posted on January 24, 2001 01:40:11 PM
The PS e-mail you received from eBay is nothing less than appalling.
I'm not a Powerseller but I'm still insulted!
In my opinion this one rates right up there with the arrogance of "it's only a dollar".
Sheesh.
If my employee wrote a letter like that to one of my paying customers they would be history, and pronto.
Who/what is the most important eBay asset?
The targeted banner ads? The co-branded sites? The affiliates and partnerships? Butterfields and Kruze Int'l? Or the seller who pays the day to day fees. All those quarters. Can eBay exist without the banner ads? The co-branded sites? Aren't the sellers what made and continue to make eBay what it is? All the rest is just window dressing.
Are we valued so little that we are casually dismissed with a keystroke?
posted on January 24, 2001 01:40:43 PM
If they're watching this thread to shut us down, they may as well read a few things to make our lives easier rather than more difficult!
posted on January 24, 2001 01:49:14 PM
The NON-perks of being a Power Seller has been one of my little "digs" with the PTB at eBay for quite some time....
The Power Seller program is sorely lacking in motivational perks... there is absolutely NO INCENTIVE to become or remain a power seller on ANY level.
This isn't new information for any of the PTB.... I actually think they just don't care. (really)
I've been a Power Seller for over a year and a half and have NEVER used the logo on any of my listings. I NEVER even mention it on any of my listings. There is NO BENEFIT to being a power seller. It's the biggest JOKE of all!
As a matter of fact, the last Power Seller eMail I received as a "sneak preview" to an upcoming announcement, actually arrived in my eMail the day AFTER it was posted on the Announcement Board. (this is the NORM) Do they think I'm STUPID???
posted on January 24, 2001 01:52:33 PM
This is the full letter I received:
We appreciate you as a Power Seller on our site. Buyers have come to recognize the Power Seller logo and realize that Power Sellers offer exceptional service and products. In our efforts to help Power Sellers keep their great reputation, there are requirements to participate in the program. As you know, the requirements are as follows:
Maintain 98% Positive Feedback
Consistently sell $2000 per month
Keep your account in good standing
We realize that these are high standards, but that's what has given the Power Sellers the reputation they have. And hopefully, you've enjoyed the benefits we offer to those who keep these standards.
We have noticed that your gross monthly sales are declining. They have been below $2000 for the last five months. We want to keep you as a Power Seller, so we are allowing you time to improve your sales over the next 30 days. We will then review your sales and allow you to continue in the program if you are within the Power Seller standards.
As always, we are willing to help you any way we can to maintain your Power Seller status. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
eBay Power Seller Department
______________________________
I used to put the Powerseller logo on my listings but when I realized what a hatred there was towards Powersellers, I dropped it.
This past summer I bought from several Powersellers who had the worst crap and the worst customer service I experienced.
I work in my shop 7 days a week each summer so I don't sell on ebay. I wonder what they mean when they say that they will help me any way they can to maintain my status?
posted on January 24, 2001 01:58:44 PM
Swoose...good idea Aw having their own auction site. Most of us already host our pics here...why not go even further with auctions themselves? Hello??AW?? Are you paying 'tention?
I was getting all down and maudlin, but Im feeling a bit more perky now. Wish I wasnt so far away from San Jose (it rhymes, lol), 'cause I would apply for their PR. Nothing like a bit of fluff and balance, eh? And thats my job ya know...to make balance (according to VM over in RT)
posted on January 24, 2001 02:01:20 PM
shaani, thats the same one I got, but I just cut it down to the chase. However, I just noticed this part you've enjoyed the benefits we offer to those who keep these standards. Um...WHAT benefits?? The logo??
posted on January 24, 2001 02:06:08 PM
And yes, they said in my letter that would like to help maintain my PS status...but when I said I couldnt do it because sales were bad and to remove my membership (why make them wait 30 days...it aint gonna happen in that amount of time anyway), they said "OK", with no other words of encouragement (not that it would have changed my mind anyway).
May I please suggest that you cut and paste that entire V-I-L-E communication you received and forward it to [email protected] and inform them that you are OUTRAGED to receive such a shoddy insulting email?
Some of the b-e-s-t emails I've ever read originated in the suggest@ebay department, and even if they can't retrieve what was sent to you, perhaps they can compose an email which is not reeking of insipidness.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:17:02 PM
Pursglove must think our heads need that title to sell... just cause his does.
Not so...just plain vanilla sales for me works just fine.
Ebay, you can keep ALL your freekin bells and whistles.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:20:46 PM
Mopfoot, the answer, as they say, "is written on the wind." They don't shiv a git!!
But, they are not totaly insensitvie, they will if the stock keeps going down won't they?? Really tuned in to who is paying the bills and making 'em ritch, aren't they. Do you think they will ever charge the buyer a %of the sale, or just keep hittin on the sellers?
posted on January 24, 2001 02:21:37 PM
Dottie: in some of the online news articles I've recently read, it was stated, FOR INSTANCE, that used car sales on eBay make it the THIRD LARGEST USED CAR DEALER IN AMERICA.
I have a feeling that the Power Seller means LESS to eBay than it used to, and in reading your posts over the years, it was never a fully developed program.
Nowadays, one week of used car sales or a couple pages of Disney®Auctions prolly bring in LOTS more revenue than the combined sales of dozens, maybe even 100s of eBay Power Sellers.
They have to babysit the corporate co-brands; in the future, way after all the dot.gones are merely an unpleasant memory, in the future when corporations find out they cannot compete with I-N-D-I-V-I-D-U-A-L-S who give better service and prices, then the pendulum will swing away from the Disneys.
That time is still years ahead, however. Meantime, Insipid Arrogance will become more & more apparent in many many emails -- Weboliths do NOT *neeeeeeeeeeeeeeD* us, you see.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:24:53 PM
Well, the author of that letter doesn't even know the proper use of the word "hopefully." One of those little language improprieties that I always notice, hee hee.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:33:47 PM
Just a reply to Codasaurus based on his comment.."Sounds to me as though the Power Selling concept is going the same way as the eBay Ambassador concept."
It's obvious that you are not an ambassador, nor do you really know what goes on in the ambassador program. The ambassador program is alive and well and members receive monthly perks and benefits for belonging to and working with the program.
Perhaps due to all the negative comments about the programs from people who are NOT powersellers or Ambassadors, Ambassadors choose not to discuss, openly, the benefits and perks that they do receive.
posted on January 24, 2001 03:28:17 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
From: "eBay Inc." <[email protected]>
Date sent: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 10:24:01
Subject: Your Power Seller Status
Dear xxxxxxxxxx,
We appreciate (NEED) you as a Power Seller on our site (to keep our stock prices up). Buyers have come to recognize the Power Seller logo and realize that Power Sellers (don't have time to) offer exceptional service and products. In our efforts to help Power Sellers keep their great (marginal) reputation, there are requirements to participate in the program. As you know, the requirements are as follows:
Maintain 98% Positive Feedback
Consistently sell $2000 per month so we get paid more by you
Keep your account in good standing paying your bill early is ok!
We realize that these are high (stupid) standards, but that's what has given the Power Sellers the (terrible) reputation they have. And hopefully, you've enjoyed the benefits (we promised but never delivered) offer to those who keep these (insane) standards.
We have noticed that your gross monthly sales are declining( just like our stock, or have actually tanked). They have been below $2000 for the last five months. We want to keep you as a Power Seller (for our financial gain), so we are allowing you time to improve (get your ass in gear) your sales over the next 30 days. We will then review your sales and allow you to continue in the program if you are within the Power Seller standards. (Otherwise, you can pack your junk and sh*t and git)
As always, we are willing to help you any way we can to maintain your Power Seller status ) for our benefit). Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. (We don't really mean this. We said it to placate your sorry ass. Now get off your lazy ass and start listing all that junk you have been dragging in. Remember, the clock is ticking. 30 days and you're out-a-here if we don't see more fees from you).
Regards,
eBay Power Seller Department
______________________________
eBay
Your Personal Trading Community ™
*******************************************
For our latest announcements, please check
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
posted on January 29, 2001 09:26:38 PM
Well let me guess...the next thing E-Bay will do is e-mail us little people and tell us "If you don't increase your sales by 50% we are going to lay you off".
posted on January 29, 2001 10:22:15 PM
Hello XXXXXXXX
I would first like to express that you are an important part of the eBay community. Please, understand that we did not intend the email we sent to be taken in a negative light. In the past, we have offered no way for you to be able to conveniently check the amount of sales you gross on eBay. We just wanted to make you aware of your current standing, in order to allow you to be able to bring you sales up and remain in the
PowerSeller program.
By holding the PowerSeller program to the strict standards set in the PowerSeller Agreement, we will be able to better provide the services our PowerSellers need. We are in the process of looking at additional
incentives that we could offer to make PowerSeller status even more desirable than it has been in the past. In addition, these standards help to lend a sense of credibility to the PowerSeller, something we
would like to strengthen.
If you have not discovered many tools to help you improve your sales, let me try and make a few suggestions. In our experience with PowerSellers we have found that the biggest help has been the use of auction management tools. There are tools that eBay offers, like Mister Lister and there are also several third party tools and services. This can greatly help reduce the amount of time it takes to run an eBay business. These tools can help with things like:
emailing bidders
placing and responding to feedback
listing and relisting items
filing for nonpaying bidder credits
tracking sales
storing information on all eBay transactions
Please, investigate this type of tool. We think, more than any one thing, this will help you increase your business.
We very much appreciate the effort and work you do and wish to reward you with appropriate benefits.
Thank you for your support and patience. Good luck and best wishes.
posted on January 30, 2001 12:40:14 AM
Shaani...is that a letter you got from them??? Or one you wrote up that they should copy for the next suck...er...person they send one to?
posted on January 30, 2001 08:39:45 AM
Good Morning mauimoods,
Yes that is the exact letter I got from them (with names XXXXXXXX'd out to protect the innocent).
I was a bit curious to see what suggestions they had for me to maintain my status when I knew it was pretty well up to me to get my sorry little a$$ back to selling again.
I also took the opportunity to address some concerns of mine about the feedback system and shilling but I see that they chose to ignore those comments.
And I did ask them what happened to my Power Seller kit. There were rumors I would get it on my birthday but that was the end of November and it didn't happen. I guess I could have been sarcastic and said that without the sign in my office to inspire me I forgot about my work ethics.
Bottom line, I did not keep up my part of the program because ebay is not my life's work so I was expecting a letter. I am just wondering though if they actually thought I didn't notice the amount of sales I had for the past five months.
I don't wear a Power Seller logo or button on my shirt or my chest so it's not like they can physically rip it off or take the "secret code" out of my computer. I hadn't been using it in my auctions either.
posted on January 30, 2001 10:23:28 AM
Hello Troy Wolverton,
Sorry I did not respond to you. If you want a news story perhaps the "Ebay's new email address request policy" thread is a better story. This new policy concerns ALL ebay buyers and sellers and is of more interest I think.
And yes, Noshill's interpretation of the letter is right on.
I got that SAME letter; I guess somebody woke up around there, huh? I was a PS by accident, just happened to sell two fairly expensive items in a two-month period. I never used the logo, but they did send my dh and me t-shirts for our birthdays the first year. He loves to wear his, and I keep telling him that somebody is going to rush up to him in the grocery store and start asking him ebay questions; his answer would be "HUH?"
I didn't even bother answering the silly thing. Why give them the satisfaction of knowing that I bothered reading their email, when they obviously don't read mine?
Edited for proper grammar. PAM! You know how to use pronouns!
Pam
[ edited by pamlur on Jan 30, 2001 12:06 PM ]
posted on January 30, 2001 12:10:28 PM
Do you know what this means???? They SAW my B#itching about the tacky letter they sent ME, and changed it around!!!! So that PROVES they read this board. Humph!!! And they used my email to scramble and make it nicer. Double HUMPH!
Troy...save this whole dang thread. Read the email they sent ME on the first page, then compare what they sent Shaani.
