posted on March 29, 2008 04:37:24 PM new
As a very long time lurker, I just have to vent!!! I just finished my auction and hit "ENTER" to launch it, and the following message shows up from BIG BROTHER . I am beyond furious! Does EBAY take into consideration that I include in the shipping amount given, the insurance and DC? Do they take into consideration that this auction item consists of 3 pieces? Do they take into consideration that I have been selling on eBay for over 10 years with over 830 perfect feedback- and NEVER ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT EXCESSIVE SHIPPING! Do they take into consideration that if I happen to overcharge by more than $1.00 I refund the difference? (although only 1 person ever noticed or thanked me) Do they take into consideration that I will double box this fragile set? I am not a power seller any more, because I am not a kid anymore. I am a senior who has always sold on eBay because I loved it, met wonderful people, and had FUN. ! Well eBay is NOT fun anymore, and there will be fewer and fewer wonderful people to meet if they keep throwing these ridiculous policies at us. They have inserted themselves into every area now, and have completely screwed up what was great - for more than 10 years. As someone else put it, they are throwing out the baby with the bathwater. HOW SAD! dazed and confused
The following message is from EBAY.........
Attention Seller!
We noticed your shipping cost looks high compared to other listings in your category with similar shipping services. .
We've found that buyers are sensitive to shipping costs. Items with high shipping costs may be less likely to sell and may get less visibility in search results. Listings that violate the eBay Excessive Shipping Charges policy may be removed from the site.
posted on March 29, 2008 06:13:46 PM new
hwahwa, are you saying that nothing happens when you ignore eBay's warning message? If so, that's good to know.
posted on March 29, 2008 06:22:44 PM new
I can totally believe this. Ebay is it's own nation. They have no right. They are just a utility to bring buyers and sellers together. EBAY SUCKS!
posted on March 29, 2008 06:23:40 PM new
I'm getting this message on just about ALL of my non-postcard regular auction listings -- feeBay considers our flat-rate of $5.99 for 1 pound/2oz items PRIORITY MAIL to be "excessive!"
So far, I've been ignoring the pop-ups and so far haven't noticed any affects...
Ralphie tends to growl and bark sumptin unda his breath about how eBay is free to kiss his sweet, hairy...
posted on March 29, 2008 06:25:40 PM new
Ebay uses automated programs which are dumber than sh*t to generate these warnings. Feel free to give them the attention they deserve and ignore them. I wonder how long it will take before eBay realizes the angst they purposefully create is going to come back some day and bite them in the b*tt.
posted on March 29, 2008 06:52:34 PM new
Yes, just ignore it. It is a stupid notice.I get it occasionally and sometimes for items NO ONE else has listed so how can my charges by high compared to comps?? There is nothing to compare them with!!
posted on March 29, 2008 06:57:33 PM new
There was an auction for a empty GOLF CLUB BAG. I noticed the shipping was a flat $20.00 for priority?!?! If I was selling this to my neighbor NEXT DOOR, by the time you box this thing in a USPS - OVERSIZE BOX, then add the weight...$20 is CHEAP! The seller got the same message from ebay and was afraid to put a higher shipping charge on it!
posted on March 29, 2008 07:02:50 PM new
I have been listing small items and shipping charged for such item varies from 16 dollars (Chinese dealer in China) to 3.95 from a few US sellers,most are around 5 and I charge 4.95.so I dont know what the fuss is all about.
The one who charges 16 for shipping start the item at 9 cents and they have to charge EXPRESS MAIL to get trackable DC from China/
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Lets all stop whining !
posted on March 29, 2008 09:12:56 PM new
Thanks to all the great "Vendioites" who wrote and made me realize that I am not alone! ("Mysery loves company" I have cooled off a bit, but I still think Ebay is way off base with their veiled threat style emails, that will scare away many sellers (both new and veteran) Their bias against sellers will surely backfire against them, in the end Thanks again! dazedandconfused
posted on March 30, 2008 06:49:23 AM new
I dont understand why Ebay has to intervene,if a bidder is willing to bid on an item for 9 cents and pay 16 dollars shipping,the total he is bidding on is 16.09.
No one is twisting his arm to bid on that item.
Of course Ebay is making zero on 9 cents FVF.
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Lets all stop whining !
posted on March 30, 2008 02:12:18 PM new
It is just an automatically generated message, not a wiretap.
There is no requirement to match another seller, just something that can be automatically researched for a seller. Of course, I just looked at an item on eBay, and found six identical, with shipping ranging from 5 to 16 dollars, so maybe there are some people out there that could use the suggestion.
posted on March 30, 2008 02:24:29 PM new
Even if it is a suggestion I do not feel it is ebay's place. If I worked a 9 to 5 and my boss told me that I should color my hair, lose weight, wear skirts, or buy a better car, it would be inappropriate as well. It seems more and more that ebay is losing sight of their role in this. They do not have the stock, touch the stock, write a description, pack, or mail the stock. Their role ...... simply a venue to bring a buyer and a seller together.
posted on March 30, 2008 02:45:35 PM new
In the long run, eBay does not want their brand to be seen as some sort of wild-west anything goes flea market. As much as possible, eBay will work to make the buyers happy, because, whether justified or not, if they have a complaint, it will be about something they bought on "eBay" and not from some individual seller.
Expect more efforts to make eBay a more consistent marketplace. I am sorry about your appearance and weight issues, but if they are job-impacting, your boss would have cause for concern, just as listing issues that may impact eBay's brand are their concern. And of course, in either case, you always have the option of finding a more suitable situation.
posted on March 30, 2008 03:12:39 PM new
damariscotta
LOL, I do not have weight problems or appearance issues. I was trying to make my point. I am sorry you do not get it. OH WELL.
If I rented a space in an antique mall and sold painted furniture, and signed a lease, the owner would not have the right to tell me to paint blue furniture if I wanted to paint pink. They also could not tell me what to set my prices at.
eBay does not want their brand to be seen as some sort of wild-west anything goes flea market
This is just a funny statement in light of the fact that they are running a 1 penny listing special and people are listing a bunch of crap. And ebay knew this when they started this latest promotion. Ebay can go in any direction they want to, but they started out as a flea market type of atmosphere.
[ edited by deichen on Mar 30, 2008 03:12 PM ]
posted on March 30, 2008 03:38:35 PM new
Again, deichen, right on!!
damariscotta: for businesses to address someone's weight, appearance, gender, age, etc is discrimination, ask several of the yuppie brick and mortar store that were taken to court over just such hiring or firing practices.
posted on March 30, 2008 06:37:34 PM new
In Oregon, employers can fire for any reason whatsoever as long as they don't state their reason for firing. I've worked as a corporate employee, corporate consultant, Value-Added Reseller and had my own firm that high tech companies, many Fortune 500 companies, outsourced their sales, marketing and customer service functions to. EBay is BY FAR the least stable, least predictable business partner I've ever had. They take a large portion of my income, yet can close me down tomorrow without just cause. They change the rules willy-nilly without seller input. I sense a distinct animosity towards sellers. Unfortunately, in my market they are the best venue to operate in.
[ edited by pixiamom on Mar 30, 2008 06:40 PM ]
posted on March 30, 2008 08:12:22 PM newThey take a large portion of my income, yet can close me down tomorrow without just cause. They change the rules willy-nilly without seller input. I sense a distinct animosity towards sellers.
This is why it is scary doing business this way. I understand why people have to sell on ebay but it is scary all the same. An animosity towards sellers seems a very appropriate statement.
posted on March 31, 2008 03:40:53 AM new
Ebay isn't making you change anything, so it is not like a group shop owner telling you what color you HAVE to paint the furniture; it would be like the owner telling you pink wasn't selling well and customers were asking for blue. If you don't want their advice, don't take it. You can still paint it pink if you want and then take it home in a few months when it doesn't sell.
Ebay's LONG TERM goal (regardless of what they may do or encourage today) is not being an on-line flea market (my guess is eventually they will spin that off, or segregate it like the auto business), but will probably be more akin to Amazon. Standardization of buying/shipping etc. will probably become greater and greater.
Finally, having worked as a hiring manager in one of the most liberal states in the country, I am well aware of discrimination issues in employment, and I was careful to say they are issues only if they impact job performance.
posted on March 31, 2008 07:12:27 AM newI was careful to say they are issues only if they impact job performance.
I understand what you were trying to say now but those lines are not black and white. If we had a hotel desk clerk who was working at the property when we bought it, but he was very very large and sweated excessively, it would not necessarily affect his job performance but he might offend some of our customers. But we would not be able to get rid of him for that reason. Lots of Gray areas in business and that is NO DIFFERENT for ebay.
posted on March 31, 2008 07:33:12 AM new
Damariscotta - Finally we have someone with a crystal ball who can tell us what eBay is thinking and what direction they are moving in! I've been fooled many times in the past - open a store, wait! we're going to ignore stores and concentrate on core - wait! stores will be included in search - no, stores will not be included in search and we'll double the listing fees - no, that was a mistake, we like stores again...
posted on March 31, 2008 09:12:16 AM new
No crystal ball required. Its brand is its biggest asset, and I am quite willing to stand by my assertion that LONG TERM, a major corporate goal is to protect and maximize the value of that brand. If eBay was up for sale, it would not be priced according to what real estate it may own, or how many servers it has.
Missteps along the way? Sure. Most people here have a long term goal of being a successful seller. If you try a different piece of merchandise and it doesn't sell well, you move on. It doesn't mean your goal has changed.
BTW, I never mentioned firing anyone but perhaps air conditioning the lobby would help with sweating and make everyone more comfortable.
posted on March 31, 2008 11:16:24 AM newBTW, I never mentioned firing anyone but perhaps air conditioning the lobby would help with sweating and make everyone more comfortable.
You are clueless, never mind.
Keep that crystal ball it will serve you well. NOT
I have cooled off a bit, but I still think Ebay is way off base with their veiled threat style emails, that will scare away many sellers (both new and veteran) Their bias against sellers will surely backfire against them, in the end Thanks again! dazedandconfused 