posted on January 24, 2001 09:56:30 AM
I just got this in my email from Power Sellers:
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.
This is my response:
I dont use the logo, and havent for over a year. Remove me as a power seller, because I really dont care. My sales have declined because ebay is not what it once was. I have no desire to "up" my sales, as I cant afford it anymore and must find a job to suppliment my ebay sales. Doesnt sound too slick, does it? Remove my membership. It matters not anymore.
MauiMoods
posted on January 24, 2001 10:04:49 AM
That suggests to me that eBay consider their Power Sellers to be employees. Who else but your boss could threaten you with firing if you don't pull up your socks?
Wonder what effect this statement would have in a court of law when eBay tries to hide behind their "Gee, we're only a venue" nonsense ...
posted on January 24, 2001 10:16:09 AM
Coming from a retail management background, eBay's approach strikes me as not being in their own best interest.
Would it not have made more sense to say, "as a Power Seller you are important to us. We have noticed a decline in your sales. We would welcome any input from you on how we can help you to be more successful in your eBay career."
Really--it would behoove eBay to treat you as a valued asset. Your success brings in more money for them, does it not?
posted on January 24, 2001 10:32:44 AM
Good for you! You forgot to tell them WHY you stopped using the PS logo. I thought being a PS would be a GOOD thing, until I started reading the Help & Discussion boards and found out that many bidders cast a jaundiced eye to the PS logo, as their experiences with power sellers have led to them to conclude that "PS" could just as well stand for "poor service". Until Ebay stops coddling the bad power sellers, I wouldn't apply for PS status, even if I qualified.
posted on January 24, 2001 10:40:28 AM
Hi mauimoods, Did they send you a Powerseller sign? I didn't get one. So now do the ebay repo men show up at your house and demand the sign back?
posted on January 24, 2001 10:56:33 AM
I too have stopped using the sign and I should get my notice any day. I also will tell them it has become too difficult to sell enough on eBay to meet that level of sales due to unpredictable down times for needed functions like search- random acts by eBay employees and increasing dead beats and fees.
They never did send me the "kit" with the sign for shows.
I paid them about $1,000 a month for two years then last months it dropped to under $200 this month will be $100.
They have nobody to blame but themselves.
The whole tone of this letter is so superior.
We will give you another chance. You are at our mercy. If we want you will not be part of the club and will have to turn in your secret decoder ring. Well kiss my back porch.
[ edited by gravid on Jan 24, 2001 11:01 AM ]
posted on January 24, 2001 11:24:25 AM
I locked my PS sign in the garage, so if they wanna repo it, they have to find it first
I just got a VERY FAST reply. Gee, they answered quickly, didnt they? Like, dont let the door kick me in the hiney on the way out, maybe?:
[b]Hello, Thank you for the email. I have removed your account as requested. I
wish you the best of luck in the future.
Regards, XXXX, eBay PowerSeller Support[/b]
And no, they gave me nothing when I first joined. I had to right click on someones PS sign and save it to my own files in order to use it. Oh, and they did send me emails from time to time. Funny, isnt it, that they "noticed" my sales dropping, but showed no concern as to WHY. I have the same stuff I always did...just dropped how many I listed, since my monthly charge on the CC was getting to where it was more than what the sales USED to bring in. Just shows me that they dont care. Oh well, I think I will live
posted on January 24, 2001 11:29:56 AM
Hi Maui, besides the damned sign, what if any benefits did you recieve as a Power Seller? I know I was approached when I first accomplished $2K and ignored it....I am not a joiner and since THEY are just a VENUE, I didn't feel it would do me much good. So, aside from avoiding future insults have you lost anything???
Zilvy..."I started out with nothing and egreed will see to it that it stays that way"
posted on January 24, 2001 11:37:39 AM
Hello Gravid,
You know, if that secret decoder ring were for any other club than eBay you would have a highly valuable collectible.
Sounds to me as though the Power Selling concept is going the same way as the eBay Ambassador concept. And little wonder if this is the type of support PowerSellers get.
posted on January 24, 2001 11:46:15 AM
In answer to your question, no, I never recieved anything being a PS. To be fair to them, I never asked. It was exciting at first, to have that icon on my pages. But after a few months, I took it down because I wanted to "lighten up" my site. I must say that I AM surprised that they emailed me and threatened my "membership", and the speed in which they canceled said membership with no concern or care. Does it hurt my feelings? Nope. But it does make me wonder, since my fees keep them in business, along with the other millions of sellers, as to the "oh well" attitude they have shown. PR needs to be upgraded...not the site itself.
I'm a Bronze Level Powerseller too -- and have never used the logo. In fact, I have found very little benefit to being a PS -- it's as if the program doesn't even exist.
I am absolutely horrified at the tone of this letter you received, which I will probably receive sometime soon as well.
They can ask you to increase your sales like a full-of-themselves-employer, but they have NEVER offered any incentives to us for increased sales! No discounts on listing fees if one reaches a certain level, no prizes for good performers, none of the little "perks" that are fun and motivating for top sellers.
posted on January 24, 2001 11:54:58 AM
I too am a powerseller and have never used the logo on any auctions. I will in E-bays defense say that I did get a problem resolved quickly through a real live customer service rep over the phone. Outside of that I have seen no benefit to the program. I will most likely recive one of these letters soon. But if they want me to list more won't I just be cluttering up the system?
posted on January 24, 2001 12:00:18 PM
I wish there was an online auction place that could lure the bidders so I could go where Im wanted and helped to be successful with incentives to get me there. It will never happen though, because the bidders KNOW a good thing when they see it...they dont get all the fees, can back out if they want and not have to pay the price (unless getting booted off and rejoining with a new name is considered punishment). We, the sellers, keep ebay functioning. WE pay the FVF's, WE pay to list, WE work to make sure the item is like described and worthy of a bid because if WE dont, then WE get the neg to ruin our businesses that WE paid for by being sellers on ebay. WE are told to sell sell sell, and WE are threatened to lose status if our sales arent up to par. WE are treated like "if you dont like it, dont use our services". I have my regular customers, for which I am thankful. But I dont see me doing this much longer. I have pulled back from listing 80 auctions a week to 15. And it still sucks. Once, someone told me they didnt care if I stayed or left, as my presence didnt make a difference one way or another. I left, and never went back. Guess I might have to do the same with ebay if things dont pick up...and I dont think they will
posted on January 24, 2001 12:10:42 PM
Hey Maui, do you think your other thread "Hey ebaY Bosses over here" brought the PS email your way?? They probably don't like being told what to do....or even strong suggestions...you know cause they are just a venue...(Damn I wish I knew how to underline and get bold type on this page)
Here's to you Maui...you'll always be a Power seller to US!!
posted on January 24, 2001 12:15:46 PM
Well, if they read that other thread and frowned on it, then they are definetly gonna be ticked when they read my DEAR EBAY thread, lol. It wasnt digs at them, what I wrote. I guess Im pleading now, because frankly, Im in trouble here and I dont want to leave ebay, but see no other choice. Im hoping they see, and read, and hear what I am saying..and take it for what its meant to convey.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:21:20 PM
POWER SELLER YIKES!!!
SOME OF MY WORST PURCHASES EVER CAME FROM SO CALLED PS PEOPLE.
I DON'T USE THE LOGO BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK ALL PS ARE BIG AND IMPERSONAL.
I HAVE FOUND PS TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO REQUESTS QUESTIONS AND EMAILS AND NORMALLY HAVE EXCESSIVE NEG FB, or tons of items with few bids.
Sorry for caps I was labeling my pictures and didn't realize they weere on .
posted on January 24, 2001 12:22:55 PM
I don't think alot of buyers really know what a "Power Seller" even is. I know that you're supposed to sell alot each month, but I thought there would be "perks plus" for the business you're bringing eBay.
I'm really floored by this. I can't believe the way you were treated maui..what a disgrace!
While I agree that eBay itself is a great tool, I also think the people running it need a wake up call.
Forget the "Power Seller" thing....you should start your own group. A place where people can file honest complaints about eBay and be HEARD.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:29:04 PM
Dear ebay,
I have noticed that your stock has been down for the last year compared with the $180.00+ it used to be. Now you hover in the $30-50 range. You have 30 days to fix this otherwise we will have to whack your pp.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:39:51 PM
Puddy! LOL!!!! I just got myself into a really deep funk...maybe PS email DID hurt my feelings without me even being aware of it...and here I am, all maudlin now and close to tears because Im afraid I will have to leave ebay and get work in this itty bitty town with all the college competition, and then you go and write what you did...LOL! Thank you
posted on January 24, 2001 12:46:00 PM
You know the tone of that letter reminds me of something I see at least once a month in my junk mail. I am in a "target" zip code - surrounded by $500,000 homes. I get at least one catalog a month completely unsolicited that has a big sticker on the front saying:
We would hate to drop you from our list but the cost of printing and mailing catalogs has gotten so high we will have to drop you if you don't order from this catalog."
This from someone I never bought anything form and don't care if they ever send another firestarter.
posted on January 24, 2001 01:18:50 PM
The Powerseller e-mail didn't hurt my feelings. I knew the terms when I signed up for the program. And there is no way I am going to get stressed trying to keep up a quota if I am unable to because I do have other things happening in my life besides ebay.
I didn't get any special treatment as a Powerseller when I e-mailed them with a problem. I have always got a fast response to my e-mails whether it was to the regular address or to the Powerseller one.
I am just wondering why I got my letter from them just shortly after writing my message here. Makes you wonder how many spies are out there. Not that I'm paranoid or anything.
posted on January 24, 2001 01:25:35 PM
This would be the perfect time to renew our request to AuctionWatch to start their own auction site. What a user base they would have! We have enough bidders and sellers to make a go of it. I'm sure that if each of us bought and sold on this site, it would be a serious threat to eBay - maybe the only threat they would ever have!
posted on January 24, 2001 01:32:55 PM
I've never said a swear word on the net, but! What a bunch of #*!@! eSucks has some freaking nerve with that BS letter. Being a PowerSeller is Meaningless. I have never used the stupid logo. It hurts sales for crying out loud! I find it repulsive every time I see it in an auction. It makes me form a not-so-pretty impression of the seller. SORRY, but that's how I feel.
If eSuck had a tangible fuc*ing PS program that letter may have had some merit. Had they sent it to me, and I was about to loose my discount on FeeZ, perhaps I'd would attempt to pick up the pace...
I'm sure it has been said before, here it is again. EBAY WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE. THEY WILL BE DESTROYED FROM WITHIN.
Now I'll go chill for an hour or so. I'm shutting this damn computer off...
