techzone12

How to Fix eBay

I still make money on Ebay, but not like I used to. I had a plan to increase the volume, but the plan got somewhat derailed. I am now not sure if the time I invest in the Ebay thing is actually worth it (I have a full time job). First the higher fees by the ebay/paypal, and then the higher shipping cost by USPS. If you add up the numbers, it does not look very appealing (to put in the effort).


On Feb 10 12:01 PM Patricia013 wrote:

> Great article!! One of the few I totally agree with. I think veteran
> sellers all know most of the points you brought up and in particular
> patching up seller's broken trust. It either has to happen soon or
> Ebay will simply keep declining...it will eventually dwindle down
> into something unrecognizable and will be scooped up by another company.
> Sellers have proved they are not giving up on spreading the word
> of what Ebay has become and it is showing in Ebay's dismal sell-thru
> rate and lack of buyers. Management is so blind that about all one
> can do at his point is replace them. The idea of forcing Ebay to
> look and act like a cheap Amazon clone was a wacky one at best. Everyone
> hates imitation! I believe the staunchest business people knew it
> would never work....and it isn't working and is getting progressively
> worse.
>
> At this point Ebay may never recoop the loss it is suffering from
> the mismanagement of its sellers. It has shown nothing but rudeness
> and arrogance toward sellers. Instead of providing good service for
> them and helping them make sales it has provided a hostile environment
> and a take it or leave it attitude! This is unparalled in the businessworld!!
> NO large business that depends on its customers kicks them around
> the way Ebay does. Ebay is either gonna have to "get it" and get
> it quick or they are rightly and deservedly doomed! This first quarter
> will tell the tale...if they decline again they can no longer hide
> behind the economy...especially if other online sales are up! <br/>
>
> Wonderful article... can I vote for you as the new Ebay CEO ;-)

How to Fix eBay

I am a seller at Ebay. And I can tell you that there is 2 major problems that need immediate attention:
1. Fees are too high for the average seller. Although I am a small seller, I could potentially double and triple the volume, if the fees are lowered.
2. The feedback process is heavily in favor of the buyer. The buyer knows it and they take full advantage of it. There needs to be a mechanism, where the buyer is not allowed to leave negative feedback, just because he/she feels like doing so. In one instance, an item I shipped went to the wrong address, because the buyer reloacted (and never changed his address in paypal). Then he wanted me to refund his money, which I did (had no choice). I have a 100% pos feedback, but still some buyer are hard to deal with, and they just waste my time. The time that I can spend on listing more items, is consumed trying to deal with difficult buyers. Sure there are bad sellers (that need to be penalized), but also there are bad buyers also who abuse the system.