In every issue, readers soundoff about issues important to them. From feedback to payment services, from fees to posting policies, AuctionBytes Soundoff gives you a chance to air your views.
Send your letter to the editor by emailing ina@auctionbytes.com with "Letters to the Editor Blog" in the subject line. (Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear.)
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Re: eBay Retires Picture Manager Photo-Hosting Service
I just found out Photobucket does not except AOL browser anymore. (Link)
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To the Editor: (Auctiva, eBay Pawns in the Game.)
I've always been a late bloomer and, true to form, only started using Auctiva listing services this year. That was a slightly ironic move as the number of listings on eBay has dropped to a bare minimum. Once a powerseller and store owner, I shifted my antiques/collectibles business sales into other venues. My business goal includes becoming eBay free!
Auctiva seemed like a nice way to spruce up the few listings remaining in eBay auction and fixed priced formats. But ... With the changes and favoritism of eBay towards basement bargain shopping for large commercial wholesalers, it is less and less attractive to list there. With Auctiva's push to a store selling venue and fee based service for eBay, it seems less attractive to use those services anymore also.
If I were a major billion dollar corporation trying to protect my retail interests, I would do everything in my power to dry up the secondary retail market. Chaos, instability and expense are 3 great tools. So it appears to this small business person, that the large corporates are winning the battle. Gobble, Gobble!
Barbara
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Dear Ina:
So I go in to do feedback for a seller last night, and GUESS WHAT?
It tells me right before the feedback (pos/neg) that "This Seller Offered Free Shipping on This Item." - Um NO, he didn't, and OF COURSE I don't mind, because I also don't believe in the tooth fairy, or the Easter rabbit. Shipping is NOT free, whether they offered not to "charge" you or not. (you paid for it in the price of the item, whether you think so or not, because shipping's not FREE.)
And it's been doing this intermittently on payments also, when you pay for more than one item, this shows up every so often. (YOU GOT FREE SHIPPING - and then at the bottom, it includes that seller's shipping in the total, making it look like the seller is ripping off the buyer)
If anyone wonders why the DSRs have been TANKING all of a sudden, this would be it. Can you imagine the buyer wondering GEE, I wonder why I DIDN'T get free shipping???" Sniff, sniff. And then SLAMMING the DSR score.
Apparently eBay is finding new and faster ways to make more money, by taking away our discounts.
I have consistently been in the 4.89 to 4.90 range until the last two weeks, now it's 4.72. Told them about it, but doncha know - it'll get fixed on about June 14th.
Nancy
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To the Editor:
I am becoming concerned with eBay's performance over the last year, and maybe you have answered this already, and I just have not seen it. I am aware the economy is taking a toll on many of us. But I am thinking that eBay site as a tool for sales/buy continue to drop. I am thinking that this is happening because of the numerous sites opening up all over the internet doing the same as eBay and therefore is thinning the eBay pool. Maybe there's just not that many buyers looking at eBay as the only source any more and therefore is getting harder as time goes on to sell on eBay.
Those of us that have placed the efforts and time on eBay sales are actually slowly coming to extinction, if we don't do other things. Is this the consensus of others or am I wrong to see this?
Thanks for your time.
David
http://stores.ebay.com/Tracktronics-Technologies
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