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.
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Re: "eBay Changes Feedback, Cracks Down on Seller Non-Performance"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m08/i17/s01
Ina,
I'm sure you realize this really is a gamers paradise now. When you weight more to one side than another (ie..one side is more likely than another to win) without evening it up with "odds".. you have a situation where it would be advantageous for one side.
In this case, because all the onus is now on the seller, as a buyer - ODDS are in my favor. Its like playing blackjack where your first card is always an ace. Instead of the 50%house / 50%player...you end up at 65% player / 35 house.
Knowing what I know, I could begin to systematically purchase items from sellers who are statistically at risk, and pretty much force them to refund me (product isn't as described). In most cases the seller will tell me to keep my purchases under 30 bucks, (as they don't want to lose more in shipping). I could make a living reselling items I stole from sellers on eBay. Now, the angle is that I'd need to keep getting new accounts, and I couldn't do it very often...maybe steal 3-4 items a month (better to hit experienced sellers too, less likely to report me to eBay)..I could also drive off all my competition.
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Hi Ina,
Normally I am a stay in the background kindof gal; but now that Ebay has constructively destroyed my selling ids I feel I have no choice; I have gone thru the whole process of trying to contact them (but they are not normal as other corporations and do not have live people to talk to); when you get a response you get a canned response.
Funny enough I don't even know why I am compelled to write you, but to say that people who made ebay (such as my little self) are getting pooped on left and right like a firing squad lately. I wonder if perhaps besides peoples threats of class action suits, maybe just one complaint should be made to the Attorney General in San Jose.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
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Re: "eBay Reveals Details of Seller Non-Performance Criteria"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m08/i30/s01
In the article "eBay Reveals Details of Seller Non-Performance Criteria" the following quote was attributed to Talgo but it doesn't make any sense. Doesn't she mean to say low-volume sellers with more than 2 negative feedback...:
Low-volume sellers: Low-volume sellers are those with no more than 2 negative feedback, no neutral feedback, and less than $3000 sales volume over a 90-day period, would typically receive a 14-day full selling restriction. After the 14-day period has passed, selling privileges will be automatically reinstated. (As with all selling restrictions, the seller can continue to bid and communicate.)
The structure of the sentence is so bad that it is hard to know what this person is trying to say.
Note from the Editor: See the AuctionBytes Blog post from 8/31/07:
http://tinyurl.com/25gt8z
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You know that seems just rich don't you think, that they would open up this policy that theoretically discriminates against a class of sellers, those who are not making a certain "quota". This opens up known retaliation ploy, which is to get a few other bidders to "gang" up on another seller.
The fear of retaliation has always been present, but ebay has such lax registration requirements that its very easy for someone to have their boyfriend also buy from a seller and then neg back to back.
It concerns me that they're spiffing up the front end of the process, but leaving a major gap in the back end, which is ebay strengthening their registration process and maybe limiting the number of accounts a person can have.
The flip side, that tells me if I see a new China seller, if I want them gone, I just need to neg them & get someone else to do it also really quick before they make x amount of sales. Sounds like vigilantism , I suppose ebay likes that type of food chain.
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After selling on eBay for 3 years, I think eBay has lost its mind. Forever T & S suspended sellers for having off-site links. Today while searching for a Toshiba stylus on eBay, I was dumbfounded to see 3 huge links in the middle of the page, offering the same item that several poor eBay sellers had paid to list. For less ! Live links ! to other sites ! including AMAZON !!
This is nuts....guess that's why all of the execs sold off their options. Inflated numbers in last quarters report, declining listings, sell off stock buy multiple key people at eBay and Paypal. Pretty suspicious ????
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Hi Ina....below is a link to eBay announcement of PeSa in Australia...
Isn't this a first for eBay to announce or endorse an outside group? Will it happen here, in the US?
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/au/200708211730522.html
thanks
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Ina,
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed a real rash of NPBs and NARUs lately?
Pam
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Ina,
Amazon no longer accepted USPS Delivery Confirmation that shows delivered as proof of delivery on A-to-Z claims. Here is the email I received with a response from Jeff's office quoting the USPS website. Amazon's Response is below.
This is a recent change as of 6/18:
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help-page.html/102-5404622-5987325?ie=UTF8&itemID=200154590
Product(s) Shipped with Delivery Confirmation Tracking - Tracking Shows Delivery and Buyer Claims Item Not Received
The A-to-z Guarantee team will investigate the dispute. Amazon may contact the buyer to confirm non-receipt. If no receipt is confirmed, the merchant may still be held liable for lack of fulfillment -
Note from the Editor: Full policy is found here:
http://www.amazonsellercommunity.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=136494
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Ina:
Were you aware of eBay's Policy on Suggestions? They don't accept them unless they are "requested" by eBay. How absurd is this for a major corporation?
We are constantly hearing that they are making changes because the Marketplace was requesting it...Well, HOW?? If you can't make suggestions??
It sounds like: "If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you"
Absolutely absurd...
Bob
Note from Editor: Bob wrote to eBay with a suggestion on how to make eBay safer, below is an excerpt from eBay's response to him:
"Please understand that eBay welcomes comments from members of our Community, and we appreciate your suggestions. This type of communication helps us improve our services and meet your needs.
However, our company policy doesn't allow us to accept suggestions unless we specifically request them. We hope that you understand that this policy can avoid future misunderstandings if new products, services, and features developed internally by eBay employees seem similar or even identical to a member's idea."
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Re: "Spammers Harvest eBay Sellers' Email Addresses"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m08/i21/s02
Yes, that is very true, (your article on Ebay spam emails increases), and we get about 30-35 spam Ebay emails A DAY and send every single one to Ebay. They have done NOTHING about it, of course. Justb the usual cookie cutter responses.
We noticed it is mostly coming from CHINA, and a few from Germany, yet these may also be fake domiciles for these emails.
Don't expect Ebay to do anything constructive about it.
They are way too busy restricting Ebay sellers who have 1 or 2 negative feedbacks but have 10,000+ positives, LIKE US, for example.
Sincerely,
john
