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: "From the Editor" (March 4, 2007)
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y207/m03/abu0186/s01

Hi Ina,
It made me giggle to read you noticed the clock missing at the PO. I think ours was gone last year or the year before. I basically did the same double-take you did wondering if I needed to reduce my meds....hehehehehe....I then began looking around at stores and offices everywhere...no clocks anymore. I asked and it was pretty universal at they took them down to prevent people from clock watching. The claim is it will reduce the irate customer thing. I also suspect in some stores it's to keep people in the store longer thus a better chance to spend more.

Me, I never even wear a watch. I stopped about 25 years ago and have yet to miss it...and I am never late either but I seem to enjoy my time more. Or at least I have the time to enjoy myself now.
Smiles from Sunny SoCal...
Robert

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Re: "From the Editor" (March 4, 2007)
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y207/m03/abu0186/s01

Hi Ina!
Lets see....
Uniform appearance,
Focus on the service, not the clock
Isn't this how casinos operate?
The post office should install slot machines in the lobbies and then mailers won't complain about having to wait so long in line.
Chuck

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Hi Ina,
We are shooting star powersellers ( herwoldallas ) who pride ourselves in our customer service. Here I am again with more thoughts/frustrations about the new proposed eBay feedback policy.

1) COMMUNICATION There are a large percentage of buyers who are AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, Earthlink, etc. or who have their Spam Filters set so high that important emails go to bulk mail or spam filters. How can eBay let these people rate sellers on communications when the emails are sent, but wind up in bulk mail or spam folders? We use eBay's own auction management system (Blackthorne Pro) that we pay eBay a nice bit of money for each month for the "privilege" of using and that we use for emails. These are the emails that many times get filtered out and sent to spam or bulk mail. The buyers don't even think (or want to go to the trouble) to check their bulk mail or spam folder every day for important emails.

2) TIMELY SHIPPING We typically ship the same day or within a day or two of receiving Paypal payments or money orders. We do hold checks several days before shipping to give the checks time to clear. We can control WHEN we get our shipments to the Post Office, but once there, we have NO CONTROL on how long the USPS takes to deliver the packages. We also have no control on International packages or if they are held up in customs. So, how can eBay let buyers rate sellers on something that sellers have no control over.

3) SHIPPING/HANDLING CHARGES We are professional sellers and do not have the time to go dumpster diving for packaging. We sell collectibles that have survived the test of time-we feel it is our duty to package them so that they survive the USPS. These items are light so most are sent first class rather than Priority Mail so we have to buy our packaging materials. Some buyers even send us specific packaging instructions (some have even insisted that their post card or brochure be put into 2 plastic bags and then shipped in a box) but want the shipping for an amount that doesn't even cover the actual postage, much less the cost of the packaging. We do not make a profit on s/h, but we do like to cover the cost of our packaging.

How can eBay think that this new feedback policy can be fair and accurate?
Thanks for listening!!
Martha

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Ina,
I used your market place for an ad, I was pleased with the traffic it send to my store front, I will sign up annually as soon as I get a credit card gateway set-up in addition to PayPal. I have your web site link on my ebay about me page and also on my store. Thanks again for all the great info you provide.

I have very few listing left on ebay, I have had it!, but it's great for driving traffic to my store away from ebay. I drive about 80 hits a day from my ebay site to my store just by offering a few low price auctions on ebay with a link to my store front on my about me page, works great and I save $100's in listings fees and I make a much better mark-up. Your link has been on my about me page for about a year. Many ebayer's have thanked me for your web site.
Have a Great Day,
Rick

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Re: "eBay Charges Sellers for Typos, Says Search Works"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m02/i26/s01

Hi Ina,
I am not having any problems at the moment, but then again I haven't posted any significant numbers due to being busy with other endeavors including a highly active position with ebay user base with issues. BUT OTHER'S CONTINUE TO BE PLAGUED WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS (all with disappearing auctions or those which never materialize.

Here is a disgusting, atrocious and ridiculous underground crime tactic response to eBay's lack of response in the right direction. This is what you get now when you list an auction:

Attention Seller:
"You are about to have your listing placed on the eBay site. Your listing will be searchable by item number and available in My eBay. Your listing however may not be immediately searchable by using keyword or category search until a number of hours later. For this reason, eBay cannot guarantee exact listing durations with respect to availability of keyword or category search. By clicking the Submit button, you accept these conditions."

I think this needs to be publicized. I am no attorney, but it is quite clear that eBay by virtue and definition of this legal binder, have now offered to guarantee absolutely ZERO visibility to any auction or storefront listings, thus making it legal for them to continue doing what they were doing in my case and other's who are having other disappearing auction issues as well (these numbers appear to be significant). So now they can legally "take the money and run" and offer NOTHING OF VALUE in return.

Griff came out the day of the last Town Hall meeting and a made a post in the Technical Support Discussion Forum soon following, asking those who are having issues to send in auction numbers so eBay can address and investigate. There has been no responses since then and the issue remains unresolved for the other 99.9% of the user base. It's as though they found me as the scape goat with the "shit" issue which was still abhorrent by the manner in which they offered absolutely no notification and simply accepted my payment. This in itself has yet to be resolved either.

I would like to discuss this further with you if you like,
Sincerely,
Sam Mindel

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Hi Ina,
Sorry for the interruptive email but I had to say this to someone ... eBay has become the Bush administration of the online auction world.
ed