EcommerceBytes-Update, Number 114 - March 07, 2004 - ISSN 1528-6703 Previous |
Letters from Readers
Regarding article about ChannelAdvisor price increase: I don't know if you can see the message boards at Channel Advisor, but many faithful clients are upset beyond belief. For many, their new rates have made them the most expensive auction management program and there is a mass exodus taking place.
Regards,
Laura
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Hi Ina,
It would be cool if AuctionBytes could start an "eBay Suggestions Box." People could vote/comment on the suggestions. Let me start:
Ability for sellers to restrict bidding for auctions at or above $500 (that is with minimum bids and reserves of this price or higher) to users with a minimum feedback and/or Months as a member of eBay.
For example, look at what the knucklehead bidder did in this auction. My terms (in extremely large bold) specify one must have a minimum feedback of 4 and be a registered use for 6 months. Bidder is neither. I know that eBay would not want to automate/implement this for low priced auctions.... so $500 makes sense since this is the same threshold that they suggest Escrow for....
Cheers,
Brian
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Hi Ina,
I noticed a recent article in which you were talking about eBay increasing the length of the description field to 55 characters. The source of this enhancement offered by eBay was provided by iOffer which increased the length of the description field from 50 to 55 characters some time ago.
Sincerely,
Jason
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I saw your article and felt I should inform you that it's a futile attempt to report anyone suspected of shill bidding to Ebay. I have done so many times, as I auction many of my items in the computer category, and I can tell you that nothing is ever done to these people.
The shill bidders continually spread themselves thickly over most of the high-end item categories. I will tell you from my experience with these sellers, and I would venture to say, that 98% of ALL sellers in the high priced categories, such as computers, laptops, and vehicles are shill bidding to the extreme that it's obvious to everyone.
The reasons why nothing is done when reported is due to the fact that these are great and mighty "power sellers". Why should Ebay care if they shill bid or not? The bulk of their profits are from those same exact people!
Meanwhile, shill bidders have nothing to lose, including their own auction. All they do is write the sellers fees off at tax time. Think about it.
Being a new seller to Ebay, I have gone in with "stars in my eyes" but now leave with my eyes wide open. Because these "shillers" clog up the auctions with their unfair practices, honest sellers become less noticed. Their active auctions have less exposure than they would if these shady sellers were suspended and their auctions closed. As soon as my inventory is sold, I am leaving Ebay, at least in this particular category as shilling is an accepted practice to Ebay.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Ebay adds insult to injury by turning their heads and refusing to do what is right, all the while laughing at the honest sellers, all the way to thier bank!
It's a shame that I am the only one who's not afraid to voice my opinion against the wonderful Ebay, but I think it's high time we make Ebay take full responsibility for the actions of these fraudulent sellers and we should insist that Ebay create and maintain an honest and fair playing field for everyone!
Thank you,
Laurie
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Imagine my surprise when I found a 102 year old article entitled "Alligator Hunting in Louisiana" which had been published in a Century magazine. But I was startled when Ebay suspended me for trying to sell the article without explanation only saying that the article was "offensive material". The only thing I can guess is that alligator hunting is banned somewhere and EBay has it on a list. (I had previously been warned about selling offensive material when I placed a picture of Goring giving the salute at his wedding which can not be sold anywhere except the United States and I listed it to be sold international, because of EBay rules which I accepted and never placed another on. So, please advise me what to do. Is there a way, a seller can submit his listings to EBay to clear them first? Why not? Maybe, all of us who have had this trouble should seek clearance of our items from EBay to avoid this trouble. What do you think? Thanks,
Tom
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Hi
Do you know anyone at eBay that would be able to say whether eBay Germany will do a free listing day anytime soon (perhaps sometime this century!)? eBay Germany hasn't done a FLD in over a year, maybe longer and I think it's ridiculous that eBay USA, eBay UK and eBay Canada have FLD's quite often but eBay Germany doesn't!
Mark
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Hi Ina - Let me just say first of all that I enjoy each Sunday's AuctionBytes newsletter and read it faithfully.
Now, my request is this. I sell on Ebay, so I ship a lot of packages USPS & FedEx home delivery. Just about anything over 5 pounds goes FedEx rather than USPS. I have searched high and low and I want, no NEED! a clear package sealing tape that equals the USPS Priority Mail tape and have tried many kinds, but haven't found anything comparable.
Priority Mail tape is very thin, slightly stretchy, sticks to EVERYTHING (even packages in my freezer, but don't tell the USPS that please!) and has a chocolate smell to it, so it must be the glue they use.
Even the highly touted Scotch 3M tape doesn't compare. It would be worth paying a little more to be able to know that my packages wouldn't come open on the way. I boxed up some items one night and had them ready to ship the next day, only to find that the tape had come off my packages overnight! I live in Florida on the water, so it is more humid here than where most people live. But I'm also sure that it's not always rain-free when my packages are being shipped.
Maybe if you don't know or can't find this out about the brand of tape the USPS uses as Priority Mail tape, you could ask it in AuctionBytes? Even the USPS clear tape at their counter is not the same kind of tape.
Thanks
Laura
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