Hi Ina,
I filed for extension for my 2003 Taxes. So instead of an April 15th filing date I have and August 15th Filing date.
I just went to my account status to see what fees I was charged in January of 2003 and found out that account balances only go back to February of 2003. Fortunately February does have my "previous balance" due included but it is possible that I have December 2002 fees mixed in with this invoice.
I think eBay should have a permanent history of fees and take into account that not everyone files by April 15th!
Brian
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Ina:
I enjoy reading your newsletter. It would be lovely to gain some insight on alternative auction sites. Perhaps even throw the question out to your audience to gain their insight on any new start-up auction sites (i.e., how are sales? listing fees?). I know eBay isn't the only auction site out there and wondered how people diversified their auctions sales.
Thanks and keep on writing!
Barbara
This is a great forum to discuss all auction sites (and services):
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=3
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Regarding July 21 AuctionBytes NewsFlash article
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m07/i21/s02
Hello!
The bank transfer problems are only part of the Paypal problems. I tried to print some shipping labels back on July 6th and 7th. I've used the new option before without problem, but could not get the label to print on the 6th. The cancel label function also did not work, and I ended up with no label, but my account charged. I was able to void that label and do a reprint, but was charged again for the same label.
I thought it might have been a temporary glitch, and tried again on the 7th. Again, no label, and the cancel option malfunctioned. I did not attempt a reprint, and voided the label.
Do I have a refund? Nope! Paypal gives themselves 14 days to refund on shipping labels, saying they need to verify that the label was never used. While that is excessive already (USPS allows 48 hours for refunds), I still have no refund. Both packages were delivered back on July 10th! But, I still have no refund on my account as of today, July 21st.
While the shipping label option was nice (and very convenient for printing first class labels with postage), the cost of the poor customer service is high! If Paypal had not worked out the process for refunding bad labels, they should not have rolled out the service.
I wish some other company (not owned by eBay!) would offer online payment processing in a similar fashion to Paypal (not money order sites) that eBay sellers could use more effectively.
They are also still taking up to 4 days for transfers to my bank account. While they state that as the norm, we've talked on the threads with other sellers. The high volume sellers often "miraculously" have their deposits the next business day, while the low volume or occasional sellers (such as myself) have to wait for their funds. I'd love to know what Paypal does with all the interest they receive while the funds are in some sort of holding pattern. I have written to PP before about this, and they blamed MY bank, saying that they must not be up to date on online banking. My bank was Wells Fargo! Ha! We recently changed banks to a small local one who also offers online banking. Funny - it still takes four business days for the deposit to be available!
While I like the convenience for payment processing for auction use, their lack of care about the smaller volume customer is really sad. It has only gotten worse (in my opinion) since being purchased by eBay.
Well, I better get off the soapbox for today! Thanks as always for a great newsletter!
Beth
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Hi Ina,
Just when you think Ebay can't make things worse than they've already managed to accomplish this year (the list of grievances is MASSIVE), they amend the FVF process and create a whole new firestorm among sellers. http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jsp?forum=87&thread=410204444&modified=1089871652665
Ebay is totally, inexplicably, and UNDENIABLY out of control and has managed to destroy the trust and simplicity of the site which made Ebay a pleasurable selling and buying experience.
I can't bring myself to continue listing and selling anymore on Ebay as there is no profit incentive anymore for a seller as well as the headaches it now entails to deal with NPB's, billing glitches, category destruction, etc..
It's becoming more clear to a growing and vocally resentful number of veteran sellers that Ebay has lost all credibility and respect of its core constituents. You're reading the UniteEbay Yahoo group and can see that Ebay is not only ruining long established businesses by all these ill thought out changes but destroying thousands of people's sole source of income in the process causing financial chaos among individuals who had depended upon Ebay for their livelihood.
I feel like I'm living in an Orwellian nightmare and from all indications, it's only going to become worse. Ebay has become a microcosm of the out of touch ivory tower United States government.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
Best regards,
Neil
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Thanks to the recent change to the item pages a user can no longer save an item page with their browser. It causes an error and the page cannot be saved. Another annoying "improvement" by eBay :(
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Hi Ina,
Congratulations. I just wanted to share my enthusiasm for your great newsletter. Ebay has enabled me to make a full time living from my beachfront apartment in Fortaleza, Brazil. Isn't globalization amazing!
all the best,
Thales
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Hi,
I'm a long time seller on ebay. Please look into eBay's new "Unpaid Item Disputes" agenda. By all appearances, to me it looks like a complete rip-off of sellers on eBay.
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have been receiving phony ebay emails for extra postage and I forwarded it to ebay spoof and this is the response. Since I am with AOL ...They have a free Spyware protection software which I installed and found that I had 2 programs on my computer with embedded programs. One for advertising and the other a very dangerous embedded keystroke and browser to spy on what I am doing online. I used the AOL Spyware Protection and stopped this invasion. I am really doubting everything I receive from PayPal and eBay at this point. I thought you would like to know of my experience on this matter. I know you have spoken about this problem, but the keystoke virus can wipe out our online banking accounts, Paypal, and all we have worked so hard to get by these crooks.
Thanks,
Carol
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Thank you, Ina, for bringing these to the "front." I have been going around and around with their "support" (????) for a week about items I listed, but did not appear among "peers" when a customer would search - Or in "Sellers Other Items"
Their retorts were that I hadn't listed correctly (!!!) but the worst: they did not even closely admit that they messed up. I finally fired off a "diplomatic" explanation to explain that the prospective BUYER IS KING - they are a VENUE - and we are mere SELLERS, who do our best to attract customers. Not catering to the buyer defeats everything eBay and we are working so hard to put into motion - and spend lots to accomplish.
I much enjoy your Flash and News - and have learned a lot from them. Thank you for doing such a great job keeping us informed. Bests to David, as well - he knows his stuff!!
Have a great day !!
Tom
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(Copy of letter sent to eBay)
Dear Staff,
I am at a loss trying to figure how I can receive a "final value fee" because of a "dead beat bidder" with your new system. There are no simple options for me to click as before. You now have a much more complex and "confusing" arrangement of options. Just like the new "my ebay" the minuses outweigh any pluses! Whatever happened with trying to "SIMPLIFY"? Instead, I see your webmasters going the other way. Not everybody has masters or doctorate degrees and the additional time . . . please respond.
Richie
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If you agree or disagree with other readers, feel free to jump into the forums and speak your mind.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/index.php
