these various softwares available that allow for automatic last second bidding. To get around that, I now don't chase items like I used to. If I am constantly outbid, I just put a top on it and shut that auction out of my mind. If I win fine, if I don't my disappointment only lasts a short time. It is fun to bid against other bidders, but not fun to bid against software. I don't agree that just because the technolgy is there that we should use it. So, maybe in the future, I will leave this fun game that I have loved the past couple of years and go back to standing in the cold in the farmyard or bidding against Harriet or someone for the bottle I want at a real live auction. To me it is more about people than just how we can outsmart each other. Thanks for listening. Julie ******** Re: Article about ebay spamming (http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m11/abu0106/s03): I have been with ebay a long time and I have watched them go from a really great customer-based business too a soulless corporate blob. Too bad. It happens so often there must be one of the rules of the universe at work here. Thanks for such a great newsletter. Tim ******** Hello, I read your article about chargebacks http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m10/abu0105/s02, but I think it would have been of more interest to talk about how many sellers actually recover their money from the Seller Protection Program against chargeback claims. How well educated are the small time sellers of this chargeback? How sellers are encourage to upgrade their paypal accounts to Primier/Business account so they can accept credit cards and that they will be protected my Paypal's Seller Protection Program. I am currently in a dispute with a buyer and was not aware after having an account with paypal for 3 years that someone could after 2 months make a claim and get their money back. I more than likely will not get my item back either. I posted my situation on the ebay forums and you would be surprised at the amount of sellers who are not helped by the Seller Protection Program. Apparently if the claim is the item was not received a delivery confirmation can help you, but what protection does a seller have against a false claim of item not as described, not much. So your answer to Understanding Paypal and Credit Card Chargebacks should be how many sellers are aware of chargebacks, and how hard it is to recover your money and item. And is there a recourse for sellers?????? Cheryl ****************** If you agree or disagree with other readers, feel free to jump into the forums and speak your mind. That's what the forums are there for: http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/index.php