eBay's Latest Screw-Up 89 comments
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Looking for something unique? You can’t find it on eBay (EBAY) anymore because of Donahoe’s latest disruptive innovation- eBay’s version of the game "hide & seek". Buyers are now expected to play and the only winner seems to be eBay.
On August 1, 2008 Jeff King, Sr. Director of eBay’s Finding Team posted the following:
In a nutshell, now our Finding technology can do the work of removing duplicates from search results, ensuring buyers have a good finding experience with plenty of variety and that sellers can list in whatever quantities and configuration that make the most sense to their business.
How does the new game work? A buyer types one or two keywords in the search box and then eBay uses Finding technology, a.k.a Best Match, to sort listings and determine which listings are duplicates. If Best Match thinks it found a duplicate – then the item disappears into a void because only one unique item per seller is allowed.
So what’s the problem? How could eBay possibly expect Best Match to tell the difference between similar items and identical items when eBay knows that Best Match has never worked since day one – otherwise they wouldn’t keep fixing it and millions of buyers & sellers wouldn’t keep complaining about it.
How will hide & seek impact buyers? Negatively. Buyers usually know what they’re looking for and when they discover eBay is hiding it from them, then they’ll probably shop elsewhere. This may be a blessing because nothing works right, anyway.
How will this change affect sellers? It’s a great big negative. Sellers woke up on August 1 only to discover that many of their listings had vanished into the void and that they paid listing fees for nothing. Those who took advantage of eBay’s Featured Plus listing sale held on July 29 through 31 were given no warning and watched their listings disappear one by one. Niche sellers are scrambling to find a new home.
Does eBay really expect sellers to pay listing fees and get nothing in return? I think they do, which could explain why eBay has lost over 1 million listings since August 1 and why sellers are calling their attorneys.
I suspect it won’t make any difference how much stock eBay repurchases to shore up their losses because any e-commerce site that has poor management, constant site issues, and no buyers or sellers isn’t worth much – not even at an Amazon (AMZN) auction.
Disclosure: Dinah Balk is a part time eBay seller.
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This article has 89 comments:
For the last few days I have wondered why there were only a few listing for some popular items I was searching for, now I know why.
How rediculous this is, I want to see and bid on the lowest priced items and this system doesn't appear to let me do this .
When management has no clue as to how the company they are managing actually operates, and makes changes without input from their customers (both buyers and sellers), there is no end to how low the stock could sink.
For most buyers, this is clearly discretionary spending, and from this sellers sales, it would appear that they are clearly using their discretion and going elsewhere.
My items averaged 5 or 6 hits per day under the old search system. Now they get 1 or possibly 2 on a good day.
The guy was 100% sure that the new search was here to stay, and pointed out that he had received many calls just to say how good the new sytem is.
Now - I have to ask myself - why would people telephone an ebay help line, just to say how good the search system is?
Do they really expect us to believe that?
Pull the other one Ebay - It has bells on it.
low fees, easy to find articles for sale, and good customer service, no wonder that it is growing daily. My advice would be to take a good look at it, sales are slow at present but are increasing at a rate to make it a serious alternative. In any case, I see Ebay shares falling to a level where it will be taken over by a financial outfit rather than an ecommerce one, split up and the good bits, Paypal and Skype etc, sold for a quick profit and the auction side abandoned as no-one will want it.
The only problem with finding or founding a new auction site is that if/when it gets big and popular enough, it will turn into another ebay.
What could be gained?
That wasn't the sellers calling in... that was just buy.com reporting in to their new master, exclaiming how great it is to list for free!
This is FRAUD! Plain and Simple. You are paying eBay for a service, and that is to advertise your items for a fee ( and a hefty fee at that). They are selectively "hiding" your paid advertisment.
Contact your state attorney general. This corporate mismanagement and thievery has to STOP!
Ebay, however, is in the process of tanking. It is amusing that over the course of the last 2 weeks I've run into several of the very people whose positive comments got me to selling on ebay a few years ago in the first place.
Absolutely NONE of them trades on ebay whatsoever anymore. And haven't in awhile. And have no desire to return. Only 2 sold but were mostly buyers. The rest were strictly buyers.
They buy elsewhere now. All the posters were right after all! Imagine that! Sellers are buyers. Strictly buyers hate what's happen to their sellers, and/or can't find the special items anymore. It's a different place.
And they hate the atmosphere pervasive at ebay now!
----------------------...
One has to wonder to what purpose at this point ebay is purchasing back their stock. 0 still equals 0. If a company is no longer lucrative, all the stock in the world is meanless.
I stand behind what I've been saying all along. I won't do business with a company that is without integrity.
And ebay is so blatant about it.
I find these threads amusing. It's like a bunch of clic'y teenagers all b'tching about something without any real purpose or facts. The reason you see the same people over and over on these threads is because most people know the changes eBay is making are good, and for the better - and they don't need to waste their time complaining like immature teenagers.
Unfortunately, while I find these threads amusing, I'm sure eBay doesn't. While your opinions are the vast majority - that 1 negative comment reaches 10 people proverb can't be good. That said, I think people are starting to see the wizard behind your curtain of complaint, and take your comments for what they really are, just amusing.
If you don't know that you need to run your business for the buyer and that the buyer is always right - you should probably think of another line of work.
Well since you're just a "part-time buyer", you could never understand the inner workings of eBay or just how bad the sellers are being treated and ripped off.
Some people put their trust into Enron too. Poor folks...
You, as just a buyer, shop our stores, see an item, you buy, you receive, and then you have the audacity to spew your rhetoric here?
If you PAID for an item but didn't receive it, you'd be pretty damn mad wouldn't you? Well... that's how it is when WE sellers PAY for a service and then DO NOT receive it!
Now hurry... run along and go pick up your check from eBay...
abracadabra!! POOF!! All gone!
Anyway, a compliment for Industrialstrength. Sounds like you have a good idea. I don't know what a Dutch Auction is but I suspect its immaterial. But a question for ya - hasn't eBay created that policy by not showing all the duplicates in search? If that is the case, wouldn't smart sellers stop listing all the duplicates unless they are not as smart as you? Although, even if you do list duplicates, I suspect that one would show up, then if purchased, another would show up so one would always be in search and the rest in your online store. Real stores don't put their whole inventory on the shelves or in the front window, it would be stupid. They put some in the windows and shelves, then the rest are in stock in the back. Isn't this the same thing?
Anyway - I'm done here. My point accomplished. Lots of whining, little constructive criticism with noted exception to IndustrialStrength.
observer. So transparent.
I wasn't kidding when I stated that I ran into several of the people I knew that were encouraging me to join ebay a few years back. I found it rather funny, myself, that I ran into them all withing a 2 week timespan. Just a handfull. 'Bout 8.
And NONE use ebay anymore.
I'm not talking about sellers getting to know sellers on the boards. I'm talking about the college kid now graduated with his Masters (shaking his head over how bad ebay is now. He won't buy etc there anymore). I'm talking about the guy who sold $40,000 a year in auto parts for old cars. No small change. I'm talking about the oil mid magangement with a Bachelors degree who used ebay from the time he was 18. He's no slouch, by the way. Four promotions in one year.... he's on the move up. Won't go near ebay. Spends quite a bit but uses Craigslist now. And on and on and on.
Smart people don't dilly dally, and linger, and wring their hands. They leave and move on.
THOSE people have left, and moved on. This is a representation, I my opinion, of the exodus with ebay's buyers.
If any who reads this posting cannot connect the dots of the significance of what I am relating, is still "hurrahing" for ebay, then yeah, they probably are associated with ebay in some "meaningful' way.
After all, why would anyone want to brag about a connection with a company that is so tainted and despised?!
Thank you, Dinah, for your continued reporting. Keep up the good works!
And yes, the reflections do pertain to stock valuations! Interesting to know why a complany wants to sink its own ship.
Just a short note to thank everyone for their input.
I nearly fell over when I saw Jeff King's announcement and just had to write about it because all sellers needed to be warned that they're paying listing fees for nothing!
I did some quick math too and discovered that a minimum of 25% of all listings in all categories are being hidden. Some categories are actually higher & this is scary but not unexpected.
Please forgive the delay in setting up my website. Two weeks ago I fell & sprained my wrist. I'm ok but the er doc said no typing, etc. for a few weeks so it could heal.
I'd really appreciate suggestions for the new site - color, content, layout, etc. etc. etc.
Again - thanks everyone & have a great weekend!
Dinah
Since eBay wants a more retail commercial-like atmosphere, unique one-of-a-kind items would be the "flea market" atmosphere that they are ashamed of and trying to get rid of.
You remember, right innocent observer? The type sellers that made eBay billions? Oh no, you wouldn't remember, your just a part-time buyer.
Sellers have many similar items. One may be exactly as the other ten except for a few features, a color, an extra wheel, a glow in the dark remote as opposed to a illuminated remote, or one may be lacking a feature found in the other similar units.
Since the title of your listing contains a limited number of keywords that can be used to make it easier for you "part-time buyers" to find the product they're looking for, many times those keywords cannot be wasted on "red", "blue", "glow in the dark remote" etc...
So you see part-time buyer, sellers should get what they pay for, an ADVERTISEMENT for a FEE, otherwise it's called FRAUD!
And you can take your foot out of your mouth now.. "I don't know what a Dutch Auction is but I suspect its immaterial."
If you don't know what goes on behind the scenes, your 2 cents is useless.
Don't think so. Towers fall.
I'm so tired of people talking about eBay as if the year was 2002 instead of 2008. Video Professor, anyone?
I am so glad I left a few months ago. I don't miss the tiny amount I made in profit, but I also don't miss the stress and frustration that went with it. I will never buy or sell on eBay again, even if they are the only place on the internet. Good riddance to a bad company.
Assume you sell identical widgets and your buyers usually buy multiples from you at the same time. Under the old system, they could win or BIN on 20 of your items, and pay with one COMBINED PAYPAL INVOICE.
Under this new policy, they won't see but one of your identicle widgets listed. Ebay says if one item gets a bid then the next will appear in search results, but the buyer would have to re-run his search for this to happen. So the next day he researches and buys another of your items, etc., etc...
Because the buyer doesn't buy them in a chunk, he sends multiple Paypal payments, which incurs a seperate .35 transaction fee as opposed to one fee on the combined invioce.
A simple fix to this is to put a big shiny button at the top of the search results page giving the searcher the OPTION to hide identical listings. That way ebay is fulfilling it obligation to show all paid listings, and it's up to the searcher to decide to hide identicals or not. Currently the default is to hide identicals and if you can find the ultra-tiny hidden link at the bottom of the page, you can view all items. If they don't change it, I'm guessing this will head to court as a class action fraud suit. You can't charge for something you don't provide.
I'm delighted to see sites like eBid and Delcampe doing so well and with smaller sites like wantonegotone and MilBid looking promising the future looks bright for sellers.
That's easy.
Amazon, so much easier to sell, so much less stress.
Soon I will also be selling on Etsy.com, and Ola.com. Etsy is shattering the charts with growing traffic, and Ola is a thoughtful, steady gainer.
For now, I'm on vacation. A working vacation. I sell, $ for $, as much on Amazon as I ever did on ebay; and, for about 90 % less work, and about 95 % less stress. Maybe make that 98%.
And no, I am NOT exagerating!
Take care and take it easy! Been there, done that! Sprains are often worse than breaks!
As for your web site, I CANNOT wait! I really can't. Just in time, if possible, for third quarter end! Wouldn't that be great? If not, don't worry about it. Fourth will do just fine!!! :~)
As for suggestions... Hmmm. I like the color schemes of Americana; reds, green, yellow, etc. Not primary oriented.
A great feature the Amazon boards have is the edit feature, and spellcheck. The edit feature gives you 15 minutes to go back and correct or make any changes. Typos, etc. It's just a thought.
P.S.:I have my popcorn ready and waiting!
eBay alienated Google in a major way by not allowing Google Checkout as a payment method for eBay site. eBay management has a knack for short-sighted money grab decisions that end up haunting them later.
This is important. If you as a seller move to a different venue, make sure that venue ranks well on Google search results. You should submit your store, submit list of your items to Google ( submit to both product search/shopping and a regular search as well) to ensure your products become visible - especially if you sell unique items.
eBay is dying by a slow death. eBay share price decline over the past 3 years is a good testimony to the fact this is not a short term glitch, but a well established tumor slowly killing the venue.
Only 10 percent of eBay buyers are also eBay sellers.
43 million people shop on eBay or are registered ebay members.
Out of that 43 million only 4.3 million are sellers.
That means that 40 million people are actually buyers only.
eBay wants to attract more buyers!
eBay gives free listings to whom?
Maybe they should to attract more buyers!
eBay should contemplate free listings to any company wishing to sell under their new terms. Pay only when item sells!
As a stock holder of eBay I feel they need to do something.
Stock holders are getting the shaft with this company right along with their sellers.
The only ones grinning at this point are the buyers that get a good deal on eBay.
Just as a point of interest, from where did these staticstics come? Please always back up with point of origin. If from ebay, or other related cheerleaders, it is suspect.
I am making this query with all due respect. Your postings are sensibly presented.
You're absolutely right about sprains being worse because the er doc told me the same thing just before he put me into a soft cast, lol. Worse thing is that I'm reduced to eating TV dinners.
Like your color scheme! Got any ideas as to content?
Dinah
Always an I.Q. buster! :>/ Thanks for the entertainment value, though!
P.S.: The road always winds back to the stock, and that IS what Seeking Alpha is about.
If you bother to take the time to check some other stock commentaries here at Alpha, and the ensuing postings, you'll find much the same. Where there's passion and division, there's a tussle.
Example: try STBX. That's S-t-a-r-b-u-c-k-s. Starbucks.
For others, you're on your own.
Don't kid yourself. This brings on the clicks and more site traffic for Seeking Alpha. I'm getting to know the rest of the site.
Are you?
The new best match is going to kill the sellers plain and simple.
In My catagory I sell custom made clothing.
Very expensive pieces that are listed using the exact same words for search to cover all possible ways a buyer would search. I have always used the exact same wording which gave me more lookers.If I have 30 items listed using the exact same words in search my sales are over with.
Because all 30 pieces would be very differant originals, but search will only show one!
So sales will tank to 300.00 for one item instead of selling maybe 25 items or more. My sales were mostly 95% sell thru always untill best match started. Now there are very few hits on them .
Ebay is badly broken!
As for Scot!
Scot must be a pumper!
Wake up Scot if ebay lost all auction sales ebay would die a very fast death.
Pay Pal is not a bank and not FDIC approved.
Pay Pal will only carry ebay on its back just so far.
eBay's stock repurchase programe has suffered a loss in excess of 7 Billion dollars, about 4 times the size of the skype write off. Investers are taking stock of those write offs and it looks like they prefer stock dividends to stock repurchases....on ebays part.
The investers have taken note of what is happening and say ebay has no clear direction at this point.
The stock is presently on a dead cat bounce the last couple of days before it slides back on down again.
Pump on Scot!
I would suggest you dump your feebay stock now. Even if you will lose money on it, you will only loose more as time passes. This company is a goner.
You have painted an exemplory picture of this latest ebay fiascoe! I am almost afraid to utter the famous, or rather, infamous words, "How much worse can it get?"
I, too, used to sell in a specialized category. It ran around 100 listings year round, and at Holloween,that trippled. It was a growing exclusive category with unlimited growth potential. Your example was very difinitive; your methods an exact duplicate of the ones I employed. So I understand absolutely your meaning. All listings were unique and varied. I used almost exact title words and they were a great draw for hits.
For months and months now, the listings from which I sold run from 19 to 40. The higher end -- now -- includes coats, toys, doggie apparel, and random other things cropping up that have absolutely nothing to do with the category whatsoever!
This is a better search? I don't think so!
It doesn't surprise me though... eBay has never come up with their own ideas. Albeit Pierre launching AuctionWeb in 1995. Ebay simply waits on the fence like vultures for others to come up with ideas, and then they aquire them!
PayPal, StubHub, Kijiji (craigslist spin-off), the buy-it-now button, skype, half(dot)com, shopping(dot)com, Rent(dot)com and more! All were other peoples ideas, and all thought of by other brilliant minds that weren't on the payroll.
Someone got lucky over a decade ago... and that's about it...
Sadly, they just hired another loon to watch over the asylum.
ACEOart.net
I can not wait until some one with money starts to back another site. There are many out there. They just need advertising dollars.
I will now be opening my own web page and be putting my items on every other site. A lot of work but by the time I add up all the time I spend changing forms, titles,categories...lo... fees. Time lost I could be buying and listing new items. And this happens several times a year. I guess it will be worth it. Plan on listing just enough to survive until I set up everything else.
Did I mention I spend about 50K on fees and Paypal ? Did I also mention I buy about 35K on Ebay. Mostly from here to end of year. And did I mention I will be cutting back to about $300 a month in fees. Did I also mention as of now I plan to buy $0 on EBAY. Why buy if it will not show up when you list it. And when it shows up who know where,when or how long.
As soon as someone with money gets behind another site. Puts some advertising money in the site. Makes it fair for Buyers and sellers. EBAY is done. So whoever mentioned IF YOU OWN EBAY STOCK SELL SELL SELL was right.
Companies that constantly make major changes that impact it's employees and customers over and over and over again always fail in the end. And guess what EBAY buyers are customers but sellers are also customers and employees.
One last note. Did I mention my feedback is over 10,000. 99.4 positive (Was 99.90) until all the crazy changes there. Did I mention my STAR rating is average between 4.85 and 4.9 and none of that matters now. Did I also mention this is the first time I have ever complained in a public forum ?
COME ON SOMEONE, ANYONE THE THE WORLD. Buy an existing auction site or start a new one.IT IS SIMPLE. You just need to Keep it simple. Put the money in advertising. Do not waste it on high dollar executives. And just make it fair for all. And you can put the trophy on the mantle. The one who took the giant down. EBAY has made many many bad decisions last few years but THIS ONE IS BY FAR THE WORST TIMES 20. But only 1 can show.lol
I thought it was priceless!
Could not be more true!
"Ebay stock continues to wander aimlessly in the American financial desert, hungover from its star status in the first half of the decade. "
I looked on the web and haven't really heard any complaints. Can anyone shed some insight. It would be nice to believe that aside from being limited to Japan, their is an auction site that can be immensive and powerful as Ebay and still treat its customers right
I am working on a video for that very reason. We can make all the videos we want about the boycott but if only boycotters listen then what is the purpose. We need to contact our buyers and let them know.
Also, When I did have an account and received newsletters from my favorite sellers, I replied back to the seller that I was canceling my subscription due to Ebay policy changes and invited them to let me know when they move off the Ebay site.
I was amazed at how many responses I received, both in favor of the boycott but also from accounts that had already been closed because of them.
We can't forget to market ourselves to our customer base. Afterall, we earned their business and loyalty and I feel it is only right that we let them know what has been going on and alert them not to be frauded by these theives that wear the shield of Ebay, Skype and other companies owned by Ebay.
On Aug 07 06:00 PM Patricia013 wrote:
> All you sellers who are leaving Ebay or planning to list elsewhere
> - don't forget the most important ingredient in your move....TELL
> YOUR BUYERS WHERE YOU CAN BE FOUND AND OFFER THEM AN INCENTIVE TO
> BUY FROM YOU THERE! Don't just list elsewhere then sit and grumble
> because things aren't selling. We built ebay and now we can built
> SEVERAL sites...its up to us!
>
> ACEOart.net
Good morning! From what I've been reading on different sites, eBay is hiding an average of 25% of all listings and even that number is off, they shouldn't be hiding any listings at all!
I suspect this is the last straw for many sellers and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a class action gets filed. eBay will probably settle but there isn't enough money in the world for buyers or sellers to ever trust eBay again. Who would?
Dinah
ebay didin't become the bohemoth it is overnight. For years hardworking folks we now call sellers, and willing buyers, worked hard and made it what it is.
There is no entitlement here, People! As many of the sellers I see posting here and on other boards will tell you, it all boils down to hard work!
Are you willing to work hard? Or expecting "someone" "somewhere" to step in? There are quite a few sites successfully established already. Online Auctions dot com is one. The founder was an ebay megaseller. Ola, as it is affectionately known, has been around for 10 years. It's proven. It's not going anywhere. Except steadily up!
There are others but you have to work for it yourself. I "look around" and see so many sellers that moved on posting here on Alpha, and other places, and doing well. I
t's that hard work I was mentioning earlier. I suspect that you will find, as did I, that the "other" sites are not nearly as much work, frustration, and financial loss as ebay has now become. So, having said that, I will now say if you rely on ebay for your income, you are suffering some serious hardship. And paying THEM for it. So open your own site. Or work 2, even 3 others perhaps. I bet you'll find them not nearly as hard work as ebay.
And then you get the one or two who have still not grown out of the term 'whiner' which most of us left behind with our training panties. You guys really do need a new dictionary. Try one without Big Bird on it. But then again, your only comments are name calling and fact-less rants meant only to be contrary so on second thought keep the Big Bird book.
I have stopped watching the eBay stock, which I was doing daily. I truly believe the stockholders do not have a clue. They got a glimpse with Q2, and the window will be open wider for Q3, but oh my, the end of the year will spell it out plainly. Hold on to the stock for Paypals sake if you dare, but they are treading murky water and have drawn much unpopular attention to themselves this year. I don't believe the fallout over Australia is over yet. But if you hold or buy in hopes of eBay rising again, not gonna happen.
Sorry if this means you lose money on your investment, but ranting and railing at the unhappy buyers and sellers will not help. We did not make this mess, and most of us aren't going to hang around and see if anyone cleans it up.
eBay - the great "enabler" has become the great disabler. Folks that put all of their eggs in eBay's basket have had the basket stomped on.
Current management has been a P/R nightmare of unbelievable scope. They have finally finished squandering the last remnant of the amazing amount of good will they had in the early years.
And yes, the market is finally waking up to what is happening. They are killing the eBay core site. When, not if - The IT hits the fan, it won't be a pretty sight.
The stockholders will be like the guy sweeping up after the bar closes. No loose change will be found on the floor here though. Just empty rooms in leased buildings where all of the leased servers & office equipment used to be. Upper management will have long since escaped with their golden parachutes & cash from their massive stock options.
Even PayPal - the crown jewel, will be a mere shadow of it's former self, without the massive captive eBay transactions.
Yes, sell.....
:O(
You're absolutely right about paypal being ebay's crown jewel but I suspect the jewel turns out to be nothing but cheap glass.
I'm surprised paypal hasn't come under congressional investigation for the 21 to 180 day holds being placed on seller accounts not to mention the antitrust issue (sellers forced to accept paypal).
Dinah
Once the presidential election is over I hope and believe the economy will losen up. I've said it before and I'll reiterate, everytime a two term president leaves office, there's a "recession". Once the process is over, it's back to normal life. Check you history and see if I'm wrong.
In this case, the price of gasoline gone so outrageous made this particular "recesson" particulary difficult. (Aside, wonder if elections re two term presidents have prompted gas prices to rise in the past. Will have to check.)
The ebay situation will only worsen. Please get prepare, folks. Better to ready your options and have them in place when the economy begins to shake loose. Don't miss that boat!
ebay is sinking; don't "let" them take you down with them!
They have now, as Dinah Balk has reported, "messed" with Q3! What new "wonder inspiration" do you think awaits Q4, the most profitable time of year?
The sellers, especially the powersellers, have officially notified ebay to please please please leave Q4 alone. Does anyone here seriously believe ebay will listen?
As the largest organizer of the current boycott efforts, I can assure you, there are many great buyers and sellers involved. I see many of them on a daily basis. And, let me assure you, while I do sell on ebay, I am mostly a buyer. As such, I understand both sides very well.
Why we are boycotting:
1. Feedback changes.
The proposed changes are more harmful than beneficial:
A. Sellers will no longer be allowed to leave negative feedback.
B. Feedback older than 12 months will no longer be displayed.
2. DSR (Detailed Seller Ratings) tied to search positioning.
A. Ebay is unjustly red-flagging good sellers as bad sellers, by stating sellers with a 4.0 rating (On a scale of 1-5) as having "low ratings", implying they are bad.
B. Ebay would rather keep real bad sellers, because they earn money.
3. 21 Day Hold for PayPal Payments on "Risky" sellers, or listing in "Risky categories".
What is considered "Risky"?
A. Sellers with less than 100 feedback.
B. Video Games is considered a "risky category". Even well established sellers selling in this and other "risky" categories will be subjected to a 21 day hold.
C. Sellers with 5% negatives in a 30 day period. (Extenuating circumstances? Tough luck. Unreasonable buyer demands? Tough luck. Shipping service errors? Too bad).
4. Unreasonable Fee increases.
A. Promoted as Fee decreases, Ebay actually increased fees. While dropping most insertion fees by a nickel, they raised the Final Value Fees by as much as 66%
B. Reserve fees no longer refunded.
C. Store Final Value Fees increased to 12% on top of monthly fees, and listing fees.
D. Other fees increases of $20 and more.
5. Dishonest listings used to increase ebay's listing totals:
These numbers were taken from Terapeak and are based on a 90 day history (March 2, 2008 - May 31, 2008) the most current info at the time of publishing:
Seller: Buy
Total Items Listed: 2,708,987
Total sales: $3,924,907
Successful listings: 64,638
Total Items Offered: 249,431,285
Sell through rate: 2.39%
Average Sale: $44.43
MINIMUM listing fee, including dutch auctions: $24,943,128.50 (Based on the lowest fee of .10 per listing, and offering Media Mail. Does not include higher listing fees, or other promotional listing fees, or Final Value Fees, which would increase the fees dramnatically).
We can now add a 6th point,
6. Ebay is charging sellers for each item listed, but, only showing one.
This is wrong. And, as a poster previously alluded, it seems the sole purpose here is to increase the transactional fees generated by paypal.
Sellers have a right to be angry over these changes. Buyers have a right to be angry over these changes. Are there bad sellers? Of course there are. But, ebay pretends they are about protecting buyers. They ARE NOT! They're about making as much money as possible, and screw everyone else. IF ebay REALLY wanted to protect a buyer, they would do several simple things to ensure buyers are legitimately protected.
1. They'd offer coverage for all buyers, for all sellers. Much like Amazon does. No excluding sellers that fall below 98% feedback rating.
2. They'd quit playing the "risky seller" game.
Here ebay still allows a "risky seller" to list on ebay, collecting their fees, but, they require PayPal, and will hold their funds for up to 21 days; 180 days in some cases; al the while, theyre collecting interest, not paying any.
Instead of kicking real risky sellers, ebay keeps them. Why? Because ebay earns a fortune off them; and, if they are really risky sellers, chances are, they don't qualify for ebay/paypal's so called buyer protection.
I'm completely confused by those who think people have no right to boycott ebay. Or, to make noise, bringing these efforts to the attention of everyone. They claim to be tired of hearing these issues, they think all the sellers simply want to not offer customer service, and that is just not the case.
-Sellers are tired of the annual fee increases.
-Sellers don't want to be blackmailed and extorted.
One seller made a claim earlier this year that she sold two skirts to a buyer, and the buyer requested they be shipped asap, because they were needed for a play. Even though that seller already did her postal run for the day, because it was the weekend, and felt sympathy for the buyer's needs, she packed up the skirts and took them to the PO that same day. The buyer thanked the seller for the rush delivery, but, no longer needed the skirts. As a result, the buyer asked not for a refund, but, to have the seller BUY back the skirts at a higher price, "plus s/h, of course". The buyer anxiously awaited her response, stating, "Your feedback depends on your response, oh, and, now that you can't leave a negative for me, there's nothing you can do about it".
I've received and read more situations like this than I care to admit. Ebay says "This is rare, and we have tools designed to report these situations". However, I state, "ONCE is too often. Esp. when this is foreseeable". And, I also cite Bill Cobb's final Town Hall session, where he said, "Just because someone reports this, does not mean we will take action immediately". Ie, ebay will NOT do anything, until this has happened repeatedly!
-Sellers work hard to get paid. Ebay gets THEIR money or they block the seller from selling. PayPal takes THEIR cut right from the top. Why should sellers have to wait to get THEIR money?
Think ebay is all that noble a company? Watch this video, and see for yourself. www.youtube.com/watch?...
To do cheap and free research, sign in at ebay, do a completed search for user BUY, and see how their sell thru rate is for the past 7 days. If you're interested in a more thorough investigation, terapeak charges $15 a month, and you can see the most current information for yourself. It was the best $15 i ever spent! There may be cheaper alternatives; maybe even free ones. But the point is, dont take my word for these numbers, take a look for yourself.
Finally, to answer the question, "If not ebay, where?"
To more effectively serve sellers, we felt it necessary to limit the sites we support. In the past, we have all packed up our shops, listed anywhere, and returned to ebay.
Because this is a long term boycott, we felt it necessary to unite buyers and sellers, and have as few places to direct buyers to as possible, while still offering some flexibility.
Biycotters chose the following sites:
1. Onlineauction.com
2. IOffer.com
3. Etsy.com (craft and hand made items only)
4. Ecrater.com
Please join the boycott efforts.
Tim
myspace.com/boycotteba...
forums.delphiforums.co...
there's a reason recessions hit when 2 term presidents leave office: recessions tend to hit every 7 years.
The exception, the Reagan/Bush years. That was delayed 3 years. But, there was the recession after Jimmy Carter, when Reagan took office. So, whether Reaganomics worked or not, is not a definite. It pushed back recession 3 years, but, it made things worse, probably. But, the 80's were prosperous times for most people. (Myself not included. lol). Btw, if all things go "right" we should be out of this recession by next year, and 2015 will be our next recession. Regardless who gets in, and for how long.
THANK YOU! It's refreshing to see the reasons why sellers need to boycott & real numbers too. I agree with you 100%.
What was Donahoe thinking? Did he really think sellers wouldn't their listings had been sucked into a black void.
Dinah
Yes JD (John Donahoe) is trying to make eBay more Amazon-like to compete against the internet shopping powerhouse.
I can't say for certain, but I believe he wants eBay to be less "flea-market" like and more "professional." Yes I am aware this cuts into the company's bread and butter, which is the mom and pop operations.
Best Match is not working. But the intent of the company - if ever they can make search work properly - is to list the items correctly, in other words, elimination of duplicates, reduce any sellers from "stacking" the results, etc.
I don't think things will change any time soon, for the following reasons:
(1) The company is not run by eBay-ites. In the old days employees were really passionate about the company because they were users of eBay. Not anymore. You now have a bunch of execs who do not actively buy/sell on site. Ask John or Bob or Lorrie what is their feedback score and you'll see. The company has exchanged eBay users for a bunch of MBAs.
(2) JD was in charge of the Marketplace (auction) dividion for ~2 years before he was promoted to CEO. During that time he did NOT turn the division around. When I worked there I sent in a question to the "Ask an exec" forum of why the board would promote someone to the head of the entire company when he couldn't even turn one division around. Needless to say I did not get a response back. Lorrie is now head of Marketplace. She is one tough lady but the auction business is no SDC (shopping.com); I doubt she'll be able to do much for the business.
(3) If you guys want I could post the email addresses and phone numbers of the execs. But I tell you it won't make any difference. If you REALLY want to change eBay contact Pierre M. Omidyar (founder of eBay). I believe he is the only person who can make significant changes at the company.
(4) Believe it or not JD really WANTS to turn the company around. He is just a little misguided. His compensation and tenure are dependent on keeping eBay profitable. I know there've been tons of screw-ups; but if you ask management what is the company focus for 2008 they'll tell you:
- Finding (aka search)
- Bad buyer experience (including TnS, security, VERO, feedback, etc.)
- Customer retention (frequent flyer program)
So believe me the company is spending MILLIONS in those areas. We just haven't seen any decent results.
If anyone has any questions let me know and I'll try to answer as much as I can without compromising my NDA.
Congratulations on your freedom, lol. I've got a question.
Why is JD pushing best match when everyone on the planet knows it doesn't work? There have been millions of complaints, the sell thru rate has dropped like a rock, and it's directly responsible for the failure of eBay Express.
But I have to disagree with you one point. I don't think JD has any intention of trying to make eBay profitable because he keeps approving changes that don't make sense & have a direct negative impact on sellers.
Dinah
If that is true, it appears to be working perfectly...
I have a theory on why JD is pushing best match - its as good as any other theory I guess. I feel JD is honing Best Match not for the present sellers but for the future sellers on the site. It will be aimed at the big boys who come in, much like buy.com and get free or reduced listing fees and have their own customer service. I don't think anything that is being done right now is for the benefit of the present crop of buyers or sellers....Ebay's attitude is that if a seller happens to make it all work for them...good...if not, then move on! JD said early this year that in one years' time we will not know Ebay - he's right and he's right on target so far. As far as their loss of revenue and the loss of value in their stock - they've already figured that in. Those of you still trying to make it there may well be wasting precious time needed to start up elsewhere and open your own website.
Ebay Express could have been a success. Instead, they never got their ducks in a row with a good, reliable shopping cart system. They just did not put the work into that it needed in order to survive.
For more of my views google grannygoodpaint
ACEOart.net
Not for long once this gets out...
www.youtube.com/watch?...
Interesting bit of info: eBay does more searches on a daily basis than Google.
Regarding your comment "I don't think JD has any intention of trying to make eBay profitable" - he has to turn the company around, if only to make sure he gets the monetary reward out of it. Surely he is not making as much now as a CEO than when he was at Bains. If the stock doesn't go up his stock options won't worth much.
Meg appointed JD partly because of her past relationship with him but (my conjecture now) I don't think there was anyone else internally for the job. JD was on board ~2 years when he got promoted to CEO; he's been groomed since day 1 for the position so even though he failed to deliver with the Marketplace BU it's almost inevitable he would get the job.
It's not news that nobody in Ebay management has ever used Ebay in a serious fashion. That's been painfully obvious for some time. My question is, does anybody in the current Ebay management have any experience in retail, at all? Has John Donohoe ever sold tangible goods, not just consulting schemes? It would seem not. It's really mystifying how so many supposedly smart people cannot realize that if they turn a venue into a place where most sellers cannot reliably make a profit, most sellers will leave. Does Donahoe intend to remake Ebay with a new set of sellers? If so, where does he intend to find them and what does he intend to offer them?
Just a short note to thank everyone for their comments!
riversnaper - You're right about sellers - between shipping costs & selling fees there's no room for profit so many sellers will leave.
leapingcat - Yes, JD is running his game plan step by step in total disregard to reality. He should write a book entitled How I Destroyed eBay because if it's published immediately after 4Q is announced it will probably be a best seller.
Patrick Alexander - Your right, hiring JD was nothing more than a PR move by Meg at sellers expense.
Patricia013 - It appears that JD is finding excuses to close sellers accounts (even powersellers) or make selling impossible by lowering dsr's & banishing listings to the black void so he can rid eBay of the "flea market" atmosphere.
Paypal's in Trouble - I read about this a while back but I wasn't surprised. Although disturbing, it's nothing compared to the 21 to 180 holds they're placing on seller accounts. Congress needs to pass legislation to put a stop to this once and for all!
Dinah
I stopped selling there Feb.08. Not going back.
The sooner sellers and buyers see ebay for what it currently is (and has been for some time now) they will just move on.
Ebay is digging its own grave.
I too found Neoloch.com and I am very happy there.
Best of luck to you all.
My wrist is feeling a little better so I was able to complete the design & layout of the new website over the weekend.
Now I need content. I have an unlimited number of pages so please give me your wish list such as:
What do you want links to?
How about a blog to report new glitches?
How about a list of the best e-commerce sites?
How about updated eBay & Paypal policy changes. etc. etc.
Everyone please feel free to contribute!
Dinah
I am glad your wrist is on the mend! Funny how vulnerable wrists and ankles can be, and how stratigically vital to our function capabillitis!
I am taking your request very seriously and know others are likewise, and would hope they will jump in with ideas as well!
There is so much scope here it is both mindboggling but also very exciting! I am going to take a couple days and make notes.
To start, the blogging is a definite yes. Commentary reporting re ebay, along with the editorials, but also other selling sites along the way as well. For instance, PowerSellersUnite has a "list" of selling/auctions sites but it is by no means complete. I hadn't heard of Neoloch.com but upon investigation, found it to have a positive feel, for starters. There is much scope for reporting on such sites.
Also there is Etsy, which outranks, as near as I can tell, with the exception of ebay and Amazon, all the other sites in online traffic for sales I've been able to discover. It has shot up the charts and has a great feel and is easy to use. It is an artisan's dreamworld! It's not on the powersellersunite list, either.
Ideas are flooding in! You have a solid following that always generates discussion and much disclosure. We are always on the watch for your editorials! Keep up the good work!
I'll be back!
Thanks a million! Keep the ideas flowing, lol.
I'm thinking that every site listed should include factors such as ease of use, searchability, costs, number of listings, etc. because these things are very important.
I'm also thinking about adding a page that has links to every state govenor's office so sellers can click on the link to send a complaint every time paypal holds their funds because this is a state issue.
Am I on the right track?
Dinah
Very proactive!
what a jackass
I wanted to add some information to complete legandsofbatman's take on Etsy. Although it doesn't get the mention that I believe is deserved, sellers can also offer vintage items and supplies for sale on Etsy.
The site offers very reasonable rates. It is easy to check that sales are being made and the sellers also set their own prices. It is NOT an auction fromat.
Vintage items qualify if they are 20 years and older. Supplies can be either handcrafted or commercial.
If anyone has questions I will do my best to answer. I can be accessed via www.uknowuneedanother....
The site is also undergoing huge improvements and have recently gotten a new CEO with a backround from Amazon and a tech expert will be starting very soon from Yahoo
I hadn't heard that Etsy has a new CEO , etc, but I'm not surprised considering their rate of growth! Their site ranking is now near the 1,100 mark, by far outstripping even Ioffer and ecrater and ebid.
Hats off to this company and it's phenomenal growth!
I believe that there is a phenominal opportunity at Etsy. I had originally planned on selling on Ebay. The policy changes left a potential new seller open to too much unacceptable risk.
There is absolutely no way to convince me that shipping an item before money is cleared is safe. With a complete lack of customer service being una vailable to smaller sellers there is absolutely no incentives to for a new person to try. The only companies I see being able to function within the Ebay environment are large companies who have the means to set up their own sites and are already fully functioning businesses with access to full legal counsel and money to back themselves up. If these are already present why sell on Ebay at a Walmart pricing structure?
Businesses at this level would be better off operating on their own and utililising the constant and never ending fees to advertise their own sites. Businesses can only partner for so long. How many times can the profit be subdivided before none exists for anyone?
A favor please, ... When everyone mentions Etsy could you also put in a plug for the vintage and supply ends to help the whole of the site?
Thanks!
eBay Traders Accuse Site Of Selling Out
and the accompanying posted comments.
eBay is conducting "seller genocide" and it is unconcionable. For the Board of Directors to sit back and allow this process to play out without interceding is inexcusable. If JD is deposed today I still maintain that I will never, NEVER, EVER do business with ebay again in ANY capacity.
To John Christopher: this is why it is impossible to accept what I believe are your sincere observations.
This is a company without character and integrity.
I find you one-timers that pop on, well, one time to post your 6th grade "grow up" bilge (LOL) one-liners amusing.
So your message is, after all... we shouldn't be taking ebay seriously anymore!
Got it!!! LOL!!!
eBay's motto
PISH-TOSH! I want PARTS and real stereo gear, TUBES, TUBED RADIOS, LASERDISCS...
Don't give my your flea market crap.
On Aug 10 09:56 AM simplysoftel egance wrote:
> Ebay will never be what it was every again.
> I stopped selling there Feb.08. Not going back.
> The sooner sellers and buyers see ebay for what it currently is (and
> has been for some time now) they will just move on.
> Ebay is digging its own grave.
> I too found Neoloch.com and I am very happy there.
> Best of luck to you all.