Back in June, I talked about the various discount/cash back programs that eBay (EBAY) was testing including eBay Bucks [eB] and LiveSearch [LS]. As a buyer, I've been experimenting pretty deeply with both programs and wanted to report back on them.
eBay Bucks, XXXX (well I would use a rhyme here but it would be in poor taste)
I was admitted into the eBay bucks program and made sure all of my purchases qualified. I was able to get $71 in cash back which was all great. Here's what it looks like as you gain cash back:
Great! Then on August 22nd I was told that I had a voucher for my $71 and in mid- September, made a $100 purchase that I was going to use my $71 voucher on (being mindful that it can only be redeemed on ONE item) and much to my shock and dismay, eBay only gave me a voucher for $16.68. What the heck!? See the screen shot below for proof of the short-change. The red box and arrow are my additions, but you can see right here how it is only giving a portion, but on the previous page it literally said $71!?
I hopped on livechat and they informed me they don't have anything to do with eBay Bucks so I have to send an email to rewards@ebay.com. You can guess how fast I've gotten a response on that one.....
Live Search cash back experience
The Microsoft Live Search cash back program on the other hand has been a great experience. I signed up with Microsoft and made sure that every eBay purchase was initiated from live.com and that I saw the banners on eBay that proved I was logged in correctly. While this was a little more work than eBay Bucks, on the back end it has been great.
I waited the requisite 60 days, the funds from the rebate were available and then I was able to transmit them to my paypal account and spend them on a number of eBay items. Oh yeah - the amount was RIGHT too, they didn't short change me.
Conclusion:
eBay bucks is a good idea with terrible execution that initially made me happy as a buyer but because it essentially robbed me of $50, has eliminated all possible good will and led to a net negative experience. eBay should cancel this program immediately, lest we have all these buyers during the holidays getting short changed and leaving eBay in droves. It's a little easier on the front end, but even if I received 100% of the promised funds it has too many restrictions (have to use the $ in 30 days on ONE purchase). Isn't it better to keep it simple?
Live Search cash back is a little more complex on the front end but wins hands down because:
- It works (yes that's a requirement)
- It is flexible - I can shop with several vendors AND can use my $ back anyway I want to
- It is easy to use
Disclosure: Author is long eBay and Google.
This article has 14 comments:
With ebay now the hue and cry is the bad buyer experience et al, but don't you believe it. If there is a way to wiggle out of parting with any cash, they'll do it.
For a bad buyer experience, ebay should go gander in the mirror.
This is a company uneclipsed with the lack of character and honor and integrity.
It is clear that the current system is flawed, it is clear that the current management system will hide behind the stock market not doing well, but I hope investors are listening to the people like myself who have been buyers and sellers for the past 12 years and will see that the future is not at freebay and fraudpal. I fear that since ebay is running with the republicans, they may can burry more of there unfair practices for longer. I believe Q3 will be an eye opener for investors.
This is clearly indicated on the 2nd screen shot you have posted up yourself. Instead of being the quick gun firing off negative reviews and comments, why don't you first look through and actually read stuff?
Seeking Alpha is becoming a tabloid trying to generate sensational news rather than actually checking the facts. I'm sure you'll probably be seen on TV soon with your own show or news segment reporting the same rubbish and then correcting themselves later.
File this post under: "Cry Witch First, Verify Facts Later"
Waiting patiently for a retraction to this garbage.
Too much advertising, too much policy chaging, too much tech changing all at once, and too many CEO's and affiliates clogging up a nicely working system.
Ebay: clean house. get rid of the dead wood management, go green, and stop micromanaging the customers. The destructive innovation model is useless in the context of your old company. "Simple" would be a better fit. Spend less, make more money by giving your customers, the sellers, good service.
There is NO customer service now, and you can't very well expect the sellers to treat buyers any better if you can't do the same.
the company is trashed. no bucks or rewards will attract people to your site. the good sellers have left and are still leaving.
It won’t be long before many lawsuits are brought against ebay.
If you must stay, look back at what made it a success and get the faith of the sellers behind you.
collectively the sellers make ebay what it is.
You have alienated them suspended them and now you are on too many tangents.
It would have been nice if someone of intelligence could have seen what has happened over the past 8 years with the economy. They might have foreseen that the average folk who are losing their jobs, homes, increase in medical costs etc might turn to ebay to stay afloat. Instead what do you do, you just give them a weight to sink them even further. You missed a golden opportunity for your company to make a comeback. Instead what do you do , you punish the people for having bad credit and kick them off paypal and ebay.
HOW’S THAT DISRUPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING FOR YOU NOW?
messages.finance.yahoo...
“Lost Opportunities”
Business Analyst in San Jose, CA (United States) Past Employee (2006)
Pros
Career Advancement - Technological Knowledge. A full-bore ahead mentality can lead to a fantastic learning curve (but has its siginifant downside - see below). Once on this path, ones career opportunities begin to flourish as your knowledge of business and techology (in this forum) begins grow.
Cons
Long hours & lack of communication from the top down. A "full-bore ahead" or "dive in head first" philosphy to change, without (in my humble opinion) taking into consideration the "law of unintended consequences" first. Making changes that significantly impact the eBay selling community, and asking middle-level Customer Service management to deal with the fallout.
Advice to Senior Management
Slow down. More market analysis prior to implementing platform and/or policy changes. Include a larger sampling of eBay sellers in the decision-making process
Can't wait to see someone pushing this ARROGANT, CLUELESS, UNSCRUPULOUS, GREEDY MF COMPANY under water.
Only then they will learn some fuckin respect, how to treat their freakin' customers.
It was always a fuckin' negligent, arrogant and greedy company but since the beginning the year it's downright SUCKS.: ever raising prices, ever-disappearing seller tools and features and PayPal is, literally, WORTHLESS.
:We got you covered" - yeah, my @ss, perhaps because when I got robbed by some fuckin' Midwest redneck seller (never sent me the speakers I bought) PayPal technically told me "here's X amount of money and get lost" where X was about half of what I paid.
Fuckin worthles piece of crap - the only time when I use eBay is when I know can get at least 25% back via Live Cashback. If it weren't for Microsoft eBay would be dead for months now, I am telling you - everybody around me (tech firm) ONLY uses it when Live Cashback is up at 25% and they are about to spend at least 300-400 dollars.
Ahhk, the eBay Bucks etc are all utter crap, technically frauds.
but Live cashback though it gives the cashback after 60 days... it works for the buyer. but indirectly it is misused by the sellers.
They roughly hike the buyitnow price by 15-20% ( i can see PS3 for 399$ in walmart and lots of other store) but in ebay same set sells for 460 to 480 + 15$ shipping.. some ppl even adds cheaper cables / games / remote accessories and hike the pice to 500 - 650 or 700$... Still buyer gets his money... Buyer is safe and Seller is clever always