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.
You can also read the AuctionBytes blog, which has a place for reader comments under every posting (http://blog.auctionbytes.com).
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Hi Ina.
I'm writing about the complaint that almost everyone has about being charged a fee from PayPal on shipping
There is no reason why they should be excluded. We pay a fee based on what is charged to PayPal. Period. If we were our own merchant and had the ability to collect our payment through an individual's credit card, you can bet that Visa or MasterCard or American Express or Discover, or whatever, is going to charge the merchant the fee for the total charge - including shipping. Why can't people understand that?
There are so many issues with both eBay and PayPal that are legitimate complaints. Why bring up stuff that isn't? I think we would all be better off if we focused on the really bad issues, like the DSR's, no negative feedback, or no checks or money orders. Those are worth fighting about.
Katie
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Ina,
Have other ebay sellers reported a signifigant downtown in sales in October vs last Oct 07? We have noticed 50% decline in sales-
(Please do NOT put our name associated with any figures)
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Hi Ina
Thanks - I notice from the news that President-elect Obama wants to launch a stimulus package for small business to revitalise the economy - personally, in financial times like these, I think the actions of eBay and Paypal should be brought to his attention, with the message that if he can reverse many of eBay's changes from the last 24 months, there are 1.3 million small businesses in the US who can self-stimulate without further government assistance.
That said, I am also coming to support the calls for PayPal regulation under the various banking laws that keep getting mentioned in blog comments on AuctionBytes. All of these glitches and errors hurting small traders are similar to the policies and glitches punishing small sellers on eBay - co-incidence? Maybe, but I'm not too charitable to attributing co-incidence anymore regarding eBay situations - they are too concerted, too mono-directional, and too under-apologised for (eBay Inc's communications to paying customers have been attrocious this year regarding problems).
Regards
Garry
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Ina, even though the new enforced postage rates went into effect last month, I noticed they hadn't ended my listings. Looks like they started to just about an hour ago. Well, gotta go; gotta change 1000 listings, not because I have the wrong postage, but because Priority is listed first and media mail second, and that breaks a rule.
Thanks for all your great work,
Lily
Follow up:
Can I expand on this a little? Yes, ebay has really slowed down a lot for us. We've been full time sellers since 2001.
We may re-evaluate these listings as they expire. We've realized that with fixed-price at .15 (after the holiday fee sale) we could put 500 books on fixed-price for the same price we have 1200 in our store, with better exposure.
I've heard that in some countries, I forget where, ebay is discontinuing stores. Will they here? While we explore other sale avenues besides ebay, we may just close ours.
Also want to mention that Turbo-Lister won't give me the .05 fixed price promotion fee with free subtitle, so all season I must work manually. I don't trust the automated listing to give it to me either.
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Re: "You've Got Changes: AOL Drops Photo-Hosting Options"
Link
"Hometown AOL, a service that hosted Web sites for AOL customers, closed down October 31. The AOL Pictures photo sharing site is going away December 31"
while aol sent an email about aol pictures, they gave NO warning about hometown where all my ebay pictures were hosted. i wondered what was going on with aol today, but didn't know that they were GONE until greg's article. while i have back ups they are a mess of old and new and i would have liked to have had the opportunity to have downloaded what was up there for an easier transfer. instead no warning, just deleted.
if it ain't ebay, it's something else...
robert
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Re: "eBay to Remove Negs for Sellers Impacted by PayPal eCheck Glitch"
Link to story
Hi Ina,
I can almost predict what Ebay/Paypal will reply to in regards to the DSR ratings. Ebay will claim that all DSR ratings are anonymous and they will not be able to distinguish the e-check ratings that have been left. It is just so completely frustrating that Ebay views this solely as a Paypal Issue. (As you saw from their email sent to me.) I previously worked at a bank for over 12 years..and we used 3rd party vendors (like TYME for example) but we always informed our customers when there were issues with those services. We did not expect the vendor to contact our customers. That's just good customer service. Some EBAY is extremely LACKING. They enforce near impossible standards on sellers without impossing the same standards on their own company. This company has seemed to forgotten that without sellers you will have no buyers & vice versa.
Sorry to rant away on you. I know you must be very busy!
Thank you so much for all your help & getting the information out there! Keep up the good work! :o)
Sincerely,
Trisha
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Hello Ina:
Putting 2 + 2 together I am guessing that you receive Antique Week Newspapers. In this weeks issue 11-10-2008 there is a fantastic article on page 3 about "why collectors enjoy why they collect". Kinda big to print fully in one of your venues, I believe a condensed version would be great to all collectors and their friends that do not receive AW.
Respectfully,
Robert
Note from the Editor: I did indeed read the article in Antique Week written by C. Dianne Zweig, a psychotherapist, kitschy kitchen collector, and the author of several books on collecting. You can read more from Dianne on her website. Thanks, Robert!
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Hello.
Thank you as always for taking care of we sellers that currently still put up with the manure from the new Walmart team running ebay. I am trying to stay positive. I have read when other people have posted that they shot screen shots. It was helpful to remember this tonight.
I just got a message from a customer wanting to pay with a money order. I have been listing and revising listings for quite a while and getting red flags for payment acceptance violations. The warning says "we will be removing any listings that offer personal checks or money orders January 15.2009."
I just got a question through ebay. The customer wants to send a money order. I told her I would and that we could no longer advertise that we did. I asked what it shows on her end. I then looked again and shot some screen shots. They have completely removed everything but "paypal accepted". I can provide screen shots...
I just got another response from this customer. She said:
"It just says that you do not accept checks and no foreign money orders. I have run across this about the money orders, I bought some XXXXX from a ebay seller. I had asked her if she took money orders and she said she would have to check because of the new rules. She said that ebay said she could take money orders at her own risk. She told me after 5 years she has never had any trouble so she said yes. I put her money order in the mail yesterday. I will buy the XXX right now and send your money order tomorrow. Thanks so Much!!! "
Imagine a seller having a risk TAKING a money order. Is the risk in getting slaughtered by ebay? Thank you Ina and David for being the therapist we sellers need to play this monopoly game.
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Hi Ina,
A few more problems to add to the ever increasing list of failures at eBay.
A buyer bought 2 identical items in error from me. I sent a "we agree not to complete the transaction" on one of them, the customer agreed, I received the confirmation from eBay. Well the transaction is still "on the books" I sent a modified invoice for just one of the items but eBay won't let him pay for one they both come up! What a royal pain in the butt!!!
I tried to make a "best offer" on an item from a seller I have a great relationship with. We have bought and sold from each other over the past 5 years. Well when I went to confirm the offer I got this message from eBay...
"Unfortunately, this seller has decided that you are not permitted to place best offer on their listings. You may contact the seller via the Ask Seller Questions feature if you want additional details.
Please note: You may not use other eBay accounts to place best offer on this seller's listings. Doing so may result in your indefinite suspension from eBay."
Not surprisingly the seller is pissed that this has happened (as I am not on his block list) and if eBay doesn't straighten it out I guess we will just do the deal off of eBay.
Ina, what are they (eBay) thinking??????
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Hi
Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing wierd dsr results again. Mine were all 4.96 just a few weeks ago now they have all dropped dramatically to 4.8 with 1 at 4.7 but every feedback I have recieved in the last few weeks have been glowing reviews with no a hint of discontent ???? If I did not know better I would thing ebay is altering them to avoid higher discounts since they are doubling them if you offer free shipping which I am. Anyone else having a problem with this ?
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Hello Ina
I am a big fan of yours and read your blog every day. I am writing because every month at this time my DSR's and/or my search standing changes/lowers for no apparent reason. I have had a Raised search standing all month until yesterday morning when it was lowered to Standard. This could have happened due to DSR or feedback changes except that I haven't had a single feedback in 10 days. That in itself is weird. Last month it went to Lowered just before fees were due. I posted it to the PS board and others are complaining too. Could you write about this?
Donna
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You mentioned in your article on e-Commerce Guide that some "diamond level sellers" might be hitting the eBay site as soon as this month, in time for the Christmas selling season, and that it might effect clothing and electronics sellers. You might find eBay's latest witch hunt interesting.
The number of clothing sellers who are being placed on brand restrictions is increasing daily. Cruise the boards, you'll find plenty of posts. The restrictions are being leveled on sellers with low AND high feedback, low AND high DSRs - there's no pattern.
However, is it's not the high end brands you'd expect due to recent lawsuits - Vuiton, Chanel, Tiffany. No, the restrictions - which kicked in to overdrive about 3 weeks ago - are for mid-level brands that aren't usually counterfeited (who counterfeits Columbia, Old Navy or Gap, for heavens sake?).
The restriction period is for 30-90 days, with 90 days becoming more popular lately. Sellers hit with 90 day restrictions won't be able to sell these brands during the peak holiday selling season. In the past, a seller could request a review of their account and often the restriction was lifted. In the past two weeks, most sellers posting on the boards that the reply to their request for review is to contact eBay in xx days for review again. And eBay is not lifting the restriction. Nor is eBay telling a seller how many they can sell before a brand is restricted (eBay says scammers would figure out how to work the system).
It's becoming a major PITA for clothing sellers. You don't know you've been brand restricted until you complete the listing and attempt to post it - then the ban hits. It also seems to be triggered by editing a brand listing, although that might actually be a legitimate glitch.
I've seen some posts on the other boards, but really can't say what items besides clothing brands are being cracked down on.
Here are links to two eBay members who posted lists of brands triggering restrictions:
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=cockytoo
http://blogs.ebay.com/fashion*boulevard/entry/Secret-List-of-Most-Counterfeited-Brands/_W0QQidZ77655012
A few of the restriction discussions on the Boards:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?messageID=520550931&forumID=143&x#520550931
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?messageID=520563055&forumID=7&x#520563055
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?messageID=520443881&forumID=7&x#520443881
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?messageID=520590517&forumID=7&x#520590517
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=520021250&start=0
It will be interesting to see which retailers end up on the site. I sell only plus size clothing and have not (yet) been hit with a restriction. I don't know if that's why I haven't been hit with a restriction yet or not - perhaps no plus retailers are participating in Operation Catalog (wouldn't surprise me, many of them already paid fees and are listed at several plus size shopping referral sites).
I'm not sure if any of this is of use to you, or if me and my fellow clothing sellers are just being excessively paranoid, but I thought I'd pass it on. Lately, the only time eBay seems to respond to anything is when your publication discloses the problem. There's still no announcement on the customized invoice "glitch" you disclosed, for example.
Anyway, keep up the good work! Thanks!
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Hi Ina -
Here's a great topic for AuctionBytes if you're not already aware of it.
Did you know that eBay is restricting sellers from listing designer merchandise? Brands such as Ralph Lauren, Columbia, Gap, etc. are systematically being limited. If you are currently listing these name brands and eBay feels you have too many the system stops you from either entering a new listing or doing a relist. eBay refuses to tell us PowerSellers what brands are included or the number of items. I was stopped last week from adding Ralph Lauren and I had less than 20 RL items listed. Yesterday I was stopped from adding Columbia and I only had 6 listings.
My eBay id is - . You can check me out at - . You'll see that I'm an impeccable seller. High feedback and high DSR scores. Isn't this wonderful of eBay!!! Not only are they impacting full time sellers like myself before CHRISTMAS but how about the buyers. Let's see. If the buyer can't find what they're looking for I bet they're gonna go somewhere else to find it. And how about eBay? They just announced a huge layoff yesterday. It amazes me that they can make this announcement and think nothing of losing money by not allowing legitimate items to be listed. They claim they are cracking down on fraud. What a crock!!! Nothing like being guilty until proven innocent.
If you have time and can investigate this issue for AuctionBytes it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!
Dorothy
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Ina, I've been a fan of your for several years. I receive your newsletter and enjoy it very much!
I own an eBay consignment store in Michigan. (ebay name casharoundthehouse)
Michigan has been in a depression for a number of months and I'm swamped with consignment items.
In your next newsletters, please comment on eBay sales (drop in volume or prices) as the economy worsens.
How much are = items selling for as compared with a year ago. That type of comparison would be helpfull.
I talked with an auctioneer who holds live auctions & he says that prices are down about 20% compared with last year. Are others finding the same type of drop?
Thanks
RJ
Cash Around the House LLC.
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Ina, I couldn't list a collectible (tin sign) weighing 3 lbs because I got an error message "you must designate a fixed rate shipping carrier". I wrote Ebay asking how can I do that when shipping to Zone 1 would be $5.20 and to Zone 8 would be $11.50, and I have no way of knowing in which zone the buyer-to-be might live. Four days later - no answer from Ebay, so I wrote again. Four more days pass - no answer. So apparently Ebay has another new policy... just ignore emails with questions about their new policy.
PS: I sent the below message to you. Since then I received an email back from Ebay telling me to use "live help". I did and got back and canned answer that didn't even relate to my question. I wrote back explaining that and Ebay wrote back to use "live help" for quick response. I wrote again and got the canned "it may take up to 72 hours..."
Am I still living in the past where eventually you might get an answer from Ebay. Or is customer service just totally over with no response at all? What's the status with Ebay?
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Locating one or more "marketing experts", university online commerce professors... to comment on what is happening to Ebay and its apparent breakdown in "customer service." My theory is that Ebay does what it does because it does not have to deal with REAL PEOPLE, face to face... that the phenomenon of e-commerce is new (uncharted territory) and some companies don't feel they have to follow the old model of "the customer is always right". (ergo - out of sight - out of mind)
As a crusty old conservative though, I fear asking the government to come in and "fix it". Be careful what you wish for.
Ray
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Hi Ina - I noticed last night when doing searches that unless I'm missing something eBay has removed
the RSS feed symbol from the browser bars.
For example - in the past if I did a search like "disney magnet" then I could get a feed anytime a Disney
magnet went up for sale on the site - the symbol is now gone and I can't subscribe to one.
I hadn't noticed anyone talking about this yet but did a few searches this afternoon and it's still not back.
I enjoy your site!
Glenn
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Here's an item from Stores Board at eBay in this thread.
FREE SHIPPING is apparently working against sellers. The Google Base Store Connector does not recognize the Free Shipping attribute so any of our items with Free Shipping cannot be loaded through the Store Connector.
Attention eBay Technical or Stores Team: If you want us to continue using free shipping, how about fixing this IMPORTANT GLITCH. Here is the error message I get on ALL my items with Free Shipping when using the Store Connector:
error type="data" field="shipping.price" reason="Invalid shipping option. The price is required for a shipping attribute."
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Hi Ina, you have answered my emails in the past. This is in reference to a forum I just posted on the powersellers forum area. I am wondering if you have seen this, and maybe is something these companies can fix...even if they end up charging on it. Here is the forum, discussion which I hope explains my concern.
Has any of you check to see how shopping.com and dealtime.com is hurting your internet sales?
Just today I was searching for a part on the internet, and found the part on shopping.com and Dealtime.com and it showed that was listed on my eBay store. Thought it was nice, but looking further...well its not nice at all. I was shocked to see that the feedback they have my store tied to does not relate to my sales. These are not people that I have sold to, and most of them are very negative, from people that have purchased items on the internet which have no relation to what we sell. Both of these sites pickup random feedbacks and add them to the buyers ratings.
I called Ebay's powerseller support, and they told me that ebay has recently purchased shopping.com and dealtime.com but they don't know what's happening there. They gave me a phone number to call shopping.com. I called but there's no answer, you select any number on the phone and it gives you a recording and then a "god-bye" ... :o)
This bugs me...here we are trying to make eBay work, doing what ever it takes to keep the customer happy and our DSR as high as possible, and they come up with two sites that will destroy your efforts and there's no way to contact them. Well this is a misrepresentation of our efforts and our ebay store.
Has any one of you had this problem?
Dave
