In every issue, readers soundoff about issues important to them. From feedback to payment services, from increased fees to posting policies, AuctionBytes Soundoff gives you a chance to air your views.
Re: One of the letters in the September 3, 2006 issue of AuctionBytes-Update by a reader ("Interesting article you wrote, but I will never knowingly buy from any eBay drop off shop. You should write an article on why,..."
http://auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y206/m09/abu0174/s08
I have to respond to this, Ina, as I so much dislike it when people lump something together. You know, all Ford's are crappy cars. All 3 story homes are poor energy users. In this case, all Drop Off Stores don't have a clue.
I own and operate a Drop Off store. I have never knowingly accepted any article that may be a fraudulent piece. If someone wrote me and told me that it was a fake, I would certainly do further research to determine whether or not it was. My reputation is much more important to me than any fee I might receive.
I DO NOT, I repeat, I DO NOT overcharge on shipping. I package and weight every item that I list. I charge the actual postage (using eBay's calculator), plus a $2.00 handling fee. I state very clearly in my auction TOS that I charge a $2.00 handling fee. I always combine packages whenever possible. Sometimes it just can't be done. But if I can, I will, as long as the second item is purchased within 7 days of the first item, and as long as the buyer tells me they are bidding on a second or third or fourth item, AND, as long as only one payment is made via Paypal.
There are several times when I have overcharged on postage. Whenever that happens, I ALWAYS refund the excess payment via Paypal. On the other hand, there are many times when I have undercharged for shipping, and I do not ask for additional funds, I just pay it out of my own pocket.
Personally, I think I write good descriptions of my items. I research on eBay and I research on the internet for whatever it is I am selling. I get as much information as I can from the owner.
I don't think I am an exception to the rule. I think the bad sellers are few and far between, they just get all the press.
JMHO
Katie
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Hi Ina,
Just found out something strange I thought I'd pass on to you. My APC UPS battery backup failed last night. I called APC this morning and was informed they do not honor the warranty on any of their items sold on eBay. They said I had to look to the eBay seller to honor the warranty.
They finally caved when I insisted on speaking with a supervisor and explained to her that the eBay seller I purchased the UPS from /was/ an APC Authorized Dealer. But I wonder how many claims they quench with that lame line about not honoring their products if purchased on eBay.
I think eBay may be interested to know this too, but I've no idea who I'd tell. Perhaps you might.
Ed
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Ina,
Can you help us somehow, some way? As usual, nobody at ebay is listening to us regarding their "new" test on search results. Just in time for the holiday sales to tank. Here's the link to the discussion, started by an ebay "pink":
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?threadID=1000338138&tstart=0&mod=1158184888433
Thanks in advance for your time.
Valerie
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Hello Ina,
I am a regular reader of your newsletter, and it is one of the few things I always check out. I have recently been reading of a number of sites offering comparison shopping opportunities, or "bargain" features. I realize this is an advantage for buyers, but it seems that it would be a disadvantage for sellers. It could result in only those items with the lowest prices getting the sales.
Most of the innovations being offered benefit the buyers, so it has become increasingly difficult for sellers to do well, as evidenced by the input you get from the readers. I wonder if there will ever be an innovation that benefits the sellers??? It is discouraging to see yet another feature that will drive prices down.
Thank you for providing a forum for us.
Regards,
Carol
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Hi Ina:
Have you had any complaints about HOW PAYPAL HAS changed things around....Now if a buyer pays you money and you did not know for paypal forgets to send an email or it gets held up in spam emails or goes to Junk you can not find the payment with out going through a bunch of steps.
boy why are they making this so hard I am not a computer geek and do not know how to even print out my statement now for my accountant at the end of the year and if buyers tell me they paid I can not find if they did or did not with the new way of doing things.
I can not believe I am the only one that does not like this new system. ALL EBAY WANTS YOU TO DO IS USE PAYPAL so they have you hooked. and now they hide your activity so you can view it.. OH Boy!.
rena
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Re: "eBay for Fun & Profit: Buying for Resale"
http://auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y206/m09/abu0174/s04
Re: buying on eBay to sell. I sell primarily toy & train collections purchased from responses to newspaper ads. However it is interesting to compare the number of items for sale during various seasons. The number of Hot Wheel Redlines or Lionel items is sometimes double in winter.
Unfortunately it is difficult to gather data because some sellers set high opening bids. If only everyone started their items at 9.99, then everything would sell and we could compare actual sales.
Without hard data I've concluded the best time to sell trains is Feb-Apr. Guys are inside thinking about hobbies.
Dave
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Hi Ina,
Yesterday, several of us from Ebay AU received a 'phone call or email banning us from posting on the boards. I have included a thread from Oztion so you can see what has happened.
http://www.oztion.com.au/Community/thread.aspx?tid=41143&t=SO
Also is a thread from Ebay RT
http://forums.ebay.com.au/thread.jspa?threadID=600029496&tstart=0&mod=1157728419967
We received a phone call from a rude Ebay rep accusing us of providing links in our listings to other auction sites - we have NEVER done this. This person also told us we had received 3 warnings - we have NEVER received one - ever. We have now been banned for 30 days from posting on the boards & threatened with being NARU'd if we try to post under another ID.
The rep's supposed reasons are an absolute lie. It looks as though it was a purge on sellers who don't agree with Ebay's latest moves. This is so wrong as we are supposed to have freedom of speech in this country, but the lies that came out of that Ebay rep's mouth made us all angrier than ever.
Ebay.AU are also messing with the search functions.
http://forums.ebay.com.au/thread.jspa?threadID=500029517&tstart=0&mod=1157747656620
Last week we listed 8 items in the same category - these were core listings. Sometimes 2 would show in searches, sometimes 6 - it varies each time the items are searched.
Ebay Au wonder why people are so angry when we have to put up with this.
Please would you post an article on what is happening here as we have no way else of making known Ebay's underhand tactics.
regards,
Christine
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Dear Ina,
I read and learned a lot from all your input today on the ongoing saga of stores v core auctions. The comments from sellers was most helpful in understanding the impact of all this.
The subject that has never been address by anyone that I can remember and what has affected a lot of people bidding on auctions is that darned snipe programme. It should never have been allowed, took the fun out of auctions because originally the "GAME" which any auction is, its a game between who wins by spending more money. The competition in this game was between two bidders-once it became a game between a mere mortal and a dammed machine and loosing for a mere 50c then the allure was gone. How do I know because so many bidders have told me-as a matter of a fact I myself has stopped bidding on auctions.
Regards to getting back to auctions, my sales slowed down so dramatically late July ( loaded 42 items, sold only 6) yet my store has done well since July when we first started. No I am not getting rich and I am sure once I do a financial report on really how much profit once I pay my typist and pay for Ebay will not be great, but while at home and my store is still open (season goes down in November, once we loose tourists) its a way of getting rid, and I emphasize, getting rid of old stock, cheap. If I sent it to a real auction house I would loose even more.
But again Ina, the snipe has done a lot of damage-and as that Australian seller, who you quoted some weeks back said, perhaps the allure of Ebay auctions has faded. I think Ebay has to come to grips with the fact that, everything has its day, fashions change as the antique business has (its been declining steadily for the last 6 or 7 years) and one must try something new instead of flogging a dead horse. I will be listing on auctions from now till Dec (as well as I still go to LA outdoor shows) and then I hope to launch something new in a food product. So we will see if auctions pick up. Thanks again for all your info.
Regards,
Shirley
