posted on March 24, 2001 10:38:44 AM new
I posted on the other thread... but thought I'd add my comments here as well.
I don't think eBay has backed down on this issue just yet.
I believe they would eliminate Opt-In mailing lists being offered on the listing pages by sellers to their customers in a HEARTBEAT if they decide (find out?) for sure that they could get away with it.
This whole thing seems SO rediculous to me... because eBay has the TRAFFIC... and if sellers can conveniently (and with permission from their customers) gather eMail addresses of those customers into a tidy list for notifying them of requested items being listed.... more bidders will be attracted to the sellers items, and their participation in the bidding process would increase the Final Values of the auctions.
When Sellers are successful, the VENUE (eBay) is successful... unless eBay has forgotten it's REASON FOR BEING!
I understand that internal talks on this subject will continue on Monday.
Will eBay choke on it's own greed?
Tune in NEXT WEEK for another episode of "The VENUE can't stay out of OUR BUSINESSES!!"
posted on March 24, 2001 11:42:32 AM new
Apparently a group of sellers received similar messages re: this mailing list issue... Maeve had quite a bit to say about in in DNF last night - I think it was last night.. I don't believe this is all from 1 person tho, no.
posted on March 24, 2001 12:43:51 PM new
katiyana: Did you see the discussion on the DNF?
I've read almost all the threads I can find about it - there have been posts discussing it and speculating on it and several messages that said "I found this message in another thread and thought I'd bring it up here." But everywhere I've read, it's been two (maybe three) messages quoted from eBay that were sent to one seller.
posted on March 24, 2001 01:01:33 PM new
I know that one user was the most vocal - but I seem to recall he said he had talked to other sellers who had received the same warnings..
I think there must be more to it than just one person after the comments Maeve made - and I did see the discussion.. The one user has been the big speaker about it - agreed, but there must BE something there or I don't think Maeve would have had anything to say about it - I mean, if it really was an isolated incident...
posted on March 24, 2001 02:05:49 PM new
Hi Glenda: eBay really does want to limit (or ELIMINATE) sellers ability to offer OPT-IN eMail lists on individual auction listings.
I think it's only a matter of what they can and can't do legally. I mean... if eBay is a VENUE for selling, and folks pay the fees to list their items for sale on the VENUE and include an offer for folks to OPT-IN for future correspondence regarding items that seller might have available... at what point is it alright for the VENUE to actually PROHIBIT certain text or features in the content of individual listings that could enhance that sellers' ability to SELL items?
I think eBay would like to be able to tell folks that they can NOT offer Opt-In eMailing lists within their item descriptions... and perhaps guide them to offer these trade enhancing features within their About Me pages or the End Of Auction notices ONLY...
BUT... it is my view that if a seller is offering an OPT-IN eMail list within their items description for the purpose of offering more information about the items they are selling on eBays VENUE, and that sellers customers are willing to REQUEST being included in these types of trade facilitating communications, it would be counter-productive to our individual success as sellers for eBay to attempt squelching such OPT-IN eMail list offers.
I like the folks at eBay just fine... but on this issue, I'm NOT AFRAID to say that I strongly believe they would be OVERSTEPPING their bounds as a VENUE if they begin to actually create rules soley for the purpose of hampering our ability to conveniently correspond with our WILLING customers in an effort to Successfully SELL.
posted on March 24, 2001 02:09:29 PM new
The person said she had talked to other sellers who had mailing list links in their auctions and they had not ever received an email from eBay about it.
Sometimes things take on a life of their own, ya know?
posted on March 24, 2001 04:32:53 PM new
It is unfortunate that she is not the only one. There were other sellers and at least one PowerSeller accused of the violation. The PowerSeller does not frequent messageboards and will not be posting.
After the word got out, several pro-active Ebay members -- although not accused of the violation -- contacted their favorite SafeHarbor representatives to verify that the claims were true. They were told in no uncertain terms that the listings really were violations of policy and were quoted the same paragraphs of policy as the sellers.
I recommend that any seller that is lurking here and was accused of violating the mailing list policy to forward their e-mails to [email protected] and to continue pursing the matter with SafeHarbor.
posted on March 25, 2001 10:44:56 AM new
Goodness - it does not matter if ebaY threatened one or one million! THIS HAPPENED - it was not a figment of someones imagination, it was not "created" by someone. Not only are emails available, but the ebaY pinks have been posting for a couple of days on the DNF on this - and if someone would like to see the archives we can send them to you.
ebaY tried to enforce a rule that does not exist - this was decided at senior levels, and then in the face of the furor we all raised and the fact that what they were doing was probably in violation of not only the User Agreement but more importantly violated CONTRACTS with third party service providers - they backed off! Dismiss actions like this at your own peril - because next time it will be you being subjected to having your livelihood threatened by an arbitrary and capricious company. who does ont hesitate to use intimidation tactics to get their users to toe the ever mobile line. -Rosalinda
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