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,
Here is a quick follow up on Google Checkout..... You might want to check out the unhappy merchants on Google's Merchant Forum:

Link

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Re: "Cross Border Trade May Be eBay's Lost Opportunity"
Link

This is the same policy that Paypal has always had. Is there something new here? Paypal has ALWAYS allowed buyers 45 days to return the item for a refund...they don't even have to have a reason, as long as they return it, they get their refund. The buyer does have to pay the return postage, but the initial purchase price and initial shipping is always refunded. The only way to not have to refund a buyer was if the seller put in Red Letters and significantly larger than other text in the listing: SOLD AS-IS NOT RETURNABLE or SOLD FOR PARTS ONLY

And, even then, if you make statements saying that something works or partially works, then state sold As-Is and the item does not do what few functions you stated, the buyer still gets their money back.

This - of course - is not really spelled out anywhere on the paypal site, but any seller with a couple thousand transactions under their belt would have learned this first-hand.

And, it really is not much to complain about. Just state honestly if the item works or not, and if it does not work, let the buyer return it. That is the cost of doing business, re-list it with a better description of it's condition. Otherwise, sell everything as-is no returns and don't try to make it sound like it is a working item. You can't have it both ways. There are those who try to use the paypal red tape to get discounts and free stuff, but I always tell them to return the item in order to get their refund, and most drop the issue. Out of over 10,000 transactions on ebay/paypal I have had only 2 people that managed to get away something. There have been at least a dozen who I think TRIED to scam me a bit for a discount, but I pressed for them to return the item and they just dropped the issue.

But the real problem in all of this is PAYPAL and eBAY's refusal to SPELL OUT these policies...they seem to change with each employee you speak to on the phone...like CONFIRMED addresses, don't even get me started on that one...! PAYPAL tells buyers "oh, you can ship ANYWHERE you want" PAYPAL tells sellers "If you don't ship to the confirmed address, then you are on your own" Then leaves it to the Sellers to be the ones explaining Paypal policy to the Buyers and the Buyers thinking the sellers are trying to con them....dumb, dumb, dumb....
It gives me stress just thinking about it.
Judi

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This letter comes from a seller on Bonanzle.

Have you checked out our homepage? The content is chosen from collections of items users create in the hand picked list feature. If you haven't checked out our homepage you should it is rather stunning. Just click the logo to move through random collections to see a variety. They are random so sometimes you'll get the same twice in a row or a few clicks later, but definitely check it out.

The buy page has been redesigned for better navigation and appearance. Subscribing members can now submit 3 images to be featured on category pages, which makes a really nice first impression.

I've read a lot of talk about the Booth Chat feature, but nothing about the quick text feature. With quick text you can have conversation with anyone using an IM service anywhere on the site and as you move through the site, listings, editing just anywhere. This is a favorite of mine.

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Re: "eBay Strategy Revealed: Overstock Inventory from Diamond Liquidators"
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Excuse me Lorrie Norrington, but ebay was built by thousands of small sellers, selling mostly antiques & collectibles, not "the used segment of the secondary market."

I still sell some & earn a little to help supplement my regular job, but I've had to file 2 NPB's in the last month! I never used to have NPB's.

I bet Ms. Norrington doesn't have to worry about collecting $20, but some of us need that $20 for little stuff, like FOOD!

Thanks for allowing your readers to comment.

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Ina,
I didn't know if you would be interested or not, but I received a collection notice from Ebay last week for fees on a hi-jacked account. It is the second time the account has been hijacked. I had the financial information removed the first time, but it happened again. After I saw this article, MetroWestDailyNews.com I figured it might be a wide spread problem that started in October 2008.

My account was hijacked in October 2008, and the lady who wrote the article above had a fictitious account started in her name.

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If you need a timely topic for your next blog or newsletter, you might try asking eBay why they're ending seller listings for safe payment policy violations and letting high-profile listings remain.

About 10 of my listings were ended because my payment policy said I accepted PayPal and to "please email me for other payment options if you don't have a PayPal account". I don't agree with their reasoning that it violates the accepted payment policy, but it's their game so I'll play by their rules. And they did credit my listing fees, so I can't complain too loudly.

However, at the same time my listings were running with the above phrase, The Today Show has 3 high profile listings that blatantly state "We accept the following methods of payment: PayPal, cashier's check and bank wire transfer." The listings have been reported by multiple eBay users and yet eBay allows the listing to remain. The listing is through an auction service, so the direct non-profit seller exemption would not apply to this seller.

Gotta love the double standards on eBay.

Thanks!
Val

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Today I started doing something I have been meaning to day. I started to clean up my act on the web. I have registered and have links to tons of sites that I don't need, don't like and will never use ever. Fortunately I have always kept a list of everywhere I registered with my password and ID.

Why not start a movement to have everybody do the same. Right now lots of site are including dead wood in their statistics, especially eBay and I'd like to see all those IDs removed. It's also a smart thing to do these days. It cuts down on unwanted email and narrows exposure generally.

Just an idea....a call from AB for its readers to clean up their act might have some interesting results.

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Ina,
Just an FYI.... I read your article about incentives and loyalty programs. In my experience, wherein I generally separate my buying and selling accounts, I get many more coupons and discounts on my Buying account (which spends around $30-50k via eBay/PayPal) each year than I do my Gold Level Seller's account.
Hope that helps.

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Re: Kentucky Auctioneers Do Not Want to Limit eBay Sales

Hi Ina.
I'm an eBay seller in Kentucky. Originally, I wasn't too concerned with the latest auction legislation, but now I'm starting to side with the folks who see some bad intent. Can you put me in touch with anyone at eBay, or other concerned sellers, who are working this issue? Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Tim