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: "eBay Announces Proactive Fraud Reduction Policy"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m04/i11/s03
Hi Ina,
Just want to say this problem continues and needs as much publicity as possible because most sellers just are unaware. Unlike originally stated, Ebay is taking at least 6 hours to index most auctions. Not only is Ebay delaying auctions but they are indexing them minus the 6 or so hours and placing them in the time slot for 6 days 17 or so hours. We are missing most of the benefits from that vital first day of an auction! So, now sellers are paying for 7 days of auction time and getting 6 days 17 hours - sometimes even less. Many people have written to Bill Cobb but get canned replies as usual while we all continue to lose our vital first day of newly listed time. Many many sellers still aren't aware of the problem especially since the auctions show up in MyEbay immediately - though they are not searchable until they are finally indexed. I, for one, was totally unaware and couldn't imagine why my sales slumped and I was getting hits and bids on the last day of the auction instead of at the start! I hope you can help make sellers aware of this problem....it would be a big help.
Patricia
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"eBay Rolling Out Feedback 2.0 Worldwide"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m04/i26/s01
Hi Ina,
We Canadian eBayers are furious about the implementation of the new feedback system. Your article proves a valid argument: that Ebay does not listen to the majority of sellers when it comes to implementing new ideas/projects.
First of all, Canada Post rates are much higher on average than, and in comparison to, USPS rates. Inexperienced US eBayers who expect Canadian rates to be similar to US postal rates will judge us harshly using the new feedback system. While eBay encourages sellers to charge a handling fee, they have not been dutiful in eliminating those sellers whose fees are exorbitant. Some eBayers may think that we Canadians are guilty of fee avoidance by charging actual rates, not to mention the small handling fee some sellers charge to cover expenses. US buyers may expect Canadian postal rates to be the same as US rates, and will be disappointed when they receive their invoices.
Secondly, while both the US and Canada share a common border, Customs can, and does, delay packages for inspection at the border; something over which neither country's selllers have control. These delays effect delivery times, yet sellers on both sides of the border will be penalized by the new feedback system because of them.
Lastly, with the occasional glitches in Ebay's messaging system, communication has been and will continue to be hampered. Until these glitches are repaired, inexperienced buyers will rate seller's feedback in the area of communication poorly. As well, buyers who are not computer saavy often fail to check their e-mail "junk mail" folder, where some Ebay-generated messages have been filed. Because of this, buyers will unfairly negatively rate the seller's feedback in the area of communication.
The new feedback system unfairly penalizes Canadian sellers more than any other country. Shame on Ebay for not taking into consideration that although we are a part of North America, we are a completely separate country...and as such, Canadian sellers' issues - as well as the MAJORITY of all sellers polled - should have been taken into serious consideration before the implementation of the new feedback system...one which will greatly impact our businesses in a negative way.
Julie
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"eBay Rolling Out Feedback 2.0 Worldwide"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m04/i26/s01
Hi Ina,
Good Morning from Texas!!!
It's me again with my feelings about Feedback 2.0- and especially my thoughts about eBay once again doing something while not taking into account another impacting situation-i.e. the major revamp of the USPS rates and products taking place on May 14.
At my suggestion, we invited representatives to our eBabes and eMales eBay users group meeting this past Monday night. The new rates and rate classes are going to be confusing enough without letting the buyers come to the decision that sellers are charging too much for postage. Here is an example:
Buyer purchases a light item that has a value of $30.00 and weighs 3.5 ounces packaged. The buyer uses Paypal to pay for the item. In order to qualify for buyer protection, the item must have a delivery confirmation. There will now be 3 different first class rate choices for a 3.5 ounce item plus the choice of using Priority Mail so the package could have one of 4 different postage rates quoted ranging from 92 cents (doesn't qualify for dc), large envelope for $1.31, or $1.64 if the package doesn't qualify as a large envelope and must be shipped as a Parcel.
How many buyers are going to wonder why they were charged a s/h charge based on the $1.64 rate instead of the $1.31 or 92 cents and downgrade a seller for choosing a more expensive option that will make the package qualify for the delivery confirmation? And we haven't even touched Priority Mail yet or the International rate changes.
The we get to have fun with Priority Mail. Now, not only is rate going to be based on weight, but also size. So, since the seller is getting rated on s/h costs and packaging, how many sellers are going to package an item incorrectly to bring down the size of the package so that they don't get downgraded feedback on s/h costs? And if they properly package an item the buyer then stands the chance of being downgraded on s/h costs because the size of the package bumped it up to the higher postage rate.
So, now eBay is going to start letting buyers rate on an area that is soon going to have MAJOR changes that even the post office workers are going to have problems with and are going to need a significant amount of time to figure out!!
Then we get to another of my favorites-COMMUNICATION. If eBay is letting buyers rate sellers on communications, then eBay should prevent Yahoo, Hotmail, Earthlink, AOL email users plus those buyers too lazy to check bulk mail or spam folders from being able to leave a rating on communication. You can't imagine the number of people who say that they didn't receive our payment information and then we have to resend it again. Why should a person who has his/her SPAM FILTER set on HIGH so that important emails go to SPAM or BULK MAIL filters have the right to rate a seller on communications?
And that's my thoughts for the day!!!!
Thanks for listening,
Martha
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Re: eBay Scrambles Egg Sellers' Listings
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m04/i18/s02
Hi ~
I'm surprised I haven't seen anything in AuctionBytes about eBay's decision to not allow fragrance decants. This has caused great hardship as some eBayers, particularly those selling ONLY fragrance decants, have been effectively put out of business.
Some sellers received telephone notification from ebay of the new policy, others were left to find out for themselves. I took a pro-active stand and cancelled my auctions immediately, and then asked for my listing fees to be credited to my account. Ebay did provide me with the requested credits, and provided me with the following email:
The part that bothers me is the fact that they are refunding my listing fees as a "courtesy". They change the rules in the middle of the game, with NO advance notice, and they will refund my listings fees as a courtesy!!! PLEASE!
I just wanted to let you know that this is what is happening on ebay, in case you haven't already heard.
Virginia
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Re: "eBay "View Bids" Glitch Fixed"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m04/i20/s01
In regards to your article sent this AM, EBAY still has not fixed bid recognition in selling manager pro. This has been an ongoing problem for more than one week. The first and sometimes second bids don't get recognized. By the time one gets 3 bids, it does show up. Seems like that would be a simple matter to fix that program glitch.
Another glitch - when you combine items during invoicing, if the total is below $50, the insurance rate changes from $1.35 to $1.30 and has to be manually changed back to $1.35. Sellers are losing $.05 per transaction if they do not notice the discrepancy. Also, I am assuming, EBAY and paypal also lose on their total amount collected for fees as the total amount is also $.05 less.
I really enjoy your newsletter, blog, and site - they help me be more knowledgeable and up to date on the EBAY/internet process.
Sincerely,
Billie
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Hello Ina:
I enjoy reading the letters from all the contributors. I had a recent weird experience with an Ebay reply to a question. Ebay has (I thought) a standing request to report sellers that had exorbitant shipping fees. I found an item that I wished to bid on that the seller wanted $156.00 USD to send to the USA. It probably weighed about 2 pounds. I would guess a typical cost would have been about 20-25 dollars. So, I sent an email to Ebay about this item. The reply I received went against their (Ebay Policy) and they told me they have no control over what a seller charges and that I should work it out with the seller.
I thought they want us buyers to tell them about these ridiculous shipping costs if we saw them? Some times the seller makes a mistake in calculating postal costs; I did write the seller but he/she never returned a reply to me. Has any one else had this problem with Ebay?
Regards,
Bob
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Ina,
They'll need all the help they can get to fight Google's Checkout System. While we haven't signed up for it yet, we've read some of the users feedback of it on Google's message board, and it's largely positive.
Considering Yahoo's payment system folded and there is no other payment system that has the kind of negative feedback that rivals, if not exceeds, the positive feedback of Paypal, which includes plenty of lawsuits for mismanagement of funds, and fraud (we've been a party to three different lawsuits from both ebay and Paypal), they have a long road ahead of them. Ebay and Paypal have the better name recognition, but that only leads to more hacking and phishing on their sites.
Speaking of phishing, the best way to avoid that sort of thing is to create a separate e-mail JUST for ebay transactions and don't use it for anything else and don't make the e-mail public for any reason.
Our ebay account is a non-published e-mail, and we've never been phished, and that's how we know what's a BS mail and what isn't...when we receive mail about ebay or Paypal in an e-mail account not set up for it, then it's clearly a spoof mail.
Greg
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Re: "FREE Delivery Confirmation on USPS Priority Mail" (NOTE: This article is from 2001, this reader found it through a Google search! For up to date information on Delivery Confirmation, see http://digbig.com/4sswp.)
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y201/m09/abu0047/s04#s03
Please, do not try to advertise what is nothing but a fraud of the USPS. Priority Mail has no guarantees as to the delivery time and they even state that the "Usually two to three days" is not considered late until after the 15th day.
Also, the delivery confirmation has no reliability at all. I always thought that it assisted with the package by knowing where it is via the bar code. This is NOT TRUE! If it is not scanned at the shipping Post Office they don't even admit that they received it. The package or envelope is then never scanned again, for location until it arrives at it's destination, ONLY IF IT GETS THERE. There are no guarantees about anything concerning Priority Mail and it is nothing but a Marketing Ploy or Play on Words. When a package does get lost, which is happening at a greater rate than the past, The post office is of no assistance unless you want a shoulder to cry on and some of the representatives don't even have any type of bedside manner to even try to make you feel better.
It is very true that when you want assistance these employees, even if they want to help you, are at a loss for words, a loss for why it happens, a loss as to what to do and what is worse they can't help you and in some cases don't care to help you. But don't worry they are by far more well protected to make sure they have their jobs than most unions in the real world. I did say the real world because they finally will say that they are a Federal Employee and you can say or do anything you want and they don't even need to talk to you, even when they admit it is the USPS fault.
Some people put down all types of businesses and corporations across this great country but they would be out of business if any of them tried to run their business the way the USPS does for one of their primary products. I guess they are protected, I wish we were, the customers.
Larry
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Dear Ina,
I look forward to your news letter and read every issue. Everyone is always talking about USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. when it comes to shipping. How about we forget the 800lb. gorillas, and check out some of the smaller services for a change.
I buy woodworking supplies from Rockler.com, and they use Spee-Dee delivery. I started laughing when I first heard this, then I Googled them. They aren't available everywhere, but are reasonable and fast.
Their delivery person came to my house in a van (3/4 or 1 ton), not a 60,000lb. behemoth like UPS, which guzzles probably 50-55 gallons of diesel per day.
USPS has to come to almost every address every day anyhow, I don't understand why they can't outbid everyone. Maybe they should cut back on junk mail.
Any way, this was just a thought. Maybe we should give the small guy a chance, they will make more money and force the big guys to work a little harder at making shipments more affordable.
Regards,
Michael
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Hi Ina,
Did you know that AdamMale, a website that sells X-rated, gay-related items, IS NOW ACCEPTING PAYPAL??? Paypal is a payment option for this X-rated website, but does not allow itself to be accepted on its own parent company's (e-Bay's) website for the SAME type of items. What is up with that??? And in the past, before AdamMale was announced as accepting this new Paypal payment option, when I asked e-Bay about this, they stated it was a Paypal decision.
Why is it all right for Paypal to accept payments for an X-rated site, but not all right for Paypal to be used for sellers on e-Bay who sell X-rated items? I am mind-boggled over this.
Thanks for listening. I love and look forward to the e-mails from you. Keep up the great work!
Cordially,
Patricia
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Hi Ina,
Not sure if you heard about the growing vociferous protest against Ebay's plan to institute a new Sell Your Item 3 form? It's causing a great deal of concern among many Ebay sellers who are unable to use this soon to be mandated entry form for sellers who are unable to use it due to glitches and conflicts with the form....
http://www.petitiononline.com/nosyi/petition.html
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?forumID=143&threadID=1000368518
Best regards,
Neil
